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H2020Doctoral network2015–2019

OPATHY · From Omics to Patient: Improving Diagnostics of Pathogenic Yeasts

Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Duration
2015-09-01 → 2019-08-31
EU contribution
€3,319,306
Participants
10
Scheme
MSCA-ITN-ETN

Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.

Results in brief

From Omics to Patient: Improving Diagnostics of Pathogenic Yeasts

OPATHY was an innovative translational research training network that explored the potential of omics technologies, including genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics, to study the interactions of yeasts that cause disease to humans (e.g. Candida and Cryptococcus sp.) with the host, and to develop new diagnostic tools to monitor yeast infections in the clinic. Today, these infections are poorly understood, difficult to diagnose, and are becoming increasingly frequent and serious, affecting over 300 million people worldwide. OPATHY has exploited omics technologies to investigate host-pathogen interactions during yeast infection and colonization with a primary focus on their potential to develop innovative diagnostics tools to improve health care. For this, proteomics, transcriptomics and genomics measurements of strains and infections were integrated with state of the art computational analyses to identify novel biomarkers able to determine the infection stage, the infective pathogen, and the potential resistance traits. This knowledge is driving the development of diagnostic tools based on the detection of specific DNA sequences (by PCR) or antibodies (by Elisa or proteomics). Conclusions: Integration of omics technologies by OPATHY experts have advanced our knowledge on fungal yeast infections and have identified novel biomarkers that are now driving the development of innovative diagnostic tools.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

OPATHY is an innovative translational research training network that will explore the potential of omics technologies, including genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics, to study the interactions of yeasts that cause disease to humans (e.g. Candida and Cryptococcus sp.) with their host, and to develop new diagnostic tools to monitor yeast infections in the clinic. Today, these infections are poorly understood, difficult to diagnose, and are becoming increasingly frequent and serious, affecting over 300 million people worldwide. OPATHY will exploit omics technologies to investigate host-pathogen interactions during yeast infection and colonization with a primary focus on their potential to develop innovative diagnostics tools to improve health care. For this proteomics, transcriptomics and genomics measurements of strains and infections will be integrated with state of the art computational analyses to identify novel biomarkers able to determine the infection stage, the infective pathogen, and the potential resistance traits. This knowledge will drive the development of diagnostic tools based on the detection of specific DNA sequences (by PCR) or antibodies (by Elisa or proteomics). These tools will be validated in a clinical study of key patient cohorts. The participation of two clinical centers and four companies is of paramount importance for the network to provide an integrative and transversal research and training environment. Importantly, the methodologies and approaches of OPATHY can be easily extended to the study and identification of other human, animal and plant microbial pathogens, or the tracing of relevant industrial organisms. Grounded on solid individual research projects, OPATHY will train Early Stage Researchers in several scientific technologies and fields and transferable skills, to boost their careers as innovative and creative researchers.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

  • FUNDACIO CENTRE DE REGULACIO GENOMICA · BarcelonaCoordinatorSpain
  • BIOTECH VANA SL · PATERNA (VALENCIA)Spain
  • BRUKER DALTONIK GMBH · BREMENGermany
  • KONINKLIJKE NEDERLANDSE AKADEMIE VAN WETENSCHAPPEN - KNAW · AMSTERDAMNetherlands
  • LEIBNIZ-INSTITUT FUR NATURSTOFF-FORSCHUNG UND INFEKTIONSBIOLOGIE EV HANS-KNOLL-INSTITUT · JENAGermany
  • MEDIZINISCHE UNIVERSITAT INNSBRUCK · InnsbruckAustria
  • QVQ HOLDING BV · UtrechtNetherlands
  • THE UNIVERSITY COURT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN · AberdeenUnited Kingdom
  • UNIVERSITEIT GENT · GentBelgium
  • UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, DUBLIN · DublinIreland

Links

Data: CORDIS, © European Union