Objective
Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health threat, still emerging in some areas of the world. The major tools to control the TB epidemic are worldwide implementation of the directly observed therapy short course (DOTS) programme and BCG vaccination. However, these methods to control TB are not ideal. The efficacy of BCG vaccination is doubtful and significant problems with resistance against anti-TB drugs have emerged. These problems could be fuelled by the selection of more adapted variants of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
The proposed project aims to further investigate the hypothesis on the selection of M. tuberculosis genotypes by the measures used to control the epidemic; anti-TB treatment and BCG vaccination. These selection mechanisms will be investigated by studying the population structure of M. tuberculosis in various regions by using DNA fingerprint tools. Trends in the dynamics of the population structure (emerging genotypes) will be identified. The association of the various genotypes with drug resistance or possible vaccine escape will be studied. Furthermore, the influence of genetic variability among M. tuberculosis strains on the virulence and immune response induced by these strains and the protection of various vaccines against these strains will be studied in vivo.
In addition, the effect of genetic variation in the M. tuberculosis genome on bacterial adaptability and response to stress will be studied. This will involve in vitro studies of the phenotypic effect of specific drug resistance and other mutations, with an emphasis on mutations in (putative) DNA repair genes. Insights into the adaptation of M. tuberculosis in response to control efforts should allow improved strategies for treatment and control and possibly reveal new targets for intervention.
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
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy drug resistance
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine pneumology tuberculosis
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy pharmaceutical drugs vaccines
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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.
FP6-2005-LIFESCIHEALTH-6
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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
BILTHOVEN
Netherlands
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.