Projects

Design of allosteric nanosensors based on modified enzymes for the molecular diagnosis of viral diseases and the analysis of the immune response. Design of nanostructures and of artificial viruses for the controlled release, via receptor, of therapeutic siRNA and DNA. Design, biological engineering and production of multifunctional recombinant proteins for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

Areas: development of nanostructures, biosensors, treatment

The projects currently underway are the following:
•    Structural, functional and dynamic analysis of protein aggregation and of the inclusion bodies in recombinant bacteria BIO2004-00700 (2005-2007).
This project analyzes the molecular physiology and biology of the formation of amyloid-like structures in bacteria, and it specifically studies the role of the cell quality control system in the folding, assembly and activity of model proteins. Most of these proteins contain ligands for mammal cells of a viral origin and are used as the basis for generating non-viral carriers for gene therapy.
•    Aid for Research Groups of Catalonia (Grup de Recerca Consolidat de Catalunya en Microbiologia Bàsica i Aplicada). AGAUR 2005SGR-00956. 2005-2008. 23/10/05. Base financing for the group’s different scientific activities.
•    Genome-wide comparison of physiological bottlenecks in multi-subunit protein production in prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbial hosts (GENOPHYS). BIO2005-23732-E (EUROSCOPE) 2006-2008.
•    Transnational study of the biological production and assembly of recombinant antibodies for molecular diagnosis, in the framework of the European Science Foundation. Comparative analysis of the functionality thereof when produced in different microbial systems.
•    Development of biosensors for the serologic diagnosis of viral diseases: Applied to the diagnosis of animals infected by the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). PETRI 95-0947.OP.02. 2006-2008.
•    Development of allosteric biosensors for molecular diagnosis of the foot and mouth disease, which complements our work with HIV. The project proposes generating a portable field regent that can be miniaturized.
•    Design and molecular and functional characterization of artificial viruses and nanoparticles with a modular architecture for the controlled transport of therapeutic DNA. BIO2007-61194.
The project proposes exploring the combination of different functional domains for the receptor-mediated delivery of therapeutic nucleic acids to the central nervous system for the genetic treatment of neuroinflammation processes.