Train2Target is a multidisciplinary European Training Network funded by the European Commission under the Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action. 7 academic groups and 4 industrial partners in in 9 different countries have come together to address the challenge of the discovery of alternative antimicrobials.

Infectious diseases are still among the top 10 causes of death worldwide. The most relevant factor accounting for the high incidence of infectious diseases is the increase and spread of multi drug resistant (MDR) strains, which is leaving clinicians with very limited options to treat infections, especially those from Gram-negative pathogens.

The bacterial cell envelope is still one of the best target for antimicrobial discovery. Train2Target is an interdisciplinary project aiming at dissecting the biogenesis of the cell envelope of Gram-negative bacteria, in particular peptidoglycan biosynthesis and outer membrane assembly. The assembly of these structures is carried out by sophisticated molecular machines that function outside the cell, in the absence of an obvious energy source, and that need to be temporally and spatially orchestrated to ensure proper cell growth and division. The Train2Target project aims at dissecting at the molecular level the function and coordination of core envelope machineries: to this end interdisciplinary approaches based on an array of genetic, biochemical, biophysical and structural biology techniques will be used. Innovative in vivo and in vitro assays will be also developed to find molecules that alter the function and/or misbalance the coordination of envelope machineries thus providing novel drugs to be developed as new antibiotics.
 
The consortium consists of partners from both academia and industry with excellent scientific qualifications in multiple disciplines. In total there are 15 ESR positions within Train2Target. During the appointment secondments will be performed at the premises of other partners to ensure multidisciplinary training and close collaborations.

Train2Target Science Slams

In case you have been wondering what each ESR is researching within the Train2Target project they have created short videos to introduce their area of research. These videos have been created as part of the Train2Target Science Slams which aim to provide an educational resource to the general public and other interested audiences.

General overview of the project created by Tiago and Pilar

Introducing BAM created by Elisa and Kara.

Video on Peptidoglycan created by Matthias and Federico

Drug discovery created Valentina

Drug discovery created by Mitja

Rcs system in Escherichia coli by created by Jessica and Raquel

LPT Machinery explained by Carlos, Laureen and Elisabete

What are antibiotics? Explained by Carina