Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Global regulation in Mycobacterium: Role of Lsr2 (MYCO-REG)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: International Incoming Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: France
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2007-4-2-IIF, 2007)
Start date: 2009-09-15
End date: 2011-09-14
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 163643.71
EU funding (EUR): 163643.71
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

This proposal aims at understanding the role of Lsr2 in the global regulation of the mycobacterial cell wall homeostasis, a critical attribute of their virulence. Mycobacteria are Gram-positive bacteria that are involved in a number of human (tuberculosis, leprosy, Buruli ulcer) and animal diseases (Johne’s disease in ruminanst, fish tuberculosis in aquaculture), in both developing and developed countries. The lsr2 gene in conserved in all mycobacteria sequenced thus far and recent data indicates that the Lsr2 protein might be a global regulator. Its function will be studied through various methods that involve transcriptome analysis, molecular genetic experiments (qRT-PCR, use of reporter gene, gel-shift) as well as genomics. The success of the research proposal will be achieved through several national and international collaborations. This program will be realized on the Necker campus of the University Paris-Descartes, a multi-nationality centre that has a long tradition in hosting visiting scientist. The present MYCO-REG proposal, which does not include any sensitive ethical issues, will help in consolidating the pre existing links with the Bose Institute, one of the best institutes in Life Sciences in India, where the applicant has been trained. This proposal will help the hosting team in developing an innovative project by attracting a young talented researcher and thus will serve in promoting the transfer of knowledge in Europe.

Keywords: tuberculosis,mycobacteria,lsr2,regulation,glycopeptidolipids,microarray
The Role of Molecular Chaperones in Parkinson' s Disease (CHAPERONES IN ND)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Switzerland
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2007-2-1-IEF, 2007)
Start date: 2008-04-01
End date: 2010-11-30
Duration (months): 32.0
Total project cost (EUR): 178163.71
EU funding (EUR): 178163.71
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Parkinson's disease is a severe human neurodegenerative disorder that affects mainly the aging generation. It is characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons from the substantia nigra, and the formation Lewy bodies, intraneuronal inclusions which are primarily composed of fibrillar alpha-synuclein. Several lines of evidence support a role for molecular chaperones as modulators of alpha-synuclein aggregation and toxicity in Parkinson's disease. Current findings suggest that prevention and/or the reversion of alpha-synuclein aggregation by molecular chaperones may constitute a promising therapeutic approach for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease and related disorders. However, the molecular and structural bases underlying the mechanisms by which molecular chaperones modulate protein aggregation and amyloid formation are yet poorly understood. The overall objective of this proposal is to gain a detailed mechanistic insight into the structural and molecular mechanisms by which molecular chaperones modulate protein aggregation and neurotoxicity in vitro using cellular models of synucleinopathies. We will focus on the functional relationship of the molecular chaperones Hsp70, Hsp40, Hsp90, and, Hsp27 that have been linked to Parkinson’s disease. In addition, we will assay the impact of Hsp104, which is the protein disaggregation machinery from yeast, on alpha-synuclein aggregation and toxicity. Thereby, we will seek to elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which molecular chaperones interact with alpha-synuclein and modulate its structural and aggregation properties in vitro, and we will probe the ability of molecular chaperones to prevent and/or rescue alpha-synuclein cytotoxicity in cellular models of synucleinopathies, including primary neuronal cell cultures. Such a detailed understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which cytosolic chaperones modulate alpha-synuclein aggregation and toxicity could provide viable targets for therapeutic strategies.

Keywords: neurodegenerative diseases,health sciences,natural sciences,molecular chaperones,protein aggregation,hsp104,hsp70/hsp40,hsp27,hsp90,alpha-synuclein,neuronal cell death,disaggregation
Lipidomic Analysis and functional study of the lipid biosynthesis of the plastid of Apicomplexa parasites (APICOLIPID)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: International Outgoing Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: France
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2007-4-1-IOF, 2007)
Start date: 2008-10-01
End date: 2011-09-30
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 230256.08
EU funding (EUR): 230256.08
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Apicomplexa is a phylum of intracellular parasites, including pathogens of medical and veterinary importance. In contrast to pathogenic bacteria, these parasites are eukaryotes and share numerous metabolic pathways with their animal hosts, making therapeutic target development difficult. Two genera (Plasmodium and Toxoplasma), which are responsible for serious diseases in humans, have been the focus of most studies in this parasite group. Malaria caused by Plasmodium is one of the deadliest human infections, leading to 2-3 million deaths per annum. Plasmodium and Toxoplasma harbour a relict plastid, called the apicoplast, involved in unique and vital metabolic processes. Synthesis of fatty acids in the apicoplast, catalyzed by a prokaryotic type II fatty acid synthase (FASII), is a particularly interesting potential target because it is critical for the plastid biogenesis and probably required for the vital demand of cell membrane syntheses. Based on the recent development of an apicoplast purification protocol in Pr. McFadden’s group, the project aims to achieve three objectives regarding the apicoplast lipid synthesis. We will determine the lipid composition of the apicoplast and its separated membranes using conventional biochemistry as well as novel mass spectrometry lipid analysis methods. By metabolic labelling and sub-cellular fractionations, the lipids depending on the FASII pathway and their possible sub-cellular trafficking will be sought. Finally we will focus on the role of enzymes responsible for the synthesis of phosphatidic acid (ACT1 and ACT2) and predicted to be located in the apicoplast, using GFP constructs and inducible KO. Dr. Maréchal's group provides also a pharmacological screening environment: the potential of characterized enzymes as drug targets will be additionally investigated and transfered to drug development pipeline.

Keywords: cytology,human parasitology,cell biology,protozoology,molecular biology
The search for Earth-like extra-solar planets (SELEP)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Switzerland
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2007-2-1-IEF, 2007)
Start date: 2009-01-01
End date: 2010-12-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 177596.7
EU funding (EUR): 177596.7
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

This fellowship proposal aims at the development of Dr. Bruno Chazelas's young career in the direction of instrumentation in astrophysics. The fellow, has a background in optical instrumentation applied to astrophysics. The objectives of this project are to expand his experience in new instrumentation domains, to develop his research background in astrophysics, and to acquire the experience of practical astronomical observation. The research experience of the applicant, was centered on the direct detection and spectroscopy of the atmosphere of extra-solar planets via nulling interferometry (DARWIN, ESA mission). The subject of this project is to make decisive technological advances in the radial velocity detection technique (most productive current detection method) that will permit to discover the firsts earth-like planets. The applicant will work on these subjects at the Geneva Observatory, a top level research group in extra-solar planet detection and characterization. This team thanks to its access to the most advanced radial velocities instruments (CORALIE, HARPS) and their large experience in that field will offer the applicant a perfect environment to develop his competencies. The fellow will also participate to the ongoing research programs via his observational work. Two of the known limiting factors of the current radial velocity instruments are the calibration and the light feeding into the spectrometer. These two issues will be addressed during this project, in order to obtain the required 10 cm.s¯¹ precision that is needed to detect earth like planets (1 earth mass in the habitable zone i.e., 1 au for a sun-like star). In order to enlarge the fellow experience in instrumentation he will participate to the PRIMA astrometric instrument commissioning and to some of the following observational programs dedicated at the search and characterization of extra-solar planets.

Keywords: astrophysics,extra-solar planets,telluric planets,radial velocity
Walls for Freedom? Divided cities in a global age: Padua, Ceuta & Melilla, Belfast and Berlin (WALLS FOR FREEDOM?)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2007-2-1-IEF, 2007)
Start date: 2008-05-01
End date: 2010-04-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 170709.11
EU funding (EUR): 170709.11
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Porous borders and walls seem to be a contradiction in terms, yet they coexist in contemporary societies. This project aims to asses this contradiction by exploring the impact of walls in contemporary European cities. As urban artifacts walls are a contentious figure: not friendly, but embodying security; not totally urban, but defining urbanity and civility; not a common good, but representing the distinctive line between one specific community from another. By tracing the historical, cultural, socio-political and economic arguments for erecting walls in Padua (2006), Ceuta/Melilla (1998/2001), Belfast (1970’s) and Berlin (1961) this project explores the impact of walls in ordinary city life in a twofold way. On the one hand it questions the effectiveness of walls as an instrument for conflict resolution, while on the other hand it addresses the moral understanding they provoke at the level of institutions and lay persons. By combining approaches and methods of historical and social science research, this project creates the necessary conditions for responding to the main questions it asks how walls shape everyday practices, and how these practices in turn accommodate, legitimate or challenge the presence of walls in each of the selected settings. Thus, this project aims to study the impact of walls for urban social life and the way in which they are incorporated and absorbed within the daily routines by the inhabitants of the above-mentioned cities. By comparing different historical and spatial contexts/conflicts in which walls have been built, the project is expected to further the understanding, current validity and legitimacy of this archaic urban form in contemporary European societies. This understanding will not only enhance the scholarly fields of urban history and socio-political theory, but it will also facilitate a possible dialogue between academics, civil society actors and policy-makers over main problems affecting the future of European cities

Keywords: urban history,urban sociology,european cities,walls,borders and boundaries,conflict resolution,identity,democracy,freedom,globalization
Magneto-optics of carbon nano-allotropes (MOCNA)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: France
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2007-2-1-IEF, 2007)
Start date: 2009-02-01
End date: 2011-01-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 233164.62
EU funding (EUR): 233164.62
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The project aims at magneto-optical spectroscopy studies of carbon nano-allotropes: graphene, individual nano-tubes and graphene nano-ribbons. The main objective of the project is to explore the new fundamental phenomena by studying the structures which are among the most promising ones for development of future nano-technologies. Understanding the properties of these systems will certainly have the impact on the effectiveness of their applications. The project consists of three specific parts. The first one focuses on investigations of electron-phonon interaction and collective modes of electronic inter Landau level excitations in graphene flakes, using the methods of magneto-Raman scattering. These interactions are one of the central points of graphene, seen as unconventional two-dimensional electronic system. The second part aims at deeper understanding of the exciton structure and its excited states in single wall carbon nanotubes. Ensembles of nanotubes and furthermore individual objects will be studied using various magneto-spectroscopy techniques. To this end, the measurements of single photon-correlation are planned in order to identify correlations between different excited states characteristic of the carbon nanotube. The third part of the project, of exploratory character, is focused on searching for the evidence of the reduced dimensionality in the spectroscopy of artificially obtained graphene nanoribbons. The new structures will be first characterized using the micro-Raman spectroscopy (basic phonon mode of graphene is expected to be modified by the reduced size of the stripe), and eventually studied using other magneto-spectroscopy methods. These experiments may be used to verify the theoretical predictions concerning the properties of these, very much demanded systems.

Keywords: solid state physics,spectroscopy,graphene,carbon nanotubes,magnetic field,carbon nanoribbons
Noncommutative Geometry of Algebra Factorisations (NCAF)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2007-2-1-IEF, 2007)
Start date: 2009-01-01
End date: 2010-08-31
Duration (months): 20.0
Total project cost (EUR): 161792.99
EU funding (EUR): 161792.99
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

This is an interdisciplinary proposal that explores a rich new vein of interaction between algebra in the form of `noncommutative geometry' and deep applications in mathematical physics including elementary particle physics and quantum gravity. These are all areas of existing excellence in the EU and the innovative proposal will help to maintain the EU competiveness and high profile in these areas and to promote new synergies by their interaction. Specifically, it is proposed to develop a general theory of factorisation of noncommutative geometrical structures or conversely of building up such structures from the same data on each factor of an algebra factorisation, and to apply this new mechanism for construction of noncommutative geometries to quantum groups, quantum spacetimes (which includes astrophysical implications related to the ESA/NASA GLAST initiative) and other applications as indicated. The project will consolidate the novel pure mathematical work in the Researcher's recent PhD thesis and related papers and add to this new extensive training on the quantum groups and mathematical physics sides, thereby providing an enhanced platform for his long term career development. The training will also enhance collaboration with and transfer knowledge back to the researchers `home base' in Granada or to wherever the Researcher finally settles (which is expected to be in Spain in the long term). The training will also include organising workshops, speaking at high level national and international conferences and high-level scientific writing.

Keywords: noncommutative geometry,quantum groups,mathematical physics,physical sciences
Functional and evolutionary studies of the glutamatergic synapse; a proteomic and genetic approach. (PSIEMBL)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2007-2-1-IEF, 2007)
Start date: 2009-02-01
End date: 2011-01-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 233785.15
EU funding (EUR): 233785.15
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Glutamatergic neurons are the main excitatory nerve cells in the central nervous system of mammals, in this project we aim to better understand the molecular composition of their synapses. We are particularly interested in the post synapse and the complexes of proteins associated to the NMDA glutamate receptor. We are focused in this set of molecules since the NMDA receptor is central for the establishment of synaptic plasticity, a physiological property of neurons which is believed to be necessary for learning and memory, the cognitive process we are interested in. The general objectives of this project are three: 1. Understanding the molecular basis of learning and memory through combined genetic and proteomic approaches. 2. Understanding the evolution of the synapse by studying species differences. 3. Characterising the human hippocampal glutamatergic synapse. These objectives will be addressed using a combination of proteomic and bioinformatic systems biology. In all cases we will isolate the protein complexes of interest and investigate its molecular composition by mass spectrometry. For the first objective we want to compare wild type mice with a series of KO for important proteins in learning and memory; we expect to better understand the role of the KO molecules in those cognitive processes. We also want to study the evolution of the glutamatergic synapse; we propose to characterize the same set of protein complexes that we studied in mice in other species, especially in humans. We believe that evolutionary studies will be a way to work out the important proteins for higher cognitive functions and we hope to describe the human synapse composition for the first time. Neurobiology is a very important field of science and it will be much more for the years to come. A deep comprehension of the synapse will be essential to understand the brain performance, synapse biology is a nascent area of neurobiology in which Europe should invest to lead it.

Keywords: behaviour,evolution,genetics,hippocampus,human mental disorders,ko mice,molecular bases of learning and memory,protein purification,proteomics,schizophrenia,synapse
The role of natural killer T cells in the early stages of the herpes simplex virus infection in skin (NKT IN HERPES)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: International Incoming Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Sweden
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2007-4-2-IIF, 2007)
Start date: 2009-01-01
End date: 2011-05-31
Duration (months): 29.0
Total project cost (EUR): 179588.95
EU funding (EUR): 179588.95
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The aim of this project is to examine how the local skin microenvironment influences the generation of antiviral immune responses following herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection. Genital herpes, caused primarily by HSV-2, has a worldwide prevalence and is the leading cause of genital ulcers. An increasing number of clinical and epidemiological studies indicate that a recent genital HSV-2 infection increases the risk of HIV acquisition and transmission by up to 3-fold. Therefore, further studies that examine the local immune responses to HSV-2 infection are necessary to elucidate the mechanisms of enhanced risk of HIV-1 acquisition and reveal possible strategies for the development of an effective HSV vaccine. Our project will focus in particular on the responses of human natural killer T (NKT) cells, which are poised to respond within hours of activation and can rapidly modulate cellular immune responses. We will examine the ability of NKT cells to respond directly to virus infection and how the virus can affect their function. In addition, we will investigate how cutaneous immune cell types influence NKT cells and their ability to modulate appropriate cellular responses against HSV-2 infection. A three-dimensional organotypic culture model of skin will be utilised to examine these interactions in a physiologically relevant setting, obviating the need for the use of animal models. This study will provide critical information on how the immunomodulatory activities of NKT cells could be utilised as a viable strategy for the enhancement of local virus-specific immunity and thereby develop better genital herpes vaccines.

Keywords: immunology,infections,herpes