"Protein factory" in Lower Austria

Researcher develops the building blocks for vaccines

The building blocks for future vaccines are created in the "protein factory" at the ISTA.

(Bild: Christoph Hardt)

At the Institute of Science and Technology Austria - ISTA for short - in Klosterneuburg, scientist Florian Praetorius is researching completely new proteins - with very promising effects for the future

A somewhat different kind of "protein factory" is currently being built at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria - ISTA for short - in Klosterneuburg. This is thanks to one man: Florian Praetorius. Because what looks like conventional "assembly line work" in the scientist's laboratory is actually a pioneering step into the future.

(Bild: Nadine Poncioni)

Florian Praetorius is researching new vaccines at ISTA i.

(Bild: ISTA)

"We are developing new proteins with properties that do not occur in nature," explains the researcher. To this end, biochemistry, molecular biology and physics are combined with deep learning methods in order to sustainably advance the development of vaccines, for example. Particular attention is paid to proteins that can switch between two forms.

There are many potential users for our DNA-protein hybrid compounds. However, there is still a long way to go.

Florian Praetorius, Forscher am ISTA

In addition to the production of proteins, Praetorius' research group is also working on origami - in the form of DNA. The aim is to combine approaches from computer-aided protein design and DNA nanotechnology - thus combining the best of both worlds.

Blockade for viruses
These molecular complexes are used, for example, as antibodies or in the development of vaccines. When a virus tries to infect cells in the human body. Proteins can be designed in such a way that they block the virus from attaching.