Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-actions-marie-curie-participations-et-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Projet TRANSRISK (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2016)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Available risk assessment frameworks typically consider individual assets of the transportation infrastructure, exposed to just one hazard and they neglect changes in the asset performance during its life. However, assets exist in systems (SoA) and they are usually exposed to multiple hazards, whilst their performance changes due to deterioration or improvements. Also, the vast majority of existing studies is qualitative and focuses on bridges. Hazards, such as ground movements, debris flow, earthquakes and floods are major threats to infrastructure around the world, causing significant physical and socio-economic losses. Thus, reliable assessment of the vulnerability and the associated risks of infrastructure subjected to critical hazards is of paramount importance toward resilient transportation networks. TRANSRISK aims to fill these acknowledged gaps and provide advanced vulnerability assessment of critical transportation SoA subjected to diverse geo- and climatic hazards with focus on geotechnical effects, taking into account the SoA performance changes during their life. In this context, advanced numerical models of representative SoA subjected to critical combinations of hazard effects will be generated and validated based on recorded events. Novel adaptable vulnerability models will be produced for as-built, deteriorated (e.g. past hazards) and improved (e.g. strengthened) SoA. These models will be applied to selected parts of a highway and/or railway network in Europe to estimate the risk and associated losses due to recorded hazards as a means to enable the unbiased allocation of resources in decision-making and disaster management. The research results will provide a better understanding of the response of critical SoA and a rational link of the individual asset response to the network performance. The outcomes will also benefit stakeholders and owners of transportation networks in line with the EU strategy on critical infrastructure protection.

Mots clés : adaptable fragility functions, systems of transportation assets, numerical modeling, vulnerability, risk, geo hazards, deterioration of assets, improvement of assets

Participants :
- University of Surrey (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 183454.8 €
Projet FLOWCID (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
Panel : Information Science and Engineering
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Aviation contributes to more than 2% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, in the absence of further measures, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from international aviation are estimated to almost quadruple by 2050 compared to 2010. Efforts to reduce GHG through the development of alternatives to traditional fossil-fuelled thermal engines have made great strides. Yet large capacity, long-range electric vehicles with operating speeds similar to or faster than current commercial vehicles are not expected to become feasible for several decades due to the limitations of battery energy density and cost. An alternative short-term solution that is being investigated in Purdue University by Prof. Paniagua with intense interest worldwide is to utilize a rotating deto-nation engines (RDE) to improve the efficiency and reduce the size/weight of current thermal gas turbines. If utilized with hydrogen, with high energy-to-mass ratio and robust detonation properties, RDE will provide the best chance to realize long-range, high-payload flight with zero greenhouse gas emissions . However, the development and performance of a high-efficiency RDE is inhibited by two main fluid dynamic problems: the flow separation caused by high pressure gradients, and the unstarting phenomena across the internal turbine pas-sages. The numerical solution, analytical analysis and control of those problems is the main objective of FLOWCID. FLOWCID proposes a 24-month long outgoing phase (and 12 months return phase) of Prof. Eusebio Valero (the Researcher) from Universidad Politécnica de Madrid UPM (the Beneficiary), to Zucrow Labs, at Purdue University, USA (the Host) under the supervision of Prof. Guillermo Paniagua (the Supervisor).

Mots clés : numerical simulation, flow control, optimization, aerospace design

Participants :
- Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 263732.16 €
- Purdue University System (Etats-Unis) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
Projet SO-CMA (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2014)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Background: Food allergy affects 6% of children in the EU, and has a major impact on quality of life, nutrition, health-economics and the food production industry. Cow’s milk (CM) is a common cause, and can be particularly problematic due to the ubiquitous nature of CM in foods. Strict dietary avoidance is difficult to achieve, and unpredictable life-threatening accidental reactions are common, leading to anxiety and social restrictions for patients and families. Oral immunotherapy (OIT) has been shown to be efficacious but is not widely accepted as routine treatment, due to significant safety concerns – allergic reactions are common, and can be particularly severe in CM-OIT. Objective: To improve the safety of OIT for CM allergy. Proposed methods: WP1 - Systematic review of the literature to identify features of published OIT protocols that are associated with improved safety. WP2 - Assessment of human immune responses to candidate modified CM proteins (proven to be both non-allergenic and tolerising in murine models) as potential tools for immunotherapy. WP3. Phase 2/3 clinical trial to assess whether a sublingual pre-treatment phase can improve the safety of OIT in CM allergic children. Deliverables: 1) Systematic review to identify features of CM-OIT associated with improved safety. 2) Evidence on the immunogenicity of candidate modified CM proteins in humans, which will reflect their suitability as immunotherapy agents in the future. 3) Data relating to whether an initial sublingual phase can improve the safety of CM-OIT. 4) Pilot data on mechanisms underlying the immune-modulation induced by OIT. 5) Skills transference to the applicant to become a highly qualified independent researcher, with expertise in OIT for food allergy at an International level. 6) Consolidation of the host institution as a centre of excellence in food immunotherapy, including the potential for tolerising modified proteins to improve OIT safety and efficacy.

Mots clés : children, cow s milk, food allergy, immunotherapy, immunological tolerance, safety

Participants :
- Imperial College London (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 183454.8 €
Projet BIOTAC (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Bacterial dispersal is a key driver of pollutant turnover in contaminated soils. Flagellated bacteria able to degrade organic pollutants hold tactic responses to a variety of stimuli and reach pollutant hotspots, enhancing the access to poorly bioavailable carbon sources by steepening pollutant concentration gradients at interfaces. However, bacterial motility in porous media is often restricted due to high cell deposition rates and adhesion to soil particles, and in this sense, the modulating role of biological and chemical effectors is decisive. The aim of BIOTAC is the study of the mechanisms operating with flagellated bacteria for bioavailability enhancements and, therefore, a faster turnover of persistent organic pollutants in soils, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and a pesticide, lindane. We will study, at the microorganism scale, the role of bacterial taxis in chemical gradients (chemotaxis), as well as other tactic responses (repellence, surface taxis) in pollutant bioavailability, modelling and integrating them with other microbial adaptations (i.e. biofilm formation and the production of biosurfactants). We will develop strategies to improve bacterial transport to pollutant sources, using carefully selected biological and chemical effectors (respectively including, mycelial networks and organic compounds -root exudates, humic acids, and fertilizers), that favour flagella-mediated taxis, and co-mobilization of immotile degrading strains. The originality and innovation of the project lies on the macroscale projection of the microscale mechanisms underlying the access of self-propelled bacteria to limitedly available contaminants through an enhanced dispersal. Through experimental and modelling approaches, aiming at balancing biosorption and colloidal transport of the pollutants against biodegradation rates, the project will perform a risk and benefit analysis of the new bioremediation technology.

Mots clés : chemotaxis, bacterial dispersal, bacterial motility, pollutant bioavailability, soil bioremediation

Participants :
- Spanish National Research Council (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 160932.48 €
Projet SymMech (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2015)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Bacterial endosymbionts are widely distributed amongst invertebrates and have an enormous impact upon the biology of their hosts, being responsible for nutrient acquisition, predator protection and interference with the host reproductive strategies. Their ability to reduce vector competence has raised the possibility of using endosymbionts as a strategy to eliminate or diminish vector-borne pathogen transmission to humans and plants. A crucial step in manipulation of symbionts is the elucidation of the genes involved in symbiosis. Symbionts are highly adapted to hosts, thriving in highly specialised niches with little interference from competing microorganisms. The genes that permit this lifestyle are not known in any case, because most symbionts cannot be grown outside their host, thus impeding classic microbiological loss of function screens to elucidate the molecular mechanisms responsible for symbioisis. In this project, I will utilize Arsenophonus nasoniae, one of the few culturable symbionts, to establish for the first time the genes and systems required for symbiotic life. This bacterium infects the parasitoid wasp Nasonia vitripennis inducing lethality in the male offspring (son-killing = sk). The major objective of this project is to elucidate by the first time genes that are essential for the symbiosis between a bacterium and an insect using hypothesis-independent TraDis approach combined with hypothesis-dependent gene knockout approaches. Identification of the genes involved in symbiosis may allow us to modify the host range of symbionts or engineer strains that produce the desired phenotype. Additionally, this project will provide solid ground for the identification of genes involved in reproductive manipulation of arthropods allowing performing symbiont-mediated alteration of host biology. Both objectives are crucial for the development of novel biological and chemical tools against major vector-borne diseases and pests.


Participants :
- University of Liverpool (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 183454.8 €
Projet Microsyndia (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Bacterial interactions with eukaryotic phytoplankton are ubiquitous in marine ecosystems. The basis of many of these interactions is a reciprocal exchange of metabolites that mutually benefits the organisms involved. Under diffusion limitation, such relationships typically require close spatial coupling between the two partners. How long these intimate interactions must endure for a sustained exchange to occur is unclear and challenges our judgement of what truly constitutes a symbiosis. Understanding the dynamics of syntrophic interactions is essential to understand the impact of bacterial communities in marine biogeochemical cycles. With this proposal, I intend to evaluate the potential role of diazotrophic bacteria in alleviating the nutrient demands of algae in nitrogen-limited environments. To achieve this, I plan to establish a model microbial system with a marine heterotrophic diazotroph, which has an obligate dependency on photosynthetically fixed carbon, and a diatom, which relies on nitrogen fixed by the diazotroph. I will construct a microfluidic bioreactor to enable detailed monitoring of the spatiotemporal distribution of bacteria and diatom cells during long-term culturing. Integrating this microenvironment with stable-isotope probing and Raman microscopy will allow me to quantify carbon and nitrogen uptake and transfer rates between partners. By relating microbial behaviour to single-cell activity rates, this project will offer invaluable information connecting the structure, dynamics and function of microbial consortia, and thereby provide robust insights into the basal ecological functioning that supports aquatic ecosystems.

Mots clés : nitrogen fixation, marine biogeochemistry, marine microbiology, symbiosis, microfluidics, live maging, synthetic microbial communities

Participants :
- Board of the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology (Suisse) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 191149.44 €
Projet AGAPE (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2020)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

Bacterial survival to antibiotic treatment poses an urgent problem to humanity, causing 25.000 deaths per year in the European Union alone. The inability to fully eradicate pathogens with antibiotics leads to the establishment of persistent infections (PIs). Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an opportunistic pathogen, is found chronically in the airways of 70% of Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients. In CF, the anomalous production of mucus in the lung promotes the establishment of bacteria, with infections decreasing the life quality and expectancy of patients. The mechanisms by which P. aeruginosa is able to escape treatment and generate PIs within the CF lung have not been fully elucidated. Mostly, the success of P. aeruginosa relies on its adaptability, which derives from its large genome carrying genes for survival in a wide spectrum of environments. Most of these genes are not conserved among strains, composing the accessory genome (AG), which is built up through horizontal gene transfer (HGT). Previous studies have identified components of the AG involved in virulence and resistance, yet the extent of the AG involvement in PIs is unknown. Through AGAPE I seek to elucidate the relevance of the AG in the establishment of PIs in CF lungs. I will do so by studying both the conformation and function of the AG, through novel CRISPR-Cas tools in P. aeruginosa. First, I will determine the identity and quantity of HGT during infection by recording transfer events with a CRISPR-Cas recorder system. Second, I will generate individual and combinatorial knockdowns of every accessory gene through CRISPR interference (CRISPRi), to screen the effects of the repression on fitness during infection. I will follow the infections of the generated strains on lung organoids derived from the corresponding hosts. Overall, this bona fide action will allow to uncover novel mechanisms behind PIs relying on accessory genes, and to identify novel markers and targets to improve patient treatment.

Mots clés : pseudomonas aeruginosa, pathogenesis, persistent infections, cystic fibrosis, crispr cas

Participants :
- Technical University of Denmark (Danemark) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 207312.0 €
Projet BIOCONT6SS (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2014)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Bacterial type VI secretion systems (T6SSs) are recently discovered nanomachines used to inject effectors into prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells. Therefore, T6SSs are involved in both inter-bacterial competition and bacterial pathogenesis. In this project, I propose to study the T6SS of Pseudomonas putida a soil bacterium with the capacity to colonise the root of crop plants. The colonisation by this bacterium provides growth advantages to the plant and, importantly, protection against plant-pathogens. This makes P. putida a relevant biocontrol agent. Since T6SS is mainly used by environmental bacteria for inter-bacterial competition, one might speculate that T6SSs play a relevant role in the biocontrol properties of P. putida. An in silico analysis of P. putida KT2440 genome revealed the existence of three putative T6SSs: H1, H2 and H3. I have determined that H1-T6SS is active and can be used to kill the serious phytopathogen Pseudomonas syringae. Mutants in H1-T6SS structural components lack the ability to kill model prey strains. In this project, I propose to use these mutants in competition assays with several microorganisms to further identify H1-T6SS targets, especially other resilient phytopathogens such as Agrobacterium tumefaciens and Ralstonia solanacearum. Furthermore, I will assess the role of T6SSs in the biocontrol properties of P. putida using infected plants. Moreover, I have identified novel H1-T6SSs effectors and their cognate immunity proteins (EI pairs) which belong to EI families without functionally characterised members. I will characterise the identified EI pairs at a functional, biochemical and structural biology level. In addition to the fundamental interest of the characterisation of new T6SSs, elucidation of their role in the biocontrol activity of P. putida is entirely original and has not been addressed thus far. Our findings will be highly relevant for future applications in agricultural biotechnology.

Mots clés : type vi secretion system, pseudomonas putida, biocontrol, inter bacterial competition, phytopathogens, environmental microbiology, plants, effector immunity proteins

Participants :
- Imperial College London (Royaume-Uni) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 195454.8 €
Projet MINERVA (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2019)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a polymicrobial syndrome that modifies vaginal secretions and increases risks of reproductive complications and most sexually transmissible infections. This syndrome is associated with a shift in vaginal microbiota composition from lactic-acid producing bacteria to specific bacterial communities. Concomitant with such shift, sialidases can be detected in vaginal secretions where they release sialic acids (SA), sugar molecules that some bacteria can use as a nutrient source and to escape host’s immunity. While the presence of sialidases is used as a BV diagnosis method, we still know little about SA metabolism in the species associated with BV, and even less about SA-related interactions in the community. The proposed project will directly address this question with the ultimate aim of understanding the role of SA metabolism in the transition from health to disease. I will focus my research on the three most prevalent BV-associated bacteria: Gardnerella vaginalis, Prevotella bivia and Atopobium vaginae. First, I will investigate the genomic organization and distribution of the genes involved in SA metabolism. Second, I will link these genotypes to phenotypes by experimentally assessing the expression of those genes in clinical samples from BV-positive and negative women. Third, I will assess the evolutionary stability of SA metabolism genes and bring insight into the respective roles of SA availability and host’s immune system in the evolution of bacterial SA metabolism. Finally, I will create ex-vivo minimal model communities of BV bacteria and examine the ecological interactions between species. By going beyond a taxonomic description to better understand eco-evolutionary functioning, this project will expand our view of the BV microbiome both at the species level, examining in particular intraspecies diversity in genetic composition and expression, and at the community level through the investigation of SA-related interactions.

Mots clés : bacterial vaginosis, genomics, microbiome, metabolic interactions, experimental evolution

Participants :
- Centre national de la recherche scientifique (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 184707.84 €
Projet AcTaferon (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2016)
Action : Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
Panel : Life Sciences
Statut du projet : CLOSED

Based on their antiviral and antitumor effect, type I interferons (IFNs) were believed to be the miracle drug to tackle viruses and cancer. However, clinical IFN applications remained limited due to severe side effects resulting from widespread cellular sensitivity to IFN, which limits the administrable doses. Hence, the drug concentration at the desired infection or tumor site is often too low to be fully therapeutic efficient. AcTaferon (Activated-by-Targeting interferon), co-developed by Prof. Uzé, circumvents these obstacles. By fusing an IFN mutant with strongly reduced receptor binding affinity to a targeting moiety that recognizes a surface marker on specific cells, AcTaferon remains inactive “en route” through the body and unveils its biological activity only on specific target cells. Robust tumor regression without side effects and preliminary antiviral effects underscore the huge clinical potential of AcTaferon to fight cancer and viral diseases. By combining the AcTaferon and influenza expertise of Prof. Uzé and Prof. Saelens, respectively, this interdisciplinary project offers the opportunity to broaden the innovative AcTaferon therapeutic strategy from the cancer to the viral infection field. Influenza A was selected as a pilot target as seasonal influenza A epidemics and occasional pandemics remain a serious health threat causing substantial morbidity and mortality. Influenza A-targeted AcTaferons will be developed and analyzed in relevant in vitro and in vivo models. Eventually, all knowledge will be transferred to Orionis, a company that will implement the AcTaferon technology to develop novel drugs. My background on the intracellular processes that negatively regulate cytokine receptors and hence influence the cellular sensitivity to a (therapeutic) cytokine is an asset to this project. I will be able to extend my fundamental research experience with applied cytokine research, which may extend into a new academic or industrial research pipeline.

Mots clés : influenza a, new therapeutic strategy, cytokine based

Participants :
- Centre national de la recherche scientifique (France) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 144230.0 €