PRESENT RESEARCH PROJECTS (UVIC-UCC)
Activation of the natriuretic receptor A. We have two main objectives in this project: A) to understand the mechanism of NPRA activation and the basis of its specificity for the different natriuretic peptides, and B) to find new modulators of this receptor acting on the extracellular domain. No specific funding.
PAST RESEARCH PROJECTS (UVIC-UCC)
Structural determinants of HIV neutralizing antibodies. HIV infection continued to be devastating, so the development of a vaccine was a priority. The membrane-proximal external region of the gp41 subunit of the HIV envelope protein (MPER) was a potential target for the generation of neutralizing antibodies. The aim of this project was to define the structural determinants responsible for the capacity of certain antibodies developed against MPER to block HIV infection, and integrate computational and experimental data into a prototype vaccine capable of generating a neutralizing response. This computational project was performed in close collaboration with the experimental group of Dr. Julià Blanco (Cell Virology and Immunology Group, IrsiCaixa Institute for AIDS Research, Barcelona). The project was funded by Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria, Spanish Ministry of Health.
Pharmacological modulation of soluble guanylate cyclase. The main objective of this project was, mainly by using a structural bioinformatics approach, to find the site of interaction of the family of agonists related with YC-1, some of them with pharmacological applications. An initial part of this project was made in collaboration with the group of Dr. David Garcia-Dorado (Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology). This project had no specific funding.
Search of modulators of the microglia activation as a therapeutic strategy for acute CNS damage. Project funded by the Maratò de TV3.
The role of TNF-R1 and its variants in Multiple Sclerosis. The most frequent therapy to treat Multiple Sclerosis is the administration of immunomodulators (like interferon beta). The problem is that a significant proportion of patients do not respond to this treatment. Recently, an association between allelic variants of the receptor type I of TNF alpha and this type of response to the treatment with immunomodulators has been found. Our objective is to understand how changes in receptor sequence results in a different clinical profile. No specific funding.
