Objective
The rise of antibiotic resistance demands new strategies to combat bacterial infections. With renewed interest in phage-bacteria interactions, over 150 novel phage defence systems were recently identified, most of which protect bacteria from propagating phages via host-regulated death or growth arrest in an abortive infection process (Abi). Abi systems, encoded primarily on mobile genetic elements, exhibit diverse mechanisms and are pervasive in bacteria. However, despite significant mechanistic progress, critical aspects of their regulation in native bacterial hosts remain unclear, such as the impact of genetic background on their maintenance or how autoimmunity (erroneous activation without phages) is avoided. This project aims to systematically uncover genetic and environmental regulators of Abi systems to harness them for antimicrobial applications. We previously demonstrated that antifolate antibiotics trigger autoimmunity of the Abi system CBASS by disrupting allosteric regulation of a system component, causing bacterial cell death. Moreover, we found that autoimmunity is influenced by genetic background and strongly dependent on antifolate resistance genes. Building on these findings, we will experimentally map genetic drivers of Abi systems in the Escherichia coli pangenome using high-throughput genetics across native hosts. To understand the contribution of the cell environment, we will use high-throughput screening to profile autoimmunity and transcriptional regulation of Abi systems across environments. The applicability of these findings will be piloted by combining conditions that trigger autoimmunity or overexpress Abi systems with phages, natural system triggers. This project will provide new insights into Abi regulation and function paving the way towards approaches to tackle bacterial infections.
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
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology virology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy pharmaceutical drugs antibiotics
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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.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
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-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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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) ERC-2025-COG
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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.
72074 Tuebingen
Germany
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.