Thesis supervisor: Krisztina Fehér
Location of studies (in Hungarian): Univeristy of Debrecen, NMR laboratory of the Chemistry Institute, E-27 Abbreviation of location of studies: E-27
Description of the research topic:
Immune therapies that activate the immune system to fight diseases have made enormous steps forward towards the development of better cancer treatments in the last decade. Similarly to vaccines against pathogens, the objective of immune therapies is triggering a long term immune response against a disease related antigen, which is then administered via a drug delivery system together with an immune modulating adjuvant that helps the activation and modulation of the immune response. Novel type of delivery platforms and adjuvants are vital to achieve an efficient activation of the immune system and for triggering a suitable immune response. In order to immobilize the antigen and adjuvant cargo on the surface of delivery systems, a thorough understanding of intermolecular interactions is required.
We use molecular modelling and bioinformatics methods, such as docking, homology modelling, classical and enhanced sampling molecular dynamics simulations, which are complemented by NMR spectroscopic investigations. We investigate multiple immune modulators, receptors and delivery systems. Such are nucleic acid-based immune modulators that are one of the most promising group of adjuvants for cancer immunotherapies and are exerting their immune modulating effects via recognition by Toll-like receptors. We also examine fragments and derivatives of bacterial cell peptidoglycans that are recognized by NOD-line receptors. We test lipid and inorganic nanoparticles as delivery systems such as silica@ zirconia core@shell particles.
The research is embedded in an international cooperation in which multiple research groups from Ghent University with complementary expertise are taking part. The long-term impact pf the research is achieving a deeper insight into the working mechanism of immune modulators, helping design of novel adjuvants as well as development of innovative nano delivery platforms for immunotherapies.
Required language skills: Basic English Further requirements: interest in computations, in biological systems and in drug development
Number of students who can be accepted: 1
Deadline for application: 2022-01-15
2024. IV. 17. ODT ülés Az ODT következő ülésére 2024. június 14-én, pénteken 10.00 órakor kerül sor a Semmelweis Egyetem Szenátusi termében (Bp. Üllői út 26. I. emelet).
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