Implementation of a computerized system for sample management and establishment of a scalable model for separation and characterization of peptides and proteins with potential pharmacological effects

• Grant number: 22/08175-3
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: March 01, 2023
• End date: February 28, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Chemistry of Macromolecules
• Principal Investigator: Isabel de Fátima Correia Batista
• Grantee: Isabel de Fátima Correia Batista
• Host Institution: Instituto Butantan. São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• City of the host institution: São Paulo
• Associated researchers: Ana Marisa Chudzinski-Tavassi ; Carlos Alberto Gonçalves Silva Jared ; Daniel Carvalho Pimenta ; Hugo Vigerelli de Barros ; Marcus Vinicius Buri ; Marta Maria Antoniazzi ; Rafael Marques Porto ; Renato Mancini Astray

Abstract

Since 2015, the Butantan Institute has participated in a cooperation program with Fapesp and GSK, which resulted in the creation of the "Centre of Excellence for Research in Target Discovery (CENTD)", whose objectives involve the study of venoms and animal secretions to discovery molecular targets enrolled in inflammation. CENTD has a physical collection of venoms and animal secretions and a "Dry Lab" containing information about this material. Thus, the registration of this collection is important to guarantee the quality of the samples (whole or processed) with total security and traceability. Venoms and secretions are rich in bioactive molecules, but available in low concentrations, therefore, the use of microchromatographic methods can be interesting strategies for their separation and characterization. Due to their specialized character, the toxins can have important pharmaceutical potential, such as, for example, anti-viral effect, against diseases such as Chikungunya and Dengue, which have a great impact on global health and economy. The aims of this project are: a) To expand CENTD's poison collection; b) To catalog and manage the collection of poisons and secretions; c) To establish a scalable, easy-to-handle, fast and relatively low-cost pilot model for the separation and characterization of molecules; d) To characterize biomolecules with potential antiviral effect. The expected results of this project are an increase in the reliability of the data obtained through the tracking of samples and information and the establishment of a scalable model for the separation and characterization of molecules that could lead to new molecular targets discovery in the future. (AU)