Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English English
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS

Development of functional genomic screens to identify conserved host cell processes targeted by fungal effector proteins

Objective

In nature, fungi live in close contact with many different hosts: plants, other fungi, insects and even vertebrates including humans. They do so because the host often supplies key nutrients, which enables the fungus to grow and successfully reproduce. In many cases though, a fungus can act as a parasite and infects the host. As a result, the host mounts an immune reaction to combat the fungal infection. The fungus, in turn, has evolved ways to circumvent the immune reaction. This “arms race” between fungus and host has given rise to a plethora of secreted proteins that the fungus uses to suppress the host immune responses and circumvent host defence reactions. These secreted proteins from fungi that function in this arms race are commonly known as “effectors”. A very important plant pathogenic fungus that is predicted to encode close to 500 of such effector proteins is the barley powdery mildew fungus Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei. Unravelling the functions of these effector proteins will provide important insights into fungal pathogenicity and host immunity. To date, the roles of the vast majority of the effector proteins are unknown. One way to elucidate the functions of these numerous effector proteins is to express each separately in model eukaryotic organisms like yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, or algae, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and identify conserved cellular targets of these effector proteins. This approach has proven to be very successful in identifying targets of bacterial effector proteins. In the project described here, this yeast- and algae-based system will be applied for the first time for fungal effector proteins.
Effectors are, besides being used by fungi to infect plants and other organisms, also a potential new source to rewire cells. When interesting conserved targets of these effectors are found, it opens up ways to use them in biotechnology and for medical purposes.

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.

You need to log in or register to use this function

Programme(s)

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.

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.

MSCA-IF-EF-RI - RI – Reintegration panel

See all projects funded under this funding scheme

Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2014

See all projects funded under this call

Coordinator

IMPERIAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICINE
Net EU contribution

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.

€ 183 454,80
Address
SOUTH KENSINGTON CAMPUS EXHIBITION ROAD
SW7 2AZ London
United Kingdom

See on map

Region
London Inner London — West Westminster
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost

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.

€ 183 454,80
My booklet 0 0