Project description
Bacterial membrane lipid dynamics
Lipid dynamics in eukaryotic cells are linked to the microscale and nanoscale organisation of the plasma membrane, demonstrating an interplay between the actin cytoskeleton, membrane proteins and membrane components. Recent experimental evidence proved that bacterial membranes are highly heterogeneous and dynamic. Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the FCS-BACSUB project will advance knowledge about the molecular and cellular biology of bacteria by studying the dynamics of lipids in the membrane of Bacillus subtilis. The researchers will employ fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, whose application will provide information about the organisation of bacterial membranes at the nanoscale resolution.
Objective
Bacteria are fascinating organism, relatively and yet not fully understood. Fundamental research on bacteria led across the years to major technological breakthroughs like the discovery of genetic editing with CRISPR-Cas9. Besides, resistance of bacteria to antibiotics is becoming a growing public health concern, raising the need for a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved. We propose here to further our understanding of the molecular biology of bacteria by studying the dynamic of lipids in bacterial (B. Subtilis) membranes. In eukaryotic cells, it was found that lipid dynamics can reveal the micro- and nanoscale organisation of the plasma membrane, revealing a dynamic interplay between membrane components such as lipids, membrane proteins, and the actin cytoskeleton. Bacterial membranes were thought until recently to be much simpler, but accumulating evidence over the last ten years suggested that they too were highly heterogeneous and dynamic. However, very few studies so far focused on the question of lipid dynamics, in part because of the experimental complexity of such measurements. To address this, we will transfer new technologies based on fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS), that were developed mainly for eukaryotic research, to the field of microbiology. With this unique methodology, we will answer a series of fundamental open questions: how do bacterial membranes organise at the nanoscale? Do they exhibit transient lipid-mediated interactions (called lipid rafts) as is thought to be the case in eukaryotes? Does MreB, bacterial equivalent of actin, also compartmentalises lipid diffusion? Answering these questions will help us build a holistic picture of the mechanisms associated with essential bacterial processes such as biofilm formation or antibiotic resistance, which will have far-reaching implications in both biology and medicine.
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
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules lipids
- natural sciences physical sciences optics spectroscopy
- natural sciences biological sciences molecular biology
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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.
75007 PARIS CEDEX 07
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.