Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Mechanistic Studies on Carbon Monoxide (CO)-Induced Modulation of Mitochondrial Function in Neuroinflammation (INFLAM-MITO-CO)

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-2013-IEF, 2013)
Start date: 2014-03-01
End date: 2016-02-29
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 194046.6
EU funding (EUR): 194046.6
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Neuroinflammation plays a crucial role in the development and progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s or ischemic stroke. The inflammatory response is coordinated by resident cells (microglia) that upon activation produce pro-inflammatory mediators including cytokines, chemokines and reactive oxygen species. Identification of small molecules that alleviate microglia inflammation is therefore pivotal in uncovering feasible therapeutic approaches to treat brain disorders. Emerging evidence indicates that carbon monoxide (CO), which is endogenously produced in cells by the enzyme heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), functions as an important signaling mediator endowed with strong anti-inflammatory activities. However, the mode(s) by which CO elicits these effects remains to be elucidated. Although CO is a renowned inhibitor of mitochondrial respiration at high concentrations, recent results reveal that low doses of CO positively modulate mitochondrial function. The current proposal aims to investigate how the interaction of CO with mitochondria affects its anti-inflammatory activity in microglia. Innovative chemical entities and methodological approaches will be employed to dissect the different functions of CO in this context, including: 1) CO-releasing molecules, which deliver precise amounts of CO to biological systems; 2) a new class of hybrid molecules composed of a CO-releasing moiety coordinated to an electrophilic structure known to induce HO-1 expression; 3) a Seahorse Analyser to perform an in-depth biochemical analysis of the effect(s) of CO on mitochondrial bioenergetics and how this may lead to a reduced inflammatory response, and; 4) whole-genome transcriptome profiling of primary microglia cells focusing on the effects of CO on genes involved in cell metabolism and inflammation. This project will provide the first comprehensive investigation into the networks that are involved in the anti-inflammatory activity of this ephemeral signaling gas.

Keywords: carbon monoxide (co),carbon monoxide-releasing molecules (co-rms),heme oxygenase-1 (ho-1),ho-1 inducers,hybrid molecules,mitochondria,neuroinflammation
Black holes altering galaxy evolution: how to find them? (BHS SHAPING GALAXIES)

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: Greece
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IEF, 2013)
Start date: 2014-09-08
End date: 2016-09-07
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 216952.8
EU funding (EUR): 216952.8
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

A major challenge in our understanding of the Universe is that cosmological simulations of galaxy formation and evolution fail to reproduce the mass distribution of present-day galaxies, producing more massive galaxies than those observed. Black holes are claimed capable of solving the problem by accelerating gas and expelling it out of galaxies through radiation pressure, plasma jets, or accretion-disk winds. Recent observations confirmed the existence of outflows carrying more molecular gas than the gas that forms new stars in ~10 nearby galaxies. The phenomenon's frequency is nonetheless unclear. Our goal is to determine, for the first time, how frequently do black holes in the local Universe drive fast, massive outflows that can suppress star formation and affect the evolution of their galaxies. To discover new outflows, we will (a) determine the properties of the outflowing gas in nearby prototype galaxies observed with the Herschel Space Telescope, Institut de Radio-Astronomie Millimetrique Interferometer, Sub-Millimeter Array, and Very Large Telescope, (b) run magnetohydrodynamic simulations to identify the most likely driving mechanism and to quantify the amount by which star formation is suppressed/enhanced in each case, and (c) initiate a large-scale query for new molecular gas outflows in the archive of the largest infrared space mission, Herschel. Our project will set the foundations for similar future queries in the archive of the largest mm ground-based facility, the Atacama Large Millimeter Array, which will probe the coldest gas component of these new flows.

Keywords: astronomy,cosmology,galaxy evolution,black holes,feedback,outflows,interstellar medium,jets,molecular and atomic gas,infrared and millimeter spectroscopy,interferometry
Plotinus against Gnostics: a New Survey (PAGANS)

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-2013-IEF, 2013)
Start date: 2015-07-01
End date: 2017-06-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 202405.8
EU funding (EUR): 202405.8
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The PaGaNS project aims to prepare, in 2 years, a new constitution of the text and a new thorough philological commentary to three Plotinian anti-Gnostic treatises (III.8 [30], V.8 [31], V.5 [32]). Since the philological research on Plotinus’ works has been neglected after Henry – Schwyzer’s ed. minor (1982), there is still much scope for philological analysis in the Enneads. It is unavoidable to examine the sources for the reconstruction of Gnostic thought and Plotinus’ polemic fight, e.g. the Nag-Hammadi Coptic texts. Moreover, these three treatises (together with tr. II.9 [33], the critical text and commentary of which have already been prepared) have often been considered part of a single essay (the so-called Großschrift), a suggestion that has found many opponents and certainly needs a fresh analysis. The PaGaNS project will be carried out this way: 1) new collation of the medieval manuscripts; 2) philological analysis of the text; 3) new examination of H.-S.’ textual choices; 4) preparation of a philological commentary explaining all editorial choices and proposing new solutions for all textual issues; 5) new examination of the Großschrift theory; 6) new examination of all Gnostic sources (e.g. the Nag-Hammadi rolls, Irenaeus). PaGaNS project’s outcomes will be two Belles Lettres volumes (Collection Budé, C.U.F), which are intended to be part of a new edition of the entire Plotinian corpus, an international project called Projet Plotin, conceived and led by Prof. J.-M. Narbonne (Univ. Laval, Québec, CA). This multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary project aims to create a research network including all Projet Plotin centers (located in Canada, USA, Brazil, Italy) and the CNRS (part., the Centre Jean Pépin/UPR 76), French host of the project. The PaGaNS project also aims to provide ERA with a deeper understanding of Plotinus’ thought and of the 3rd century cultural/religious background to the history of Christianity and to the birth of the idea of Europe itself.

Keywords: plotinus,gnosis,history of philosophy,history of platonism,history of religions,history of ideas,greek philology,palaeography,codicology. editorial technique,cultural heritage
GPCR oligomers: Facts and function for the GABAB receptor (OLIGABA)

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-2013-IEF, 2013)
Start date: 2015-03-01
End date: 2017-02-28
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 194046.6
EU funding (EUR): 194046.6
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are key players in cell communication and represent the largest class of drug targets. However, GPCR lead compound development has suffered from a low success rate the last 10 years, likely because these receptors are more complex than initially thought. GPCRs are known to form dimers and higher oligomers with specific properties, but the physiological relevance of this oligomerization remains elusive in native tissues. Deciphering the precise functional consequences of GPCR oligomerization is a major challenge in the field and of primary importance to stimulate further drug development. The GABAB receptor – the GPCR for the main inhibitory neurotransmitter, GABA – is an excellent model for studying GPCR oligomerization: Not only is it an obligatory heterodimer composed of GABAB1 and GABAB2 subunits, but it was recently demonstrated by the host laboratory that the GABAB receptor can assemble into larger entities through a direct interaction of the GABAB1 subunits, both in transfected cells and in brain membranes. The aims of the present project are to (i) Identify the stoichiometries and dynamic properties of GABAB oligomers at different localizations in primary neurons, (ii) identify the molecular mechanisms that regulate the GABAB oligomer stoichiometry and characterize them in vitro, and (iii) determine the functional significance of the GABAB oligomers. To reach these goals, we will develop innovative microscopy techniques for quantitative analysis of GABAB oligomerization and novel fluorescent tools for labeling of GABAB in neurons in collaboration with a biotech company. By using state of the art technologies, this study will bring the first clear demonstration of the existence, regulation and functional relevance of GABAB oligomers in native tissue. This will open up new opportunities for development of GABAB modulators for the pharmaceutical industry and methods that could easily be transposed to other membrane receptors.

Keywords: g protein-coupled receptors (gpcrs),oligomerization,gabab receptor,primary neurons,time-resolved fret (tr-fret) microscopy,two photon fluorescence fluctuation microscopy (2pffm)
1D magnetic nanostructures using mineralizing peptides (MAGNETOTUBE)

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: Germany
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IEF, 2013)
Start date: 2014-03-01
End date: 2016-02-29
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 168794.4
EU funding (EUR): 168794.4
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Magnetite nanotubes are interesting for numerous applications including MRI, Biological and molecular separation, arsenic removal and catalysis of ammonia synthesis. The goal of this project is thus to create magnetic peptidic nanotubes using a bottom-up approach. A self-assembled peptidic nanotube template will be used to nucleate or attach magnetite nanoparticles on its inner and / or outer surface. The peptides will be selected for their ability to self-assemble in water and potential to mineralize magnetite or silica on their surface. The magnetite nanoparticles (Fe3O4) will be formed by oxydation of Fe(II) precursors onto the peptide surface or extracted from magnetotactic bacteria and bound onto the tube surface. We will also mineralize an additional silica layer in order to create triple-layered nanotubes (magnetite-peptide-silica or peptide-magnetite-silica) to improve the resilience and biocompatibility of these nanotubes. If necessary, the peptidic part will be removed through heating at high temperature (600°C). The resulting objects will be studied using SAXS, TEM, optical microscopy, Mössbauer spectroscopy.This study will help to gain insight on the biomineralization mechanisms used by magnetotactic bacteria to control the precipitation of magnetite chains in their cytoplasm.

Keywords: nanotube,magnetite,peptide,biomineralisation,self-assembly,biomaterials,silica
New aspects of supergravity: the gravity dual of supersymmetric localization and string theory compactifications to de Sitter space (ALADS-DS)

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-2013-IEF, 2013)
Start date: 2014-10-01
End date: 2016-09-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 194046.6
EU funding (EUR): 194046.6
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

This project explores new aspects of supergravity theories in relation with string theory. It consists of two main parts, each with specific objectives. The first part studies novel structures in the AdS/CFT correspondence, focusing on supergravity solutions dual to supersymmetric field theories on curved manifolds. We will construct new supersymmetric, asymptotically locally (Euclidean) Anti de Sitter supergravity solutions, and compute the holographic partition function and other relevant observables of the field theory living on the boundary; these will be compared with a field theory path-integral computation, recently made feasible by the technique of supersymmetric localization. The second part of the project studies supersymmetry breaking in string theory compactifications with fluxes, with the purpose of finding a fully satisfactory de Sitter solution to string theory. This ambitious goal, crucially relating string theory and cosmology, will be pursued using a combination of supergravity techniques and flux compactifications methods. First we will analyse within four-dimensional extended supergravity under what conditions supersymmetry can be broken generating a metastable de Sitter vacuum; then we will study the uplift of these models to string theory.

Keywords: string theory,supergravity,differential geometry,ads/cft correspondence,supersymmetric localization,flux compactifications,de sitter solutions
Towards improving biofuel production - Oil synthesis and accumulation pathways in promising oleaginous microalgae. (ALGAEOILSYNTH)

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: Germany
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IOF, 2013)
Start date: 2014-05-01
End date: 2017-04-30
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 349047.2
EU funding (EUR): 349047.2
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The AlgaeOilSynth project aims at identification and characterization of oil synthesis and accumulation pathways in two promising oleaginous microalgae - Nannochloropsis oceanica and Phaeodactylum tricornutum. Photosynthetic microalgae are promising biofuel resource and can provide sufficient liquid fuels on a few per cent of available land when compared to plants. The key feature of oleaginous microalgae is that under unfavourable environmental conditions, they produce substantial amounts of lipids, mainly as triacylglycerols (TAGs), which are important fuel precursors. Therefore, there is a strong need of mechanistic studies on lipid metabolism in microalgae oriented towards developing of new avenues of genetic engineering of a direct use for boosting global biofuel production. The AlgaeOilSynth project is designed to understand, through cytological, molecular and genetic analysis how oleaginous algae cells synthesize and accumulate TAGs. Based on their features as well as on some particular differences in lipid metabolism, N. oceanica and P. tricornutum have been chosen as experimental models. The specific objectives of the project are: 1) to analyze and compare cellular mechanisms of lipid droplets formation in both models, 2) to identify the most promising genes controlling TAGs formation and to test their spatiotemporal expression patterns, and 3) to perform functional analysis of the candidate genes by their expression in yeast and plant. The scientific outcomes of this project and its original experimental strategy is based on excellent experience of scientists in charge - Prof. Christoph Benning (outgoing phase of the project at Michigan State University, USA) and – Prof. Ivo Feussner (outgoing phase of the project at University of Göttingen, Germany). The scientific and methodological potential of AlagaeOilSynth project support its’ great value for the European Community and will strengthen the 2020 Vision for the European Research Area (ERA).

Keywords: lipid droplets,nannochloropsis oceanica,oleaginous microalgae,phaeodactylum tricornutum,triacylglycerols.
The role of neutrophils and their proteases in the pathology of allergic airway disease (NEUPROTALL)

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-2013-IEF, 2013)
Start date: 2014-10-01
End date: 2016-09-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 221606.4
EU funding (EUR): 221606.4
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Asthma is an active area of respiratory research due to its impact on morbidity and mortality worldwide. The limited treatment options available to severe asthmatics represent a great challenge. Severe asthma is associated with neutrophilia but the role of neutrophils in this pathology remains poorly defined. A greater understanding of the role of neutrophil proteases will lead to the development of novel avenues for therapy. This project provides a unique opportunity to define the role of neutrophils and their proteases in directing the cellular inflammation and pulmonary remodelling in a clinically relevant model of allergen induced airway disease. I will combine established murine models of house dust mite-induced asthma and expertise in neutrophil/protease biology to address key questions on this unmet need for the first time. I will define the contribution of neutrophils to the development of pulmonary inflammation and structural changes due to HDM, to what extent are neutrophils responsible for the pulmonary protease imbalance in the allergic lung and the roles of their proteases and matrikines, and I will address how do neutrophils alter the homeostatic regulatory pathways within the lung. I will enhance my expertise gaining a comprehensive understanding and hands-on experience of in vivo models of asthma and complex downstream analysis by flow cytometry, mass spectrometry and microarrays, benefitting from the internationally renowned experience of the host groups. My current expertise in respiratory diseases coupled with a capacity to readily assimilate new knowledge and skill sets provides me with the ideal platform to address and successfully execute the project. This project will provide key tools for understanding the role of neutrophils in asthma, contributing to future studies that may identify key therapeutic targets for drug design in order to alleviate this disease worldwide, enhancing the EU’s position at the forefront of advances in this field.

Keywords: asthma / neutrophils / proteases / immunology / allergen / innate immunity / immunosignaling
NKT cells, CD1 expression and lipid presentation in intestinal immunity (NKT CELLS IN MUCOSA)

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-2013-IEF, 2013)
Start date: 2014-03-01
End date: 2016-02-29
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 221606.4
EU funding (EUR): 221606.4
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The mammalian intestine is colonized by trillions of microorganisms that are critical for the establishment of tissue homeostasis. Consequently, the immune system has developed strategies to maintain a mutualistic relation with the microbiota while stopping microbial spread. However, inappropriate function of the immune cells and/or alteration of the commensal composition can lead to inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, like inflammatory bowel disease. Among the components of the intestinal immune system, NKT cells represent a predominant population with striking immune-modulatory properties. NKT cells specifically recognize and are activated by lipid antigens presented by the MHC-I-like molecule CD1. Upon antigen encounter NKT cells can induce the downstream activation of both innate (NK cells) and adaptive (B cells) immune cells. In line with the abundance and diversity of microbial-derived lipids present in the gut, numerous studies have proposed a role for NKT cells and CD1-lipid presentation in the modulation of mucosal immunity both in homeostasis and disease. However, the features of intestinal NKT cells and the mechanisms by which they exert their immunomodulatory functions remain poorly explored. This proposal aims to unravel the cellular and molecular mechanisms that mediate the role of NKT cells in the regulation of mucosal immunity. We will use a combination of flow-cytometry, immunofluorescence and microscopy to build a comprehensive picture of NKT cell distribution and phenotype within gastro-intestinal compartments. With this established we will analyse the role of NKT cells in intestinal homeostasis by deciphering their contribution to the generation and quality of intestinal B cell responses. These studies will provide a better understanding of the factors that modulate intestinal immunity, with the potential to improve therapies for patients suffering from intestinal inflammatory diseases and possibly a broader range of disorders.

Keywords: nkt cells/ lipid presentation/ intestinal immunity/ iga induction/ b cells/ cd1/ intravital microscopy