Objective
Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic human pathogen causing a life-threatening form of meningitis in immunocompromised individuals, especially in AIDS patients. The capsular polysaccharide is this yeast¿s main virulence factor. It allows the yeast t o cross the hemato-encephalitis barrier and subsequently disseminate in the central nervous system. Some of the antibodies, specific for the major component of the capsule, a glucuronoxylomannan (GXM) polysaccharide, are protective against infection. Howev er, knowledge of the exact nature of the repeating units of GXM associated to the various serotypes of C. neoformans and a fortiori that of the corresponding "protective" epitopes is lacking. Using synthetic oligosaccharides made "in demand", our goal is t o fill these crucial gaps. Indeed "protective" carbohydrate epitopes may be used both as prognostic tools as well as key components in the development of an efficacious GXM-derived conjugate vaccine. Besides, the GXM structure necessary and/or sufficient f or crossing the blood brain barrier might be identified. The originality of our project is the key in-house interactive partnership between genetics and chemistry. Using state-of-the-art glycochemistry, focus will be on the development of highly reactive c onvergent synthetic strategies. A set of key versatile mono- and disaccharide building blocks, optimized for target diversity and whenever possible compatible with solid phase synthesis, will be designed. Their appropriate combination will next lead to the oligosaccharide targets, selected according to hypotheses derived from screening for the biological properties of a large panel of randomly mutated strains. The Marie Curie fellow will be in charge of the synthesis and biological evaluation of the targets , including the study of their binding to a panel of anti-GXM antibodies.
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 neurobiology
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics
- medical and health sciences health sciences infectious diseases RNA viruses HIV
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy pharmaceutical drugs vaccines
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules carbohydrates
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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.
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.
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.
FP6-2002-MOBILITY-5
See other projects for this call
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.
Coordinator
PARIS
France
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.