Objective
Malaria is one of the leading life-threatening diseases with a reported 627,000 deaths and 241 million infections in 2020, mostly in low-income countries. Despite the advances gained by control measures, malaria incidence by Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) has plateaued in the last decade. Intervention through vaccines and antibody therapy shows promising results, yet long-lasting protective immunity remains unattainable. Anti-malaria memory B cells comprise transcriptionally distinct sub-populations, but their contribution to protective immunity is unclear. Here, I plan to combine state-of-the-art strategies to identify the cellular and molecular features of protective immunity offered by B cells and encoded antibodies, respectively. To that end, I will use the unique samples from controlled human malaria infection trials to isolate memory B cells reactive to Pf antigens, obtain transcriptome and immunoglobulin (Ig) gene sequences at the single cell level and measure antibody inhibitory properties at the monoclonal level. Transcripts signifying resting, activated or exhausted phenotype will allow memory B cell clustering, whereas Ig gene features will help define clonal expansion and selection strength of antibodies. By cloning and testing antibodies in specialized in vitro and in vivo assays, I aim to discover potent inhibitory antibodies targeting different parasite developmental stages. I will reveal the protective antibody molecular properties defined by Ig gene features, affinity, and epitope specificity. By single-cell level integration of transcriptome and antibody functionality for the first time, this project will not only deliver potent parasite inhibitory antibodies of therapeutic potential but also lay a clear blueprint for attaining protective immunity through future vaccine designs. This fellowship will support me in acquiring interdisciplinary expertise and advancing my career as a leading scientist in B cell immunology and malaria vaccinology.
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.
- medical and health sciences health sciences infectious diseases malaria
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy pharmaceutical drugs vaccines
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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-2022-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.
2333 ZA Leiden
Netherlands
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.