TRAMWAYS · Transfer of knowledge in microbial signal transduction pathways and metagenomics
FP6 — Marie Curie Actions (Human Resources and Mobility)
- Duration
- 2006-08-01 → 2010-07-31
- EU contribution
- €1,154,955
- Participants
- 3
- Scheme
- TOK
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners. CORDIS does not always give exact coordinates for projects before 2014. These points are placed at city or country level.
Results in brief
Final Activity Report Summary - TRAMWAYS (Transfer of Knowledge in Microbial Signal Transduction Pathways and Metagenomics)
The Signal Transduction cluster at UCC has established a new zebrafish facility including a zebrafish housing breeding facility which is now being used to study the pathogenicity of important opportunistic human pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This will allow the high throughput screening of novel genes that are postulated to be important for host interaction in this opportunistic pathogen, and in other pathogens being studies such as Candida albicans, Acinetobacter baumannii, Listeria monocytogenes, Clostridium difficile and Photorhabdus asymbiotics. In addition a novel metagenomic cloning and heterologous expression system has been developed. This system enables the construction of a metagenomic library in an E. coli fosmid which can then subsequently be conjugated to Pseudomonas putida and Streptomyces lividans hosts, where the fosmid integrates onto the host chromosome. Thus the ability to use three expression hosts will significantly increase the proportion of the metagenome that can be effectively screened. This system is currently being optimised for use in the Marine Biotechnology area for the isolation and subsequent identification of genes encoding enzymes which are involved in the biosynthesis of compounds with potential novel bioactive properties.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
Micro-organisms perceive, transduce and respond to a complex array of signals and stimuli, in both pathogenic interactions with hosts and during survival under stressful environmental conditions. Studying these interactions and responses requires the application of a multidisciplinary systems microbiology based strategy that considers external signals and host/community interactions as well as internal pathways of signal transduction (ST) and gene expression.This project aims to acquire new expertise that will facilitate an interdisciplinary approach to understanding and manipulating these ST pathways. Firstly this will involve the use of the zebrafish as an alternative animal model to allow the in vivo study of these pathways in pathogenic bacteria and fungi; thereby increasing our understanding of how pathogenic microbes sense and respond to environmental signals, particularly those involved in triggering expression of virulence genes.This system will facilitate the high throughput pathogenic screening of target genes in mutants and the use of in-situ imaging, to allow for rapid, non-invasive and real time analysis of in vivo gene expression. Secondly, it will involve the use of metagenomic expertise and novel heterologous expression systems, which will be used in high throughput screens; to isolate and identify novel bioactive compounds of pharmacogenomic relevance, that may modulate these ST pathways and influence survival or virulence in human hosts.This ToK will be achieved by seconding 2 personnel from UCC to partner institutions, and by recruiting 7 (2 MER and 5 ER) experienced researchers with relevant expertise. These researchers will work on specific research projects and undertake designated activities to ensure that the acquired knowledge gets transferred and embedded at the host institution. The knowledge acquired will complement existing expertise at the host and will facilitate research of the highest international standards to be sustained.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, CORK · CORKCoordinatorIreland
- INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE AGRONOMIQUE · PARISFrance
- VU MEDISCH CENTRUM · AMERSDAMCountry levelNetherlands
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union