Objective
In times of rising antimicrobial resistance (AMR), natural predators of bacteria have great potential as alternatives. However, as with antibiotics, their efficacy is modulated by the ability of bacterial targets to develop resistance. For bacterial predators this relates specifically to understanding predator-prey interactions and particularly prey defence to attack and early stages of infection. However, in stark contrast to phage defence systems, little is known about bacterial prey resistance to predatory bacteria, and barely anything about prey bacterial immunity against predatory bacteria which is the last line of prey defence in the periplasm or cytosol.
While the factors determining bacterial immunity against predatory bacteria are unknown, recently I have detected, for the first time, novel evolutionary hotspots in the bacterial prey genome in response to predatory pressure. This reveals unexplored opportunities to elucidate mechanistically bacterial immunity against predatory bacteria.
The goal of BAC-MUNITY is to define the systems generating bacterial immunity against predatory bacteria. Appling methods from genetic engineering, protein interaction and various microscopy techniques (time-lapse widefield, super-resolution), we will (i) identify the mechanisms of bacterial prey immune systems against predatory bacteria, and (ii) determine specificity in relation to different predatory bacteria and elucidate how universal they are amongst different bacterial prey. Further, we will (iii) investigate regulation using predators engineered to overcome prey immunity and prey with genetically inactivated self-protection.
Unravelling new bacterial immune systems against predatory bacteria will open new research avenues with great potential in biotechnology, while providing valuable knowledge on the predator-prey arms race. It will contribute to the development of novel, sustainable treatments against AMR by exploiting the potential of predatory bacteria.
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 microbiology virology
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy super resolution microscopy
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics genomes
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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.1.1 - 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.
3012 BERN
Switzerland
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.