Project description
How parasitic worms use RNA to regulate gut health
In many animals, gastrointestinal parasitic worms, known as helminths, release bioactive molecules that facilitate immunological tolerance and gut functions. Recently, scientists discovered that RNA is one of the products helminths release to directly influence host cells. The EU-funded RNACOM project will determine how helminths use this novel form of RNA communication to regulate the gut epithelium and develop strategies to block the communication mechanism during infection. RNACOM will also bring key quantitative and molecular understanding to the processes by which RNA from one species can influence another, advancing RNA biology and testing new strategies for parasite control. Furthermore, the initiative will create a unique platform for identifying new gene networks that underpin intestinal cell functions and gut health.
Objective
Cross-species communication is required for proper functioning of the mammalian gut, where different organisms share resources, coordinate digestion and maintain homeostasis. In many animals, parasitic worms (helminths) are part of this ecosystem, where they communicate through the release of bio-active molecules that promote immunological tolerance and modulate gut functions. Mechanisms of cross-species communication are still not well understood and my lab discovered that ribonucleic acids (RNA) are one of the products helminths release to directly influence host cells. The overall goal of RNACOM is to determine how gastrointestinal parasites use this novel form of RNA communication to regulate the gut epithelium and to develop strategies to block the communication mechanism during infection. We have recently discovered a specific Argonaute protein that gastrointestinal nematodes use to transmit parasite RNAs to mouse cells. We will target this protein to identify parasite-host RNA-RNA interactions that occur during chronic infection (Aim 1). We will then determine the specificity and function of parasite RNA transmission to mouse cells in the epithelium using model organoids and in vivo imaging (Aim 2) and will determine the mechanism of action of parasite RNAs in host gene suppression using synthetic and recombinant strategies (Aim 3). Finally we use genetic tools in the mouse model to determine the function of cross-species RNA-RNA interactions during infection, while testing new strategies to block RNA transmission by the parasite (Aim 4). RNACOM will bring key quantitative and molecular understanding to the processes by which RNA from one species can influence another, advancing a frontier area in RNA biology while testing new strategies of parasite control. In parallel RNACOM develops a unique platform for identifying new gene networks that underpin intestinal cell functions and gut health.
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: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology ecosystems
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics RNA
- medical and health sciences basic medicine physiology homeostasis
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine gastroenterology
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
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.
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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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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.
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.
ERC-COG - Consolidator Grant
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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.
(opens in new window) ERC-2020-COG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
EH8 9YL Edinburgh
United Kingdom
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