European research agenda for pathogenomics adopted
Network of Excellence EuroPathoGenomics has undergone its first review
Researchers have long been fascinated by microorganisms, as they can be both useful inhabitants of the body and dangerous pathogens. In 2005, to better understand this dual role, 37 researcher teams from 13 different European countries founded the Network of Excellence EuroPathoGenomics (NoE EPG). The members have now adopted a common Research Agenda for the field of pathogenomics, which lays out the core scientific challenges for the years to come and places emphasis on two aims in particular: In future, scientists intend to focus more on the interaction between the pathogens and the hosts, rather than exclusively analysing disease-causing microorganisms in isolation. Furthermore, the microbiologists’ aim is to strengthen cooperation with bioinformatic experts, in order to better manage the multitude of data that is produced in modern genomic research.
For decades, researchers have concentrated on the microorganisms that cause diseases. More recently however, thanks to the tools of modern genomics, they have been able to focus in detail on the molecular mechanisms behind the pathogens. To bundle European competencies in the field of pathogenomics and to strengthen the exchange of experiences, a total of 37 scientific laboratories from 13 different countries came together in 2005 under the umbrella of the European Network of Excellence EuroPathoGenomics NoE EPG. This initiative is being funded by the European Commission with 6.7 millions euros over five years. At the end of April, at a meeting in the Villa Vigoni in Italy, members undertook a first review of their cooperation. “Over the course of the previous years, we have focused mainly on establishing efficient infrastructures and making them available for all partners”, said Prof. Jörg Hacker from the University of Würzburg, who is coordinating the network. In particular, a central virtual cell strain collection has been completed, which allows for the rapid searching of suitable data. Furthermore, the “EuroPathoGenomics Graduate Academy” (EGA) has also been established, with more than 50 students participating in a number of training programmes.
In the future, NoE EPG-members intend to concentrate more on the strategic adjustment of their work with the aim of improving the coordination of research across the participating countries. In Italy, the network partners therefore adopted the first structure of a common European research agenda, which describes the most important challenges in pathogenomics that the scientists will be facing in the coming years. “In the long run, we have to focus more on analysing the interaction of the pathogens with the host as well as shedding light on the complex interplay between different microorganisms that are active at the same time”, said Hacker. Furthermore, in their daily work, the pathogenomics experts are confronted with the enormous quantity of data that results from genomic research. The scientists want to address this problem with the development of new bioinformatic approaches, which could particularly advance the comparison of different pathogenic genomes. “We have to use comparative genomics to discover both the molecular determinants that cause hospital infections and the factors that are responsible for the drug-resistance of pathogens”, said Mike Gilmore, Harvard Medical School, USA, at the meeting. Another goal of the agenda is better cooperation between basic scientists and clinicians. “Our scientific language is not well understood by clinicians. We should learn more from each other”, emphasised the German researcher Werner Goebel from the University of Würzburg,during the meeting in Italy.
More information: www.noe-epg.uni-wuerzburg.de
