Project description
Bacterial processing of dietary compounds
The gut microbiome plays a fundamental role in human health, and diet is one of its most powerful modulators. Beyond breaking down dietary fibres, gut bacteria also process bioactive dietary compounds, including xenobiotics, plant pigments, flavonoids and other small molecules. However, the implicated enzymes in this breakdown and their health implications remain largely unknown. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the XENOZYME project investigates novel enzymes in the gut bacterium Ruminococcus gnavus that process these dietary compounds, releasing metabolites that influence gut barrier function and immune responses. Using multi-omics, structural biology and advanced models, researchers will characterise these enzymes and assess their role in microbiome variability and inflammatory bowel disease. This work is expected to uncover new biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets.
Objective
The human gut microbiota plays a central role in health and disease, with diet being one of its strongest modulators. While much is known about the microbial enzymes that degrade diet polysaccharides in the human gut, the metabolism of dietary xenobiotics (XB), small bioactive compounds often glycosylated, are poorly understood. Dietary XB deglycosylation by gut bacteria releases metabolites that can influence microbial ecology and host physiology, yet the enzymes driving these transformations are largely unknown. This project will investigate novel XB-active carbohydrate-active enzymes (XB-CAZymes) in the human gut symbiont Ruminococcus gnavus, a strain-diverse species prevalent across populations and strongly associated with inflammatory bowel disease. Through multi-omics, recombinant enzyme production, enzymatic assays, and structural biology, XB-CAZymes will be identified and their mechanisms of action characterised. Functional validation will be carried out using R. gnavus knockout mutants, while advanced in vitro models of the human gut will assess how XB metabolites affect gut barrier integrity and immune responses. R. gnavus isolation and multi-omics analyses of human faecal samples from an existing elderly cohort will provide ecological and interindividual perspectives, linking enzyme function to microbiome variability and health implications. The project will generate fundamental knowledge to refine CAZy classification, uncover biomarkers and therapeutic targets, and identify enzymes with biotechnological potential. Beyond scientific advances, the fellowship will provide the researcher with first-hand expertise in cutting-edge integrative microbiome science, preparing them to lead interdisciplinary research at the interface of diet, microbiota, and health in Europe and internationally.
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
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules carbohydrates
- medical and health sciences basic medicine physiology
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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)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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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) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
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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.
NR4 7UQ NORWICH
United Kingdom
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.