Project description
Understanding co-infections of malaria and visceral leishmaniasis
Malaria and visceral leishmaniasis are both parasitic diseases transmitted by insects and pose a substantial medical problem in tropical and subtropical regions. Both diseases overlap geographically, making co-infections common yet poorly understood. The EU-funded LeishMal project aims to investigate how Plasmodium and Leishmania parasites jointly impact the progression of the respective diseases. In this context, the research team will develop a murine co-infection model and study immune responses in single and co-infected mice. Project findings will enhance understanding of co-infection biology and support improved clinical management strategies in endemic regions for these parasitic diseases.
Objective
Malaria and Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) are prevalent parasitic diseases presenting substantial healthcare challenges in tropical and subtropical endemic regions. They share similar geographical distributions, increasing susceptibility during co-infections. Utilizing my multidisciplinary expertise in molecular and cellular biology and parasitology, this research proposal aims to establish a novel murine co-infection model to elucidate the cellular and immunological events during concomitant infection with Plasmodium and Leishmania parasites. Unlike previous studies, we seek to evaluate how Plasmodium affects VL pathology and how Leishmania impacts malaria, providing insights into the disease progression dynamics. Furthermore, we will delineate the immunological responses in single- and co-infected mice, shedding light on host immunity in co-infections. To generate a robust and reproducible murine co-infection model, we will optimize infection parameters, including inoculation routes and parasite doses. The co-infection timing will also be systematically manipulated to discern its impact on disease outcomes. This endeavor holds significant potential to advance our understanding of co-infection biology and contribute significantly to the development of clinical management strategies and therapeutic interventions tailored for co-infections in endemic regions. The host institution’s state-of-the-art facilities and the host laboratory’s extensive experience in investigating co-infections involving Plasmodium and other pathogens ensure an ideal environment for achieving the goals. Ultimately, this project will enable me to become proficient in the field of co-infection biology, encompassing all phases of malaria, including liver, blood, and insect stages. Overall, the research proposal leverages a carefully controlled murine model to illuminate the intricate dynamics of co-infections, contributing to improved healthcare outcomes in regions where these diseases prevail.
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 parasitic diseases malaria
- medical and health sciences health sciences parasitology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pathology
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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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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-2023-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.
1649-035 LISBOA
Portugal
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.