ModulatIng Cancer therapy RespOnse using Bacterial Extracellular nanovesicles

Project Information

MICROBE

Grant agreement ID: 101045156

DOI

10.3030/101045156

EC signature date 25 May 2022

Start date 1 November 2022

End date 31 October 2027

Funded under

• European Research Council (ERC)

Total cost

€ 2 000 000,00

EU contribution

€ 2 000 000,00

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITEIT GENT
Belgium

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - MICROBE (ModulatIng Cancer therapy RespOnse using Bacterial Extracellular nanovesicles)

Reporting period: 2022-11-01 to 2025-04-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Bacterial extracellular vesicles against cancer

Like eukaryotic cells, bacteria secrete nanometre-sized extracellular vesicles (BEVs) loaded with active cargo such as proteins as a mechanism of communication with other bacteria and with the host. Scientists under the EU-funded MICROBE project had previously discovered that gut microbiota also secrete BEVs in the systemic circulation of patients with increased intestinal permeability. The biological significance of BEVs in the interplay between the host and bacteria is still largely unknown. Through in-depth characterisation of BEVs from healthy individuals and patients with increased intestinal permeability, MICROBE aims to investigate how BEVs influence the disease course.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

1) A high-quality biorepository of healthy individuals and patients with increased intestinal permeability has been completed.
2) Current practices in BEV research have been mapped. We analyzed 845 publications released in 2015-2021, reporting 3338 BEV-related experiments. The extracted data are accessible via the publicly available EV-TRACK knowledgebase ( https://evtrack.org/). We identify the need for transparent reporting, delineate knowledge gaps, outline available best practices and define areas in need of guidance to ensure advances in BEV research and accelerate BEV applications.
3) The workflow for BEV preparation from these biofluids has been successfully fine-tuned.
4) BEV have been prepared from the collected biofluids and omics analysis and functional experiments are currently ongoing.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The project has already delivered recommendations and identified a set of experimental parameters, to delineate the available guidelines and tools with particular needs for BEV research. Results obtained from ongoing omics analysis and functional experiments are currently being explored for IP development.