Objective
Microsporidia like Trachipleistophora hominis and Encephalitozoon cuniculi, are opportunistic parasites of humans with HIV. Around 50% of cases of serious diarrhoea in AIDS patients are associated with microsporidia - 14 different microsporidia have now been isolated. Despite their importance, the genome and cell biology of microsporidia are poorly understood. I will use a multidisciplinary approach incorporating training in bioinformatics, proteomics, cell and molecular biology to investigate the structu re and function of the recently discovered microsporidian mitosome ' the most highly reduced mitochondrion yet discovered. My work will also further basic understanding of the minimal and essential functions of the mitochondrion itself; an organelle that is vital for eukaryotes. My hypothesis is that the mitosome makes iron sulphur (Fe-S) clusters ' a fundamental process for all eukaryotic cells, and whose dysfunction causes inherited mitochondrial diseases like Friedrichs Ataxia. The E. cuniculi genome en codes seven of the proteins involved in this process, but there is no experimental data on their location or function. I will clone and sequence two of the key genes (Nfs1p, Isu1p) from Trachipleistophora hominis, a more tractable experimental system than Encephalitozoon, and produce antibodies to locate their site of activity. I will also perform in vitro tests of enzyme function. I will do this at Newcastle University with Professor Martin Embley, in whose lab the mitosome was discovered, and where there are state-of-the-art facilities for bioinformatics, cell biology, proteomics and light and electron microscopy. I will also use bioinformatics to search the Encephalitozoon genome for the mitosomal import pathway. Preliminary data suggests that the mitosome may have, uniquely, dispensed with one of the main mitochondrial import pathways. Thus this work will improve understanding of yet another fundamental mitochondrial process ' that of protein import.
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 biochemistry biomolecules proteins proteomics
- natural sciences biological sciences cell biology
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy electron microscopy
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics genomes
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins enzymes
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
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.
FP6-2002-MOBILITY-7
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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.
IIF - Marie Curie actions-Incoming International Fellowships
Coordinator
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
United Kingdom
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.