Innovative European project targets staphylococcus aureus

Every year in the European Union, an estimated 25,000 patients die from a serious hospital-acquired bacterial infection. The bacterium Staphylococcus aureus (Staphylococcus aureus) is an opportunistic pathogen responsible for food poisoning, skin infections and hospital acquired infections. In recent years, the scientific community has focused on small regulatory ribonucleic acids, some of which have been shown to play a role in the virulence of this particularly dangerous bacterium.
Staphylocoques dorés (bactéries pathogènes) observés au microscope électronique

The project

There is a serious choke point in deciphering the biological role of the regulatory RNAs involved in the virulence of this staphylococcus, due to the difficulty of identifying their molecular targets. The SarHyb project aims to identify the primary molecular targets of all these known regulatory RNAs. SarhyB will combine the use of new bacterial genetic hybrid systems with more conventional validation using molecular biology and biochemistry.

The major scientific discoveries expected from this project are the development of the first bacterial hybrid system dedicated to the study of regulatory RNAs, and the establishment of an exhaustive list of mRNAs and proteins directly regulated by these regulators. In the longer term, the aim is to select a few regulatory RNAs to target for the development of new therapies against this pathogen.

If successful, this ambitious research project will have an impact on both basic and translational research at the European Union level.

Identity card

European project SarHyb - 7th Framework Programme for Research and Development

Name of the Scientific Leader: Brice FELDEN
Laboratory / UMR: Function Structure and Inactivation of Bacterial RNA - U835 Inserm
Project duration: From 01/09/14 to 31/08/16 (2 years)
Project partner: Research Executive Agency - Marie Curie Action (beneficiary Yoann AUGAGNEUR)

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