Multiscale Structural Organization and Membrane Interactions of HBV-Derived Self-Assembled Peptides

• Grant number: 26/13412-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 14, 2026
• End date: January 13, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biophysics - Molecular Biophysics
• Principal Investigator: Emerson Rodrigo da Silva
• Grantee: Kayky Novais Batista
• Supervisor: Guillaume Tresset
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Université Paris-Saclay, Campus D'Orsay, France
• Associated to the scholarship: 25/11693-4 - High-resolution topographic mapping of cells adhered to hydrogel matrices, BP.IC

Abstract

Cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) have emerged as promising vectors for intracellular delivery due to their ability to cross biomembranes while carrying a wide variety of cargos. This project aims to investigate the supramolecular structure of self-assemblies formed by three novel CPP candidates derived from Hepatitis B virus (HBV) proteins, and to study their interactions with model lipid vesicles providing insights into their behavior in biomembrane systems. Initial results indicate that they interact with lipid bilayers and, in some cases, undergo conformational changes upon membrane binding. To further elucidate these mechanisms, the project will employ cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and atomic force microscopy-based infrared spectroscopy (AFM-IR), to analyze the spatial organization of the nanostructure and unveil structural and dynamical changes in membranes. The project will benefit from the unique scientific ecosystem of the Paris-Saclay University, fostering collaborations between our team at UNIFESP and research groups at the Laboratoire de Physique des Solides (LPS) and the Institut de Chimie Physique (ICP). This hub provides access to advanced instrumentation, including in-house cryo-EM facilities, a nearby synchrotron source and a state-of-the-art AFM-IR platform (IconIR), currently not available in Brazil. In this context, the project will put the student in contact with world-class teams working on HBV-derived self-assembling peptides at LPS, and on cutting-edge nanoscale infrared imaging and AFM-based methodologies at ICP. (AU)