Objective
Dendritic cells (DCs) are the sentinels of the immune system. They are bone marrow-derived, phagocytic cells, located in tissues to patrol for foreign antigens and present them to T cells. DC-SIGN is a DC-specific C-type lectin involved in adhesion and in pathogen-recognition, interacting with carbohydrate structures in a Ca2+-dependent manner. Life-threatening viruses like HIV-1, Ebola, and Hepatitis C virus are recognized by DC-SIGN. By high-resolution electron microscopy (EM), the applicant showed that o n DC cell membrane DC-SIGN can exist in two forms: randomly distributed or in submicron-sized (200 nm diameter) microdomains.
These microdomains were shown to reside in lipid rafts and to be required for efficient binding and uptake of virus. How DC-SIGN m icrodomains are formed is largely unknown. The aim of this proposal is to follow the dynamics of DC-SIGN microdomains in living cells with high spatial and temporal resolution.
Two aspects will be investigated: formation and stability of DC-SIGN microdomai ns as well as microdomain-mediated internalization and routing of virus-like particles. Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) is a powerful tool for imaging molecular activities of suitably labeled DC-SIGN molecules in living cells. Ligand-coated h ighly-photostable Quantum Dots are excellent fluorescent probes for monitoring endocytosis and vesicular trafficking mediated by DC-SIGN micro-domains. Currently, DCs are manipulated ex vivo for the development of anti-tumour and anti-virus therapies.
Therefore, this project will provide relevant information for important health-care areas, such as
i) development of C-type lectin-based vaccines against invading pathogens;
ii) study of antigen-routing mechanisms in DC cross-presentation; and iii) development o f C-type lectin-based targeting of DCs in anti-tumour strategies.
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 microbiology virology
- medical and health sciences health sciences infectious diseases RNA viruses ebola
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy electron microscopy
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy pharmaceutical drugs vaccines
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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
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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
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.