Snake antivenom, a luxury for the rich? In the AVV project we are identifying and developing synthetic antivenom (antitoxin), which can neutralize snake venom. Synthetic antitoxin could potentially save millions of lives worldwide in rural countries. Today, due to the price of a treatment, only wealthy people can afford antivenom and so snake antivenom is a luxury for the rich!

Anti-Venom venture project

The scope of the AntiVenom Venture project is – using phage display technology – to identify, design and develop inhibitor candidates that may be used in the development of antivenoms.

The working hypothesis is that it is possible to develop modern, biotechnology-based antidotes to snake venom that do not have the severe side effects of current antivenoms derived from animals. The scientific basis for this hypothesis lies in the fact that animal-derived proteins (incl. antivenoms/antisera) can be immunogenic towards the human body, whereas humanised antibodies do not have this drawback.

We are also investigating venomous snakes to look for better treatments for disorders such as high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and cancer. We believe that the very proteins that make snake venom so deadly may – in the right amounts or with the right modifications –provide healing for millions of snake bite victims.

As crazy as it sounds, drugs based on snake venom proteins are on the market and are used to prevent heart attacks. An example is Eptifibatide, a cyclic heptapeptide that is a modified rattlesnake venom protein. This drug has been used since 1998 to treat people suffering minor heart attacks or those with chest pain indicating they are likely to suffer a heart attack.

The most noteworthy difference between medicine and poison is the dose.

Collaborators

Læger uden Grænser:
Direktør Jesper Brix
Team leader Hanne Klink Epstein

Den Blå Planet:
Kasper Jørgensen
Lars Olsen

Instituto Clodomiro Picado:
Professor José María Gutiérrez
Professor Bruno Lomonte

The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts:
Associate Professor Arne Redsted Rasmussen

Randers Regnskov:
Director Henrik Herold
Animal caretaker Kristian Sørensen

Tropikariet i Helsingborg:
Director Magnus Lindqvist

Terrariet i Vissenbjerg:
Director Morten Jørgensen
Animal caretaker Jonas Caspersen
Animal caretaker Brian Bentzen

WWU Münster:
Professor Daniel Kuemmel

Copenhagen University Hospital Holbæk:
Doctor Pal B. Szecsi

Brian Lohse is convenor of the following PhD course:
Phage Display: Screening of proteins with DNA encoded peptide libraries

The course is running every second year, same time. Last course held
12-23 June 2017.

Find Master projects here.

Postdocs
Kanchan Devkota

Technicians
Grete Sørensen
Catia Correa Goncalves Andersen

Phd students
Kanchan Devkota
Ulrike Leurs
Andreas H. Laustsen

Research Assistant
Kyriaki Glavina
Rasmus Kiil-Nielsen

Students
Johanna Bjärtun
Jonas Johannesen
Anette Kock
Christina Milbo
Maiken Ravnø
Ioanna Papacharalampous
Esmeralda Bilic
Saioa Oscoz Cob
Henrik Flindt
Line Præst Lauridsen
Kamilla Meyer

Does Epigenetics shape life while you live? In the EpiDiscoverY group, EpiGenetics is the main focus and here we develop chemical probes for epigenetic protein families. We search for Need a ligand for your target? EpiDiscoverY is a Contract Research based Organization (CRO) under UCPH. We can deliver novel ligands that are peptide- , nanobody- or full antibody-based. EpiDiscoverY develops customized assays and does phage display screening of costumer targets with our in-house libraries.osteric sites and blocking of interaction partners to reveal secondary epigenetic mechanisms, which ultimately affects life your life while you live. EpiDiscoverY is a Contract Research based Organization (CRO) under ILF-SUND at the University of Copenhagen.

Our main focus is phage display technology, searching for novel ligands that can be used as compound tools or scaffolds that have the potential to be further developed into biopharmaceuticals. EpiDiscoverY also develop customized assays for specific targets and do screening of costumer targets with our in-house libraries. We have experience working with both industry and academia and have experience with patents, MTA’s and other types of contract, but are also carrying out classical academic research collaborations.
A common denominator for all of the projects is the use of phage display technology.

Previous Collaboration

• AstraZeneca
• EpiTherapeutics ApS
• Novo Nordisk A/S
• Immunitrack
• Promega

Does Epigenetics shape life while you live? In the EpiDiscoverY group, EpiGenetics is the main focus and here we develop chemical probes for epigenetic protein families. We search for allosteric sites and blocking of interaction partners to reveal secondary epigenetic mechanisms, which ultimately affects life your life while you live.

'Epi-' comes from Greek (επί-) and means over, outside of, or around. Hence, epigenetics is the study of heritable changes in gene activity that are not caused by changes within the DNA sequence.

The EpiDiscoverY project is aimed at developing chemical probes, for epigenetic protein families, identifying and targeting allosteric sites or blocking interaction partners to reveal secondary epigenetic mechanisms. We work with small molecules, peptides and antibody fragment, which can be developed into epigenetic chemical probes.

By further chemical design, involving peptidomimetics or labeling studies, we are developing new types of selective cancer biomarkers and designing inhibitors for these newly discovered classes of proteins. The identified biomarkers are used to study the individual proteins in vitro and in vivo, by fluorescence techniques, enzyme kinetics and inhibition studies. The majority of these proteins’ whereabouts and specific functions in both animal and human cells are still unknown

Collaboration

• Associate Professor Frank O. Fackelmeyer
  
  
• Oxford Chemistry group
  
  
• SGC oxford/Toronto
  
  
• Members of the EU-COST action CM-1406 (EpiChemBio).

The ultimate tool to develop biopharmaceuticals? Phage display is a powerful tool for selecting peptides, proteins or antibodies with specific binding properties from a very large number of variants (up to billions). The DNA-encoded libraries can be screened on any target to identify selective binders and inhibitors.

Phage display is a powerful tool for selecting peptides, proteins or antibodies with specific binding properties from a very large number of variants (up to billions).

The technology was introduced by G.P. Smith in Science, 1985, and entails the expression of peptides, proteins or antibody fragments on the surface of phages – viruses that infect bacterial cells.

The purpose is to screen for proteins with specific properties, selected from libraries of DNA variants and expressed as populations of protein variants on the surface of phage particles. The DNA-encoded libraries are for instance used to screen epigenetic protein families and identify selective binders and inhibitors (chemical probes) of peptides and antibodies. These specific and highly selective chemical probes are then produced using either antibody engineering or standard peptide synthesis.

Collaboration

• Associate Professor Frank O. Fackelmeyer
• Oxford Chemistry group
• SGC oxford/Toronto
• Members of the EU-COST action CM-1406 (EpiChemBio).

Den Blå Planet:
Kai Frydendahl
Lars Olsen

Instituto Clodomiro Picado
Professor José María Gutiérrez
Professor Bruno Lomonte

The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts
Associate Professor Arne Redsted Rasmussen

Previous collaboration

• AstraZeneca 
  
  
• EpiTherapeutics Aps
  
  
• Novo Nordisk A/S