Objective
Staphylococcus aureus community-acquired (CA)-MRSA strains are highly virulent and can cause infections in otherwise healthy individuals and are a leading cause of death worldwide. Innate immunity is our primary defense against invading staphylococci. Blood-neutrophils migrate to the site of infection where they, in concert with the complement system, engulf and kill bacteria in a process called phagocytosis. Especially CA-MRSA strains seem to be very efficient in circumventing this neutrophil killing. Interestingly, only a relative small number of virulence factors have been associated with CA-MRSA, one of which are the phenol soluble modulins (PSMs). In vivo models of experimental infection with PSM-mutants have shown a critical role for PSMs in skin and soft tissue infections. PSMs are small alpha-helical peptides which have two distinct functions on the immune system, in vitro PSMs can attract neutrophils in the nanomolar range, whereas in the micromolar range they are cytolytic for neutrophils. Recent publications suggests that these two functions complement each other for full staphylococcal virulence, although it seems counter-intuitive for S. aureus to actively attract its mortal enemy: the neutrophil. To make matters even more complicated PSMs are functionally inactivated by host serum lipoproteins, most efficiently by high density lipoprotein (HDL). The goal of this research proposal is to determine the mechanism of action for PSMs in staphylococcal disease. To this end, I will use genomic and proteomic approaches combined with cutting edge in vivo spinning-disk confocal microscopy, to dissect the functions of PSMs in host-staphylococcal interactions in; 1) neutrophil recruitment, 2) neutrophil lysis 3) HDL neutralization and liver pathology, 4) Evasion of PSM-recognition by FLIPR-L
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 bacteriology
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pathology
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy confocal microscopy
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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.
FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IOF
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
3584 CX Utrecht
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.