Professor Mibel Aguilar

The Monash University Centre for Brain and Behaviour (MUCBB) was established by the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences in 2003. One of its Senior Lecturers is Professor Mibel Aguilar. She is engaged in research in the field of neuroscience.

Currently, her research group is focusing on biomembrane nanotechnology and peptide-based drug design. Novel compounds are being developed to exploit the potential of peptides as drugs. This could lead to the evolution of cancer vaccines and new compounds for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. In addition, the membrane nanotechnology projects are exploring new methods for membrane protein purification and analysis, with particular application to Alzheimer’s, G protein-coupled receptor function and new biosensor devices.

“The long-term aim of these studies is to increase our understanding of the molecular basis of peptide and protein function and to allow the rational design of peptide and protein based therapeutics.”

Professor Aguilar and her team are involved in several commercial collaborations in therapeutic drug design and biosensor development. The peptide-based drug design is in alliance with Associate Professor Patrick Perlmutter from the Chemistry Faculty at Monash. Work on the development of cancer vaccines is in conjunction with Dr Tony Purcell from the University of Melbourne.

Studies into the treatment of cardiovascular disease are taking place with the head of the Peptide Biology Laboratory at Monash, Professor Ian Smith. The membrane nanotechnology projects reflect similar wide collaborations; with reference to Alzheimer’s, with Associate Professor David Small, Head of the Monash Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology; the G protein-coupled receptor function, with Professor Wally Thomas, University of Queensland; and new biosensor devices, with Associate Professor James Friend and Dr Leslie Yeo of Monash’s Micro/Nanophysics Research Laboratory.

Professor Aguilar’s group is also applying the technologies they have developed, in alliance with Food Sciences Australia and Dairy Industries Australia, to the analysis of milk proteins.

Selected Publications

Davies M., Lee T.H., Apffel A. &  Aguilar M.I(2007) “Hydrophobic and electrostatic forces control the retention of membrane peptides and proteins with an immobilised phosphatidic acid column” J Chromatogr 1156, 167-73.

Aguilatr M.I., Purcell A.W., Devi R., Lew R., Purcell A.W., Rossjohn J., Smith A.I. & Perlmutter P. (2007) “Amino acid-containing hybrid peptides – new opportunities in peptidomimetics” Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry 5, 2884-2890.

Lee T-Z. &  Aguilar MI. (2006) 'Trends in the Development and Application of Functional Biomembrane Surfaces' Biotechnology Annual Reviews 12, 85-136.

Patents

1. Aguilar M I, Lee TH, Perlmutter P. “Purification Methods” Australian PCT Application No PS3349, lodged July 3, 2003.
This patent covers the use of a range of phospholipid ligands, their immobilisation to a range of solid phases and their application to the purification of peptides and proteins from any source.

2. Aguilar M I, Webb A, Perlmutter P, Purcell AW. “A method of modulating cellular activity and molecules for use therein” Australian PCT Application No P2002951212, lodged September 4, 2003. This patent describes the use of amino acids for the design of T cell receptor agonists and antagonists.