Objective Our intestinal tract is colonized by a myriad of microbes that exceed our body cells in number and coding capacity and have important metabolic and signaling functions. Analysis of the diversity of these microbes inside revealed more than 1000 species, some of which have developed intimate interactions that are operating at the mucus interface separating the intestinal and microbial cells. Notably, we sustain and stimulate these interactions by feeding our microbes inside by the production of large amounts of mucus that equal the undigested components of our diet in caloric value. The understanding of the mucosal interactions is of great importance as they affect our immune system, signal to the brain-gut axis and provide a protective barrier against pathogens. Hence, this project aims to obtain fundamental understanding in the diversity and function of our microbes inside with a focus on mucus-binding bacteria that are either indigenous in the human intestine or ingested as part of our diet. The project will capitalize on (i) the recently developed high-throughput functional (meta)genomics approaches for human subjects, (ii) the genomic characterization of the mucus-degrading species Akkermansia muciniphila, an emerging biomarker for a healthy intestine, and (iii) the genome-driven discovery that the paradigm probiotic, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG), contains cell-wall extended pili that strongly bind mucus and signal to human cells. A novel screening system will allow isolation of LGG derivatives with altered mucus-binding that will be instrumental in cause effect and other mechanistic studies. Moreover, the results will contribute to detailed insight in how our microbes inside develop mutualistic interactions, allowing for the design of new food-based approaches. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsnatural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologybacteriologymedical and health sciencesbasic medicineimmunologymedical and health scienceshealth sciencesnutrition Programme(s) FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) ERC-AG-LS9 - ERC Advanced Grant - Applied life sciences and biotechnology Call for proposal ERC-2009-AdG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-AG - ERC Advanced Grant Host institution WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY EU contribution € 1 298 000,00 Address DROEVENDAALSESTEEG 4 6708 PB Wageningen Netherlands See on map Region Oost-Nederland Gelderland Veluwe Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Jos Teunissen Principal investigator Willem Meindert De Vos (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Beneficiaries (2) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY Netherlands EU contribution € 1 298 000,00 Address DROEVENDAALSESTEEG 4 6708 PB Wageningen See on map Region Oost-Nederland Gelderland Veluwe Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Jos Teunissen Principal investigator Willem Meindert De Vos (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data HELSINGIN YLIOPISTO Finland EU contribution € 1 201 000,00 Address YLIOPISTONKATU 3 00014 Helsingin Yliopisto See on map Region Manner-Suomi Helsinki-Uusimaa Helsinki-Uusimaa Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Sanna-Maija Miettinen (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data
