Objective
Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) allows rapid bacterial evolution including the spread of genes encoding antibiotic resistance and virulence factors. The Gram-negative bacterium Vibrio cholerae is an important human pathogen that causes the pandemic disease Cholera. In its natural aquatic environment growth on the chitinous exoskeletons of zooplankton initiates the development of ‘Natural Competence’, a widespread and key form of HGT that allows bacteria to take up free DNA from the environment. DNA uptake involves a sophisticated nanomachine known as a Type IV Pilus (TFP), which forms polymeric extensions from the cell surface, are ubiquitous throughout bacteria and play a wide range of other roles such as surface motility and attachment. Notably, this machinery is conserved in other naturally competent bacteria including in several important human pathogens, implying a common mode of action. Work on this machinery has mainly been done in Gram-positive models like Bacillus subtilis but had failed to visualise an uptake pilus. Recently, the Blokesch lab visualised a DNA uptake pilus extending from the outer membrane of V. cholerae and determined the minimal known components needed for its assembly. However, we still know almost nothing about how this machinery actually works to bring DNA into the cell. To answer this important question and elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms we will follow two main objectives. 1. We will determine the composition of purified DNA-uptake pili and investigate the functions of the identified proteins. 2. We will combine innovative genetic and cell-biological approaches to investigate the mechanism of DNA uptake. The Blokesch lab at EPFL has pioneered genetic and cell biological methods for studying competence in V. cholerae and has state-of-the-art equipment and infrastructures that offer the prospective fellow the maximum chance of success and the best-possible training through the research.
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 genetics DNA
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- natural sciences chemical sciences polymer sciences
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy drug resistance antibiotic resistance
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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.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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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.
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.
MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF
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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.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2015
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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.
1015 LAUSANNE
Switzerland
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.