Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English English
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS

A training network for the design of new synthetic carbohydrate-based vaccines to combat antibiotic resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa

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.

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)

Programme(s)

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.

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.

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.

(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-ITN-2019

See all projects funded under this call

Coordinator

UNIVERSITEIT LEIDEN
Net EU contribution

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.

€ 531 239,76
Address
RAPENBURG 70
2311 EZ Leiden
Netherlands

See on map

Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost

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.

€ 531 239,76

Participants (1)

My booklet 0 0