SPAIN
Alberto Marina
Institute of Biomedicine of Valencia (The Spanish National Research Council), Valencia, Spain
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INPEC node since 2016
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Our group studies signaling and communication mechanisms in the microbiological world. Our focus is on mobile genetic elements, such as bacteriophages, plasmids, pathogenicity islands or integrative elements, which are hosts for the bacteria that occupy this ecosystem. Using structural biology (X-ray, Cryo-EM), biophysical, biochemical and microbiological techniques we try to decipher the molecular basis of different “languages” used by these genetic elements. The use of protein engineering allows us to generate new “dialects” and communication systems with potential biotechnological and biomedical applications.
Keywords: microbial communication, Signal transduction, Quorum sensing, Bacteriophages, Structural biology, X-ray crystallography, Protein-protein interaction, arbitrium system.
Aitziber L. Cortajarena
Ikerbasque Research Professor, Scientific Director, CIC biomaGUNE-BRTA, San Sebastian, Spain
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INPEC node since 2020
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The group focuses on engineering biomolecule-based functional nanostructures and bioinspired materials for biotechnology and biomedicine. Using a combination of protein and nanomaterial engineering, the group creates versatile platforms for constructing protein-based hybrid functional nanostructures and self-assembled biomaterials via bottom-up approaches, from nano- to macro-scale. By combining biomolecular engineering and bioconjugation, molecular hybrids are produced with nanoparticles, nanoclusters, or organic compounds, endowing biomolecules with novel functions. This work includes the development of functional nanostructures and biomaterials for applications in biological therapies, sensing, bioelectronics, catalysis, lighting, and data storage, among others.
Keywords: protein design, biomolecular engineering, bionanotechnology, bionanomaterials, biofunctionalization, biomolecular templating, biomaterials, self-assembly, biomedicine
Javier Sancho
Institute of Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Sustems, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
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INPEC node since 2017
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We study protein stability using all kind of wet and computational approaches. We try to understand the physics involved and to develop quantitative tools for the rational design of protein stability. We practise target-oriented drug discovery combining high through put screening of chemical libraries, structural determination of ligand-target complexes, medicinal chemistry and computational tools to increase complex affinity. We are working of the prediction of phenotypes for proteins carrying single-nucleotide variations.
Keywords: protein stability and stabilization, target-based drug discovery, structural biology, biocomputation, genetic interpretation