Biotechnology and structural biology

This research direction focuses on the structural and functional characterization of viruses, the development of innovative vaccine platforms, and the exploration of disease pathogenesis. The groups involved bring a diverse range of expertise, from structural biology and genomics to biotechnology and disease pathology. Their work has significant implications for public health, particularly in the development of new vaccines and treatment strategies for diseases like Lyme disease. The integration of advanced techniques such as cryo-EM, X-ray crystallography, and NGS underscores the cutting-edge nature of this research direction.

Several objectives can be highlighted from the previous research activities and future goals:

• Characterization of Viruses and Virus-like Particles (VLPs): Studying the genomes, structures, and molecular interactions of DNA and ssRNA bacteriophages, and utilizing VLPs in vaccine development.
• Development of Novel Vaccine Candidates: Generating vaccine candidates based on plant and phage VLPs, suitable for industrial-scale production.
• Structural Analysis of Viral and Bacterial Proteins for Biomedical Applications: Studying the structure of viral and bacterial proteins to develop innovative platforms for vaccine development and other healthcare applications.