Project description
Commensal bacteria as a tool in the development of treatment against pathogenic antibiotic persisters
Persisters are dormant cells in microbial populations that are highly tolerant to antibiotics and associated with the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) via mobile genetic elements. Diverse commensal bacteria inhabit mucosal and epidermal surfaces, playing an important role in defence against pathogens. These bacteria inhibit the growth of respiratory pathogens, producing antimicrobial signals, competing for nutrients and space, and inducing immune system protective responses. Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the PERSIST project will use a combination of omics-based tools with murine and pathogen models to identify the commensal persisters capable of displacing pathogenic persisters. The project’s objective is the development of treatment options against persistent infections and the horizontal transfer of AMR.
Objective
Persisters are transiently non-growing bacteria cells that evade antibiotic treatment and immune response. Persisters have been associated with antibiotic treatment failure and the spread of antibiotic-resistance (AMR) through mobile genetic elements. Consequently, persisters contribute significantly to the morbidity and mortality of bacterial infections, and increased medical costs. Although it is known that many pathogenic bacteria are able to form persisters, the occurrence of persistence among commensal bacteria is yet unexplored. This project aims to identify and exploit commensal persisters able to antagonise and displace pathogenic persisters, offering opportunities for the development of innovative treatment options to arrest both the relapse of persistent infections and the horizontal transfer of AMR. To this effect, I will use a combination of cutting-edge omics-based tools, in vivo murine models and the well-established and relevant Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium enteric model pathogen. After identifying commensal species forming persisters (WP1), I will assess the ability of these persisters to compete with Salmonella persisters during infection (WP2) and to arrest in vivo horizontal gene transfer from Salmonella persisters to intestinal microbiota (WP3). My goal is to become a leading academic scientist in the intertwining fields of antibiotic-resistance and antibiotic-persistence, with emphasis on the involvement of persister cells in the maintenance and spread of mobile genetic elements encoding AMR. The state-of-the-art computational and experimental training at the pioneering groups of in vivo persister biology at Harvard Medical School (HMS) in USA and of genome spatial organization at the Institut Pasteur (IP) in France will be instrumental towards achieving my goal. Apart from empowering my career track, this fellowship will foster future collaborations between HMS and IP, and promote transfer of knowledge in Europe.
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 microbiology bacteriology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy pharmaceutical drugs antibiotics
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy drug resistance antibiotic resistance
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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.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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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.
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.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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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) H2020-MSCA-IF-2020
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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.
75724 Paris
France
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.