WP5 - Systems Biology and Bioinformatics

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CDG & Allies - Professionals and Patient Associations International Network (CDG & Allies-PPAIN)
WG CDG & Biomedical Bioinformatics
WG CDG & Computational biology/chemistry
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WG CDG & Metabolomics
WG CDG & Systems Biology
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Working Group (WG)  CDG & Computational biology/chemistry

Working Group Leader (WGL): Dr. Irina S. Moreira (group leader in the field of Structural, Computational and Chemical Biology, Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal).
 
This working group is dedicated to increase knowledge for CDG in the three major themes where Dr Moreira’s developed her know-how: i) protein-protein, ii) protein-ligand and iii) protein-DNA interactions.
Results obtained so far from this research project:
  • A project was written. It is focused on linking structure and function for a better understanding of the genotype-phenotype correlation found in crucial proteins involved in CDG.
Currently, we are identifying and actively applying for funding to be able to move forward. If you wish to donate for our continuous research efforts please go HERE.
Any student, research groups, researchers, clinicians, patient organisations or other stakeholders who would like to become more involved within this project, are most welcome to get in touch to discuss possible future opportunities and collaborations. Fulfill the contact form available below:

About Dr. Irina S. Moreira
DR Irina Sousa Moreira

Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology
Rua Larga, FMUC, Polo I, 1ºandar, Universidade de Coimbra, 3004-517 Coimbra, Portugal.

Email: irina.moreira@cnc.uc.pt

​Biography:
Dr. Irina S. Moreira received her Ph.D. in Computational Chemistry from the University of Porto in 2008. After completion of her degree she was appointed as a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Biophysics at Weill Medical College in NYC, USA. Dr. Irina Moreira returned in 2009 to Portugal as an Assistant Researcher from 2009 to 2014 under the Program Ciência 2008. In 2015 Dr. Irina Moreira joined the Center for Neuroscience and Cell biology as a group leader in the field of Structural, Computational and Chemical Biology. Her interests are focused on three major themes: i) protein-protein, ii) protein-ligand and iii) protein-DNA interactions. She has balanced the development of new computational approaches for structural/energetic understanding of protein-based complexes with the application of these powerful tools to relevant biological targets.
Her work in the field of CDG is focused on linking structure and function for a better understanding of the genotype-phenotype correlation found in crucial proteins involved in CDG. She aims to contribute for CDG lives by providing the needed mechanism-based rationale for the development of more powerful drugs that take advantage of the new discoveries.
List of current grants focused on CDG:
  1. Munteanu CR, Pimenta AC, Fernandez-Lozano C, Melo A, Cordeiro MNDS, Moreira IS. SASA-Based Hot-Spot Detection 2 (SBHD) method for protein-protein and protein-nucleic acid interfaces J. Chem. Info. Model., 2015, 55, 1077-86.
  2. Moreira IS, Structural features of the G-protein/GPCR interactions, Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 2014, 1840, 16-33
  3. Moreira IS, Martins JM, Ramos RM, Fernandes PA, Ramos MJ, Understanding the importance of the aromatic amino-acid residues as hot-spots, Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 2013, 1834: 404-414.
  4. Han Y., Moreira IS, Urizar E., Weinstein H, Javitch J, Asymmetric signaling in GPCR dimers involves allosteric modulation across the interface by activation of the second protomer, Nature Chem. Biol., 2009, 5: 688-695.
  5. Moreira IS, Fernandes PA, Ramos MJ, Hot spots – a detailed review of protein-protein interface determinant amino acid residues, Proteins, 2007, 68: 803-812.
  6. Moreira IS, Fernandes PA, Ramos MJ, Computational Alanine Scanning Mutagenesis – an improved methodological approach, J. Comput. Chem., 2007, 28:644-654.
About Vanessa Ferreira
From her unique perspective of being a sister of a patient with a rare disease named Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation (CDG) and Cell Biologist, Vanessa founded the Portuguese CDG Association and other Rare Metabolic Disorders (APCDG-DMR). ​​
Vanessa’s personal journey with her sister, combined with the community needs, have been the impetus to focus the APCDG activities.
​Vanessa received a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from Badajoz University (Spain). She holds a PhD (Sc.D.) in Cell and Developmental Biology from the Center for Genomic Regulation, University of Pompeu Fabra, Biomedical Research Park in Barcelona (PRBB). In 2014, she completed her background with an International MBA from IAE de Paris, Sorbonne Graduate Business School.

Future opportunities and collaborations:

Support our research, advocacy, awareness and education efforts now!


Our work is publicly available to help the CDG community and related rare disease communities. Importantly, we do not receive government funding. We rely solely on donations in order to continue our projects.

​Consider to make a donation using Paypal, debit or credit card or bank transfer.