National Institute of Structural Biotechnology and Medicinal Chemistry in Infectious Diseases

Abstract

The National Institute of Structural Biotechnology and Medicinal Chemistry in Infectious Diseases (INBEQMeDI) is a joint initiative resulting from existing collaborative research projects focused at the development of structural and biological studies on specific molecular targets in microorganisms associated with neglected tropical infectious diseases, aiming at the development of new drug candidates for the treatment of the endemic diseases Leishmaniasis, Schistosomiasis, Chagas' disease and malaria. This proposal is fostered by our previous successful initiative of the CEPID-FAPESP Center for Structural Molecular Biotechnology, which, for the past 8 years, has conducted frontline research projects in structural biotechnology and medicinal chemistry, including patent development, technological transfer and the dissemination of science through several programs dedicated to high-school students and teachers, as well as the population in general. Another fundamental basis for this proposal is the fact that we have been recently selected by World Health Organization, through its Tropical Diseases Research Program (TDR) as a World Reference Center for Medicinal Chemistry in Chagas Disease. This proposal is lead by the Center for Structural Molecular Biotechnology of the Institute of Physics of São Carlos (IFSC), University of São Paulo (USP), the first, most traditional and prestigious research group in Protein Crystallography and Structure-Based Drug Design in this country. In addition to this lead group, we are proposing, as associate research groups: 1) the Laboratory of Natural Products and Organic Synthesis of the Department of Chemistry, Federal University of São Carlos (DQ-UFSCar); Four other research groups on parasitology and medicinal chemistry of the University of São Paulo; 2) the Laboratory for the Study of the Molecular Bases of Signal Transduction in the Malaria Parasite, of the Department of General Physiology, Institute of Biosciences (IB-USP); 3) the Laboratory of Dr. A.Silber of the Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICB-USP); 4) the Laboratory of Prof. Angela K. Cruz, of the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology of Pathogenic Agents, Medicai Faculty of Ribeirao Preto (FMRP-USP); The Laboratory of Chemical and Biological Prospection in Funghi and Actinobacter, of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP-USP). Additionally, the INBEQMeDI includes two young investigators as Associate Laboratories, Dr. Jorge Iulek, a protein crystallographer based at the Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa, Paraná, and Juliana Lopes Rangel Fietto, a molecular biologist working at the Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular. The major goal of this Center is to perform both applied and basic research as well as technological development and science education in neglected tropical infectious diseases, which depend on Structure Based Molecular Design, specifically in the rational design of new structure-based drugs and vaccines. In order to achieve this goal, the INBEQMeDI promotes an integrated multidisciplinary approach including the application of the techniques of Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Structural Biology (Protein Crystallography, Multidimensional NMR, Spectroscopies, Molecular Modeling and Bioinformatics), Medicinal Chemistry based on both Synthetic and Natural Products Chemistry, Molecular Immunology, Cell Biology and Pharmacology. The projects undertaken by the INBEQMeDI are selected on the basis of their potential as targets for chemotherapy in tropical diseases. Integration and collaboration with the private sector is always sought, particularly with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and research institutes within the health sector. (AU)