PRESENT RESEARCH PROJECTS (UVIC-UCC)
Structural determinants of HIV neutralizing antibodies. HIV infection continues to be devastating, so the development of a vaccine is a priority. The membrane-proximal external region of the gp41 subunit of the HIV envelope protein (MPER) is a potential target for the generation of neutralizing antibodies. The aim of this project is to define the structural determinants responsible for the capacity of certain antibodies developed against MPER to block HIV infection, and integrate computational and experimental data into a prototype vaccine capable of generating a neutralizing response. This computational project is performed in close collaboration with the experimental group of Dr. Julià Blanco (Cell Virology and Immunology Group, IrsiCaixa Institute for AIDS Research, Barcelona). The project is funded by Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria, Spanish Ministry of Health.
Pharmacological modulation of guanylate cyclases. The main objectives of this project are, mainly by using a structural bioinformatics approach, to find new modulators of guanylate cyclases (and related proteins), and to describe the structural implications of their respective mechanisms of action. An initial part of this project was made in collaboration with the group of Dr. David Garcia-Dorado (Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology). This project has no specific funding.
PAST RESEARCH PROJECTS (UVIC-UCC)
Search of modulators of the microglia activation as a therapeutic strategy for acute CNS damage. Project funded by the Maratò de TV3.
The role of TNF-R1 and its variants in Multiple Sclerosis. The most frequent therapy to treat Multiple Sclerosis is the administration of immunomodulators (like interferon beta). The problem is that a significant proportion of patients do not respond to this treatment. Recently, an association between allelic variants of the receptor type I of TNF alpha and this type of response to the treatment with immunomodulators has been found. Our objective is to understand how changes in receptor sequence results in a different clinical profile. No specific funding.
