CORDIS

EU research results

CORDIS

A Clostridal Biology Network to Facilitate European-wide Medical Countermeasures and Commercial Exploitation

Fact Sheet

Result in Brief

Reporting

Results

Objective

There is an urgent need to better understand the basic biology of Clostridium as a prerequisite for both countering the diseases they cause (C.difficile, C.perfringens and C.botulinum), and exploiting their beneficial properties in industry (biofuels by C.acetobutylicum) and medicine (cancer therapy by C.sporogenes). Attainment of this goal is being impeded because: (i) European research efforts are fragmented; (ii) there is no coherence between researchers working on pathogenic species and industrially important strains; (iii) there is a demonstrable (SCF-CT-2005-029958) lack of trained young clostridial researchers; (iv) there is inadequate networking between industry and academia, and; (v) effective exploitation of the amassed clostridial genome data has been precluded by a woeful inadequacy in procedures for gene inactivation. Removal of these impediments cannot be achieved at a national level, but requires the creation of a transnational network of multi-disciplinary experts,active in different scientific sectors. The technical hurdle to progress has now been solved by partner 1, who has developed a highly effective andreproducible gene knock-out system. The remaining hurdles will be overcome by bringing together a multidisciplinary team of research expertise from 7 different EU states drawn from Academia (5), Government (3) and different sectors of Industry (3). A principal focus will be to address the deficiency in critical mass by providing young researchers with world class, state-of-the-art, multidisciplinary training in leading scientific and biotechnological skills that have relevance to medical countermeasures against pathogens and the exploitation of non-pathogens in industrial processes and disease intervention. These measures will establish Europe as a ‘Centre of Excellence’ for clostridial research, propelling the community to the forefront of the field, eclipsing the efforts of the rest of the world, and in particular the USA and Japan.

Field of Science

biology

Programme(s)

FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013)

Topic(s)

FP7-PEOPLE-ITN-2008 - Marie Curie Action: "Networks for Initial Training"

Call for proposal

FP7-PEOPLE-ITN-2008

See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

MC-ITN - Networks for Initial Training (ITN)

Coordinator

THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM

Address

University Park
Ng7 2rd Nottingham

United Kingdom

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

EU Contribution

€ 534 256,80

Website

Contact the organisation

Administrative Contact

Paul Cartledge (Mr.)

Participants (12)

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THE UNIVERSITY OF EXETER

United Kingdom

EU Contribution

€ 444 925,65

UNIVERSITAET ROSTOCK

Germany

EU Contribution

€ 428 796,63

TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET MUENCHEN

Germany

EU Contribution

€ 428 796,63

HELSINGIN YLIOPISTO

Finland

EU Contribution

€ 453 389,92

ZAVOD ZA ZDRAVSTVENO VARSTVO MARIBOR

Slovenia

EU Contribution

€ 359 073,43

ISTITUTO SUPERIORE DI SANITA

Italy

EU Contribution

€ 428 903,81

CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS

France

EU Contribution

€ 437 562,92

METABOLIC EXPLORER SA

France

EU Contribution

€ 430 416,47

GLAXOSMITHKLINE VACCINES SRL

Italy

EU Contribution

€ 424 908,42

Phico Therapeutics Ltd

United Kingdom

UNILEVER U.K. CENTRAL RESOURCES LIMITED

United Kingdom

EU Contribution

€ 440 760,32

INTERVET INTERNATIONAL BV

Netherlands

Project information

CLOSTNET

Grant agreement ID: 237942

Status

Closed project

Start date

1 September 2009
End date

31 August 2013

Funded under:

FP7-PEOPLE

Overall budget:

€ 4 811 791
EU contribution

€ 4 811 791

Coordinated by:

THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM

United Kingdom

DE EN ES FR IT PL

A network on Clostridia biology

A European alliance worked on the biology of Clostridia species. The results have important implications for tackling Clostridia pathogenicity and for enhancing the commercial exploitation of non-pathogenic species.

HEALTH

Clostridia are a heterogeneous group of bacteria with diverse actions. They cause diseases such as tetanus and botulism (C. difficile and C. botulinum) but can also be used to treat cancer (C. sporogenes and C. novyi). Also certain Clostridia species are used in the industry for biofuel production such as in the case of C. acetobutylicum. Despite their importance, the basic biology of Clostridia has not been fully elucidated due to fragmented research efforts and lack of communication with the industry. Additionally, inadequate procedures for gene inactivation have impeded the progress of Clostridia-related research. To address these issues, the EU-funded CLOSTNET consortium brought together 11 Centres of Excellence in academia and industry, across seven different EU countries. The idea was to train new researchers in the field while delineating key aspects in Clostridia biology. One of the project partners developed the revolutionary ClostTron technology. This technology has made it possible to systematically inactivate genes and evaluate their function. Using this unique tool, scientists identified a negative regulator of the botulinum neurotoxin, offering hope for the development of an anti-toxin remedy. Further characterisation of Clostridia led to the identification of virulent factors and novel targets for vaccine development. Given the role of C.difficile in hospital infections, particular emphasis was given on its ability to form biofilms and the genetic determinants of this capacity. With respect to the utilisation of Clostridia in industry, researchers identified new systems involved in regulating production of the biofuel butanol in C. acetobutylicum. These regulatory elements could be commercially exploited to enhance biofuel production. The network on Clostridia research has undoubtedly produced a series of key findings that improve our understanding of Clostridia biology. Implementation of these results in diagnosis, vaccine development and cancer therapy is expected to improve the health of European citizens.

Keywords

Clostridia, biology, cancer, biofuel, ClosTron, neurotoxin, virulent factor, vaccine development, butanol

Project information

CLOSTNET

Grant agreement ID: 237942

Status

Closed project

Start date

1 September 2009
End date

31 August 2013

Funded under:

FP7-PEOPLE

Overall budget:

€ 4 811 791
EU contribution

€ 4 811 791

Coordinated by:

THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM

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Project information

CLOSTNET

Grant agreement ID: 237942

Status

Closed project

Start date

1 September 2009
End date

31 August 2013

Funded under:

FP7-PEOPLE

Overall budget:

€ 4 811 791
EU contribution

€ 4 811 791

Coordinated by:

THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM

Project information

CLOSTNET

Grant agreement ID: 237942

Status

Closed project

Start date

1 September 2009
End date

31 August 2013

Funded under:

FP7-PEOPLE

Overall budget:

€ 4 811 791
EU contribution

€ 4 811 791

Coordinated by:

THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM

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Last update: 1 August 2019

Record number: 92274

CORDIS

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Participants (12)

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A network on Clostridia biology

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CORDIS

Objective

Coordinator

Participants (12)

Project information

A network on Clostridia biology

Keywords

Project information

Discover other articles in the same domain of application

Project information

Deliverables

Publications

Project information

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