Project description
The role of glycans and cell receptors in infections
Unveiling the roles of glycosylation and cell receptors in infection mechanisms and cancer is crucial for early detection, estimation of prognosis, and monitoring treatment response. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the SPIRAL project will understand how critical protein receptors recognise and interact with glycans at the molecular level. The project will utilise Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and other biophysical techniques to investigate the binding preferences of the recognition event between GD3 ganglioside and the spike proteins of OC43 and HKU1 human coronavirus (HCoV) variants. It will also address the role of Siglec-7 in inhibiting HCoV viral infection, providing valuable insights into the roles of glycosylation patterns and cell receptors in HCoV infection mechanisms.
Objective
The present project focuses on deeply comprehending the molecular basis of glycan recognition events by key protein receptors at atomic level, directly connected to processes related to immune response, infection and cancer. We will elucidate using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and other biophysical techniques the binding preferences of the recognition event between GD3 ganglioside and the Spike proteins of OC43 and HKU1 human coronavirus (HCoV) variants, along with Siglec-7. The role of Siglec-7 in inhibiting the HCoV viral infection will also be addressed. This research will make a significant and direct contribution by unveiling the roles of glycosylation patterns and cell receptors in HCoV infection mechanisms.
Dr. Bermejo, the applicant, defended her PhD Thesis almost five years ago and was awarded a MSCA-IF fellowship for the past three years. During this time she has grown into an excellent researcher in chemical biology, possessing practical experience in organic and peptide synthesis, drug design, lipid nanoparticles formulation, cell culture and binding assays. Through the awarding of this fellowship she will join the lab of Prof. Jesus Jiménez-Barbero the Scientific Director of the host institution (CIC bioGUNE) and Leader of the Chemical Glycobiology lab. He is one of the best-known scientists in glycan research at the national and international levels.
Thanks to this action, Dr. Bermejo will consolidate her multidisciplinary scientific proficiency, acquiring new competences in enzymatic synthesis and protein expression and purification and trend setting NMR concepts and techniques. She will contribute to the host with her expertise in glycan and glycoconjugates synthesis, and will bring her expertise in liposomal formulation, setting up a microfluidics device within the group.
Fields of science
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicinemedicinal chemistry
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicineimmunology
- medical and health scienceshealth sciencesinfectious diseasesRNA virusescoronaviruses
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculescarbohydrates
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicineoncology
Keywords
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Main Programme
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European FellowshipsCoordinator
48160 DERIO VIZCAYA
Spain