Descripción del proyecto
Nuevos fármacos antiparasitarios
Existe una gran necesidad médica todavía no satisfecha de terapias contra infecciones parasitarias como la enfermedad de Chagas y la leishmaniosis, provocadas por el «Trypanosoma cruzi» y protozoos del género «Leishmania», respectivamente. Estos parásitos eucariotas pertenecen al orden «Kinetoplastea» y poseen un gránulo que contiene ADN conocido como cinetoplasto. Los científicos del proyecto FEN INHIBITORS, financiado con fondos europeos, identificarán inhibidores de las endonucleasas flap en «Kinetoplastea», cuya actividad es crucial para la supervivencia de todos los organismos estudiados hasta ahora. El proyecto acometerá una labor multidisciplinaria basada en estructuras destinada a diseñar inhibidores y realizará estudios de potencia y toxicidad de moléculas candidatas.
Objetivo
We are searching for Kinetoplastida flap endonuclease (FEN) inhibitors as a base for potential therapeutics for parasite infections, for which there is significant unmet clinical need. Kinetoplastida are flagellated protists responsible for 3 neglected human diseases. We will target the FEN enzymes from Trypanasoma cruzi and Leishmania species, the organisms causing Chagas disease and leishmaniaisis respectively. FEN activity is crucial for the survival of all organisms tested so far from mouse to bacteria, including Trypanosoma. We will identify specific inhibitors of Kinetoplastida FENs as the basis for future development of urgently needed new therapeutics. This multidisciplinary structure-based inhibitor design project will involve in vitro and in silico screening, protein crystallization, rounds of inhibitor design and finally in vivo potency and toxicity experiments.
The project will be overseen by Prof Sayers who has 30 years of experience with nucleases and who has founded two spin-out companies. His group is complemented through collaboration with a parasitologist Dr Helen Price (20 years research experience), who has been actively involved in developing antiparasitic agents. The experienced researcher, who has a strong protein biochemistry and crystallography background, is returning to academic research after almost 4 years outside science. Ultimately, the experienced researcher is aspiring to an academic career in translational medicine rooted in state-of-the-art basic research but with the skills and experience to synergise with the pharmaceutical sector.
Ámbito científico
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MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)Coordinador
S10 2TN Sheffield
Reino Unido