Project description
Studies on 'good' bacteria and bacteria-eating viruses pave the way for novel therapies
Propionibacterium freudenreichii (Pf) is a bacterium causing well-documented benefits to human health that also produces active vitamin B12. The defence mechanisms protecting Pf from bacteriophage (phage) attacks are very diverse. The EU-funded CO-DEfENDENCE project uses an innovative approach to systematically study the defence mechanisms from the perspective of both Pf and the phages. The research employs strains and phages isolated from samples of different origin to ensure diversity of material for analyses using a combination of phenotypic, genomic, proteomic and imaging methods. The results will shed light on the interactions between the attacking phages and the defence mechanisms protecting Pf, allowing for the development of novel genetic tools and phage therapies.
Objective
Bacteriophages (phages) infecting Propionibacterium freudenreichii, a bacterium known for production of active vitamin B12 and for causing well-documented benefits to human health, are more diverse than those identified for closely related genera. At the same time, the defence mechanisms protecting the bacterial strains (hosts) from phage attacks are more diverse as well. These two phenomena suggest that P. freudenreichii strains and their phages have experienced complex interactions in phage-bacterium arms race. However, both phages attacking, and the defence mechanisms that this important food-grade Actinobacterium uses to protect itself from phage attacks are currently severely understudied. In CO-DEfENDENCE, I will use an innovative approach of systematic study of the defence mechanisms not only from the perspective of the bacterium, but also from the perspective of the phage. The use of strains and phages isolated from samples of different origin will ensure diversity of material subjected to analyses by a combination of phenotypic, genomic, proteomic and imaging methods. This multidisciplinary approach is possible due to guidance offered by world-class phage specialists at one of the world’s top universities, the University of Copenhagen. The expected result of CO-DEfENDENCE is elucidation of complex interactions between P. freudenreichii and its phages, which led to the high diversity of the phages and the multitude of defence mechanisms employed by the strains. As an added benefit, these results have a great potential for being translated into novel genetic tools and to aid the development of phage therapies, especially those aimed at pathogenic Actinobacteria.
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 microbiology virology
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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.
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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 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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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-2018
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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.
1165 KOBENHAVN
Denmark
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.