Objective
The existence of stable strains of prions, differing in incubation times, clinical features, and neuroanatomical PrPSc deposition, is disquieting. The structural and biological features which encode strains and determine their disease phenotype are obscure. Some strains, including BSE, easily traverse species barriers causing serious concerns in the EU. Promiscuous strains present a public health threat if they propagate through the food chain, while remaining either undetected or misidentified. These dangers are illustrated by the atypical cases of scrapie which have appeared throughout the EU, including in sheep hitherto considered genetically resistant, and by the identification of BSE in a goat in France. As yet there are no diagnostic procedures to identify TSE strains, except in some rare cases. We propose studying fundamental and applied aspects of prions strains and their relationship to the species barrier, and to use the knowledge generated to initiate diagnostic methodologies to detect strains and predict their epidemiological behaviour. We have assembled a powerful consortium of partners with proven experimental and industrial achievements. We will (i) systematically examine the properties of field strains and their species barriers when propagated (ii) examine strain-dependent biochemical and biophysical properties of PrPSc (iii) apply novel cryoelectron tomographical techniques to determine the 3-D structure (at 4 nm resolution) of PrPSc in various strains in neuronal (stem) cells (iv) study strain-specific features of prion infection in cultured cells, including their uptake receptors, (v) characterize strain dependent cytopathogenic mechanisms in infected cells. We will prepare novel diagnostic and research reagents such as a) possibly strain specific, PrP monoclonal antibodies, b) a goat PrP transgenic mouse, and c) novel ovine, caprine and bovine neuronal stem cells susceptible to prion infection.
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.
- medical and health sciences health sciences public health epidemiology epidemics prevention
- natural sciences biological sciences cell biology
- medical and health sciences medical biotechnology cells technologies stem cells
- engineering and technology other engineering and technologies food technology food safety
- agricultural sciences animal and dairy science domestic animals animal husbandry
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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-FOOD-3-B
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
JERUSALEM
Israel
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.