Project description
Unveiling malaria mechanisms through clues from birds
Despite decades of efforts, malaria continues to be the deadliest pathogen in history, as the reason for its severe clinical phase remains unexplained. It also poses a threat to other species, including birds. Furthermore, even with the same exposure to infection, there is variation in individuals’ vulnerability to the disease. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions programme, the MATHORMAL project aims to uncover the reason some individuals who are infected with malaria develop severe syndromes. The project will utilise an integrative and multidisciplinary experimental approach to study the impact of maternal hormones and cellular ageing on the susceptibility to malaria. By examining clues from studies on avian DNA, the project hopes to improve strategies for preventing the disease.
Objective
For centuries, malaria has been a major global health concern, and despite intensive research efforts, malaria infection remains a key issue for many countries. Malaria parasites are also responsible for wildlife population declines and even extinction of many bird species. Despite being exposed to the same risk, there is a clear inter-individual variation in the susceptibility to malaria infection. Through MATHORMAL, I propose that such inter-individual variability in malaria susceptibility might be linked to both the prenatal programming of physiology by maternal hormonal effects and by initial differences in cellular ageing (i.e. assessed through telomere length). Higher exposure to certain maternal hormones can depress immunity, accelerate cellular ageing, and deregulate the protective microbiome of the uropygial gland linked to antimalarial defensive mechanisms. Thus, I hypothesize that increased prenatal exposure to certain maternal hormones could make the offspring more susceptible to malarial infections, potentially through its effects on telomeres and uropygial microbiome. To test this, I will first use artificially increased yolk hormone experiments (glucocorticoid, testosterone, and thyroid hormones) in a wild bird population and assess malaria infection intensity, immunity, telomere dynamics, and uropygial microbiome. Then, I will experimentally induce early-life telomere lengthening with TA-65 to assess the potential role that short telomeres play in malaria susceptibility. This project will advance our understanding of the inter-individual variation in malaria susceptibility, which will help to improve malaria prevention strategies. MATHORMAL will use an integrative approach at the crossroad of evolutionary ecology, ecophysiology, and parasitology and largely benefit from the dual knowledge transfer between myself (expertise in maternal hormonal effects and avian malaria) and my host group (expertise in maternal hormonal effects and telomere biology).
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.
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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.
20014 Turku
Finland
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.