Project description
Targeting bacterial biofilms
Bacteria form dense communities known as biofilms. Biofilms pose a critical global health threat since they shield microbes from antibiotics and enhance antibiotic resistance. The bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa, linked to cystic fibrosis and hospital-acquired infections, forms biofilms supported by amyloid fibrils. These protein aggregates, known as functional amyloids of Pseudomonas (Faps), are poorly characterised in physiological situations. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the FAPbulous project aims to uncover the structure and function of Faps and explore their role in biofilm formation. Using cutting-edge techniques, researchers will investigate basic mechanisms of bacterial resistance and lay the foundation for the development of new strategies against biofilm-associated infections.
Objective
Bacterial resistance to antibiotics poses a critical global threat and is partly due to the formation of stable biofilms which shield bacterial cells from antibiotics. Cystic fibrosis in lugs and some hospital-acquired infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa are closely linked to the formation of biofilms and resistance mechanisms, which include the presence of amyloid fibrils. Amyloids are a class of proteins known for their ability to self-assemble into highly structured fibrils. Their pivotal role as major virulence factors in microbial pathogens makes them leading targets for developing novel antimicrobial treatments. However, our understanding of microbial amyloids is limited, especially in a physiological context. This gap is particularly pronounced for the Functional Amyloids in Pseudomonas (Faps). Detailed insights into their structures and how they interact within biofilms are still elusive, mostly due to the limits of imaging technologies. To address this knowledge gap, in the FAPbulous project, I will use a multidisciplinary approach by combining structural biology, biophysics and genetic engineering techniques to (1) determine the in vitro structures of Faps amyloid fibrils, (2) characterize their molecular mechanism within biofilms and (3) assess the effects of inhibitors known to prevent Faps fibrillation on biofilm formation and resilience. This highly innovative project will be achieved by using the recent advances in cryo-electron and super resolution fluorescence microscopies to gain unprecedented insights into the structural dynamics of Faps within medically relevant biofilms and unveil their detailed mechanism of action, paving the way for novel antimicrobial strategies. The interdisciplinarity of FAPbulous will massively improve my research profile, endowing me with the scientific and soft skills necessary to perform future multidisciplinary research at the interface of structural biology, host:pathogen interactions and protein aggregation.
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 bacteriology
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy pharmaceutical drugs antibiotics
- natural sciences biological sciences biophysics
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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)
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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-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-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.
22607 Hamburg
Germany
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