RESEARCH
IPD Translational Investigator, Dr. Ingrid Pultz, published a paper in JACS this month titled ‘Engineering of Kuma030: A Gliadin Peptidase That Rapidly Degrades Immunogenic Gliadin Peptides in Gastric Conditions‘.
Using Rosetta to redesign the active site of the gliadin protease KumaMax – an enzyme computationally designed to break down gluten in the stomach – Dr. Pultz and collaborators show that the new variant Kuma030 degrades >99% of the gluten peptide that triggers inflammation in celiac disease patients. This work brings us even closer to arriving at an oral therapeutic for celiac disease.
IN THE NEWS
Dr. Pultz was interviewed by MyNorthwest.com on her work developing a pill that celiac patients can take before consuming gluten. Read and hear more at the link:
INSTITUTE
The IPD hosted its second Scientific Council meeting this month, chaired by David Urdal, PhD, MS. The council is made up of UW and Fred Hutch faculty from a variety of departments (Oncology, Genome Sciences, Immunology, Allergy & Infectious Diseases, Biochemistry, and Pharmacology). The goal of the IPD Scientific Council is threefold:
1. Identify new opportunities, targets, and applications to which protein design can be applied
2. To strategize on how best to balance core technology development with translational projects of value today and translational projects with important impacts 5 to 10 years down the road
3. Provide feedback on current projects
IPD Director Dr. David Baker was the Keynote speaker at the 13th Annual NanoDDS (International Nanomedicine and Drug Delivery) symposium, held at the UW this year. Dr. Baker gave a talk entitled ‘Engineering Protein Nanocarriers: Deisgn of protein interaction inhibitors and self-assembling nanocages’.
Dr. Baker also spoke on a panel at the Washington State Academy of Sciences 8th Annual Symposium on “Accelerating Science’s Impact: Translating Discoveries Into Solutions”. Held at the Museum of Flight, the panel was moderated by UW CoMotion Executive Director Vikram Jandhlaya and panelists discussed various topics under the theme of “Translational Science for Health and Disease Barriers and Solutions”.
Dinner with brilliant David Baker after wonderful WSAS panel:managed to get the panelists to argue a bit too-fun! #fb pic.twitter.com/8wrMLrczhh
— Vikram Jandhyala (@vikramjandhyala) September 18, 2015