On November 10, the second part of the Kickoff Meeting of the European project PathoGelTrap took place, a FET Open whose scientific coordination is carried out by the Laboratory of Dr. Mariano Carrión-Vázquez and which uses functional amyloids and other condensate-forming proteins. biomolecular cells to trap pathogens.

The project is coordinated by Mr. Enrique Amaré (CEO of SmartWater) and Dr. Mariano Carrión-Vázquez (Principal Investigator of the Cajal Institute – CSIC). It went live on June 1, 2020 and will work on developing a dynamic tool using current knowledge about the unique properties of proteins undergoing Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation (LLPS; a phenomenon also called biomolecular condensation), which eventually forms hydrogels. The first steps will focus on making a rational design of a chimeric biomaterial that binds an LLPS protein with an afibody, which is a small and robust protein capable of binding to target molecules (such as microbial antigens) with high affinity, mimicking monoclonal antibodies. This biosensor material will be able to recognize and trap fish pathogens in different aquatic environments and conditions.

For more information:

https://pathogeltrap.eu/