Objective
Giant Viruses (GVs) encode thousands of ORFan genes but their study has been nearly impossible due to the lack of genetic tools for reverse genetics. The aims of ViDaMa and the tools I designed will shed light into this Viral protein Dark Matter. Particularly, I will study how new genes from Mimivirus were engineered during evolution to acquire nuclear-like function for their Viral Factories (VFs). VFs physically separate viral DNA replication and transcription from translation and likely segregate DNA into active and silent. How these functions are accomplished remains elusive.
I will demonstrate causality of liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) for the acquisition of nuclear-like functions of the Viral Factories (VFs) of Mimivirus. To do so, I will:
1) Generate genome-wide loss-of-function screens for the identification of gene function and proteome-wide localization of virtually all Mimivirus and its host Acanthamoeba proteins.
2) Combine biochemistry and cell biology to dissect the nature, functions and components of the VFs of Mimivirus.
3) Strip down VFs to their minimal components in order to utilize them to improve production efficiency and purity of mRNA during in vitro transcription.
ViDaMA will empower the GVs scientific community with genome-wide and proteome-wide data of gene function and protein localization. It will transform the field from mostly descriptive to allow the dissection of the molecular mechanisms behind viral phenotypes. ViDaMa will also address the molecular mechanisms that allow the VFs to acquire nuclear-like functions, directly tackling the viral eukaryogenesis theory. The new classification of VFs as membrane-less organelles and the study of the molecular mechanism behind their biogenesis and functions will shed light into general mechanism of LLPS. The generation of in vitro VFs promises an optimization of in vitro transcription systems with tremendous impact on mRNA therapeutics at the development and production level.
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 biological sciences microbiology virology
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics DNA
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
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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.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
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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-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-2024-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.
75794 Paris
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.