Project description
Mechanism of skin inflammation in Staphylococcus infection
The skin acts as a physical and immune barrier, maintaining balance through interactions between keratinocytes, immune cells, nerves and microbiota. Atopic dermatitis is characterised by a compromised skin barrier and microbiota imbalance that allows Staphylococcus aureus to exacerbate inflammation. The EU-funded Staph-in-Skin project will investigate how keratinocytes interact with S. aureus and regulate the resulting immune response. Researchers will employ mouse models and a variety of bacterial strains to identify the bacterial factors that trigger inflammation and study how keratinocyte-derived signals influence immune cell interactions. The goal is to uncover new signalling pathways and virulence mechanisms, paving the way for new treatments for skin inflammation and infection.
Objective
The skin provides a physical and immunological barrier to external environment and its homeostasis depends on interactions between keratinocytes, peripheral nerves, immune cells and microbiota. One of the bacteria that can colonise skin is Staphylococcus aureus and it can be part of healthy skin or pathogen causing skin infection. Importantly, in atopic dermatitis patients, which suffer from impaired skin barrier and microbiota dysbiosis, S. aureus is associated with severity of flares and exacerbation of inflammation. The inflammatory loop in the skin depends both on host and pathogen factors, but it is not fully
elucidated how this interaction is regulated.
The proposed project will investigate novel mechanisms regulating the inflammation induced by S. aureus skin infection. The main focus will be on molecular mechanisms and regulation of pathogen sensing by keratinocytes. First, murine model of topical skin infection will be used to characterise how keratinocytes orchestrate immune response. Then, it will be examined in detail which S. aureus virulence factors induce inflammation in keratinocytes using different laboratory and clinical S. aureus strains. Finally, the role of characterised virulence factors and immunomodulators secreted by keratinocytes will be investigated in keratinocyte-immune cells interactions. To achieve the goals of this project, proteomics, next-generation sequencing, biochemistry, molecular biology and immunological assays will be applied.
Overall, this project will contribute to greater understating of S. aureus-host immunity interactions with particular focus on regulation of keratinocyte inflammatory response. Moreover, identified novel signalling molecules in the skin and virulence factors of the pathogen can be explored in novel skin inflammation and infection treatments.
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.4.1 - Widening participation and spreading excellence
MAIN PROGRAMME
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HORIZON.4.1.5 - Fostering brain circulation of researchers and excellence initiatives
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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-WIDERA-2022-TALENTS-02
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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.
31-007 KRAKOW
Poland
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.