EntreChem announces that Dr Jesús Cortés has joined the company as Director of Molecular Biology. A native of Mexico, Dr Cortés holds a PhD in Microbiology by the University of León, Spain, and has been working in the UK for the last 23 years.
During his stay in Cambridge University as Senior Research Associate in the group of Prof. Peter Leadlay he identified and characterised the first modular polyketide synthase encoding genes (erythromycin) and established methodologies for efficient genetic manipulation of this type of enzymes allowing the production of novel hybrid polyketide compounds. The work carried out in this project was the basis of a successful spin-off Company.
Later, he moved to GlaxoSmithKline in Stevenage, as Senior Molecular Biologist in the Natural Products and Biotransformations Unit, where he supervised a research group to use molecular biology tools to manipulate actinomycetes of the Company’s collection as well as established genetic methods for production of new macrolide antibiotics and developed systems to carry out protocols of molecular evolution of enzymes involved in biotransformation processes.
In 2003, he moved to Novacta Biosystems Ltd, first as Group Leader and more recently as Director of Molecular Biology in the therapeutics arm of the Company, where he was responsible, among other projects, for the discovery and preclinical development of an antibiotic active against Gram-negative organisms.
Dr Cortés experience in the field of bacterial genetics represents a great asset for EntreChem SL, a company focused on drug discovery and development from bacterial natural products. We are looking forward to Jesús’ contribution in the preclinical development of EntreChem’s natural products to accelerate the growth of the company.
About EntreChem SL: EntreChem is a start-up company founded as a spin-off of the University of Oviedo in 2005 by Prof. Vicente Gotor, Prof. José A. Salas and Francisco Morís, Ph.D. The company focuses on novel products obtained by biocatalysis and combinatorial biosynthesis approaches, as well as development of processes involving enzymatic catalysis and genetic engineering of metabolic pathways. More information can be found at www.entrechem.com
