Project description
The secrets of anti-tick immunity
How does our body defend against ticks? As climate change accelerates the spread of vector-borne diseases, this question has never been more urgent. While we know tick saliva actively suppresses host immunity, the roles played by type 2 granulocytes and sensory neurons in the skin remain a mystery. Supported by the Marie Sklodowska Curie Actions programme, the TICK TOCK project aims to bridge this gap by decrypting the molecular dialogue between these cells and tick-borne pathogens. It will use genetic mouse models and high-resolution molecular profiling to investigate how sensory neurons and immune cells form lasting ‘memories’ of infestation. Ultimately, this research will strengthen European biosecurity, providing the fundamental insights necessary to develop advanced treatment strategies.
Objective
Ticks are ectoparasites and major vectors of human and animal pathogens. Vector-borne diseases are an increasing threat in Europe, yet the molecular immunology of host responses to tick bites remains poorly understood. Tick saliva suppresses immunity, and although type 2 granulocytes such as mast cells, basophils, and eosinophils are recruited and activated at the bite site, their role in anti-tick immunity is unclear. Similarly, sensory neurons are emerging as important regulators of skin immunity and have been suggested as targets of tick effector mechanisms.
This MSCA project will decrypt immune responses to tick bites and identify roles of type 2 granulocytes and sensory neurons in adaptive and innate immune memory of tick infestation. The objectives are to (1) characterise cutaneous and immune molecular responses to tick infestation, (2) define granulocytic and neuronal contributions to adaptive immunity, and (3) explore inflammatory imprinting and memory of type 2 granulocytes and sensory neurons. Combining innovative in vivo tick infestation and genetic mouse models with cutting-edge profiling approaches, this fellowship will provide the applicant with new expertise, expand collaborations, and support career progression. By advancing our understanding of anti-tick immunity, this project will strengthen European research capacity, and improve readiness and treatment strategies against vector-borne diseases.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
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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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Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
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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)
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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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(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
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1090 Wien
Austria
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