Project description
The impact of HERV Env-specific antibodies on complex diseases
Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) are remnants of past viral infections, with abnormal HERV envelope (Env) proteins linked to cancer, autoimmune diseases, and infections. However, their exact role and prognostic value remain unclear. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the ENVISAGE project will develop a platform to screen for HERV Env-specific antibodies and identify HERV insertions producing these proteins. It will generate HEK293T cell lines to measure antibody levels in cancer and autoimmune disease patients, while taking demographic factors into account. The project will also establish a pan-genome reference for HERV sequences, use targeted sequencing to identify active insertions, and analyse public datasets to assess the impact of HERV Env expression on disease progression.
Objective
Human endogenous retroviruses (HERV) are highly repetitive sequences that are remnants of viral infections successfully integrated in the genome. Aberrant expression of HERV envelope (Env) proteins is frequent in cancer, autoimmunity, neurodegeneration, and infection and has been associated with antibody responses. However, we do not know if all HERV Env proteins contribute to antibody responses or what the prognostic impact of HERV Env-specific antibodies is. Thus, the objectives of this proposal are to i) implement a high-throughput screening platform for HERV Env-specific antibodies and ii) develop a bioinformatics approach to identify the HERV insertions producing Env proteins. To achieve these goals, HEK293T cell lines overexpressing 10 different HERV Env proteins will be generated and used to quantify the abundance of Env-specific antibodies in serum from thousands of cancer, autoimmunity, and infection patients. With this work, we will determine if antibody responses to Env proteins are disease-specific and evaluate the impact of sex, age, and ethnicity on Env antibody titres. Following this, we will build a pangenome reference of HERV sequences in the human population to evaluate the polymorphism of HERV insertions. This database of HERV insertions will be used in combination with highly targeted sequencing (Amplicon-seq) and epigenomics to precisely identify the HERV insertions that are active in pathologies and produce Env proteins. Finally, we will analyse publicly available datasets to evaluate the impact of HERV Env expression on disease progression and survival. In addition to deepening our understanding of several human pathologies, this work could have important impacts on the diagnosis and treatment of complex human diseases.t
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
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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 proteins
- social sciences sociology anthropology ethnology
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pathology
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics epigenetics
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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-2024-PF-01
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NW1 1AT London
United Kingdom
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