Objective
The complement system is important in the first-line defense against infections and for the generation of specific immune reactions. The mannan-binding lectin (MBL) and the MBL-associated serine proteases (MASPs) provide a recently discovered pathway to the activation of complement. Low levels of MBL are linked to an increased susceptibility to microbial infections and autoimmune diseases. The understanding of the MBL pathway and the mechanism of activation remain largely speculative. The goal of this project is to study the structure of the MBL/MASP complex and the structural changes associated with the activation of the MASPs with sophisticated atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques. The first aim of this project is to localize, for the first time, the MASPs in the complex. For this, a modified AFM-tip using mannose-fictionalized carbon nanotubes will yield chemical contrast which allows to distinguish clearly between the sugar recognizing domains of the MBL and the MASPs in the complex. The subsequent aim is to directly visualize the proposed conformational change of the complex on activation. I will study the mechanics of the activation of the complex using the AFM's ability to study biomolecules at work in native environments.
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
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology autoimmune diseases
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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)
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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
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
2300 RA LEIDEN
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.