Project description
Insight into anti-glycan immunity
High-affinity secretory antibodies (sIgA) have the power to protect from infection and to manipulate gut microbiota composition. However, the design of vaccines that elicit sIgA secretion is limited by the inherently complex biochemistry of bacterial glycans and the need to deliver intact antigen via the highly degradative environment of the intestine. To address these problems, scientists of the EU-funded SNUGly project will generate a toolbox for glycan-binding antibody research to investigate various parameters such as the biophysical properties and the structure of glycan antigens. The project will contribute towards the optimal design of mucosal vaccines and the efficient release of high-affinity anti-glycan sIgA.
Objective
"Intestinal bacteria have an enormous influence on health, both in the form of major pathogens and as major constituents of the microbiota. We have demonstrated that high-affinity secretory antibodies (sIgA) offer huge potential to protect from infection and to manipulate microbiota composition. However, designing good oral vaccines to induce high-affinity sIgA is a compound problem. Most protective anti-bacterial sIgA targets bacterial glycans, requiring an understanding of inherently difficult glycan biochemistry. We also need to deliver intact antigen via the highly degradative environment of the intestine. Whole-cell inactivated oral vaccines can induce high-affinity sIgA against some glycan structures, but we have an incomplete picture of what determines the success/failure of these vaccines. By combining advanced biophysical methods (e.g. atomic force spectroscopy), fluorescence and electron microscopy, and synthetic biology, we aim to remove this mystery. Our objectives are:
1) Generate a ""toolbox"" for glycan-binding antibody research: Recombinant antibodies, BCR knock-in mice and defined glycan antigens as purified molecules, on whole bacteria or on virus-like particle will be developed for model antigens: Salmonella Typhimurium O-antigen and the E.coli K100 capsule.
2) Determine the quantitative relationship between glycan antigen sampling into gut-associated lymphoid tissues and particle size, glycan flexibility/structure, digestion resistance and natural IgA binding.
3) Determine how biophysical properties of glycan antigens affect B cell antigen uptake, T cell help and antibody affinity maturation.
4) Combine models of antigen sampling efficiency and anti-glycan antibody affinity maturation to generate a systems-level model of mucosal vaccine efficacy.
This will uncover the fundamental principles governing the induction of high-affinity anti-glycan sIgA, driving urgently required progress in mucosal vaccine design
"
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 physical sciences optics microscopy
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy pharmaceutical drugs vaccines
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules carbohydrates
- natural sciences physical sciences optics spectroscopy
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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.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
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Topic(s)
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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
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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.
ERC-COG - Consolidator Grant
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2019-COG
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8092 Zuerich
Switzerland
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