Objective
Research objectives and content
The CD8 molecule is absent from early thymocytes (CD4-8-), it appears on the cell surface along with CD4 in the intermediate stage of double positive (CD4+8+) and its expression is extinguished in the CD4+ and retained in the CD8+ mature T cells.
In order to identify the sequences within the CD8 gene locus which regulate this complex pattern of expression the CD8alpha and beta genes have been cloned and putative regulatory DNaseI hypersensitive regions have been identified. We propose to generate transgenic mice carrying reporter genes under the control of such regulatory sequences in order to identify their role in the CD8 subset specific expression and consequently in the differentiation of mature cytotoxic cells. In parallel selected areas from these regulatory regions will be deleted (consititutively or inducibly) from the endogenous locus using homologous recombination techniques. Such a dual approach is expected to dissect the molecular mechanisms which underlie the regulation of expression of the CD8 molecule and the commitment to the cytotoxic T cell lineage.
Training content (objective, benefit and expected impact)
The candidate will be trained in a wide range of molecular biology techniques such as cloning, sequencing, DNA and RNA hybridisation, transgenic and knock-out technology. In addition, the candidate will be trained in a variety of immunological assays such as cytotoxic and proliferation assays, fluorescence activated sorting etc. The project will generate information which is central in understanding thymocyte development and lineage commitment. The identification of sequences which selectively direct the expression of genes in the CD8 compartment of the immune system will be useful in a variety of experimental systems including gene therapy protocols.
Links with industry / industrial relevance (22)
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 medical biotechnology genetic engineering gene therapy
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics DNA
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics RNA
- natural sciences biological sciences molecular biology
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Programme(s)
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Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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.
Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
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.
Coordinator
NW7 1AA London
United Kingdom
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.