Specialist collaboration to explore deubiquitylase (DUB) enzymes in fight against Leishmaniasis
Researchers at York are to collaborate with a leading specialist in the field of deubiquitylase (DUB) enzymes in the fight against Leishmaniasis disease. DUBs are part of an essential protein degradation pathway in cells that use a process called ubiquitination.
Dundee-based Ubiquigent Ltd has an established reputation in ubiquitination and will work alongside York’s Professor Jeremy Mottram and his team to investigate the role of these enzymes for the treatment of leishmaniasis.
Fatal
Leishmaniasis is a potentially fatal tropical disease affecting mainly poorer communities in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Around one million new cases are recorded every year. Current treatments are highly toxic and hampered by increasing resistance to drugs, meaning new therapies are urgently needed.
Professor Mottram, Director of the York Biomedical Research Institute (YBRI), said: “Ubiquigent’s expertise in the design and development of novel inhibitors and their understanding of the ubiquitination system will add tremendous value to our drug discovery efforts.”
Collaboration
Ubiquigent’s Managing Director Jason Mundin added: “This collaboration with Professor Mottram and his team is an exciting opportunity for us to explore new applications for our DUB inhibitors with the potential of addressing an area of unmet medical need.”
The collaboration is supported by a Global Challenges Research Fund grant awarded by UK Research and Innovation.