Project description
Bacterial accessory genes fuel antibiotic escape
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited disease caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. Patients fail to excrete mucus from the lungs, which leads to persistent infections and diminishes their quality of life. The EU-funded AGAPE project focuses on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an opportunistic pathogen that can escape treatment and is encountered in most CF patients. Researchers aim to understand the role of the accessory genome of P. aeruginosa in the development of persistent infections. Given the increase in antibiotic resistance, project results will shed light on the mechanism of pathogen adaptability in different environments.
Objective
Bacterial survival to antibiotic treatment poses an urgent problem to humanity, causing 25.000 deaths per year in the European Union alone. The inability to fully eradicate pathogens with antibiotics leads to the establishment of persistent infections (PIs). Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an opportunistic pathogen, is found chronically in the airways of 70% of Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients. In CF, the anomalous production of mucus in the lung promotes the establishment of bacteria, with infections decreasing the life quality and expectancy of patients. The mechanisms by which P. aeruginosa is able to escape treatment and generate PIs within the CF lung have not been fully elucidated. Mostly, the success of P. aeruginosa relies on its adaptability, which derives from its large genome carrying genes for survival in a wide spectrum of environments. Most of these genes are not conserved among strains, composing the accessory genome (AG), which is built up through horizontal gene transfer (HGT). Previous studies have identified components of the AG involved in virulence and resistance, yet the extent of the AG involvement in PIs is unknown. Through AGAPE I seek to elucidate the relevance of the AG in the establishment of PIs in CF lungs. I will do so by studying both the conformation and function of the AG, through novel CRISPR-Cas tools in P. aeruginosa. First, I will determine the identity and quantity of HGT during infection by recording transfer events with a CRISPR-Cas recorder system. Second, I will generate individual and combinatorial knockdowns of every accessory gene through CRISPR interference (CRISPRi), to screen the effects of the repression on fitness during infection. I will follow the infections of the generated strains on lung organoids derived from the corresponding hosts. Overall, this bona fide action will allow to uncover novel mechanisms behind PIs relying on accessory genes, and to identify novel markers and targets to improve patient treatment.
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.
- medical and health sciences medical biotechnology genetic engineering gene therapy
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology bacteriology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy pharmaceutical drugs antibiotics
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics genomes
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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.
2800 KONGENS LYNGBY
Denmark
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.