Objective
Research objectives and content
Shigella flexneri is the causative agent of endemic bacillary dysentery, a disease primarily afflicting children in developing countries. The pathogenesis of Shigella infection stems from the ability of the organism to invade eukaryotic cells. Once the organism gains entry into the host tissue, intense inflammation and tissue destruction ensue. During natural infection and in experimental models of shigellosis, the immune response against the organism is primarily directed towards epitopes present on Shigella lipopolysaccharide. Additionally, a monoclonal immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibody against a serotype-specific epitope of Shigella LPS is sufficient to protect animals during experimental infection. The objective of this proposal is to understand the mechanisms underlying LPS-specific mucosal immunity against Shigella infection. Two specific objectives form the basis of these studies. The first objective is to examine the ability of anti-LPS IgA to prevent bacterial invasion of eukaryotic cells by blocking bacterial-host cell interactions. Second, the possibility that free LPS taken up by epithelial cells can be blocked by LPS-specific IgA will be examined. Inhibiting either bacterial uptake or the transcytosis of soluble inflammatory mediators such as LPS may prevent the intense inflammatory response and tissue destruction characteristic of Shigella infection. These studies into anti-Shigella mucosal immunity will influence the development and design of vaccines against S. flexneri infection.
Training content (objective, benefit and expected impact)
Diarrheal diseases cause considerable morbidity and mortality throughout the world. The impact of diarrheal disease is greatest in children, particularly in developing countries. It is estimated that five million children die yearly in developing countries as a result of dehydration caused by diarrhea. Shigellae are one of the most important etiologic agents causing endemic diarrheal disease. S. flexneri, which is the most prevalent of the genus, causes dysentery characterized by severe diarrhea with the presence of blood and mucus in the stools. At present, an ideal vaccine against S. flexneri infection has not been produced. The design and development of improved vaccines against Shigella will based on an increased understanding of host-microbe interactions during Shigella infection. The studies outlined in this proposal will contribute to our general understanding of the mucosal immune response to S. flexneri infection. Additionally, these studies will likely impact on the current design of vaccines against this enteric pathogen.
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.
- social sciences sociology demography mortality
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy pharmaceutical drugs vaccines
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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.
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.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
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.
Coordinator
75724 Paris
France
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.