Project description
Regulators of malaria parasite invasion
The parasite Plasmodium falciparum, causative agent of malaria, invades and replicates inside human red blood cells (RBCs). These processes are facilitated by specialised secretory organelles called rhoptries which release proteins that enable parasite entry and intracellular survival. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the RhoptryPhos project aims to investigate the modifications of rhoptry proteins and how they affect parasite invasion and replication within RBCs. Researchers will focus on rhoptry kinases in P. falciparum and explore their role in protein phosphorylation, hoping to uncover novel regulatory mechanisms critical for malaria infection.
Objective
Malaria remains a major global health issue, caused by the apicomplexan parasites of the genus Plasmodium, with Plasmodium falciparum being the most virulent and lethal species. Malaria symptoms primarily result from repetitive cycles of parasite invasion, replication and egress within human red blood cells (RBCs). Invasion by the infective merozoite forms is facilitated by the secretion of factors from apically localized secretory organelles. Among these, the largest, known as rhoptries, contain proteins essential during invasion and subsequent intracellular development. Despite their critical role, the regulatory mechanisms governing their functions remain poorly understood. For instance, phosphorylation has been observed in several of these essential rhoptry proteins. However, the implications of these modifications are unclear, as no kinase has yet been identified within the rhoptries. Therefore, I hypothesize that kinases localize to rhoptry organelles and play important roles in merozoite invasion and intraerythrocytic development. Preliminary data supports this hypothesis, by showing that FIKK5, a non-essential kinase previously thought to be exported into RBCs, localizes to the rhoptry bulbs. Based on this, I propose to identify essential rhoptry kinases in P. falciparum and investigate their regulatory impact on other rhoptry proteins, as well as in invasion and intraerythrocytic development, using state-of-the-art proteomic, genetic and cell biological approaches. To achieve this, I will: 1) define the rhoptry kinome in P. falciparum; 2) characterize the functions of rhoptry kinases during parasite development; and 3) assess the impact rhoptry kinase disruption on the protein environment within rhoptries. Ultimately, through this proposal I will generate the first comprehensive proteome of the rhoptries in P. falciparum, while identifying the first kinases involved in regulating key rhoptry factors critical for maintaining infection of RBCs.
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
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins proteomics
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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-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.
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.