Objective Life-threatening complications from bacterial infections, such as sepsis and septic shock, are the second leading cause of death among patients in non-coronary intensive care units killing up to 146 000 patients each year in Europe. These alarming findings prompted many research groups, to search for novel strategies to treat severe infectious diseases. Many of these approaches are focused on so-called “host effector systems”, since evidence has accumulated that complications from an infection are caused by an over-stimulation of host defense systems that are modulated by bacteria or bacterial products. In severe infections, such as sepsis and septic shock, vascular leakage, increased cytokine levels, and coagulation/fibrinolysis dysfunction are often observed. Thus, the research projects presented in this application focus on the identification and characterization of molecular mechanisms that lead to these complications with a focus on severe infections caused by the human pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes. The results obtained from such investigations could be used for the discovery of novel treatments in infectious diseases. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologybacteriologymedical and health scienceshealth sciencesinfectious diseasesmedical and health sciencesclinical medicinecritical care medicine Keywords Host/parasite interactions Infections inflammation sepsis severe infectious diseases Programme(s) FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) PEOPLE-2007-2-1.IEF - Marie Curie Action: "Intra-European Fellowships for Career Development" Call for proposal FP7-PEOPLE-2007-2-1-IEF See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MC-IEF - Intra-European Fellowships (IEF) Coordinator MAX IV Laboratory, Lund University EU contribution € 176 753,90 Address Paradisgatan 5c 22100 LUND Sweden See on map Region Södra Sverige Sydsverige Skåne län Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Heiko Herwald (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data