Objective
Kaposis sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is a widespread oncogenic virus, whose infection can cause Kaposis sarcoma, an incurable cancer frequent in immunocompromised individuals. Similar to other herpesviruses, KSHV establishes a latent infection in the host, characterized by lifelong persistence of the viral genome. Necessary and sufficient for latent infection are the virally expressed latency-associated nuclear antigen (LANA) and highly repetitive GC-rich sequences on the viral genome, named terminal repeats (TRs). While several studies have uncovered the importance of LANA in promoting KSHV DNA replication and segregation during latency, the essential role of the TRs remains poorly understood. In particular, the GC-rich regions contained in the TRs have been speculated to fold into G-quadruplexes (G4), secondary DNA structures that can function as replication barriers, but their roles remain elusive. A deep mechanistic understanding of the ways KSHV maintains itself in latency would be crucial to uncover a way to eradicate the virus from the infected cells, before the onset of Kaposis sarcoma, but this knowledge is missing, mainly due to the methodological limitations of investigating KSHV latent replication solely in cells. With this proposal, in aim to take advantage of the Xenopus laevis egg extract in vitro system to go beyond such limitations and to gain mechanistic insight in the role of G4s in the latency of KSHV. By combining my extensive expertise in the field of DNA replication with the deep knowledge of Prof. Sara Richter at the University of Padua in secondary DNA structures in viral genomes, I aim at mechanistically defining the strategies adopted by KSHV to maintain itself in latency and at identifying approaches to prevent viral maintenance in KSHV infected cells. The proposed project will have great societal impact on cancer prevention, and it will be pivotal for my scientific and personal growth into an independent junior group leader.
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 virology
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics DNA
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- 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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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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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) HORIZON-MSCA-2021-PF-01
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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.
35122 PADOVA
Italy
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.