Structural and functional characterization of ABC transporter Rv2563/Rv2564 of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

• Grant number: 25/23867-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: March 01, 2026
• End date: August 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Chemistry of Macromolecules
• Principal Investigator: Andrea Balan Fernandes
• Grantee: Nelson Alejandro Sierra Cortés
• Supervisor: Markus Seeger
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of Zurich (UZH), Switzerland
• Associated to the scholarship: 24/02428-2 - Functional and structural characterization of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis transporter Rv2563/Rv2564, BP.DD

Abstract

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is the infectious agent that causes tuberculosis, one of the leading causes of death and health problems worldwide. Among the processes involved in the survival and infection of the bacillus, notable features include its ability to remodel the cell envelope after entering the macrophage, evade the immune system, and resist antimicrobial agents. Within the many proteins relevant to these processes, ATP-Binding Cassette (ABC) transporters stand out due to their involvement in cellular transport, virulence, pathogenesis, and the multidrug resistance. Within these transport systems, the ABC transporter Rv2563/Rv2564 is noteworthy. Although its structure and function remain unknown, its activation has been demonstrated during the infection process in macrophages. This project aims to perform a structural characterization of the transporter through techniques such as X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy, as well as a functional characterization using activity assays and studies of interactions with potential ligands (AU)