Redesenhar as proteínas do glúten para uma melhor inclusão de pessoas que sofrem de Doença Celíaca

The INCLUSION project aims to address the unmet medical need for improved treatments for celiac disease by focusing on three specific objectives: 1 - Development of gluten-specific prolyl hydroxylases: Given the current lack of effective therapies for celiac disease, there is a critical need to explore innovative approaches. By developing enzymes tailored to target gluten, we aim to provide a novel therapeutic strategy that can effectively mitigate the adverse effects of gluten consumption in individuals with celiac disease. 2 - Assessment of effectiveness in abrogating gluten's immunogenic properties: Understanding the potential of these newly developed enzymes to abrogate gluten's immunogenic properties is essential. This objective seeks to provide empirical evidence of the efficacy of our approach in rendering gluten harmless, thereby paving the way for a breakthrough in celiac disease management. 3 - Evaluation of the treated product's rheological, functional, and sensory characteristics: Beyond efficacy, it is essential to ensure that the treated products meet consumer requisites and expectations. Through comprehensive assessment of rheological, functional, and sensory characteristics, we aim to ascertain the suitability of the treated products for consumption, thereby enhancing their acceptance and utility among individuals with celiac disease. The INCLUSION project addresses significant challenges in celiac disease management by proposing innovative solutions tailored to key objectives: i) Addressing important challenges: The proposed research directly targets the critical need for improved treatments for celiac disease. By focusing on the development of gluten-specific prolyl hydroxylases (Objective 1), the project aims to overcome the limitations of existing therapies, offering a novel approach to mitigate the adverse effects of gluten consumption. Furthermore, the assessment of effectiveness in neutralizing gluten's immunogenic properties (Objective 2) and evaluation of treated product characteristics (Objective 3) address fundamental challenges in celiac disease management, providing empirical evidence and ensuring the suitability of treated products for consumption. ii) Ambitious objectives beyond the state of the art: The project's objectives are ambitious and extend beyond the current state of the art. By developing gluten-specific prolyl hydroxylases (Objective 1), the project introduces a novel concept and approach to celiac disease management, leveraging innovative enzyme design techniques. This approach represents a significant departure from traditional therapies and demonstrates a commitment to exploring new frontiers in treatment development. Additionally, the project's interdisciplinary nature, spanning molecular biology, immunology, and food science, embodies a novel approach that bridges disciplines to address complex medical and dietary challenges associated with celiac disease. The project's ambitions extend to advancing the field of de novo enzyme design, potentially leading to new therapeutic approaches not only for celiac disease but also for other conditions. In summary, INCLUSION aims to address an unmet medical need in celiac disease through innovative and multidisciplinary research within the field of food biotechnology, aiming to translate scientific discoveries into tangible benefits for individuals with celiac disease and for society as a whole.