Project description
Novel peptides targeting microbial repeats-in-toxin adhesins
Even infectious diseases with long history such as cholera still present a healthcare challenge and significant social cost. Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal disease that can kill within hours if left untreated, with several millions of estimated cases annually and over 100 000 deaths worldwide. Gram-negative bacteria produce repeats-in-toxin adhesion proteins (RTX adhesins) to facilitate their adhesion. A recent study demonstrated that the RTX adhesin (FrhA) of cholera bacteria facilitates attaching to and infection of human intestinal cells. Researchers also discovered compounds that bind to FrhA, suggesting these could help prevent cholera infection. The EU-funded PEPTOX project is based on the hypothesis that binding of FrhA can also detach already-adhered bacteria. Work aims to optimise the synthesis and characterisation of the novel compounds and demonstrate blockage of cholera adhesion in an in vitro cellular model.
Objective
Despite progress in infection treatment in the last decades, the prevalence and mortality of infections still poses a heavy burden over humankind. The development of antimicrobial resistance and the rapid mutagenesis of bacteria that leads to inefficiency of vaccines, play an important role in maintaining infections high level of threat. Even diseases that have plagued us for centuries, such as cholera, still challenge medical professionals and cause a significant social cost. New therapeutic approaches that promise a higher success rate are a pressing need. We recently discovered a high similarity between an ice-binding protein and the RTX adhesin (FrhA) used by the bacteria of cholera to attach to and infect the human intestine. Moreover, we discovered compounds that bind to FrhA and successfully block it, suggesting these could help prevent cholera’s infection. If these can also detach already adhered bacteria, cholera could be effectively removed and cured. In this ERC PoC PEPTOX project, we aim to optimise the synthesis and characterization of the newly discovered compounds and demonstrate blockage of cholera adhesion in an in vitro cellular model.
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.
- social sciences sociology demography mortality
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology bacteriology
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy pharmaceutical drugs vaccines
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy drug resistance antibiotic resistance
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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)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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.
ERC-POC - Proof of Concept Grant
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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) ERC-2019-PoC
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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.
5612 AE Eindhoven
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.