Vilnius University-Institute of Biotechnology

Vilniaus Universitetas-Biotechnologijos Institutas

IBTIntroduction

Founded in 1975 as the all Union Research Institute of Applied Enzimology, currently, the Institute of Biotechnology is mainly involved in research and training in the fields of biotechnology and molecular biology, including research and development of recombinant biomedical proteins, genetic and molecular studies of restriction modification phenomenon, developing of viruses diagnostics, epigenetic study of small RNA, drug design and synthesis, bioinformatics.

International links

  • The Institute maintains a large network of co-operation with research institutions around the world.
  • A cooperation is realised on the basis of personal contacts. Activities include joint research projects, joint publications, short time visits, etc.
  • Research collaboration links are established with institutions in United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, United States, Canada, Australia, Spain, The Netherlands and Japan.

Research Laboratories

Laboratory of Protein-DNA Interactions
Head: Prof. V. Šiksnys

  • In-depth structure-function studies of restriction endonucleases (Determination of the seven crystal structures of REases (Prof. V. Šikšnys in collaboration with Nobel Laureate R. Huber, Max-Planck-Institut für Biochemie) )
  • Engineering nucleases for gene therapy
  • Generation of artificial restriction endonucleases

Laboratory of Biological DNA Modification
Head: Prof. S. Klimašauskas

  • In-depth structure-function studies of DNA methyltransferases (The first crystal structure of a DNA methyl-transferase reaction intermediate was solved. A new type of DNA-protein interaction named "base-flipping". (Prof. S. Klimašauskas in collaboration with Nobel Laureate R. J. Roberts, USA))
  • Targeted covalent labeling of biopolymers
  • Functional analysis of the miRNA methyltransferase HEN1
Laboratory of Biothermodynamics and Drug Design
Head: Dr. D. Matulis

Enzyme inhibitors as drugs:

  • Recombinant protein production
  • Organic synthesis
  • Biothermodynamics of protein-ligand interaction
  • Computer simulation of protein-ligand interaction

Laboratory of Bioinformatics
Head: Dr. Č. Venclovas 

  • Development and testing protein structure prediction methods
  • Analysis and evaluation of protein structure quality
  • Application of molecular modeling to study proteins involved in DNA metabolism

Laboratory of Eukaryote Genetic Engineering
Head: Dr. G. Žvirblis

  • Expression of animal and human viral proteins and viral particles in yeast S.cerevisiae, K.lactis, P.pastoris:
    • Human (and others) polyomavirus major coat proteins
    • Measles virus nucleocapsid protein
    • Human hepatitis B surface antigen
    • Hantavirus nucleocapsid proteins
    • Lyssoviruses nucleocapsid proteins
    • Mumps, RSV, PIV, Henipaviruses, Menangle, Tioman virus nucleocapsid proteins
  • Development of vaccines and diagnostic tools

Laboratory of Immunology and Cell Biology
Head: Dr. A. Žvirblienė

Consists of three research groups. Main research topics:

  • Antigenicity studies of recombinant viral proteins and development of monoclonal antibodies (Dr. A. ´virblienė): hundreds of new hybridomas, producing monoclonal antibodies to different antigens-viral proteins, cytokines, and cellular receptors have been generated
  • Regulation of gene expression by alternative splicing (Dr. A. Kanopka)
  • Molecular epidemiology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Dr. P. Stakėnas)

 

VU-IBT
Dr. Petras Stakenas
Senior Scientist
Laboratory of Immunology and Cell Biology Graiciuno str., 8 02241 Vilnius
Lithuania

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