What is Galar Fungail 2 ?
Introduction
Galar Fungail 2 is a Marie Curie Research and Training Network dedicated to the study of fungal pathogens and their interactions with host cells using post-genomic approaches. Galar Fungail 2 was launched in January 2004 in the framework of the Marie Curie actions of the 6th Framework Programme of the European Commission.
Fungal infections are an increasingly significant medical problem in the European Community. Most women suffer a Candida infection in their lifetime, and some of these infections are deep-seated and recurrent. Candida albicans also is a common cause of life-threatening systemic fungal disease. These infections are associated with a high mortality because of poor diagnosis and the lack of effective systemic antifungal drugs. Hence there is a clear need for more effective antifungal therapies. However, the development of new therapies is limited by a poor understanding of C. albicans pathogenesis and of the host responses to this important pathogen.
The Galar Fungail 2 network comprises 9 European academic laboratories, 8 of which participated in the Galar Fungail network funded within the 5th Framework Programme of the European Commission. The expertise that these groups have gained in the genomics and post-genomics of C. albicans will be used to develop research programmes focusing on the study of the interaction of C. albicans with host cells and to train young scientists (6 PhD students and 3 post-doctoral fellows) in the most up-to-date aspects of molecular medical mycology.
Research activities of the Galar Fungail 2 network
Research activities conducted within the Galar Fungail 2 network are directed towards dissecting critical interactions between C. albicans and host immune defenses during disease development. In this context we develop several research programmes in order to understand:
(1) How specific C. albicans signal transduction pathways co-ordinate broad cellular responses to specific signals;
(2) How C. albicans responds to host defences during disease establishment and progression
(3) How the mammalian host responds locally and systemically to C. albicans infections
This research is conducted using post-genomics, molecular and cellular approaches in different contexts that are relevant to the interaction of C. albicans with the host: biofilms, reconstituted human epithelia, macrophages and animal models when necessary.
Training activities of the Galar Fungail 2 network
One of the main objectives of the Galar Fungail 2 network is to provide an advanced training in molecular medical mycology to young European scientists. Three post-doctoral fellows and six PhD students are employed within the Galar Fungail 2 network. Apart from the training they will get in their repective laboratories, they will have the opportunity to learn about key methodologies through training sessions. Five 3-4 days training sessions will be organized addressing transcriptome and proteome analysis, ex vivo models of infection, characterization of immune responses and molecular biology of C. albicans. These sessions are coupled to a training on transferable skills as laboratory safety, ethics, intellectual property rights, etc...
.
