The Peptide-Based Vaccines Research Group was established in 2021 with the support of the MTA’s Momentum Programme. The peptides, peptide derivatives and conjugates produced in the group are used in various research areas. New formulation strategies are being developed to enhance the biological activity of synthetic peptides and to maintain their stability. Using colloidal chemistry systems, we develop peptide delivery platforms with several advantageous properties such as target delivery, programmed drug release and enhanced immunogenicity.
Main research topics:
– Synthetic vaccines
– Dendritic cell targeting with peptides
– Antimicrobial peptides and peptide derivatives
– Synthetic vaccines for immunotherapy
– Melanoma-specific peptides and peptide derivatives
Homepage of the Biological Soft Matter Platform
Members
Kata Horváti, group leader
Ildikó Szabó, senior researcher
Gergő Gyulai, research fellow
Krisztina Kiss, research fellow
Tamás Kőműves, PhD student
Szabolcs Gellény, undergraduate student
Bence Pintér, undergraduate student
Katalin Kóczán, assistant
News
EVADERE Takes off!
Our EVADERE (Enhanced VAccines DEsign against antimicrobial REsistance) project was awarded a grant under the MSCA-DN programme with a score of 97.5%. The Marie Skłodowska Curie Doctoral Network programme supports collaborative research projects involving 15 PhD students. The EVADERE project is expected to start in summer 2025 and will focus on the development of novel antigens, adjuvants and delivery systems against antimicrobial resistance. HUN-REN TTK Peptide-based Vaccines Research Group participates in the call as work package leader.
Our research group member (Peptide-Based Vaccines), Tamás Krisztián Kőműves won 1st place at the Semmelweis University Students’ Scientific Conference and was qualified for the national round (OTDK). Tamás’ topic is on the antimicrobial activity of cationic lipopeptides.
Defense of Chiara Bellini
On 14 November, our student Chiara Bellini successfully defended her PhD thesis with summa cum laude. Chiara has developed peptide-based vaccines against tuberculosis under the supervision of Kata Horváti. Her PhD work was carried out in the framework of the EU H2020 MCSA-ITN programme, as a participant of the BactiVax project. During her training she had the opportunity to do a secondment at the CycloLab Ltd. under the supervision of István Puskás.
Publications
2025
E Erdei, J T Marcos, N Varró, K Horváti, B Bacsa, I M. Mándity: Spatiotemporal control in biomedicine: photoswitchable peptides and foldamers. Br J Pharmacol. 2025;1–8. https://doi.org/10.1111/bph.70163. [IF(2024):7.7] D1
Chakraborty S., el Battioui K., Sonallya T., Szigyártó I.C., Horváti K., Varga Z., Juhász T., Beke-Somfai T.: Charge and length dependent build-up of environment sensitive lamellin β-peptides (2025) Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 27 (16), pp. 8540 – 8551. https://doi.org/10.1039/D4CP04561K [IF(2024):2.9] Q1
Fecske, D.; Kasza, Gy.; Gyulai, G.; Horváti, K.; Szabó, M.; Wacha, A.; Varga, Z.; Szarka, Gy.; Thomann, Y.; Thomann, R.; Mülhaupt, R.; Kiss, É.; Domján, A.; Bősze, Sz.; Bereczki, L.; Iván, B.
Self-Assembling Amphiphilic ABA Triblock Copolymers of Hyperbranched Polyglycerol with Poly(tetrahydrofuran) and Their Nanomicelles as Highly Efficient Solubilization and Delivery Systems of Curcumin. Int. J. Mol. Sci. (2025), 26, 5866. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26125866 [IF(2023):4.9]
Chiara Bellini, Unai Atxabal, Szilvia Bősze, Orsolya Dobay, Andrea Horváth, Imola Cs. Szigyártó, Tamás Beke-Somfai, Jesús Jiménez-Barbero, István Puskás, Kata Horváti*: Supramolecular complexes of ultrashort cationic lipopeptides with cyclodextrins: improved selectivity and therapeutic potential. Aggregate (2025) 0:e741; https://doi.org/10.1002/agt2.741 [IF(2023):13.9] D1
2024
Ágnes Ábrahám, Gergő Gyulai, Judith Mihály, Andrea Horváth, Orsolya Dobay, Zoltán Varga, Éva Kiss, Kata Horváti*: Optimizing lipopeptide bioactivity: The impact of non-ionic surfactant dressing, J Pharm Anal. (2024) 101020, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpha.2024.101020 [IF:8.9] D1
El Battioui K, Chakraborty S, Wacha A, Molnár D, Quemé-Peña M, Szigyártó IC, Szabó CL, Bodor A, Horváti K, … Beke-Somfai T. In situ captured antibacterial action of membrane-incising peptide lamellae. Nat Commun. (2024) 15(1):3424. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-47708-4. [IF(2023):14.7] D1
György Kasza, Ákos Fábián, Dóra Fecske, Attila Kardos, Róbert Mészáros, Kata Horváti, Béla Iván. Hyperbranched polyglycerol grafted poly(N,N-diethylacrylamide) thermoresponsive copolymers as biocompatible, highly efficient encapsulation and sustained release systems of curcumin. Eur Polymer J (2024) 219:113378. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2024.113378 [IF:6.3] Q1
Humer C, Radiskovic T, Horváti K, Lindinger S, Groschner K, Romanin C, Höglinger C: Bidirectional allosteric coupling between PIP2 binding and the pore of the oncochannel TRPV6. Int. J. Mol. Sci. (2024), 25(1), 618; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25010618 [IF:4.9] Q1
2023
Bellini C, Vergara E, Bencs F, Fodor K, Bősze S, Krivić D, Bacsa B, Surguta SE, Tóvári J, Reljic R, Horváti K*. Design and characterization of a multistage peptide-based vaccine platform to target Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Bioconjug Chem. (2023) 34:1738-1753. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.3c00273 [IF:6.069] D1
Tóth G, Horváti K, Kraszni M, Ausbüttel T, Pályi B, Kis Z, Mucsi Z, Kovács G M, Bősze Sz, Boldizsár I. Arylnaphthalene lignans with anti-SARS-CoV-2 and antiproliferative activities from the underground organs of Linum austriacum and Linum perenne. J Nat Prod (2023) 86(4): 672–682. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jnatprod.2c00580 [IF:4.803] Q1
2021
Horváti K, Fodor K, Pályi B, Henczkó J, Balka Gy, Gyulai G, Kiss É, Biri-Kovács B, Senoner Zs, Bősze Sz. Novel assay platform to evaluate intracellular killing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis: in vitro and in vivo validation. Front Immunol. (2021) 12:750496. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.750496 [IF: 8.786] Q1
Juhász T, Quemé-Peña M, Kővágó B, Mihály J, Ricci M, Horváti K, Bősze S, Zsila F, Beke-Somfai T. Interplay between membrane active host defense peptides and heme modulates their assemblies and in vitro activity. Sci Rep. (2021) 11(1):18328. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-97779-2 [IF: 4.996] Q1
Farkas V, Ferentzi K, Horváti K, Perczel A. Cost-Effective Flow Peptide Synthesis: Metamorphosis of HPLC. Org. Process Res. Dev. (2021) 25(2) 182–191. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.oprd.0c00178 [IF: 3.858] (independent citations: 1)
Zürn M, Tóth G, Ausbüttel T, Mucsi Z, Horváti K, Bősze Sz, Sütöri-Diószegi M, Pályi B, Kis Z, Noszál B, Boldizsár I. (2021) Tissue specific accumulation and isomerization of valuable phenylethanoid glycosides from Plantago and Forsythia plants. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(8), 3880. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22083880 [IF(2010): 5.924] Q1
Kósa N, Zolcsák Á, Voszka I, Csík G, Horváti K, Horváth L, Bősze Sz, Herenyi L. (2021) Comparison of the efficacy of two novel antitubercular agents in free and liposome-encapsulated formulations. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(5), 2457. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22052457 [IF: 6.208] Q1
Quemé-Peña M, Ricci M, Juhász T, Horváti K, Bősze S, Biri-Kovács B, Szereder B, Zsila F, Beke-Somfai T. (2021) Old Polyanionic Drug Suramin Suppresses Detrimental Cytotoxicity of the Host Defense Peptide LL-37. ACS Pharmacol. Transl. Sci. 4(1) 155–167. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsptsci.0c00155
2020
Bellini C, Horváti K*. Recent advances in the development of protein- and peptide-based subunit vaccines against tuberculosis. Cells 2020, 9(12), 2673; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells9122673. [IF: 6.600]
Pári E, Horváti K, Bősze S, Biri-Kovács B, Szeder B, Zsila F, Kiss É. Drug Conjugation Induced Modulation of Structural and Membrane Interaction Features of Cationic Cell-Permeable Peptides. Int J Mol Sci. 2020 21(6). pii: E2197. doi: 10.3390/ijms21062197. [IF: 5.924]
Ricci M, Horváti K, Juhász T, Szigyártó I, Török Gy, Sebák F, Bodor A, Homolya L, Henczkó J, Pályi B, Mlinkó T, Mihály J, Nizami1 B, Yang Z, Lin F, Lu X, Románszki L, Bóta A, Varga Z, Bősze Sz, Zsila F, Beke-Somfai T. (2020) Anionic food color Tartrazine enhances antibacterial efficacy of Histatin-derived peptide DHVAR4 by fine-tuning its membrane activity. Quarterly Rev Biophysics 53, e5, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033583520000013 [IF:5.318]
2019
Horváti K*, Pályi B, Henczkó J, Balka Gy, Szabó E, Farkas V, Biri-Kovács B, Szeder B, Fodor K. (2019) A convenient synthetic method to improve immunogenicity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis related T-cell epitope peptides. Vaccines 7(3), 101. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines7030101 [IF:4.086]
Zürn M, Tóth G, Mazákné Kraszni M, Sólyomváry A, Mucsi Z, Deme R, Rózsa B, Fodor B, Molnár-Perl I, Horváti K, Bősze Sz, Pályi B, Kis Z, Béni Sz, Noszál B, Boldizsár I. (2019) Galls of European Fraxinus trees as new and abundant sources of valuable phenylethanoid and coumarin glycosides. Industrial Crops and Products 139: 111517-26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2019.111517 [IF: 4.244]
Gyulai G., Ouanzi F., Bertóti I., Mohai M., Kolonits T., Horváti K., Bősze S. Chemical structure and in vitro cellular uptake of luminescent carbon quantum dots prepared by solvothermal and microwave assisted techniques. J. Colloid Interface Sci. 2019, 549, 150-161. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2019.04.058 [IF: 7.361]
Quemé-Peña M, Juhász T, Mihály J, Szigyártó IC, Horváti K, Bősze S, Henczkó J, Pályi B, Németh C, Varga Z, Zsila F, Beke-Somfai T. (2019) Manipulating active structure and function of cationic antimicrobial peptide CM15 by the polysulfonated drug suramin: a step closer to in vivo complexity. ChemBioChem 20:1–14. https://doi.org/10.1002/cbic.201800801 [IF: 2.576]
2018
Ábrányi-Balogh P, Petri L, Imre T, Szijj P, Scarpino A, Hrast M, Mitrovic A, Fonovic UP, Németh K, Barreteau H, Roper DI, Horváti K, Ferenczy GyG, Kos J, Ilas J, Gobec S, Keserű GyM. (2018) A road map for prioritizing warheads for cysteine targeting covalent inhibitors. Eur J Med Chem. 2018. 160:94-107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmech.2018.10.010 [IF: 4.816]
Kiss É, Gyulai G, Pári E, Horváti K, Bősze S. (2018) Membrane affinity and fluorescent labelling: comparative study of monolayer interaction, cellular uptake and cytotoxicity profile of carboxyfluorescein-conjugated cationic peptides. Amino Acids 50(11):1557-1571. doi: 10.1007/s00726-018-2630-7 [IF: 2.906]
Horváti K, Gyulai G, Csámpai A, Rohonczy J, Kiss É, Bősze Sz (2018) Surface layer modification of PLGA nanoparticles with targeting peptide: a convenient synthetic route for Pluronic F127 – Tuftsin conjugate. Bioconjugate Chem. 29(5):1495-1499. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.8b00156 [IF: 4.818]
Zsila F, Juhász T, Bősze Sz, Horváti K, Beke-Somfai T (2018) Hemin and bile pigments are the secondary structure regulators of intrinsically disordered antimicrobial peptides. Chirality 30(2):195-205. https://doi.org/10.1002/chir.22784 [IF: 1.956]
Sipka S, Papp Zs, Kovács I, Horváti K, Bősze Sz, Hudecz F, Szilasi M (2018) Index of stimulation and TNFα measurements used for laboratory diagnosis of latent Tuberculosis as a new principle. Int J Pulmonol Infect Dis.1(2):1-5. DOI:10.15226/2637-6121/1/2/00108
2017
Horváti K, Bacsa B, Mlinkó T, Szabó N, Hudecz F, Zsila F, Bősze Sz (2017) Comparative analysis of internalisation, haemolytic, cytotoxic and antibacterial effect of membrane-active cationic peptides: aspects of experimental setup. Amino Acids. 49(6):1053-1067. DOI: 10.1007/s00726-017-2402-9 [IF: 2.906]
Zsila F, Bősze Sz, Horváti K, Szigyártó CsI, Beke-Somfai T (2017) Drug and dye binding induced folding of the intrinsically disordered antimicrobial peptide CM15. RSC Advances 7:41091-41097. DOI: 10.1039/c7ra05290a [IF: 2.936]
2016
Ábrahám Á, Baranyai Zs, Gyulai G, Pári E, Horváti K, Bősze Sz, Kiss É (2016) Comparative analysis of new peptide conjugates of antitubercular drug candidates-model membrane and in vitro studies. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces. 28(147):106-115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfb.2016.07.054 [IF: 3.887]
Horvati K, Bősze Sz, Gideon HP, Bacsa B, Szabó TG, Goliath R, Rangaka MX, Hudecz F, Wilkinson RJ, Wilkinson KA (2016) Population tailored modification of tuberculosis specific interferon-gamma release assay. J Infection 72:179-188. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinf.2015.10.012 [IF: 4.201]
2015
Horváti K, Bacsa B, Szabó N, Fodor K, Balka G, Rusvai M, Kiss É, Mező G, Grolmusz V, Vértessy B, Hudecz F, Bősze Sz (2015) Antimycobacterial activity of peptide conjugate of pyridopyrimidine derivative against Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a series of in vitro and in vivo models. Tuberculosis: 95:S207-211. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tube.2015.02.026 [IF: 2.952]
Baranyai Zs, Krátký M, Vinšová J, N Szabó N, Senoner Zs, Horváti K, Stolaříková J, Dávid S, Bősze Sz (2015) Combating highly resistant emerging pathogen Mycobacterium abscessus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis with novel salicylanilide esters and carbamates, Eur J Med Chem 101:692-704. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmech.2015.07.001 [IF: 3.902]
2014
Horváti K, Bacsa B, Kiss E, Gyulai G, Fodor K, Balka G, Rusvai M, Szabó E, Hudecz F, Bősze Sz (2014) Nanoparticle encapsulated lipopeptide conjugate of antitubercular drug isoniazid: in vitro intracellular activity and in vivo efficacy in a Guinea pig model of tuberculosis. Bioconjug Chem. 25(12):2260-2268. https://doi.org/10.1021/bc500476x [IF: 4.513]
Kiss É, Gyulai G, Pénzes CB, Idei M, Horváti K, Bacsa B, Bősze Sz (2014) Tunable surface modification of PLGA nanoparticles carrying new antitubercular drug candidate. Colloid Surface A. 458: 178-186. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2014.05.048 [IF: 2.752]
Cserép GB, Baranyai Z, Komáromy D, Horváti K, Bősze Sz, Kele P (2014) Fluorogenic tagging of peptides via Cys residues using thiol-specific vinyl sulfone affinity tags. Tetrahedron 70(35): 5961-5965. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tet.2014.05.103 [IF: 2.641]
2013
Misják P, Bősze Sz, Horváti K, Pasztói M, Palóczi K, Holub MC, Szakács F, Aradi B, György B, Szabó TG, Nagy G, Glant TT, Mikecz K, Falus A, Buzás EI (2013) The role of citrullination of an immunodominant proteoglycan (PG) aggrecan T cell epitope in BALB/c mice with PG-induced arthritis. Immunol Lett. 152: 25-31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.imlet.2013.03.005 [IF: 2.367]
2012
Horváti K, Bacsa B, Szabó N, Dávid S, Mező G, Grolmusz V, Vértessy B, Hudecz F, Bősze Sz (2012) Enhanced cellular uptake of a new, in silico identified antitubercular candidate by peptide conjugation. Bioconjug Chem. 23: 900-907. https://doi.org/10.1021/bc200221t [IF: 4.580]
Pénzes CB, Schnoller D, Horváti K, Bősze Sz, Mező G, Kiss É (2012) Membrane affinity of antituberculotic drug conjugate using lipid monolayer containing mycolic acid. Colloid Surfaces A. 413: 142-148. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2012.02.013 [IF: 2.108]