Project description
The role of mucus in inflammatory bowel diseases
The gut mucus layer produced by goblet cells plays a crucial role in shielding our intestines from inflammation-triggering microbiota. Imbalances favouring mucus-degrading bacteria are linked to inflammatory bowel diseases, like ulcerative colitis, where the mucus barrier falters. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the GAP project will merge animal and human studies to demystify the molecular glitches that diminish protective goblet cells. Building on expertise spanning microbiota, metabolism, and nutrition, the project seeks to fortify our understanding of this vital point of defence, aiming to transform it into therapeutic solutions for enhanced gut health.
Objective
The mucus layer produced by the goblet cells (GCs), provides the barrier between the microbiota and the intestine preventing the occurrence of the inflammation process. Indeed, alteration in microbiota towards mucus degrading bacteria, are often associated with impaired mucus barrier properties and inflammatory bowel diseases, such as ulcerative colitis (UC). Although, the exact mechanisms behind UC are not understood, defects in luminal compartmentalisation of bacteria by mucus could play a major role in this disease etiology. The recent identification of the intercrypt goblet cells (icGCs) population has improved the understanding and modified the model of the mucus layer formed on the epithelial surface. The icGCs secrete mucus that differs from mucus produced by crypt-residing GCs, and both are required to provide a protective mucus barrier function. Deficient intercrypt mucus secretion or reduced icGC numbers leads to disruption of the mucus layer with an impaired organization at the mucus surface which correlates with increased colitis susceptibility. However, the mechanisms behind icGC defects still remain unclear. In this project, I will combine both animal and human studies to decipher the molecular mechanisms behind the loss of icGCs that occurs during UC and elucidate to what extent a deviated microbiota is involved in their modulation. The data from the research programme will underpin the development of future therapeutic strategies to improve human health. The fellow has experience in microbiota research, metabolism and nutrition. With this fellowship, he will have the opportunity to develop skills in mucin biology, evaluation of the mucus properties and imaging experiments. This grant will enable the fellow to develop his current skill set to include methodologies and approaches so that the microbiota features can be placed within a new biological context.
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
- medical and health sciences health sciences nutrition
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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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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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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.
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.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2022-PF-01
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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.
3584 CS Utrecht
Netherlands
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