Objective
Oligomeric materials consisting of repeat units of carbohydrate monomers frequently represent crucial cell components that are essential for the viability of a whole host of different organisms. For example the mycobacterial cell wall contains several uniq ue carbohydrate structures, such as the arabinogalactan and arabinomannan portions, that do not appear in mammalian biology. It has previously been demonstrated that the correct biosynthesis of these structures is essential for bacterial survival. Therefore inhibition of the biosynthesis of these types of oligosaccharides represents a new and attractive therapeutic strategy against mycobacteria and in particular against tuberculosis. Similarly chitin, which is a (1-4) linked polymer of N-acetylglucosamine, is a major constituent of both fungal cell walls and insect exoskeletons. However chitin also does not appear in mammalian systems, and therefore inhibition of chitin biosynthesis represents a selective strategy for the development of novel fungicides and insecticidal agents.
This research program aims to develop a new strategy for the inhibition of such bacterial and fungal poly- and oligosaccharide biosynthesis by a completely novel mode of action. This research proposal concerns investigations into the feasibility of using this strategy as a method for inhibition of mycobacterial cell wall biosynthesis, and also for the inhibition of fungal cell wall biosynthesis. These studies are designed to investigate the general feasibility of this approach, and hopefully to provide a demonstration of and "proof of concept" for a new approach to the inhibition of oligosaccharide biosynthesis, which may in the near future represent a novel and general therapeutic opportunity against infective organisms, particularly those which have developed resistance to current treatments.
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 cell biology
- natural sciences chemical sciences polymer sciences
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine pneumology tuberculosis
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules carbohydrates
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins enzymes
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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.
FP6-2004-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
OXFORD
United Kingdom
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.