Project description
A novel solution to tackle antimicrobial resistance
Microorganisms can resist antimicrobial treatments, especially antibiotics. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) impacts human and animal health and carries a heavy economic burden due to higher costs of treatments and reduced productivity caused by sickness. New strategies are urgently required. The EU-funded COUNTERMAND project will explore the disruption of native bacterial communication systems. For instance, a colony of bacteria can coordinate their responses to environmental stresses and the administration of antibiotics. As such, COUNTERMAND will analyse the messenger molecules utilised by bacteria in controlling their resistance mechanisms. New molecules will be created to confuse the bacteria, and prevent them from launching their resistance countermeasures.
Objective
Bacteria which are resistant to antibiotics currently result in 33,000 deaths per annum in Europe alone. Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) will potentially cost the EU an estimated €1.5 billion annually in healthcare expenses and productivity losses. By 2050, 10 million people are expected to die each year as a result of AMR-related infections.
New strategies are urgently required to deal with this growing crisis. One such strategy involves the disruption of native bacterial communication systems, also known as quorum sensing. Bacteria typically communicate with one another using a ‘language’ based on small messenger molecules. In this way, a colony of bacteria can co-ordinate their responses to environmental stresses, such as the administration of an antibiotic. These responses come under a variety of forms, but one of the most common is the production of biofilm, which shields the bacteria from the effects of the antibiotic.
The aim of this COUNTERMAND project is analyse the messenger molecules utilised by bacteria which controls their resistance mechanisms. We will create new molecules which serve to confuse the bacteria, and prevent them from launching their resistance countermeasures. By blocking the formation of biofilms, the bacteria will again be vulnerable to the effects of antibiotics. We will adopt a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach combining the talents of chemists in Ireland and microbiologists across the EU to find the most effective inhibitor molecules. Importantly, this approach means that a new lease of life can be given to current antibiotics, without the expense and risk involved in the discovery of new antibiotics. This COUNTERMAND project represents a novel and promising solution to tackling AMR, offering significantly improved quality of life for patients and increased life expectancies.
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 microbiology bacteriology
- social sciences economics and business economics production economics productivity
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy pharmaceutical drugs antibiotics
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy drug resistance antibiotic resistance
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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-2020
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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.
T12 YN60 Cork
Ireland
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.