Project description
Synthetic vaccines against antibiotic-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium that causes disease. This multidrug-resistant pathogen has advanced antibiotic resistance mechanisms, forms biofilms and is associated with hospital-acquired infections such as ventilator-associated pneumonia and sepsis syndromes. Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm's matrix is composed of alginate and two essential types of sugars (exopolysacharides) named PSL and PEL. The EU-funded PAVax project will explore and exploit these saccharides to generate novel targeted vaccines. The consortium merges the complementary expertise of its academic and industrial partners to achieve its ambitious goals. Thanks to the partners' joint effort and collaboration, the project's four early-stage researchers will be trained at the highest professional level.
Objective
PAVax is a network that will train 4 early-stage researchers (ESRs) on the conception of new synthetic vaccines to combat the antibiotic resistant bacterium Pseudomionas aeruginosa (PA), for which there currently is no adequate vaccine available. This consortium will explore and exploit the use of PA-exopolysaccharides that play a key role in biofilm formation that protects the bacterium from its environment: alginate, Psl and Pel. We will exploit these saccharides to generate novel vaccines targeting these exposed polysaccharides. Next to the isolation of these polysaccharides from the bacteria, we will employ synthetic chemistry to deliver well-defined fragments of these polysaccharides. These will be used to map the interactions of the saccharides with antibodies to inform on the structure of the optimal epitope. We will conjugate the (synthetic) fragments to newly discovered PA proteins to generate conjugate vaccines targeting multiple PA entities. The consortium is formed by an academic partner, Leiden University (NL) and an industrial partner, GSK Vaccines, Siena (IT), harnessing the complementary expertise of both partners to achieve the ambitious goals set. The close collaboration between the two partners will ensure training of the ESRs at the highest level and best synergy possible. The ESRs will receive intersectorial, international and interdisciplinary training in (synthetic) carbohydrate chemistry, vaccine design, protein chemistry and conjugation, biophysical interaction studies, and immunology. With the ever-growing awareness of the importance of carbohydrates in health and disease, and the continuous threat of multidrug resistant bacteria, the skill set acquired by the ESRs will prepare them to face the major scientific and societal challenges ahead and become important players in academic or industrial research in the future
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
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy pharmaceutical drugs vaccines
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules carbohydrates
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy pharmaceutical drugs antibiotics
You need to log in or register to use this function
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.
-
H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme -
H2020-EU.1.3.1. - Fostering new skills by means of excellent initial training of researchers
See all projects funded under this programme
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-ITN - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Networks (ITN)
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.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-ITN-2019
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
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.
2311 EZ Leiden
Netherlands
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.