Objective
Despite their importance, little is known about the origins of many emerging human pathogens and the way that invertebrates could shaped their evolution. Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax, is closely related to the important insect associated pathogens B. cereus and B. thuringiensis. In B. anthracis, it has been proposed that the horizontal acquisition of the mammalian virulence regulon atxA created a dynamic tension with the insect virulence regulon plcR, which resulted in the functional inactivation of PlcR. The isolate of B. cereus G9241 caused an illness resembling inhalational anthrax and possesses functional versions of atxA and plcR. We hypothesize that this strain represents an early stage isolate recently derived from an insect pathogen in which the competition of the atxA and plcR regulons has yet to resolved. In this proposal we will address the contribution of AtxA and PlcR to gene regulation and virulence in this emerging B. anthracis-like strain. We will develop insect, soil amoeba and mammalian macrophage infection models and use these to compare the B. cereus type strain ATCC14579, B. anthracis Sterne and B. cereus G9241. Furthermore, we will directly address the impact of AtxA upon B. cereus G9241 by means of competition assays with a knockout mutant atxA and monitor reporter gene expression in the mutant and the parent strain in both insect and mammalian tissue culture conditions. Finally, we will conduct micro evolution studies by repeated challenge through the M. sexta host to elucidate the selection pressure acting on the competing AtxA and PlcR regulons in invertebrate infections. A deeper understanding of the molecular biology of B. anthracis virulence could afford novel strategies for future treatments or vaccination against anthrax. Also, the study of B. anthracis with insects and soil amoeba will also provide useful information for the management of anthrax contaminated sites.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology
- natural sciences biological sciences zoology entomology
- natural sciences biological sciences zoology invertebrate zoology
- natural sciences biological sciences molecular biology
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IEF
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Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
BA2 7AY Bath
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.