Project description
Signalling cascade of inflammasomes
Inflammasomes are cytosolic multiprotein oligomers that activate the inflammatory cascade and play a pivotal role in host defence. They function as intracellular surveillance systems, recognising the pathogens or indirectly responding to the perturbation of cellular homeostasis. The EU-funded ENGINES project aims to obtain a detailed framework for Nod-like receptor with pyrin domain 1 (NLRP1) and caspase activation and recruitment domain 8 (CARD8) inflammasomes’ functions. The project will employ omics technologies, cell biological, biochemical and structural biology approaches to elucidate the signalling upstream of NLRP1 and CARD8, the mechanism of action and the structure of these sensors. Screening of pathogen panels in combination with novel humanised mouse models will evaluate the relevance of these inflammasomes for antiviral immunity and immune cell homeostasis.
Objective
Inflammasomes play a pivotal role in host defense. They function as intracellular surveillance systems by sensing pathogens or indirectly by responding to the perturbation of cellular homeostasis. While our understanding of inflammasome biology is growing at a rapid pace, we still have an incomplete understanding of how these systems detect pathogenic insults, or how these sensors operate at the molecular level. Just recently, NLRP1 and the closely related CARD8, a functionally distinct subgroup of inflammasome sensors, have been ‘de-orphanized’ for their unique mode of action. More than other sensors of the inflammasome family, NLRP1 and CARD8 display a high level of divergence across different species and NLRP1 ranks among the top genes experiencing positive selection in primates. In our search for a physiological NLRP1 trigger, we have now made the surprising finding that human NLRP1 operates as a direct sensor for dsRNA, a key non-self signature of viral replication.
To obtain a detailed mechanistic framework for NLRP1 and also CARD8 function, I here propose a challenging and pioneering endeavor: employing functional genomics, proteomics and chemogenomics, we will identify signaling networks upstream of NLRP1 and CARD8. Taking cell biological, biochemical and structural biology approaches, the mechanism of action and structure of these sensors will be elucidated. Further, screening a large panel of pathogens, we will characterize their role in response to infection in vitro and implementing novel humanized mouse models for the NLRP1 and the CARD8 inflammasomes, we will assess the relevance of these sensors for antiviral immunity and immune cell homeostasis in vivo. Altogether, this work will not only comprehensively profile the role of these emerging inflammasome pathways, but also uncover fundamental molecular principles of inflammasome biology. Gaining these insights, this work also holds the promise of developing novel, innovative therapeutic strategies.
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.
This project's classification has been validated by the project's team.
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.
This project's classification has been validated by the project's team.
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins proteomics
- natural sciences biological sciences cell biology cell signaling
- medical and health sciences health sciences infectious diseases
- medical and health sciences basic medicine physiology homeostasis
- natural sciences biological sciences molecular biology structural biology
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-ADG - Advanced 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-ADG
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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.
80539 MUNCHEN
Germany
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.