Peptide Therapeutics
Head: prof. RNDr. Robert Vácha, PhD.
Research Topics
We focus on the computational design of novel peptides/proteins that can be useful in medical or biotechnological applications. By understanding the molecular mechanisms of their action on membranes, we are able to tune them to the required properties. We validate the effects of the designed peptides by experiments using fluorescence microscopy, QCM, AFM, cryoEM, microbiological assays and biochemical measurements.
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.
Join us
Team Members
Members of the laboratory also participate in the research group of Robert Vacha at CEITEC MU.
Postdoc
- Denys Biriukov
- Francesco Luca Falginella
- Ondřej Kroutil
- William Morton
- Timothée Rivel
- Lukáš Sukeník
- Alejandro Tanguma
PhD student
- Ladislav Bartoš
- Sofia Blasco
- Patrik Lindovský
- Peter Pajtinka
- Sushmita Pal
- Jana Salamonová
Bc/Mgr student
- David Kopecký
- Petr Pospíšil
- Tereza Tutková
Technician
- Eva Kotrlová
- Erin Spearing
- Vendula Rašková
Grants
