COL_RES

Research on how intestinal microbiota fights against food-borne pathogens.

The COL_RES network is made up of a group of world-leading researchers investigating the mechanisms by which the gut microbiota protects against serious foodborne pathogens (Salmonella, E. coli, Listeria, Citrobacter and Campylobacter).

As a result, it will lead to the identification of new-generation probiotics that can protect against multiple infectious agents.

Through cross-sectoral affiliations between industry and academia, the network offers state-of-the-art training for early-stage researchers (ESRs), preparing them for problem-solving and entrepreneurial roles in industry and society and supporting cutting-edge research in infectious diseases in the European Union.

Food and waterborne diseases cause 23 million illnesses in Europe with 5,000 deaths a year and represent a growing health challenge. Through the study of different pathogens, COL_RES carries out a multi-omic approach to identify common mechanisms of action by which the members of the intestinal microbiota provide a natural barrier to infection through the phenomenon of colonisation resistance.

COL_RES uses a strategy based on the exploitation of existing pre-clinical research models in network laboratories, combined with phageomics, metagenomics, metabolomics and bioinformatics to generate multi-omic data and discover pathogen-specific mechanisms and the common mechanisms by which the gut microbiota protects against foodborne pathogens.

Likewise, COL_RES will enable the selection of new-generation specific probiotic candidates that can protect against foodborne infections.

The COL_RES network, coordinated by the University of Cork, has the participation of Eurecat through the Omic Sciences Unit, which develops computational analysis tools for metabolomics data from the microbiota.