CFH2a priming - Understanding DNA-processing molecular motors from Human Papillomavirus for designing anti-viral drugs

Helicases are an essential type of DNA-processing nano-machines that enable organisms to read their genetic information. As a consequence, they are attractive targets for drugs against some of the most prevalent infectious diseases in man. One example is the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) which are small DNA viruses that cause genital warts increasing the risk to develop different types of cancer like cervical cancer. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection and, just in America, 79 million of citizens are infected with this virus. Although just a dozen of the hundreds of different types of HPV can cause cancer, virtually all cervical cancers are related to HPV. Understanding how the helicase of Papillomavirus (so-named Helicase E1) works will facilitate the development of anti-viral drugs. This priming fund will underpin the development of a grant application where experimental and theoretical approaches will be combined with drug design expertise.