The EvaMobs escape room at ITQB NOVA's open day - EvaMobs | Strengthening the EU's pandemic preparedness

The EvaMobs escape room back in action!

For the latest edition of the ITQB NOVA Open Day on March 15th 2025, new participants dove into the thrilling world of viral drug discovery – where time was ticking and teamwork was essential to develop treatments. Their mission? To stop a mysterieus virus that changes time and space perception, and even makes people glow in the dark!💡

This hands-on experience sparked engaging discussions about the challenges of viral outbreaks, the importance of scientific innovation, and how we can better prepare for future pandemics.

Michael Burnet

CEO at Synovo GmbH

I am the founder and CEO of Synovo GmbH, a PhD biochemist with over 20 years of experience in preclinical drug discovery and development. My scientific expertise spans lysosomal biology, neuropharmacology, and inflammation research, and I have led Synovo’s integrated drug discovery programs and partner-funded preclinical studies since founding the company in 2004. Over the years, I have guided collaborations with major pharmaceutical partners and directed multi-disciplinary teams across medicinal chemistry, in vitro and in vivo pharmacology, analytics, and pharmacokinetics. Within the EvaMobs project, I oversee Synovo’s overall scientific contribution and lead our involvement in WP3 (Preclinical Validation), where our team evaluates novel monobody- and miniprotein-based antivirals in relevant in vivo models. I coordinate the strategic alignment of Synovo’s experimental work with the consortium’s translational goals, supporting the path from candidate selection to preclinical readiness for clinical development.

Key Publications

Burnet, M., Laufer, S. A. (2023). Inherent Fluorescence Demonstrates Immunotropic Properties for Novel Janus Kinase 3 Inhibitors. ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science.

Riexinger, L., Laux, J., Schwamborn, A., Guezguez, J., Pokoj, C., Forster, M., Kudolo, M., Berger, L. M., Knapp, S., Guse, J.-H., Laufer, S. A., Burnet, M. (2023). Selective Inhibitors of Janus Kinase 3 Modify Responses to Lipopolysaccharides by Increasing the Interleukin-10-to-Tumor Necrosis Factor α Ratio. ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science, 6(6).

Keppler, M., Straß, S., Geiger, S., Fischer, T., Späth, N., Weinstein, T., Schwamborn, A., Guezguez, J., Guse, J.-H., Laufer, S., Burnet, M. (2023). Imidazoquinolines with improved pharmacokinetic properties induce a high IFNα to TNFα ratio in vitro and in vivo. Frontiers in Immunology, 14:1168252.

Saris, A., Qin, W., van Linge, C. C. A., Reijnders, T. D. Y., Florquin, S., Burnet, M., Strass, S., de Vos, A. F., van der Poll, T. (2022). The Azithromycin Pro-Drug CSY5669 Boosts Bacterial Killing While Attenuating Lung Inflammation Associated with Pneumonia Caused by Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 66(9).

Laux, J., Forster, M., Riexinger, L., Schwamborn, A., Guezguez, J., Pokoj, C., Kudolo, M., Berger, L. M., Knapp, S., Schollmeyer, D., Guse, J., Burnet, M., Laufer, S. A. (2022). Pharmacokinetic Optimization of Small Molecule Janus Kinase 3 Inhibitors to Target Immune Cells. ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science, 5(9).

Burnet, M., Guse, J.-H., Gutke, H.-J., Guillot, L., Laufer, S., Hahn, U., Seed, M. P., Vallejo, E., Eggers, M., McKenzie, D., Albrecht, W., Parnham, M. J. (2014). Anti-Inflammatory Macrolides to Manage Chronic Neutrophilic Inflammation. In Macrocycles in Drug Discovery, Royal Society of Chemistry, Chapter 6, pp. 206–234.

Balloy, V., Deveaux, A., Lebeaux, D., Tabary, O., le Rouzic, P., Ghigo, J. M., Busson, P. F., Boëlle, P. Y., Guez, J. G., Hahn, U., Clement, A., Chignard, M., Corvol, H., Burnet, M., Guillot, L. (2014). Azithromycin analogue CSY0073 attenuates lung inflammation induced by LPS challenge. British Journal of Pharmacology.

Suzana Žunec

Senior scientific associate

Suzana žunec, PhD in Chemistry – Biochemistry and Medicinal Chemistry, has profiled herself in the field of toxicology. She is experienced in human and animal tissue based research, analysis of biochemical and molecular mechanisms of toxicity of xenobiotics and natural compounds and enzyme kinetics with 18 years of research work. Also, she is trained in chromatographic techniques and analysis of samples. Her research areas include effects of various inorganic and organic pollutants on human health and the environment, protection against chemical weapons and interactions of conventional drugs and herbal products. Her expertise and rich background in toxicology and biochemistry, will contribute to early toxicological evaluation of Mobs – identification of possible toxicities and likelihood of potential adverse events or undesirable effects to allow deciding when it is reasonably safe to proceed to in vivo studies and clinical investigation.

Key Publications

Žunec, S.; Vadlja, D.; Ramić, A.; Zandona, A.; Maraković, N.; Brekalo, I.; Primožič, I.; Katalinić, M. Profiling Novel Quinuclidine-Based Derivatives as Potential Anticholinesterase Drugs: Enzyme Inhibition and Effects on Cell Viability. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25, 155. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25010155

Matošević, Ana; Opsenica, Dejan; Spasić, Marta; Maraković, Nikola; Zandona, Antonio; Žunec, Suzana; Bartolić, Marija; Kovarik, Zrinka; Bosak, Anita. Evaluation of 4-aminoquinoline derivatives with an n-octylamino spacer as potential multi-targeting ligands for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Chemico-Biological Interactions, 382 (2023), 110620, 13 doi:10.1016/j.cbi.2023.110620

Žunec S, Brčić Karačonji I, Čatalinac M, Jurič A, Katić A, Kozina G, Micek V, Neuberg M, Lucić Vrdoljak A. Effects of concomitant use of THC and irinotecan on tumour growth and biochemical markers in a syngeneic mouse model of colon cancer. Arh Hig Rada Toksikol 2023;74:198-206 doi.org/10.2478/aiht-2023-74-3765

Jurič A, Brčić Karačonji I, Žunec S, Katić A, Gašić U, Milojković Opsenica D, Kopjar N. Protective role of strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo L.) honey against cyto/genotoxic effects induced by ultraviolet B radiation in vitro. Journal of apicultural research (2022) DOI: 10.1080/00218839.2022.2047421

Zorbaz T, Malinak D, Hofmanova T, Maraković N, Žunec S, Maček Hrvat N, Andrys R, Psotka M, Zandona A, Svobodova J, Prchal L, Fingler S, Katalinić M, Kovarik Z, Musilek K. Halogen substituents enhance oxime nucleophilicity for reactivation of cholinesterases inhibited by nerve agents, European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry,Volume 238, 2022, 114377 doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114377

Maja Katalinić

Scientific Advisor

Maja Katalinić, PhD, has 20 years of experience in the field of drug discovery research and excellent insight into its high demands. She possesses invaluable experience in enzyme kinetics and enzyme biochemistry in general, as well as in evaluating drugs’ effects on the cell level in the early phase of studies. She has passed several trainings in molecular biology as well as training for lab management/leadership. She was a leader and collaborator on national and international projects involving research on antidotes development for the treatment of organophosphorus compounds poisoning, while in 2017 she establish her research group focusing on the molecular mechanisms underlying the toxicity of antidotes and potential drugs. As a leading researcher of IMI team, Dr Katalinić will be responsible for the overall implementation of cell-based in vitro toxicology assays as a safety assessment to evaluate Mobs toxicity.

Key Publications

Žunec, Suzana; Vadlja, Donna; Ramić, Alma; Zandona, Antonio; Maraković, Nikola; Brekalo, Iva; Primožič, Ines; Katalinić, Maja. Profiling Novel Quinuclidine-Based Derivatives as Potential Anticholinesterase Drugs: Enzyme Inhibition and Effects on Cell Viability. International journal of molecular sciences, 25 (2024), 1; 155, 19. doi: doi.org/10.3390/ijms25010155

Zandona, Antonio; Madunić, Josip; Miš, Katarina; Maraković, Nikola; Dubois-Goeffroy, Pierre; Cavaco, Marco; Mišetić, Petra; Padovan, Jasna; Castanho, Miguel; Jean, Ludovic et al. Biological response and cell death signaling pathways modulated by tetrahydroisoquinoline-based aldoximes in human cells. Toxicology, 494 (2023), 153588-153602. doi: 10.1016/j.tox.2023.153588

Miš, Katarina ; Lulić, Ana-Marija ; Marš, Tomaž ; Pirkmajer, Sergej ; Katalinić, Maja. Insulin, dibutyryl-cAMP, and glucose modulate expression of patatin-like domain containing protein 7 in cultured human myotubes. Frontiers in endocrinology (Lausanne), 14 (2023), 1139303, 13. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1139303

Zandona, Antonio; Maraković, Nikola; Mišetić, Petra; Madunić, Josip; Miš, Katarina; Padovan, Jasna; Pirkmajer, Sergej; Katalinić, Maja. Activation of (un)regulated cell death as a new perspective for bispyridinium and imidazolium oximes. Archives of Toxicology 95, (2021) 2737-2754.

Zandona, Antonio; Katalinić, Maja; Šinko, Goran; Radman Kastelic, Andreja; Primožič, Ines; Kovarik, Zrinka. Targeting organophosphorus compounds poisoning by novel quinuclidine-3 oximes: development of butyrylcholinesterase-based bioscavengers. Archives of Toxicology (2020) 94(9): 3157-3171.

Antonio Zandona

Scientific Associate

Antonio Zandona, PhD in Chemistry – Biochemistry and Medicinal Chemistry, is an expert in the enzyme kinetics and cell based research, with specific training in flow cytometry and molecular biology techniques. His fields of interest include influence of oxime reactivators and potential drugs on cell level, mechanisms of toxicity on cell level and activation and/or inhibition of signaling pathways with an aim to determine specific mechanisms of toxicity and dependence of compounds structure and toxicity. In addition to being a collaborator on several national and bilateral projects, he was PI of three projects supported by Croatian Academy of Science and Art. As the recipient of EMBO scientific exchange grants he had opportunities to collaborate with leading experts in his field and gain exposure to cutting-edge techniques. His role in the EvaMobs project will be formation and maintenance of the cell bank and performance of specific assays used as a safety assessment in preclinical evaluation of Mobs.

Key Publications

Zandona, Antonio; Jagić, Karla; Dvoršćak, Marija; Madunić, Josip; Klinčić, Darija; Katalinić, Maja. PBDEs found in house dust impact human lung epithelial cell homeostasis. Toxics, 10 (2022), 97-112 doi:10.3390/toxics10020097.

Zandona, Antonio; Lihtar, Gabriela; Maraković, Nikola; Miš, Katarina; Bušić, Valentina; Gašo- Sokač, Dajana; Pirkmajer, Segej; Katalinić, Maja. Vitamin B3-Based Biologically Active Compounds as Inhibitors of Human Cholinesterases. International journal of molecular sciences, 21 (2020), 21; 8088, 19. doi:10.3390/ijms21218088

Cláudio M. Soares

Project Coordinator EvaMobs and Full Professor

Cláudio M. Soares is Full Professor of Biochemistry at ITQB NOVA and Pro-Rector for the NOVAHealth Platform of NOVA University Lisbon. He is also the PI of the Protein Modelling Laboratory of ITQB NOVA and the Coordinator of the Molecular, Structural and Cellular Microbiology – MOSTMICRO-ITQB Research Unit of ITQB NOVA since 2015. He is co-author of 129 papers and has participated in 37 competitively funded projects since 1996. He is a member of the Directive Board of the Portuguese Biophysical Society and President of the Scientific Council of TAGUSPARK – Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia. He was member of the International Union for Pure and Applied Biophysics (IUPAB) council (2011-2017), and member of the Federation of European Biochemical Societies (FEBS) Advanced Courses Committee (2015-2018). Cláudio M. Soares was Dean of ITQB NOVA from 2013 to 2023 and Vice-Dean during 2005-2008 and 2011-2013.

Key Publications

Valério, M, Borges-Araújo, L, Melo, MN, Lousa, D, Soares^*, CM (2022) “SARS-CoV-2 variants impact RBD conformational dynamics and ACE2 accessibility”, Front. Med. Technol., 4:1009451.

Abreu, B, Cruz, C, Oliveira, ASF, Soares, CM (2020) “ATP hydrolysis and nucleotide exit enhance maltose translocation in the MalFGK₂E importer”, Sci.Rep., 11, 10591

Lousa, D, Pinto, ART, Campos, SRR, Baptista, AM, Veiga, AS, Castanho, MARB, Soares, CM (2020) “Effect of pH on the influenza fusion peptide properties unveiled by constant-pH molecular dynamics simulations combined with experiment”, Sci.Rep., 10, 20082

Barbosa, TM, Baltazar, CSA, Cruz, DR, Lousa, D, Soares, CM (2020) “Studying O2 pathways in [NiFe]- and [NiFeSe]-hydrogenases”, Sci.Rep., 10, 10540

Oliveira, ASF, Campos, SRR, Baptista, AM, Soares, CM (2016) “Coupling between protonation and conformation in cytochrome c oxidase: Insights from Constant-pH MD simulations”, BBA Bioenergetics, 1857, 759-771.

Victor, BL, Lousa, D, Antunes, J, Soares, CM (2015) “Self-assembly molecular dynamics simulations shed light into the interaction of the influenza fusion peptide with a membrane bilayer”, J.Chem. Infor. Model., 55, 795–805

Oliveira, ASF, Damas, JM, Baptista, AM, Soares, CM (2014) “Exploring O2 diffusion in A-type Cytochrome c Oxidases: molecular dynamics simulations uncover two alternative channels towards the binuclear site, PLoS Comp.Biol., 10, e1004010

Damas, JM, Baptista, AM, Soares, CM (2014) “The Pathway for O-2 Diffusion inside CotA Laccase and Possible Implications on the Multicopper Oxidases Family”, J Chem Theor Comp, 10, 3525–3531

Marta Alenquer

Staff Scientist

Marta Alenquer is a virologist with longstanding expertise in herpesviruses, influenza A virus and, more recently, in SARS-CoV-2. Her scientific career has been dedicated to understanding virus-host interactions at both the cellular and organismal levels, identifying host factors and pathways essential for viral replication, as well as viral proteins and virulence factors that impact viral disease in animal models of infection. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Marta has also been actively involved in the study of antivirals, including anti-SARS-CoV-2 and anti-influenza A virus biopharmaceuticals. In this project, she is involved in in vitro virus-neutralization studies and in vivo antiviral studies of Mobs.

Key Publications

Goncalves J, Melro M, Alenquer M, Araujo C, Castro-Neves J, Amaral-Silva D, Ferreira F, Ramalho J, Charepe N, Serrano F, Pontinha C, Amorim MJ, Soares H (2023) “Balance between maternal antiviral response and placental transfer of protection in gestational SARS-CoV-2 infection” JCI Insight e167140. doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.167140

Etibor TA, Sridharan S, Vale-Costa S, Brás S, Becher I, Mello I, Ferreira F, Alenquer M, Savitski M, Amorim MJ (2023) “Defining basic rules for hardening influenza A virus liquid condensates” eLife 12:e85182. doi: 10.7554/eLife.85182

Alenquer M, Milheiro Silva T, Akpogheneta O, Ferreira F, Vale-Costa S, Medina-Lopes M, Batista F, Garcia AM, Barreto VM, Paulino C, Costa J, Sobral J, Diniz-da-Costa M, Ladeiro S, Corte-Real R, Delgado Alves J, Leite RB, Demengeot J, Rocha Brito MJ, Amorim MJ (2022) “Saliva molecular testing bypassing RNA extraction is suitable for monitoring and diagnosing SARS-CoV-2 infection in children” PLOS One 17(6): : e0268388 . doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0268388

Gonçalves J, Juliano AM*, Charepe N*, Alenquer M*, Athayde D, Ferreira F, Archer M, Amorim MJ, Serrano F, Soares M (2021) “Non-neutralizing secretory IgA and T cells targeting SARS-CoV-2 spike protein are transferred to the breastmilk upon BNT162b2 vaccination” Cell Reports Medicine 2(12):100468. doi: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2021.100468 *equal contribution

Alenquer M, Ferreira F, Lousa D, Valério M, Medina-Lopes M, Bergman ML, Gonçalves J, Demengeot J, Leite BL, Lilue J, Ning Z, Penha-Gonçalves C, Soares H, Soares CM, Amorim MA (2021) “Signatures in SARS-CoV-2 spike protein conferring escape to neutralizing antibodies” PLoS Pathogens 17(8):e1009772. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009772

Ho JSY, Angel M, Ma Y, Sloan E, Wang G, Martinez-Romero C, Alenquer M, Roudko V, Chung L, Zheng S, Chang M, Fstkchyan Y, Clohisey S, Dinan AM, Gibbs J, Gifford R, Shen R, Gu Q, Irigoyen N, Campisi L, Huang C, Zhao N, Jones JD, van Knippenberg I, Zhu Z, Moshkina N, Meyer L, Noel J, Peralta Z, Rezelj V, Kaake R, Rosenberg B, Wang B, Wei J, Paessler S, Wise HM, Johnson J, Vannini A, Amorim MJ, Baillie JK, Miraldi ER, Benner C, Brierley I, Digard P, Łuksza M, Firth AE, Krogan N, Greenbaum BD, MacLeod MK, van Bakel H, Garcìa-Sastre A, Yewdell JW, Hutchinson E, Marazzi I (2020) “Hybrid Gene Origination Creates Human-Virus Chimeric Proteins during Infection”. Cell 2181(7):1502-1517.e23. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.05.035

Alenquer M*, Vale-Costa S*, Etibor TA, Ferreira F, Sousa AL, Amorim MJ “Influenza A virus ribonucleoproteins form liquid organelles at endoplasmic reticulum exit sites”. (2019) Nature Communications 10: 1629. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-09549-4

Ludwig Mayerlen

BD Associate & Scientist at Synovo GmbH

I am a scientist at Synovo GmbH with expertise in vaccine development, antibody engineering, and advanced protein expression systems. My research background spans filovirus vaccine development, thermostable vaccine platforms, and recombinant antibody production, with particular focus on translational applications from laboratory to clinical readiness. I earned my PhD in Tropical Medicine from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, where I advanced Marburg virus glycoprotein expression systems and demonstrated long-term vaccine thermostability—critical for global health applications. My experience includes developing novel immunoassays, yeast-display technologies, and CHO cell-based antibody production platforms. Prior to joining Synovo, I completed fellowships at Flagship Pioneering and Patents2Products, focusing on translating academic research into biotechnology innovations. Within the EvaMobs project, I contribute to business development and scientific strategy, supporting Synovo’s role in WP3 (Preclinical Validation) where we evaluate novel antiviral candidates in relevant preclinical models.

Key Publications

Bailey, R., Kahoekapo, K., Mayerlen, L., Kae, H., To, A., Shikuma, C., Lehrer, A., MacPherson, I. (2025). Divalent HIV-1 gp120 Immunogen Exhibits Selective Avidity for bnAb VRC01 Precursors. Under Review.

Mayerlen, L. I., Wong, T. A. S., To, A., Smith, O. A., Chuang, E., Donini, O., Lehrer, A. T. (2025). Thermostable Bivalent & Trivalent Filovirus Vaccines from Insect Cells: Potency Demonstrated after 3 Months and 2 Years. Vaccine. Under Review.

To, A., Kamara, V. M., Tekah, D. M., Jalloh, M. A., Kamara, S. B., Wong, T. A. S., Ball, A. H., Mayerlen, L. I., Ishikawa, K. M., Ahn, H. J., Shobayo, B., Teahton, J., Haun, B. K., Wang, W. K., Berestecky, J. M., Nerurkar, V. R., Humphrey, P. S., Lehrer, A. T. (2025). Baseline Seroprevalence of Arboviruses in Liberia Using a Multiplex IgG Immunoassay. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, 10(4), 92.

Göbel, S., Mayerlen, L., Eiser, I., Fichtmueller, L., Clements, D., Reichl, U., Genzel, Y., Lehrer, A. (2024). Process intensification for recombinant Marburg virus glycoprotein production using Drosophila S2 cells. Engineering in Life Sciences.

Mayerlen, L. I., Wong, T. A. S., Lehrer, A. T. (2024). A Microsphere Immunoassay for the Quantitative Detection of Antigens in Cell Culture Supernatant. Methods in Molecular Biology, 2829, 277-286.

McLaury, A. R., Haun, B. K., To, A., Mayerlen, L., Medina, L. O., Lai, C. Y., Wong, T. A. S., Nakano, E., Strange, D., Aquino, D., Huang, Y. S., Higgs, S., Vanlandingham, D. L., Garcia, A., Berestecky, J. M., Lehrer, A. T. (2024). Characterization of Two Highly Specific Monoclonal Antibodies Targeting the Glycan Loop of the Zika Virus Envelope Protein. Viral Immunology, 37(3), 167-75.

Alena Reguzova

Head of a Biology Laboratory at Synovo GmbH

I am Head of the Biology Laboratory at Synovo GmbH, with over 10 years of experience in translational vaccine research and immunology. My previous work focused on the development of antiviral vaccines, including the preclinical development of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine Prime-2-CoV, from early research and immunogenicity studies to regulatory documentation and the first-in-human Phase I clinical trial. I am co-inventor of an ORFV-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccine patent. Within the EvaMobs project, Synovo contributes to WP3 (Preclinical Validation), where we establish and evaluate in vivo models for novel monobody- and miniprotein-based antivirals using different administration routes and animal models. Our work focuses on pharmacokinetics, multi-dose studies, immunogenicity, cytokine induction, and residue analysis in the nasal mucosa, supporting the preclinical translation of promising antiviral candidates.

Key Publications

Reguzova, A., Müller, M., Fandrich, M., Dulovic, A., Amann, R. (2026) Broadening SARS-CoV-2 Immunity by Combining ORFV and Protein-Based Vaccines. Vaccines (Basel), Jan 4;14(1):64.

Reguzova, A., Haug, V., Müller, M., Fandrich, M., Dulovic, A., Amann, R. (2025). Heterologous ORFV–Ad26 vaccination broadens antibody breadth and amplifies cellular immunity against SARS-CoV-2 spike. Frontiers in Immunology, 16:1715442.

Reguzova, A., Haug, V., Metz, C., Müller, M., Fandrich, M., Dulovic, A., Amann, R. (2025). Heterologous prime-boost vaccination with VLA2001 and an Orfv-based vector enhances spike- and nucleocapsid-specific immunity in mice. Frontiers in Immunology, 16:103389.

Reguzova, A., Müller, M., Pagallies, F., Burri, D., Salomon, F., Rziha, H. J., Bittner-Schrader, Z., Verstrepen, B. E., Böszörményi, K. P., Verschoor, E. J., Gerhauser, I., Elbers, K., Esen, M., Manenti, A., Monti, M., Rammensee, H. G., Derouazi, M., Löffler, M. W., & Amann, R. (2024). A multiantigenic Orf virus-based vaccine efficiently protects hamsters and nonhuman primates against SARS-CoV-2. Nature NPJ Vaccines, 9(1), 191.

Esen, M., Fischer-Herr, J., Gabor, J. J., Gaile, J. M., Fleischmann, W. A., Smeenk, G. W., de Moraes, R. A., Bélard, S., Calle, C. L., Woldearegai, T. G., Egger-Adam, D., Haug, V., Metz, C., Reguzova, A., Löffler, M. W., Balode, B., Matthies, L. C., Ramharter, M., Amann, R., & Kremsner, P. G. (2024). First-in-Human Phase I Trial to Assess the Safety and Immunogenicity of an Orf Virus-Based COVID-19 Vaccine Booster. Vaccines (Basel), 12(11), 1288.

Müller, M., Reguzova, A., Löffler, M. W., & Amann, R. (2022). Orf Virus-Based Vectors Preferentially Target Professional Antigen-Presenting Cells, Activate the STING Pathway and Induce Strong Antigen Specific T Cell Responses. Frontiers in Immunology, 13, 873351.

Reguzova, A., Fischer, N., Müller, M., Salomon, F., Jaenisch, T., & Amann, R. (2021). A Novel Orf Virus D1701-VrV-Based Dengue Virus (DENV) Vaccine Candidate Expressing HLA-Specific T Cell Epitopes: A Proof-Of-Concept Study. Biomedicines, 9(12), 1862.

Reguzova, A., Ghosh, M., Müller, M., Rziha, H. J., & Amann, R. (2020). Orf Virus-Based Vaccine Vector D1701-V Induces Strong CD8+ T Cell Response against the Transgene but Not against ORFV-Derived Epitopes. Vaccines (Basel), 8(2), 295.

Filipe Ferreira

Research Assistant

I hold a degree in Biology from Universidade de Aveiro and a PhD from University of Sheffield. Currently as a Research assistant at the, working in cell and molecular biology, virology, and biochemistry. I’ve authored 8 peer-reviewed publications and contributed to multiple research projects. In this project, I will support the in vitro evaluation of monoclonal antibodies against influenza A virus, including PRNT and pseudotyped assays, and the determination of IC50/IC90 and inhibition data to identify the most promising candidates.

Key Publications

Temitope Akhigbe Etibor, Silvia Vale-Costa, Sindhuja Sridharan, Daniela Brás, Isabelle Becher, Victor Hugo Mello, Filipe Ferreira, Marta Alenquer, Mikhail M Savitski, Maria-João Amorim (2023) Defining basic rules for hardening influenza A virus liquid condensates eLife 12:e85182 https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.85182

Alenquer M, Milheiro Silva T, Akpogheneta O, Ferreira F, Vale-Costa S, et al. (2022) Saliva molecular testing bypassing RNA extraction is suitable for monitoring and diagnosing SARS-CoV-2 infection in children. PLOS ONE 17(6): e0268388. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0268388

Gonçalves, J., Juliano, A. M., Charepe, N., Alenquer, M., Athayde, D., Ferreira, F., et al. (2021). Secretory IgA and T cells targeting SARS-CoV-2 spike protein are transferred to the breastmilk upon mRNA vaccination. Cell Reports Medicine, 2(12), 100468. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xcrm.2021.100468

Alenquer, M., Ferreira, F., Lousa, D., Valério, M., Medina-Lopes, M., Bergman, M.-L., Gonçalves, J., Demengeot, J., Leite, R. B., Lilue, J., Ning, Z., Penha-Gonçalves, C., Soares, H., Soares, C. M., & Amorim, M. J. (2021). Signatures in SARS-CoV-2 spike protein conferring escape to neutralizing antibodies. PLOS Pathogens, 17(8), e1009772. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1009772

Gonçalves, J., Melro, M., Alenquer, M., Araújo, C., Castro-Neves, J., Amaral-Silva, D., Ferreira, F., Ramalho, J. S., Charepe, N., Serrano, F., Pontinha, C., Amorim, M. J., & Soares, H. (2023). Balance between maternal antiviral response and placental transfer of protection in gestational SARS-CoV-2 infection. iScience. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2023.107255

Matea Kurtović Kodžoman

PhD student/assistant

Matea is a postdoctoral researcher on the EvaMobs project at the Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health in Zagreb, Croatia. She holds a PhD in Biotechnology in Biomedicine and a Master’s degree in Chemistry, with over eight years of experience in cancer research and therapeutic development. Her doctoral work focused on mutation-driven tumor biology and immune-related receptor polymorphisms associated with disease risk, using advanced in vitro models and a wide range of molecular and biochemical approaches. This background provided her with a strong foundation in target validation, drug development principles, and safety assessment of novel biologics. Her work employed a diverse set of experimental methods, including cell-based assays, protein analysis, and genome editing techniques. In the EvaMobs project, she applies this expertise to a new antiviral strategy, focusing on evaluating the toxicological safety of evolvable monobodies (Mobs).

Key Publications

Kurtović M, Piteša N, Bartoniček N, Ozretić P, Musani V, Čonkaš J, Petrić T, King C, Sabol M. RNA-seq and ChIP-seq Identification of Unique and Overlapping Targets of GLI Transcription Factors in Melanoma Cell Lines. Cancers (Basel). 2022 Sep 19;14(18):4540. doi: 10.3390/cancers14184540. PMID: 36139698; PMCID: PMC9497141.

Kurtović M, Piteša N, Čonkaš J, Hajpek H, Vučić M, Musani V, Ozretić P, Sabol M. GLI Transcriptional Targets S100A7 and KRT16 Show Upregulated Expression Patterns in Epidermis Overlying the Tumor Mass in Melanoma Samples. Int J Mol Sci. 2024 May 31;25(11):6084. doi: 10.3390/ijms25116084. PMID: 38892279; PMCID: PMC11172526.

Piteša N, Kurtović M, Bartoniček N, Gkotsi DS, Čonkaš J, Petrić T, Musani V, Ozretić P, Riobo-Del Galdo NA, Sabol M. Signaling Switching from Hedgehog-GLI to MAPK Signaling Potentially Serves as a Compensatory Mechanism in Melanoma Cell Lines Resistant to GANT-61. Biomedicines. 2023 May 3;11(5):1353. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines11051353. PMID: 37239024; PMCID: PMC10216463.

Baranašić J, Šutić M, Catalano C, Drpa G, Huhn S, Majhen D, Nestić D, Kurtović M, Rumora L, Bosnar M, Vukić Dugac A, Sokolović I, Popovic-Grle S, Oršolić N, Škrinjarić-Cincar S, Jakopović M, Samaržija M, Weber ANR, Försti A, Knežević J. TLR5 Variants Are Associated with the Risk for COPD and NSCLC Development, Better Overall Survival of the NSCLC Patients and Increased Chemosensitivity in the H1299 Cell Line. Biomedicines. 2022 Sep 9;10(9):2240. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines10092240. PMID: 36140341; PMCID: PMC9496592.

Trnski D, Sabol M, Tomić S, Štefanac I, Mrčela M, Musani V, Rinčić N, Kurtović M, Petrić T, Levanat S, Ozretić P. SHH-N non-canonically sustains androgen receptor activity in androgen-independent prostate cancer cells. Sci Rep. 2021 Jul 21;11(1):14880. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-93971-6. PMID: 34290270; PMCID: PMC8295376.

João B. Vicente

Auxiliary Investigator

João has a background in protein biochemistry and biophysics, with research dedicated to investigating the molecular mechanisms of proteins related to human disease. He leads the APB lab at ITQB NOVA, which specializes in the production of recombinant proteins and their functional and structural characterization using biophysical methods.

In EvaMobs, the APB lab is responsible for bringing the computationally designed Mobs to life. The lab has been implementing screening approaches based on small-scale Mobs production and purification, followed by analysis of thermal stability and binding affinity. Selected hit Mobs are then produced on a larger scale, their biophysical and functional properties analyzed, and sent to consortium partners for further evaluation in other work packages.

Key Publications

CHEK2 germline variants identified in familial nonmedullary thyroid cancer lead to impaired protein structure and function. Pires C, Marques IJ, Valério M, Saramago A, Santo PE, Santos S, Silva M, Moura MM, Matos J, Pereira T, Cabrera R, Lousa D, Leite V, Bandeiras TM, Vicente JB, Cavaco BM. J Biol Chem. 2024 Mar;300(3):105767. doi: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.105767

Structural and functional impact of clinically relevant E1α variants causing pyruvate dehydrogenase complex deficiency. Pavlu-Pereira H, Lousa D, Tomé CS, Florindo C, Silva MJ, de Almeida IT, Leandro P, Rivera I, Vicente JB. Biochimie. 2021 Apr;183:78-88. doi: 10.1016/j.biochi.2021.02.007.

Structure of full-length wild-type human phenylalanine hydroxylase by small angle X-ray scattering reveals substrate-induced conformational stability. Tomé CS, Lopes RR, Sousa PMF, Amaro MP, Leandro J, Mertens HDT, Leandro P, Vicente JB. Sci Rep. 2019 Sep 20;9(1):13615. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-49944-x.

Screening Pyridine Derivatives against Human Hydrogen Sulfide-synthesizing Enzymes by Orthogonal Methods. Zuhra K, Sousa PMF, Paulini G, Lemos AR, Kalme Z, Bisenieks I, Bisenieks E, Vigante B, Duburs G, Bandeiras TM, Saso L, Giuffrè A, Vicente JB. Sci Rep. 2019 Jan 24;9(1):684. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-36994-w.

S-Adenosyl-l-methionine Modulates CO and NO• Binding to the Human H2S-generating Enzyme Cystathionine β-Synthase. Vicente JB, Colaço HG, Sarti P, Leandro P, Giuffrè A. J Biol Chem. 2016 Jan 8;291(2):572-81. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M115.681221. Epub 2015 Nov 18.

Diana Lousa

Co-coordinator of EvaMobs and
Assistant Reseracher

Diana Lousa is currently a Researcher at the Protein Modelling Lab, ITQB NOVA. She obtained her PhD in Biochemistry in 2013. The main goal of her current research focuses on the application of computational biophysics to develop tailor-made biopharmaceuticals against viral pathogens such as influenza, zika, HIV, and SARS-CoV-2. She is the co-coordinator of the projects EvaMobs, funded by Horizon Europe (HORIZON-HLTH-2023-DISEASE-03-04), and BioPlaTTAR, funded by the La Caixa Foundation (HR22-00722). She has co-authored 29 articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals, 2 peer-reviewed book chapters, and 34 oral presentations (20 as presenter) in scientific meetings. She has supervised/co-supervised 3 Postdocs, 8 PhD, and 11 Master students, and is the assistant coordinator of the Master in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics at NOVA University. In EvaMobs, she will co-supervise WP1 (computational design of Mobs) and WP6 (project management).

Key Publications

Valério M., Mendonça D. A., Morais J., Buga C. C., Cruz C. H., Castanho M. A R. B., Melo M. N., Soares C. M., Veiga A. S. and Lousa D. (2022), Parainfluenza Fusion Peptide Promotes Membrane Fusion by Assembling into Oligomeric Porelike Structures, ACS Chemical Biology, 17(7), 1831-1843; doi: 10.1021/acschembio.2c00208

Valério M., Borges-Araújo L., Melo M. N., Lousa D., Soares C. M. (2022) SARS-CoV-2 variants impact RBD conformational dynamics and ACE2 accessibility. Front Med Technol. Pharmaceutical innovation, vol. 4:1009451. doi: 10.3389/fmedt.2022.1009451. PMID: 36277437; PMCID: PMC9581196

Lousa, D., & Soares, C. M. (2021). Molecular mechanisms of the influenza fusion peptide: Insights from experimental and simulation studies. FEBS Open Bio, vol. 11(12): 3253-3261. doi:10.1002/2211-5463.13323 –Joint corresponding author

Lousa D., Pinto A. R. T., Campos S. R. R., Baptista A. M., Veiga A. S., Castanho M. A. R. B., Soares C. M. (2020), Effect of pH on the influenza fusion peptide properties unveiled by constant-pH molecular dynamics simulations combined with experiment, Scientific Reports, vol. 10: 20082; doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-77040-y

Sequeira, A. M., Lousa D., Rocha M. (2022) ProPythia: A Python package for protein classification based on machine and deep learning, Neurocomputing, vol. 484: 172-182; doi: 10.1016/j.neucom.2021.07.102

The EvaMobs escape room back in action!

Funding statement

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Funding statement

The EvaMobs escape room back in action!

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Michael Burnet

CEO at Synovo GmbH

Key Publications

César Santiago

Head of the X-ray Facility at CNB

Key Publications

Xavier Saelens

Group Leader

Key Publications

Suzana Žunec

Senior scientific associate

Key Publications

Maja Katalinić

Scientific Advisor

Key Publications

Antonio Zandona

Scientific Associate

Key Publications

Neha Dalvi

Research Associate

Caio Henrique Barros

Senior Research Scientist

Key Publications

Arda Deniz Tugrul

PhD Researcher

David Gil Cantero

Post-doctoral researcher

Key Publications

André Rafael Ferreira Salgueiro

Former Master Student

Maria João Amorim

Associate Professor

Maria Benedita Ferreira Moço Rodrigues Pereira

Former Master Student

Madalena de Castro Marques

Master Student

Diogo Silva

Research Fellow

Pedro Moreira

PhD Student

Key Publications

Rita Teixeira

PhD Student

Catarina Carmo

Project Manager

Name

Title at Institution

Cláudio M. Soares

Project Coordinator EvaMobs and Full Professor

Key Publications

Name

Title at Institution

Key Publications

Iebe Rossey

Postdoctoral researcher

Key Publications

Marta Alenquer

Staff Scientist

Key Publications

Ludwig Mayerlen

BD Associate & Scientist at Synovo GmbH

Key Publications

Carolina Vieira

Senior Science Communication Advisor at Catalyze

Alena Reguzova

Head of a Biology Laboratory at Synovo GmbH

Key Publications

Filipe Ferreira

Research Assistant

Key Publications

Sebastião Gonçalves

Master Student at Católica Biomedical Research Centre – CBV Lab

Fátima González Hurtado

Clinical Trials Director at Evidenze

Matea Kurtović Kodžoman

PhD student/assistant

Key Publications

Co-coordinator of EvaMobs and
Assistant Reseracher