ViBrANT — VIral and BacteRial Adhesin Network Training

Results in brief

VIral and BacteRial Adhesin Network Training

Infectious diseases, particularly drug resistant pathogens, are a key global health issue. The decreasing efficacy of antibiotics is a major concern: classic antimicrobial therapy is failing; and deadly infectious diseases are (re)emerging – the most recent being of course Covid-19. New, precise, rapid diagnostics are urgently required to lower the demand for therapeutic treatments, reduce use of antimicrobials and slow the rise of drug resistance. Viral and Bacterial Adhesion Network Training (ViBrANT) places adhesion at the heart of virulence: it plays the first and decisive role in the infection process of pathogens. Bacteria and viruses adhere to different surfaces, to each other, to host molecules or to host cells. Pathogens use adhesins to colonize tissues and cause infections, to bind host molecules for immune evasion and, for bacteria, to create antibiotic-resistant biofilms on implanted devices. ViBrANT provided Europe-wide world-class training to our 15 students (ESR1-15) through bottom-up research: clinical microbiology, functional studies of adhesins, elucidating structures and designing new diagnostic tests and devices.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

ViBrANT (VIral and BacteRial Adhesin Network Training) brings together an interdisciplinary team of world-leading European infection researchers, focused on a cutting-edge translational research project to understand host-pathogen adhesion and to develop novel, highly-specific nanoscale diagnostics to improve patient care. Host-pathogen interactions are the basis for infectious diseases, but the research methodologies needed to unravel these interactions and translate them into viable diagnostic tools are complex and change rapidly. ViBrANT will deliver high-impact fundamental and translational science and in so doing will educate 15 ESRs. We have the demonstrated track-record and infrastructure to train ESRs in highly innovative methodologies, including structural biology, proteomics, genetics, comparative genomics, lab-on-a-chip technology and the development of state of the art diagnostics in the field of infectious diseases. ViBrANT will investigate the poorly understood structure-function relationships between pathogen adhesins and hosts in an integrative manner. The ESRs in the project will have extensive intersectoral mobility across 7 EU/EEA countries, accessing the best complementary skills in each of the hosting institutions. ViBrANT comprises 8 leading universities, 1 public research institution and 6 companies (from SME to multinational). The project will impact adhesion biology in general; the detection of multi-antibiotic resistant human pathogens will have priority.The ESRs will acquire the necessary skills to translate fundamental research into technologies that will have a strong positive effect on the care of patients with infectious diseases. ViBrANT science will be high-impact and deliver 15 highly-trained innovative researchers and a long-lasting inter-sectoral collaborative network. Together, we will continue to develop fundamental research and translate it for the socio-economic benefit of Europe.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS · LeedsCoordinatorUnited Kingdom
BIOMERIEUX SA · Marcy-l'EtoileFrance
BIOMODE 2, S.A. · BragaPortugal
CENTITVC - CENTRO DE NANOTECNOLOGIAE MATERIAIS TECNICOS FUNCIONAIS EINTELIGENTES · Uniao das Freguesias de Antas e Abade de VermoimPortugal
Digitronix Ltd · BrighouseUnited Kingdom
EBERHARD KARLS UNIVERSITAET TUEBINGEN · TuebingenGermany
ELISHA SYSTEMS LIMITED · BuxtonUnited Kingdom
Eluceda Ltd · HarrogateUnited Kingdom
HELSINGIN YLIOPISTO · HelsinkiFinland
INSTITUT PASTEUR · ParisFrance
JOHANN WOLFGANG GOETHE-UNIVERSITAET FRANKFURT AM MAIN · Frankfurt Am MainGermany
LUNDS UNIVERSITET · LundSweden
UNIVERSIDADE DO MINHO · BragaPortugal
UNIVERSITETET I OSLO · OsloNorway
UNIVERSITY OF HULL · HullUnited Kingdom

ViBrANT · VIral and BacteRial Adhesin Network Training

Results in brief

VIral and BacteRial Adhesin Network Training

Project objective

Participants

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