Project description
Hidden peptides against antimicrobial resistance
As one of the most serious global health threats, antimicrobial requires an urgent search for new classes of therapeutics beyond conventional antibiotics. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the ProtEAMPs project will investigate encrypted antimicrobial peptides (bioactive sequences hidden within larger proteins) as a source of next-generation antimicrobials. It combines computational modelling with automated flow peptide synthesis to design and validate protease-activated encrypted prodrugs. By exploring how these hidden peptides are revealed and function, the research will uncover fundamental principles of immunogenicity, protease-driven activation, while enabling the rational design of longer, highly specific therapeutic candidates targeting multidrug-resistant infections. The project could transform the treatment of drug-resistant infections and significantly reduce global mortality from infectious disease.
Objective
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global concern, with reduction a priority for bodies such as the UN, EU, and WHO. By 2050, AMR-related deaths may rival those caused by cancer. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) offer a promising alternative, being less prone to resistance than conventional antibiotics. Recently, encrypted AMPs (EAMPs), sequences hidden within larger proteins, have been discovered across humans and other organisms. Understanding how these EAMPs are revealed offers insight into immunogenicity and inspires next-generation therapeutics, particularly protease-activated encrypted AMPs (ProtEAMPs). This fellowship will be hosted by the de la Fuente lab (Penn) and the Hartrampf lab (UZH), providing access to unique technologies: high-performance computational models for AMP design (Penn) and automated flow peptide synthesis (AFPS), currently only available at UZH in Europe. Historically, AMP design has focused on shortening sequences to reduce cost. This project takes a novel approach by designing longer EAMP prodrug derivatives (>50 amino acids), aiming to enhance potency and specificity. Computational tools will be used to study AMP unveiling pathways, protease co-evolution, and design of next-gen AMP proteins. Regular subgroup and group meetings, targetted mentoring, and institutional training at both universities will support development in leadership, teaching, and public engagement. Outreach activities will communicate the potential of computational modelling and peptide synthesis to wider audiences. EAMPs remain poorly understood. Exploring their presence in non-immunogenic proteins could unlock new insights into the human proteome and its evolution. Validating next-gen AMP proteins could revolutionize treatment for multidrug-resistant infections, cutting costs, reducing treatment time, and saving lives. This project supports EU Horizon objectives as well as UN strategic goals and will help redefine how we understand and harness our own biology.
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 biochemistry biomolecules proteins proteomics
- natural sciences biological sciences evolutionary biology
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- natural sciences chemical sciences organic chemistry amines
- 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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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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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-GF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global 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.
8006 Zurich
Switzerland
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.