Project description
Novel antibody production technology
Antibodies against small molecules are generated using traditional methods that involve conjugation to a large protein carrier and injection into animals together with an adjuvant. However, the resultant monoclonal antibodies often exhibit low specificity, selectivity and sensitivity. The EU-funded EPIMODKIT project is working on a novel immunisation platform that produces highly specific antibodies. Using this approach, scientists will focus on antibodies against epitranscriptomic modifications encountered in cellular mRNAs, such as N6-Methyladenosine (m6A) modifications. The EPIMODKIT antibodies will help delineate the role of these mRNA modifications in health and disease.
Objective
Epitranscriptomic modifications constitute specific marks in mRNA that regulate gene expression. Identification of
epitranscriptomic modifications requires next generation sequencing analyses and specific validation, processes that are cumbersome and time consuming. Furthermore, while some modifications are straightforward to identify, as they cause specific base changes (like RNA
editing), most are only detectable either through chemical means (requiring large quantities of material) or by immunoprecipitation
followed by sequencing. Of these techniques, immunoprecipitation requires far less material and can be used in any molecular
biology laboratory, but depends exquisitely on the quality of the monoclonal antibodies that recognize the modification - their
specificity, selectivity and sensitivity.
Most anti-modification antibodies are generated using traditional methods for the production of monoclonals to small
molecule haptens (e.g. conjugation to a large protein carrier and injection into animals together with an adjuvant). While these
methods can generate anti-hapten responses with some specificity they are generally not very selective. We have developed a novel
immunization platform that exquisitely focuses the antibody response to a hapten to generate high affinity monoclonals with a high
degree of specificity. We propose to employ this approach to generate anti-inosine antibodies (for the detection of editing in disease
contexts); anti-m6A antibodies (which would be benchmarked against the ones currently in use, validating our approach); and
antipseudo-uridine antibodies (a tool that is lacking in the field and for which traditional approaches have completely failed). The generation of specific and selective antibodies to these three modifications, will open the way toward a better understanding of their intricate molecular roles in biological proceGenerating monoclonal antibodies that selectively and specifically recognize epitranscriptomic modifications.
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.
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology immunisation
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics RNA
- natural sciences biological sciences molecular biology
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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-LS - ERC Proof of Concept Lump Sum Pilot
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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-2020-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.
69120 Heidelberg
Germany
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.