Post by VIGILANT-EU

Meet Wolfgang Knecht -Director of the Lund Protein Production Platform (LP3, www.lp3.lu.se), -Deputy director of Protein Production Sweden (PPS, www.pps.gu.se/en), -SciLifeLab group leader at Science for Life Laboratory (https://lnkd.in/esz-wUZC), Department of Biology, Lund University, Sweden Wolfgang’s job focus is to provide world-class research infrastructure services - to Lund University and nationally within Sweden - for protein production and integrated structural biology. Consequently, his research is centred on integrated biochemical - structural biology approaches to study enzymes, recently exemplified by studies of human dihydroorotate dehydrogenase and the non-structural proteins 10 and 14 of SARS-CoV-2. Within #VIGILANT he provides recombinant proteins, with focus on one of the main targets for drug discovery of the project: Site-1-Protease (S1P). S1P is important in viral glycoprotein activation to allow viruses to enter cells and spread infection. On the focus of Wolfgangs work: “Protein production is often the first gateway stage in a project. Success requires technical knowledge and long-term experience. Backed up by a national research infrastructure, we can provide #VIGILANT efficiently with protein production and we can also contribute to structural studies of enzyme inhibitor complexes” For a longer interview about his work, see: https://lnkd.in/eGSWPGF5 On what excites him most: “Collaborating within an international team, and particularly the drug discovery efforts for S1P in close collaboration with the #VIGILANT principal investigator Torsten Steinmetzer from the Philipps University Marburg.” On his proudest achievement: “To have worked for to make protein production a central Lund University infrastructure and a Swedish national research infrastructure” On how his research can help people: “All living organisms are made up of cells that maintain fundamental biochemical reactions. In cells proteins work both as building materials and as catalysts for various life processes. Proteins are necessary for life, which makes them highly interesting in many different research projects. Proteins are also the most common targets for drug development and are therefore in focus in medical research. The function of proteins is not only interesting for understanding fundamental life processes or to combat diseases like in #VIGILANT, but also in applied research e.g. for the development of new energy solutions, sustainable production processes in biotechnology or resilient crops in agriculture. To study proteins therefore provides information that is critical for basic, biomedical and applied research” On his mentors: “My PhD and postdoc advisors, Monika Löffler and Jure Piskur, were pivotal influences on my scientific journey.” On what’s next: “To contribute actively to #VIGILANT success and advance pandemic preparedness.”