Objective
The gut microbiota is characterized by a variety of microorganisms that live in symbiosis with our body and that play a key role in host immune system development and metabolism. Studies in adult germ-free mice suggested the influence of gut commensals on emotional behaviors and stress responses. However, the exact mechanism through which these bacteria affect brain function is largely undiscovered and, their impact on brain development is still a relatively unexplored territory. In my project I propose to investigate how the gut microbiota modulates brain development and plasticity using the established model of mouse developing visual cortex. To find if development and environmental stimuli affect intestinal bacteria, the gut microbiome of mice reared in standard condition (ST) or in an enriched environment (EE) that is known to modulate visual development, will be analyzed at different ages: before weaning (P15), after weaning (P28) and in adulthood (P60) providing for the first time a developmental timeline of the gut microbiota in mice. Then, I will perturb the microbiota composition through antibiotic treatment (ABX) or fecal transplantation (FT) in ST and EE mice, and assess visual cortical function maturation and ocular dominance plasticity. Dendritic spine dynamics analyzed by in vivo two-photon imaging and formation of inhibitory and excitatory neurons will be assessed in the primary visual cortex (V1) as morphological biomarkers of visual cortical development. Finally, in order to find the molecular mechanisms and mediators of gut commensals effect on neuronal circuits, I will perform a transcriptome analysis in V1 of ST and EE mice treated with ABX, or subjected to FT. My research will bring a substantial advancement in the field, revealing how the early interaction between microbiome and host can shape cortical functions, hopefully enabling the discovery of biomarkers for facing neurodevelopmental and psychiatric diseases.
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 pharmacology and pharmacy pharmaceutical drugs
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine physiology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine neurology stroke
- medical and health sciences basic medicine neurology neurodegenerative diseases parkinson
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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.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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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.
MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF
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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) H2020-MSCA-IF-2016
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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.
56126 Pisa
Italy
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.