Objective
One of the major challenges in understanding the complex immune system is the question when and why this defense system attacks endogenous proteins (i.e. self-proteins). Currently, there are no reliable methods to predict what induces such an immune response, despite it has a major impact in medicine by causing autoimmune diseases, and in biotechnology by inducing adverse reactions towards new drugs.
PredicTOOL will concentrate on antibody-mediated immune reactions to endogenous proteins. By high sensitivity nanotechnological tools based on spectroscopic and imaging techniques (e.g. Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy, Single Molecule Force Spectroscopy, Isothermal Titration Calorimetry, Fluorescence Microscopy), PredicTOOL will identify common patterns that characterize the interaction of autoantibodies with their antigens and further interaction with cells of the immune system. We will use well characterized human model diseases (cardiovascular). The proposed technologies will allow applying the rules of classic mechanics to identify the pattern of autoantibody-antigen interactions and will lead to better understand why an endogenous protein induces an immune response.
The project aims to: i) identify patterns expressed in proteins to which autoantibodies bind on a nanometer scale; ii) investigate whether certain mutations or post-translational changes in the proteins facilitate conformational changes leading to expression of such patterns; iii) assess the binding of human autoantibodies to such modified proteins and compare this with the binding to the wild type/native protein; and iv) develop a platform of microstructured arrays to investigate immunogenic proteins. The results of this highly interdisciplinary and translational project will allow to better understand autoimmunity and to develop new ways for prevention and treatment in medicine, and to optimize the production of safer biotherapeutic drugs.
The vision of PredicTOOL is that physics has the potential to substantially change the view on the pathogenesis of autoimmunity. It is highly interdisciplinary and bridges in a translational approach, immunology, physics, biotechnology and medicine. It targets to identify patterns driving antibody-mediated cardiovascular diseases. The project bears two major areas of application. In medicine, it can lead to better understand autoimmunity and to develop new ways for prevention and treatment. In the development of biotherapeutics, it can help to finally produce safer biotherapeutic drugs. The biggest strength of the project is to directly work in the human system (proteins and antibodies) applying state-of-the-art nanotechnological techniques and physical methods. We have already established the proof-of-principle of our approach using PF4/heparin model system, which now allows transferring our findings to other proteins to identify common patterns.
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: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology autoimmune diseases
- natural sciences chemical sciences analytical chemistry calorimetry
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine cardiology cardiovascular diseases
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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.
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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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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.
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.
ERC-STG - Starting Grant
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2014-STG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
17489 Greifswald
Germany
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