Despite significant advances in therapies targeting the underlying defect in cystic fibrosis (CF), airway infections remain a major driver of lung disease progression. Emerging CFTR modulators have the potential to reshape microbial community interactions, including the production of microbial effectors. This fellowship will investigate the long-term impact of the newest CFTR modulator therapy on the airway microbiome of CF patients. By integrating functional microbiome profiling with clinical data, the project aims to unravel microbiome dynamics and identify microbial effectors mediating pathogen–commensal interactions that could be leveraged to improve the management of airway infections.
This fellowship is part of the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Doctoral network METAMIC 3 - Metaproteome-based leveraged microbiome management in the context of One Health. METAMIC 3 is funded by the European Commission under the Horizon Europe framework programme (Grant Agreement number 101225682).
The METAMIC 3 project will embed Doctoral Candidates (DCs) in a unique training environment to advance microbiome science through metaproteomics. The program addresses One Health challenges by integrating research on microbial mechanisms, microbiome dynamics in various ecosystems, and translational applications in clinical and biotech fields. DCs will benefit from expertise across molecular biology, bioinformatics, clinical research, and environmental science, supported by collaborations among academia, industry, and public sector partners.