Finding epilepsy treatments from spider venom peptides
Recently, we had a visit from Daniela Rojas Azofeifa. Together, we are co-developing a new protocol to enable efficient screening studies using spider venom peptides to identify modulators for Kv7.2/ Kv7.3 channel activity. This will advance the understanding and potential treatments for gain-of-function mutations in the channels-related epilepsies.
Daniela Rojas Azofeifa recently finished her PhD. She is now working as postdoctoral fellow at Prof. Glenn King’s lab at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience, at the University of Queensland in Australia. Under the supervision of Dr. Linda Blomster and Prof. Glenn King, Dani’s research is focused on using spider venom peptides to identify modulators for Kv7.2/ Kv7.3 channel activity, targeting epilepsy treatment options where the KCNQ2 gene is mutated.
As part of her trip to Europe, Dani participated in the Linköping Ion Channel Meeting 2024 in Sweden where she also met with Amaya Jauregi and Nina Ottosson in their labs at Linköping University to learn how they have developed protocols for their research in Kv7 channels.
We asked Dani a few questions about her research and stay with us:
Why did you visit our lab?
I received a Capacity Building Grant from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science (CIPPS), which gave me the opportunity to come to Denmark and collaborate with Sophion Bioscience experts about developing a protocol for high throughput screening that decreases fluoride from the QPatch system electrophysiology. From this collaboration, we were able to conduct efficient screening studies with peptide modulators, thereby advancing the understanding and potential treatments for gain-of-function mutations in the channels-related epilepsies.
How has your visit and our collaboration impacted your science?
The protocol we are developing during this collaboration will not only benefit researchers studying Kv7.2/7.3 ion channels but also those investigating peptides that activate channels dependent on Ca2+ for their activation. This new standardized protocol will streamline research processes and contribute to advancing understanding across various fields of ion channel modulation.
How has It been working with Sophion Bioscience?
Naja Møller Sørensen, Application Scientist at Sophion Bioscience, has been incredibly supportive since the beginning when we were trying to organize my visit. She is very experienced with this assay, the Sophion instruments, and the software. With her guidance, I am gaining proficiency in automated patch clamp physiology, boosting my expertise in tissue culture techniques, and gaining insights into industry practices and engagement within the scientific community.
Daniela Rojas Azofeifa presented the results of her latest research at the Linköping Ion Channel Meeting with the poster titled: “From bites to insights: utilization of arachnid venoms in ion channel studies and their potential in therapeutic development”.