Prof. Philip Kim's Research on D-Peptides Featured In The Toronto Star

Recently, the Toronto Star highlighted the research of MoGen faculty member Dr. Philip Kim concerning its application in therapeutics for various diseases. One of the Kim lab specialties is engineering D-amino acids, the building blocks of peptides, smaller-sized proteins. These molecules can take one of two forms: the ‘D’ form, with ‘L’ being the other. All naturally existing amino acids have the ‘L’ form, meaning that the human body doesn’t recognize D-amino acids, thus drastically reducing the risk of their destruction by the human immune system. Previously, the Kim lab developed a computer program that synthesized designer peptides in the D-form, which would bind and neutralize its specialized targets. They tested this on the SARS-CoV-2 virus and engineered D-peptides to target the spike protein, preventing viral binding and entry into cells. The versatility of this software allows modifications to the peptide designs so that specific variants like Omicron—which have numerous spike protein mutations—can be targeted in the future. Other research groups have used this approach to aim at molecular targets in other viruses, Alzheimer’s, diabetes and cancer cells. The Kim lab collaborated with a biotech company in Lowell, Massachusetts, called Decoy Therapeutics to develop a preventative nasal spray with designer peptides, working not just against COVID-19 but all coronaviruses. One of the benefits of these peptides is how easy and inexpensive it would be to produce them in mass, making them promising for low-income areas and countries.  

Read the full piece on the Toronto Star.  

Also check out Donnelly Centre’s piece on Dr. Kim’s research!