Project description
Systems biology study of functions and interactions of human gut microbiome proteins
Genomics approaches identify imbalances and associations of human gut microbiota species composition with the disease. However, the molecular mechanisms that drive disease or promote health and functions of many proteins of these organisms are not understood. The ERC-funded ProFITGut project will attempt to identify functions and interactions of microbiome species proteins and develop strategies to manipulate microbiome composition. The study will employ a scalable systems biology approach involving high-throughput proteomics, and drugs, targeting the proteome of 38 prevalent and diverse bacterial species in the human gut. The goals are to create a map of the functional protein network of these species, identify the mechanisms of action and species that encode the target, providing information for specific depletion of the disease-associated species.
Objective
The gut microbiome plays a key role in human health. Genomics approaches excel at cataloguing species composition, and associating imbalances with disease. Yet, as we are oblivious to the function of a large proportion of proteins of these organisms, we are limited in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that drive disease or promote health. In this groundbreaking project we will systematically identify the function and interactions of proteins of microbiome species, deliver compounds to modulate them, and develop strategies to rationally manipulate microbiome composition.
We will use a scalable systems biology approach based on high-throughput proteomics, using more than 100 drugs to perturb the proteome of a panel of 38 prevalent and phylogenetically diverse bacterial species that colonize the human gut. Proteins involved in the same biological process have coordinated changes in their levels across perturbations, allowing us to infer function based on annotated proteins. We will further assess which proteins are likely to physically interact as they co-aggregate upon heat-induced denaturation, leading to a map of the functional protein network of these species. We will then identify the mechanisms of action and resistance of the used drugs by using thermal proteome profiling, and by measuring intracellular drug concentrations. This will allow us to identify species that encode the target, but no resistance elements, so we can use the information to specifically deplete disease-associated species from microbial communities. These strategies extend beyond the strains studied in this project, as homologs of these proteins can be identified solely from genome sequences.
Overall, this project paves the way for the microbiome field to move from associations to targetable mechanisms, with a vision to design therapies with reduced side effects to restore the microbiome to a healthy state.
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.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
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.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
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.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
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-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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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) ERC-2022-STG
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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.
901 87 UMEA
Sweden
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.