Nov 4, 2015

| Print | Wednesday, 04 November 2015 09:15 (UTC + 1) London, UK, November 4, 2015 / B3C newswire / --  Apta Biosciences Ltd , is pleased to announce that it has been awarded an H2020 grant from the European Union in collaboration with the Austrian Institute of Technology (Vienna, Austria), Imperial College (London, UK), Aarhus University (Aarhus, Denmark) and Albert-Ludwigs University (Freiburg, Germany) to use its Seligo technology  in the  the project whose long term goals are antibiotic replacements for infectious diseases. The overall grant is over €3 million of which Apta will receive €940 thousand. The programme called MARA combines three novel technologies to create a DNA-based molecular toolkit for the characterisation of pathogens. First, the detection of pathogen-associated antigens will be performed by Autonomous Detection Nucleic Acids (AUDENA) that are independent of any laboratory instruments and sophisticated processing. The realisation of the AUDENA concept will lead to an autonomous, stable, simple and very economic novel sensor class applicable for any water-soluble substances. Second, a novel approach in protein mimicry and creation of artificial enzymes. Third, the development of a molecular drill that can specifically identify target cells and destroy them. This Molecular Robot (MORO) will be made of self-assembling DNA. The MORO will be used for the lysis of bacterial cells to release intracellular antibiotic resistance associated antigens. Using specially designed, artificial molecular machines for a highly targeted attack on pathogens or tumour cells may well cause a paradigm shift in our approach to disease therapy and open up a whole new area in molecular medicine. About Apta Biosciences Apta Biosciences (ABS) is a biotech SME that has developed a unique targeting and detection technology called Seligo that combines the strengths of DNA structural integrity with the flexibility of antibodies. In the course of the programme Seligo will be designed that specifically detect antigens for the AUDENA section and secondly, Seligo that tether the MORO to the pathogens or tumour cells so facilitating the cell lysis. For more information on Apta Biosciences or the project, please contact: