Project description
Dissecting host-fungus interplay
Aspergillus fumigatus is an opportunistic pathogen and can cause serious respiratory infections in individuals with compromised immune systems. Understanding the interplay between A. fumigatus and host immune cells is critical for combating such infections. A. fumigatus is typically eliminated by alveolar macrophages through phagocytosis, but the fungus has evolved strategies to evade this process. The EU-funded POLAR project aims to investigate the molecular mechanism of phagosome formation and membrane repair during A. fumigatus infection. Project findings will guide the design of new immunomodulatory strategies against fungal pathogens and deepen our understanding of macrophage biology.
Objective
The opportunistic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus is an emerging cause of life-threatening respiratory infections in an expanding group of patients with acquired innate immune defects. Dissecting the molecular dynamics of fungal-host interplay mediating sterilizing immunity against A. fumigatus is crucial to gain insight in disease pathogenesis and develop novel immunomodulatory therapies. Physiologically, Aspergillus fumigatus conidia are eliminated inside Alveolar Macrophages (AMs) via activation of the LC3 associated phagocytosis (LAP) pathway. A. fumigatus cell wall melanin blocks LAP to promote pathogenicity. Intracellular germination of A. fumigatus conidia results in exposure of immunostimulatory fungal molecules concomitantly with melanin removal and triggers NADPH oxidase-dependent activation of LAP. The molecular mechanism of LC3 conjugation on A. fumigatus phagosome membrane and the physiological function of LAP on AM biology and antifungal host defense remain elusive. Of interest, pilot studies in the host lab demonstrate that infection of AMs and other types of macrophages with live conidia of A. fumigatus results in a unique pattern of pulsatile LC3 recruitment on the phagosome membrane, which is accompanied by waves of increased phagosome permeability. These findings imply for a novel mechanism of LC3+ phagosome (LAPosome) formation via cytosolic sensing of fungal vita-PAMPs and suggests for an unconventional function of LAPosomes in regulation of membrane repair mechanisms in response to damage induced by Aspergillus infection. This research project aims to understand the precise host and pathogen molecular determinants of LAPosome formation and exploit the intriguing role of LC3 on regulation of phagosomal membrane repair during A. fumigatus infection. Using A. fumigatus as a model pathogen, this project with provide fundamental insights on the role of LAP in macrophage biology paving the way for new host-directed strategies.
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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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.
700 13 IRAKLEIO
Greece
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.