Research Unit: Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular

Web page: 

https://www.umh.es/contenido/Universidad/:persona_5518/datos_es.html

https://ibmc.umh.es/jvillalain-Boullon.asp

Research Fields:

• The study of the structure and interaction of DENV virus derived peptide libraries comprising the viral structural and non-structural proteins with model biomembranes, aiming to identify their molecular mechanism and biological function. Screening of peptide libraries to identify membranotropic determinants, characterize the interactions in structural terms, study the structure of the membranotropic segments, and make a detailed study of the interaction, modulation and structure of these peptide segments with membranes and living cells.
• Develop molecular dynamics bioinformatic tools to study the interaction of viral proteins with biomembranes to find new antivirals and therapeutic targets to develop new leading compounds useful for improved combined therapies.

Representative Publications:

• Nemésio H, Villalaín J. (2014). Membrane interacting regions of Dengue virus NS2A protein.  J Phys Chem B.  Aug 28;118(34):10142-55.
• Nemésio H, Villalaín J. (2014). Membranotropic regions of the dengue virus prM protein.  Biochemistry.  Aug 19;53(32):5280-9.
• Palomares-Jerez MF, Nemesio H, Franquelim HG, Castanho MA, Villalaín J. (2013). N-terminal AH2 segment of protein NS4B from hepatitis C virus. Binding to and interaction with model biomembranes. Biochim Biophys Acta.  Aug;1828(8):1938-52.
• Palomares-Jerez F, Nemesio H, Villalaín J. (2012). The membrane spanning domains of protein NS4B from hepatitis C virus.  Biochim Biophys Acta.  Dec;1818(12):2958-66.
• Palomares-Jerez MF, Nemesio H, Villalaín J. (2012). Interaction with membranes of the full C-terminal domain of protein NS4B from hepatitis C virus.  Biochim Biophys Acta. Nov;1818(11):2536-49.