Abstract: This talk will cover our current understanding of the African trypanosome cell surface, and in particular the biosynthesis and roles of protein N-glycosylation and glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) membrane anchoring in this organism. The peculiarities of these post-translational modifications, and associated nucleotide sugar metabolic pathways, provide drug discovery opportunities for trypanosomiasis. The desire to exploit these, and several other, discoveries led groups at The University of Dundee to establish a Drug Discovery Unit that both translates parasite biology through to preclinical candidates and develops drug candidates phenotypically, performing drug target deconvolution at the end of the process. Examples of both approaches will be given. The Drug Discovery Unit capabilities established for parasitic diseases are also applied to innovative targets in several other therapeutic areas, and some of these will be briefly mentioned.

Biography: Mike is Regius Professor of Life Sciences at The School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee. He is also a member of the Board of Governors for the Wellcome Trust and Board of Directors of the Medicines for Malaria Venture. Mike’s research takes a multidisciplinary approach to understanding the biochemistry of protozoan parasites that cause tropical diseases. His research group specialises in the structure, biosynthesis and function of parasite glycoproteins and glycolipids. He believes in the fundamental importance of working across the Biology / Chemistry interface and in interdisciplinary research in general. He is particularly interested in Translational Research and, together with his colleagues, established the Drug Discovery Unit at the University of Dundee and led the construction of the Discovery Centre (for Translational and Interdisciplinary Research). He also co-directs a Proteomics Facility that supports many research projects across the university and beyond.