Objective
Influenza A viruses (IAVs) originating from wild waterfowl reservoirs are zoonotic pathogens that pose a constant public health threat. Human spill-over infections occur directly from birds or indirectly through intermediate mammalian hosts and are typically confined to individuals. However, viruses with pandemic potential occasionally emerge, if they overcome the human species barriers. The human innate immune restriction factor Mx1 (known as MxA) is a key interspecies barrier. Previous studies showed that human-adapted IAVs evade MxA restriction through a full set of adaptive amino acids in the viral nucleoprotein (NP). Yet, the mechanisms leading to MxA resistance in NP remain poorly understood. Partial MxA resistance may be acquired in intermediate hosts that express an antivirally active Mx1 or emerge de novo upon viral circulation in humans, as seen in past pandemic IAVs. However, because MxA efficiently suppresses growth of zoonotic IAV with partial MxA resistance, early pandemic IAVs must have evolved additional mechanisms that counteracted MxA restriction. I hypothesize that pre-pandemic IAVs overcome MxA restriction through a combination of (i) an NP pre-shaped by Mx1-driven selection in intermediate hosts, and (ii) by effective measures to dampen the host’s innate immune response, via the viral innate immune antagonist NS1. In FLU-ARMOR, we will reveal how pre-pandemic IAVs evade MxA restriction. Using a forward evolutionary screen, we will explore the adaptive plasticity of NP under Mx1 selection pressure, followed by a component-level analysis of pandemic NS1 proteins, including their cellular interactome and immunosuppressive capabilities. Finally, we will integrate these insights into an AI-based horizon scanning approach to detect circulating IAVs with pre-pandemic characteristics. By unraveling the molecular adaptation processes and virus-host interactions that precede MxA evasion, FLU-ARMOR will set a new benchmark for pandemic preparedness.
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.
This project has not yet been classified with EuroSciVoc.
Be the first one to suggest relevant scientific fields and help us improve our classification service
You need to log in or register to use this function
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.
-
HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
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
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
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-2026-STG
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
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.
79106 Freiburg
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.