Antibody fragments targeting ovarian receptors to control reproduction

February 02, 2023 - 00 h 00 / 23 h 59
Thursday

IRBI - Salle séminaire
Faculté des Sciences et Techniques
Avenue Monge, Parc Grandmont
37000 Tours
France

Presentation

Hormones are largely used to control reproduction, manage family planning and to treat certain endocrine diseases. For instance, progestin pills are steroid hormone-based drugs administered to block ovulation, mitigate symptoms of diseases such as endometriosis, support pregnancy and induce abortion. In assisted reproduction, peptidic hormones named gonadotropins and gonadotropin-releasing factors serve to synchronize and simulate the maturation of multiple oocytes. However, hormonal treatments have limitations and side effects. The aim of this project is to engineer biological compounds based on nano-antibody fragments (VHH), to block or enhance the signal delivered by natural hormones in the ovary. This system is based on candidate VHH that may target ovarian hormone receptors and, acting as allosteric modulators, selectively trigger the desired downstream intracellular responses. This new approach could provide a long lasting and reversible modulation with fewer or no side effects compared to hormonal treatments. Thus, it is promising to change current approaches to assisted reproduction and contraception.

Speaker

Prof. Livio Casarini

LE STUDIUM Research Fellow / ARD CVL BIOPHARMACEUTICALS Programme

FROM: University of Modena and Reggio Emilia - IT 
IN RESIDENCE AT: Physiology of Reproduction and Behaviour (PRC) / Centre INRAE Val de Loire, CNRS, University of Tours, IFCE - FR

 

Biomedicaments

Partners of the event