Project description
A closer look at FIKK kinases in malaria parasites
Malaria is a life-threatening infection. Its most severe form is caused by the protozoan parasite Plasmodium falciparum. The main contributors are cytoadhesion of infected red blood cells (iRBC) to host endothelium, and iRBC rigidification obstructing iRBC clearance in the spleen and promoting parasite survival. The parasite has to balance between preventing its own clearance through sufficiently strong cytoadhesion and control of rigidity and killing the host. Strong evidence indicates that the parasite can rapidly regulate its cytopathy properties through the FIKK kinases, making it important to understand FIKK function. The EU-funded VirulenceControl project will apply advanced approaches to identify the role of FIKK kinases and their molecular underpinnings in controlling cytoadhesion and rigidity in conditions frequently found in the human host.
Objective
The most severe form of malaria in humans is caused by Plasmodium falciparum. Cytoadhesion of infected red blood cells (iRBCs) to host endothelium and iRBC rigidification are the major contributors to pathology. Cytoadhesion is mediated by transport of a protein called PfEMP1 onto the surface of the iRBC. It prevents clearance of iRBCs in the spleen and promotes parasite survival, but can cause the obstruction of blood vessels leading to pathology. Thus, the parasite has to strike a fine balance between preventing its own clearance through sufficiently strong cytoadhesion and control of rigidity, and killing the host. The paradigm in the field is that the strength of cytoadhesion is dominated by expression of PfEMP1 variants with different affinities for host cell receptors. We now have strong evidence that the parasite can rapidly regulate its cytoadhesive properties using a family of atypical kinases (the FIKK kinases) it exports into the host cell. This gives the parasite a yet unrecognized ability to respond to conditions encountered in the host, such as fever or hypoxia in areas of high parasite sequestration, and influence disease outcome. This is important: Of the 6 human infecting Plasmodium species only P. falciparum exports FIKK kinases into the host cell. As this species is responsible for ~95% of all fatal human malaria cases, it is paramount to understand FIKK- function in pathogenesis. We will use cutting edge approaches to: (1) identify the function of FIKK kinases in controlling cytoadhesion and rigidity in conditions frequently encountered in the human host and determine RBC remodelling in samples from patients. (2) Identify the molecular underpinnings of FIKK function in controlling cytoadhesion and (3) perform a thorough biochemical characterisation of the atypical FIKK kinase family. In summary we aim to answer the paramount question about the functional role and the evolution of the FIKK kinases and the pathogenesis of P. falciparum malaria.
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 health sciences infectious diseases malaria
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pathology
You need to log in or register to use this function
We are sorry... an unexpected error occurred during execution.
You need to be authenticated. Your session might have expired.
Thank you for your feedback. You will soon receive an email to confirm the submission. If you have selected to be notified about the reporting status, you will also be contacted when the reporting status will change.
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.
-
HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
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.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
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-2021-COG
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
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.
1649-035 LISBOA
Portugal
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.