Description du projet
De nouveaux médicaments antiparasitaires
Le besoin médical en thérapies contre les infections parasitaires telles que la maladie de Chagas et la leishmaniose, respectivement causées par les espèces Trypanosoma cruzi et Leishmania, n’est absolument pas satisfait. Ces parasites eucaryotes appartiennent à la classe des kinétoplastidés et possèdent un granule contenant de l’ADN appelé kinétoplaste. Les scientifiques du projet FEN INHIBITORS, financé par l’UE, identifieront les inhibiteurs des endonucléases à lambeau des kinétoplastidés, dont l’activité est cruciale pour la survie de tous les organismes testés jusqu’à présent. Le projet adoptera une approche structurelle pluridisciplinaire pour la conception des inhibiteurs et réalisera des études sur le potentiel et la toxicité des molécules candidates.
Objectif
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.
Champ scientifique
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Programme(s)
Régime de financement
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)Coordinateur
S10 2TN Sheffield
Royaume-Uni