Peptide Therapeutics
Head: prof. RNDr. Robert Vácha, PhD.
Research Topics
We focus on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying vital biological processes. In particular, we are interested in processes involving biological membranes, proteins, and their interactions. We aim to utilize the obtained understanding to design new peptides/proteins or modify the existing ones that could be useful in medical or biotechnological applications. Results from our computer simulations, which employ advanced sampling techniques, are verified through a range of in vitro experiments. These include fluorescence microscopy, quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and various biochemical assays.
Research Areas
- Membrane-active peptides (including antimicrobial, cell-penetrating, anticancer, antiviral, lipid composition sensors, and curvature inducers), membrane remodelling, pore formation, membrane fusion, induced membrane curvature and thinning
- Virus infection, transcription, signalling pathways
- Development of coarse-grained models
- Free energy calculations
Main Objectives
- To develop computational methods that will enable us to determine peptide features for targeting and disrupting various pathogenic membranes.
- To provide transient structures and dynamics of the key processes during virus infection, transcription, and cell signalling.
Team Members
Members of the laboratory also participate in the research group of Robert Vacha at CEITEC MU.
Postdoctoral Researchers
- Denys Biriukov
- Francesco Luca Falginella
- Ondřej Kroutil
- William Morton
- Timothée Rivel
- Lukáš Sukeník
PhD Students
- Ladislav Bartoš
- Sofia Blasco
- Rahul Deb
- Peter Pajtinka
- Sushmita Pal
- Jana Salamonová
Bc/MSc Students
- David Kopecký
- Tereza Tutková
Technicians
- Martina Drabinová
- Adelheid Hanáčková