Project description
Genetic causes of Chagas disease
Chagas disease (CD) is a chronic disease caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi that affects millions of people worldwide. Although in endemic regions CD is a vector-borne disease, in non-endemic countries the disease is mainly spread by congenital transmission. Scientists of the EU-funded ChaConGen project plan to investigate the molecular and clinical aspects of this route of transmission. In particular, they will study the genetic components involved in the congenital transmission of Chagas disease. The results will shed light on the genetic causes of congenital CD, which could help to target the group of infected pregnant women at higher risk of transmission providing the basis for a better control of congenital transmission.
Objective
Chagas disease (CD) is a parasitic, systemic and chronic disease caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. Approximately 30% of chronically infected people develop cardiac, digestive, neurological or mixed alterations. CD affects 7 million people worldwide, mainly in endemic areas of 21 continental Latin American countries, where T. cruzi is mainly a vector-borne disease. In non-endemic regions, a major role is played by congenital (mother-to-fetus) transmission, leading CD to become an emerging disease in Europe and other non-endemic regions. It is increasingly clear that more efforts are needed at the basic research level to improve our understanding of the molecular and clinical aspects of this route of transmission. Understanding the genetic bases of the interaction between the host and the parasite could shed light into the molecular mechanisms behind congenital transmission. In this project, we aim to use state-of-the-art genomic techniques to understand the relationship between T. cruzi genotype and the host genotype in congenital transmission of CD. Identifying the factors governing this matter will not only help to better understand the mechanisms behind the diseases, but it could also help to target the group of infected pregnant women at higher risk of transmission. We will examine the parasite and the host genotypes in blood samples from infected pregnant women transmitting and not transmitting the infection. We will assess parasite diversity by developing a new strategy for T. cruzi genetic typing based on the MinION, a portable long-read DNA sequencer. For the genotyping of the host, we will use genome-wide SNP arrays. We will use multivariate analysis for determining putative relationships between host and parasite genotypes and congenital transmission of CD. This project will provide the first attempt at determining genetic causes of congenital CD considering both, host and parasite genotypes by applying the state-of-the-art genomic techniques.
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 genetics DNA
- medical and health sciences health sciences infectious diseases
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
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 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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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-2019
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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.
08036 Barcelona
Spain
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.