Project description
Studying bacterial responses to stress at the single cell level
During a bacterial infection, our body raises the temperature as a defence mechanism, heat shocking and killing bacteria. However, bacteria have evolved mechanisms that enable them to adapt to these new environmental conditions. The aim of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) BARTAS project is to understand how bacteria respond to stress such as temperature change or antibiotics at single cell level. Researchers will build a microfluidics-based approach to control the stress conditions and track bacterial responses via imaging. Results will provide essential information regarding the combinatorial impact of heat shock and antibiotics on bacterial viability.
Objective
Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest scientific and health challenges of our time. If actions are not taken, antibiotics resistance infections will become the first cause of death by 2050. One of the most common signs of bacterial infection is a rapid increase of the host temperature that exposes bacteria to a heat shock (HS). To survive and quickly adapt to this new environment, bacteria activate the synthesis of specific proteins, called heat shock proteins (HSPs). In E.coli HSPs expression is mediated by the alternative sigma factor sigma32 (Sig32). The molecular processes that are associated with the bacterial stress responses induced by a combination of change in temperature and presence of antibiotics have not yet been investigated in detail due to the technical challenges of monitoring this combination of stresses with the necessary temporal and spatial accuracy. Cell-to-cell fluctuations in protein expression could affect single cells survival. Therefore, these processes should be studied with single cell precision. I propose to investigate bacterial responses to the combined stresses of temperature increase and antibiotics at single cell level in live E.coli using a combination of microfluidics and single molecule/super-resolution imaging. I will design and build a microfluid system able to control the stress landscape of temperature and antibiotic concentrations. This will allow me to study Sig32 expression during HS using fast-maturating fluorescent protein fusions. Next, I will monitor how HS affects proteins synthesis by measuring the diffusion changes of single ribosomal subunits (S30 and S50) during HS, using single particle tracking PALM. Finally, I will quantify the interplay between HS response and antibiotic susceptibility by monitoring Sig32 levels and the diffusion of ribosomal subunits. Taken together my results will provide for the first time a quantitative picture and a new framework to study bacterial response to multiple stresses.
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 physical sciences classical mechanics fluid mechanics microfluidics
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology bacteriology
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy pharmaceutical drugs antibiotics
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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)
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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.
91128 PALAISEAU CEDEX
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.