Contract Number QLK2-1999-51115
Project Title
Artificial chimeric proteins as diagnostic, vaccine, and gene therapy carriers
Job Description
The training in protein engineering of chimeric viral proteins, or VLPs (virus-
like Particles), is proposed. It is oriented onto creation of VLPs with desired
practical functions of vaccine, diagnostic and gene therapy tools. We propose
knowledge-based prediction, combination, and introduction of synthetic
oligonucleotides encoding functional oligopeptide sequences (immunological
epitopes, nucleic acids packaging and cell addressing sequences) into
self-assembly competent carriers. As such carriers, constituents of capsids and
envelopes of Hepadnaviridae, Leviviridae, Sobemovirus origin are chosen.
Research training will include selection of active oligopeptide sequences,
introduction of them into the desired sites onto the carriers, and structural
and functional analysis of the fate of the inserted oligopeptides. Each training
course will be accomplished by the construction of a real vaccine, diagnostic,
or gene therapy candidate for HBV , HCV , HPV , HIV, TB, Syphilis and other
infections (including those suggested by training candidate).
The main subjects of training will be:
(i) Construction and elucidation of chimeric capsids on the basis of
HBcAg, using a special set of advanced "capsid vectors",
(ii) Construction of diagnostic and vaccine tools on the basis of
Leviviridae RNA bacteriophage QB, within the A1 extension of its coat,
(iii) Construction of chimeric proteins on the basis of plant viruses:
Cocksfoot mottle sobemovirus (CfMV), and Rice yellow mottle virus (RYMV),
(iv) Synthesis of HBV-like particles governed by Semliki Forest virus
expression system and modelling of viral syntheses in eukaryotic cells,
(v) Immune response to chimeric proteins.
Supervisor:
Professor Paul Pumpens
paul@biomed.lu.lv
http://bmc.biomed.lu.lv/
Biomedical Study and Research Centre ~ Latvian Academy of Sciences ~ Marie Curie Fellowships
Last update: 01-02-2001
weblza@lza.lv