Objective
The novel COVID-19 vaccines have effectively reduced morbidity and mortality but unexpectedly failed to provide long-lasting sterilizing immunity. While specific serum antibody (Ab) titers were durable, local upper respiratory tract (URT) mucosal Ab responses were surprisingly short-lived. This shows both our lack of and need for a deeper understanding of URT mucosal immunity and its distinctions from systemic immunity. My proposal is designed to answer two key questions arising from this: How does the initial exposure site—mucosal or systemic—shape and imprint immune memory? And how is this imprinting reprogrammed by subsequent exposures via different exposure routes?
In the TopBMemory project, I will: (1) delineate how the antigen (ag) nature and primary exposure site shape human memory B cell (MBC) subset heterogeneity and their imprinting. I will generate the first single-cell (sc) multiomic profiles of ag-specific (ag+) MBCs with context-specific imprints by a project-specific pipeline integrating transcriptomic, epigenomic, and phenotypic data. (2) Determine how alternative re-exposure sites reprogram existing imprints—overwrite or complement them—which will be the first demonstration of the potential for natural imprint reprogramming in MBC. (3) Test targeted reprogramming of MBC subsets within tonsil and nasal mucosa-derived organoid co-culture systems. My findings will significantly advance understanding of MBC ontogeny and plasticity, both in host protection and also immunopathologies, and inform the development of a new generation of vaccines and therapies.
The groundbreaking nature of TopBMemory lies in its first large-scale contextualization of human ag+ MBC subset origins and functions, exploring their responses and adaptions to varying routes of ag re-exposure. This is complemented by the development of innovative toolkits for sc multiomics and MBC (re-)programming within advanced organoid systems, to explore and guide precise manipulation 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.
- social sciences sociology demography mortality
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy pharmaceutical drugs vaccines
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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)
- immunological memory
- human
- memory B cell
- upper respiratory tract (URT)
- infection
- vaccination
- mucosal immunity
- systemic immunity
- epigenetics
- imprinting
- reprogramming
- varicella zoster virus (VZV)
- respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
- antigen-specific
- organoids
- tonsil
- nasal mucosa
- tetanus toxoid (TT)
- memory B cell ontogeny
- flow cytometry
- single-cell
- multiomics
- ATAC-seq
- RNA-seq
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)
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-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-2025-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.
10117 Berlin
Germany
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.