Objective Antimicrobial drug resistance is a serious global threat that make us to fear the return of the mortality rates from pre-penicillin times. A promising alternative to antibiotic drugs is the phage therapy, which is based in viruses that kill bacteria. The rational design of effective phage therapeutics requires a fundamental understanding of evolutionary co-adaptation of phages and bacteria. These co-adaptations have led to the development of multiple anti-phage defence systems in bacteria which modulate their susceptibility to be killed by phages at strain level. In this way, the study of the diversity and mechanisms of action of defence islands in bacterial pathogens represents crucial knowledge for improving rapid delivery of phage-based therapeutics. The proposed work aims to deeply characterize the anti-phage defences in a human pathogen, Salmonella, to provide the strategy to discover and classify phage counter-defences for an optimal design of phage therapy. This project will characterize the genetics population of Salmonella to study the distribution and diversity of anti-phage defence islands and will validate the activity and function of the defence and counter-defence in bacteria and phage, respectively. The experienced researcher (ER) will establish a collaborative link between the laboratories of laboratories of Dr. German Bou (Spain), who has extensive experience in clinical microbiology and genetic modification methods, and Prof. Martin Polz (USA), who is a world expert in the ecology and evolution of environmental microbiology. This collaboration will allow to perform the most advanced methods in population and comparative genomics, isolation and discovery of phages, large scale phage host range assays and genetic modification of bacteria. The data generated in this project will be essential to understand the anti-phage defence mechanisms and to improve clinical decisions to maximize the efficacy of phage therapeutics. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologybacteriologynatural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologyvirologymedical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologygenetic engineeringmedical and health sciencesclinical medicineclinical microbiologymedical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacypharmaceutical drugsantibiotics Keywords Salmonella Bacteriophages Defence islands Comparative genomics Mobilome Phage therapy Antibiotic resistance Bioinformatics Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2018 - Individual Fellowships Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2018 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF) Coordinator FUNDACION PROFESOR NOVOA SANTOS Net EU contribution € 245 732,16 Address Calle xubias de arriba 84 15006 A coruna Spain See on map Region Noroeste Galicia A Coruña Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00 Partners (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all Partner Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement. MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY United States Net EU contribution € 0,00 Address Massachusetts avenue 77 02139 Cambridge See on map Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 165 265,92
