Peptides and Proteins: Physicochemical Studies

Peptides and Proteins: Physicochemical Studies Group during 2017 and 2018 has been developing its activity in two research lines a) Biophysical studies of surface-active GBV-C peptides as potential inhibitors of HIV-1 FP peptide and b) The performance of biophysical and microbiological studies of multifunctional polycationic peptide constructions with membrane activity. Concerning HIV-1 FP inhibition, its research focused specifically on the effect of lipid phase in the process that takes place. Findings corroborate that 1) GBV-C peptides interact with HIV-1 FP providing a kind of peptide-peptide complex that produces a change of LE / LC phase extension and avoid the HIV-1 FP action at membrane level; 2) the interaction occurs at the LE / LC border.
The line of research on new antibiotic lipopeptides has developed new candidate molecules with MICs in the micromolar range for both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria (patents WO2010/029196, WO2011/110716, PCT/ES2014/070286). Biophysical studies with model membranes in combination with flow cytometry and TEM observation in susceptible bacteria are indicative of a membrane-based mechanism of action. The project is part of the European consortium ENABLE (European Network for AntiBiotic Lead Engine). This is the one only project in Europe to develop new antibiotics against Gram negative bacteria funded by the Innovative Medicines Inititiave (IMI) (7th framework program and EFPIA, the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associates; see http://www.imi.europa.eu/content/enable).