Drug discovery for Chagas Disease and Visceral Leishmaniasis

• Grant number: 22/11951-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Program to Stimulate Scientific Vocations
• Start date: January 16, 2023
• End date: March 03, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biophysics - Molecular Biophysics
• Principal Investigator: Adriano Defini Andricopulo
• Grantee: Gabriel Ferreira Barbosa
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The Work Plan comprises the development of research activities in the laboratory using modern techniques of structure-based and ligand-based drug design. The scientific activities will focus on two diseases considered of high priority by the World Health Organization: Chagas disease and leishmaniasis. Experimental biochemical screenings will be performed to identify candidates for molecular optimization. Studies of the structure-activity relationships (SAR) will be carried out for the evaluation of the series of compounds. Molecular modeling methods will be used for the investigation of molecular, physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties of the most relevant bioactive compounds. Finally, in vitro antiparasitic tests will be employed to evaluate the most promising compounds. (AU)