Project description
Probing into the molecular mechanism of saponin vaccine adjuvants
Adjuvants are essential components of modern molecular vaccines that increase the low immunogenicity of antigens and potentiate the immune response. The mechanisms of action of many clinically relevant adjuvants, including saponin QS-21, are poorly understood. The main goal of the EU-funded QS21-Mech project is to develop new chemical probes to investigate the molecular mechanism of saponin adjuvants. Synthetic saponin-based photoaffinity probes will be synthesised, followed by the evaluation of their adjuvant activity in mice. The active saponin probes will be utilised to discover the molecular receptors of these adjuvants. Finally, the identity of the putative receptor will be resolved using proteomics analysis.
Objective
Adjuvants are vital components of modern molecular vaccines that increase the low immunogenicity of subunit peptide and/ or polysaccharide antigens and potentiate the immune response. Despite their key role, the mechanisms of action of many adjuvants, including the clinically-relevant saponin QS-21, are poorly understood, which hampers the rational design of new, improved vaccine adjuvants.
To address this gap and shed light into this fundamental biological mystery, the main goal of this proposal (QS21-Mech) is to develop new chemical probes to investigate the molecular mechanism of saponin adjuvants, one of the most potent and promising class of adjuvants. Using a multidisciplinary approach at the chemistry-biology interface, synthetic saponin-based photoaffinity probes will be chemically synthesized, followed by immunological evaluation for adjuvant activity in mice. The active saponin probes will then be utilized in biological/mechanistic studies to discover the putative molecular receptor of these adjuvants using a chemical proteomics approach. The photoreactive group will be used to cross-link the saponin molecule to the putative interacting partner, while the reporter group will serve as a tag for affinity-purification of the cross-linked adducts. Finally, the identity of the putative receptor will be resolved using MS-based proteomics analysis. The identification of the molecular target of the saponin adjuvants will provide unprecedented mechanistic understanding, facilitating the elucidation of their molecular mechanisms of action, which is of fundamental interest in immunology. This knowledge will enable the rational development of improved saponin adjuvants and optimal adjuvant-antigen combinations for vaccines against a broad range of diseases.
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 biochemistry biomolecules proteins proteomics
- 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
You need to log in or register to use this function
We are sorry... an unexpected error occurred during execution.
You need to be authenticated. Your session might have expired.
Thank you for your feedback. You will soon receive an email to confirm the submission. If you have selected to be notified about the reporting status, you will also be contacted when the reporting status will change.
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.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF
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-IF-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.
48160 DERIO VIZCAYA
Spain
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.