![Professor Vito Ferro](/sites/default/files/profiles/2332.jpeg)
Overview
Background
Carbohydrate chemistry, medicinal chemistry, drug discovery
Vito Ferro is a Professor in the School of Chemistry & Molecular Biosciences. His research interests are in the area of synthetic carbohydrate chemistry, and drug design and development.
Availability
- Professor Vito Ferro is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Research interests
-
Glycosaminoglycans and their mimetics
Carbohydrate and medicinal chemistry with a particular focus on glycosaminoglycans, especially heparan sulfate, and their mimetics as potential drugs for a range of diseases including cancer, inflammation, viral infections and lysosomal storage diseases such as Sanfilippo syndrome.
Research impacts
Vito Ferro completed his PhD at the University of WA. Following postdoctoral fellowships at the Carsberg Laboratory (Denmark) and the University of British Columbia (Canada) he spent 12 years with the Australian biotechnology company Progen Pharmaceuticals, serving in various positions including Director of Drug Discovery. He was a key player in the development of two of the only four heparanase inhibitors to have reached clinical trials: muparfostat (PI-88), and pixatimod (PG545). Following a brief period at Queensland University of Technology as a Principal Research Fellow he moved to his current position at the University of Queensland in 2010. His research interests are in carbohydrate and medicinal chemistry with a particular focus on glycosaminoglycans, especially heparan sulfate, and their mimetics as potential drugs for a range of diseases. He is also a member of the Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre (AID), has published >110 papers and has multiple granted patents.
Works
Search Professor Vito Ferro’s works on UQ eSpace
Featured
2022
Journal Article
Synthetic heparan sulfate mimetic pixatimod (PG545) potently inhibits SARS-CoV-2 by disrupting the spike–ACE2 interaction
Guimond, Scott E., Mycroft-West, Courtney J., Gandhi, Neha S., Tree, Julia A., Le, Thuy T., Spalluto, C. Mirella, Humbert, Maria V., Buttigieg, Karen R., Coombes, Naomi, Elmore, Michael J., Wand, Matthew, Nyström, Kristina, Said, Joanna, Setoh, Yin Xiang, Amarilla, Alberto A., Modhiran, Naphak, Sng, Julian D. J., Chhabra, Mohit, Young, Paul R., Rawle, Daniel J., Lima, Marcelo A., Yates, Edwin A., Karlsson, Richard, Miller, Rebecca L., Chen, Yen-Hsi, Bagdonaite, Ieva, Yang, Zhang, Stewart, James, Nguyen, Dung ... Turnbull, Jeremy E. (2022). Synthetic heparan sulfate mimetic pixatimod (PG545) potently inhibits SARS-CoV-2 by disrupting the spike–ACE2 interaction. ACS Central Science, 8 (5) acscentsci.1c01293, 527-545. doi: 10.1021/acscentsci.1c01293
Featured
2021
Journal Article
From cancer to COVID‐19: a perspective on targeting heparan sulfate‐protein interactions
Chhabra, Mohit, Doherty, Gareth G., See, Nicholas W., Gandhi, Neha S. and Ferro, Vito (2021). From cancer to COVID‐19: a perspective on targeting heparan sulfate‐protein interactions. The Chemical Record, 21 (11) tcr.202100125, 3087-3101. doi: 10.1002/tcr.202100125
Featured
2020
Journal Article
Heparin inhibits cellular invasion by SARS-CoV-2: structural dependence of the interaction of the spike S1 receptor-binding domain with heparin
Mycroft-West, Courtney J., Su, Dunhao, Pagani, Isabel, Rudd, Timothy R., Elli, Stefano, Gandhi, Neha S., Guimond, Scott E., Miller, Gavin J., Meneghetti, Maria C. Z., Nader, Helena B., Li, Yong, Nunes, Quentin M., Procter, Patricia, Mancini, Nicasio, Clementi, Massimo, Bisio, Antonella, Forsyth, Nicholas R., Ferro, Vito, Turnbull, Jeremy E., Guerrini, Marco, Fernig, David G., Vicenzi, Elisa, Yates, Edwin A., Lima, Marcelo A. and Skidmore, Mark A. (2020). Heparin inhibits cellular invasion by SARS-CoV-2: structural dependence of the interaction of the spike S1 receptor-binding domain with heparin. Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 120 (12), 1700-1715. doi: 10.1055/s-0040-1721319
Featured
2020
Journal Article
Structural insights into heparanase activity using a fluorogenic heparan sulfate disaccharide
Wu, Liang, Wimmer, Norbert, Davies, Gideon J. and Ferro, Vito (2020). Structural insights into heparanase activity using a fluorogenic heparan sulfate disaccharide. Chemical Communications, 56 (89), 13780-13783. doi: 10.1039/d0cc05932c
Featured
2019
Journal Article
Anticoagulant heparin mimetics via RAFT Polymerization
Nahain, Abdullah Al, Ignjatovic, Vera, Monagle, Paul, Tsanaktsidis, John, Vamvounis, George and Ferro, Vito (2019). Anticoagulant heparin mimetics via RAFT Polymerization. Biomacromolecules, 21 (2), 1009-1021. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.9b01688
Featured
2019
Journal Article
Synthetic disaccharide standards enable quantitative analysis of stored heparan sulfate in MPS IIIA murine brain regions
He, Qi Qi, Trim, Paul James, Lau, Adeline A., King, Barbara M., Hopwood, John J., Hemsley, Kim M., Snel, Marten Francis and Ferro, Vito (2019). Synthetic disaccharide standards enable quantitative analysis of stored heparan sulfate in MPS IIIA murine brain regions. ACS Chemical Neuroscience, 10 (8) acschemneuro.9b00328, 3847-3858. doi: 10.1021/acschemneuro.9b00328
Featured
2012
Journal Article
Discovery of PG545: A highly potent and simultaneous inhibitor of angiogenesis, tumor growth, and metastasis
Ferro, Vito, Liu, Ligong, Johnstone, Ken D., Wimmer, Norbert, Karoli, Tomislav, Handley, Paul, Rowley, Jessica, Dredge, Keith, Li, Cai Ping, Hammond, Edward, Davis, Kat, Sarimaa, Laura, Harenberg, Job and Bytheway, Ian (2012). Discovery of PG545: A highly potent and simultaneous inhibitor of angiogenesis, tumor growth, and metastasis. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 55 (8), 3804-3813. doi: 10.1021/jm201708h
2024
Journal Article
Sulfated Alginate for Biomedical Applications
Mutch, Alexandra L., Yang, Jiankun, Ferro, Vito, A, Anitha and Grøndahl, Lisbeth (2024). Sulfated Alginate for Biomedical Applications. Macromolecular Bioscience, e2400237. doi: 10.1002/mabi.202400237
2024
Journal Article
Amphiphilic heparinoids as potent antiviral agents against SARS-CoV-2
Chhabra, Mohit, Shanthamurthy, Chethan D., Kumar, Nanjudaswamy Vijendra, Mardhekar, Sandhya, Vishweshwara, Sharath S., Wimmer, Norbert, Modhiran, Naphak, Watterson, Daniel, Amarilla, Alberto A., Cha, Jonathan S., Beckett, James R., De Voss, James J., Kayal, Yasmin, Vlodavsky, Israel, Dorsett, Lauren R., Smith, Raymond A. A., Gandhi, Neha S., Kikkeri, Raghavendra and Ferro, Vito (2024). Amphiphilic heparinoids as potent antiviral agents against SARS-CoV-2. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 67 (14), 11885-11916. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00487
2024
Journal Article
Site-Selective Photobromination of O-Acetylated Carbohydrates in Benzotrifluoride
Zhang, Guoqing, See, Nicholas W., Wimmer, Norbert, Godinez, Michael J., Cameron, Scott A., Furneaux, Richard H. and Ferro, Vito (2024). Site-Selective Photobromination of O-Acetylated Carbohydrates in Benzotrifluoride. Organic Letters, 26 (28), 5956-5960. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.4c01898
2024
Journal Article
Origins of Temperature‐Dependent Anomeric Selectivity in Glycosylations with an L‐Idose Thioglycoside
See, Nicholas W., Roseli, Ras Baizureen, Wimmer, Norbert, Le, Tri T., Krenske, Elizabeth H. and Ferro, Vito (2024). Origins of Temperature‐Dependent Anomeric Selectivity in Glycosylations with an L‐Idose Thioglycoside. Chemistry – A European Journal e202400331. doi: 10.1002/chem.202400331
2024
Journal Article
Antiviral Activities of Heparan Sulfate Mimetic RAFT Polymers Against Mosquito-borne Viruses
Nahain, Abdullah Al, Li, Jinlin, Modhiran, Naphak, Watterson, Daniel, Li, Jin-ping, Ignjatovic, Vera, Monagle, Paul, Tsanaktsidis, John, Vamvounis, George and Ferro, Vito (2024). Antiviral Activities of Heparan Sulfate Mimetic RAFT Polymers Against Mosquito-borne Viruses. ACS Applied Bio Materials, 7 (5), 2862-2871. doi: 10.1021/acsabm.3c01223
2024
Journal Article
Synthesis of sulfated alginate from its tributylammonium salt: Comparing the sulfating agents H2SO4-DCC and SO3·py
Mutch, Alexandra L., Ferro, Vito, A, Anitha and Grøndahl, Lisbeth (2024). Synthesis of sulfated alginate from its tributylammonium salt: Comparing the sulfating agents H2SO4-DCC and SO3·py. Carbohydrate Polymers, 324 121488, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2023.121488
2023
Journal Article
Identification of a pentasaccharide lead compound with high affinity to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein via in silico screening
Li, Binjie, Zhang, Tianji, Cao, Hui, Ferro, Vito, Li, Jinping and Yu, Mingjia (2023). Identification of a pentasaccharide lead compound with high affinity to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein via in silico screening. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24 (22) 16115, 1-16. doi: 10.3390/ijms242216115
2023
Journal Article
C-5 epimerisation of D-mannopyranosyl fluorides: the influence of anomeric configuration on radical reactivity
See, Nicholas W., Pierens, Gregory K., Krenske, Elizabeth and Ferro, Vito (2023). C-5 epimerisation of D-mannopyranosyl fluorides: the influence of anomeric configuration on radical reactivity. Synthesis, 56 (06), 966-974. doi: 10.1055/a-2149-4586
2023
Journal Article
Siderophore conjugates to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria
Rayner, Beth, Verderosa, Anthony D., Ferro, Vito and Blaskovich, Mark A. T. (2023). Siderophore conjugates to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria. RSC Medicinal Chemistry, 14 (5), 800-822. doi: 10.1039/d2md00465h
2023
Journal Article
Synthesis of uronic acid 1‐Azasugars as putative inhibitors of α‐Iduronidase, β‐glucuronidase and heparanase
Doherty, Gareth G., Ler, Geraldine Jia Ming, Wimmer, Norbert, Bernhardt, Paul V., Ashmus, Roger A., Vocadlo, David J., Armstrong, Zach W. B., Davies, Gideon J., Maccarana, Marco, Li, Jin-ping, Kayal, Yasmin and Ferro, Vito (2023). Synthesis of uronic acid 1‐Azasugars as putative inhibitors of α‐Iduronidase, β‐glucuronidase and heparanase. ChemBioChem, 24 (4) e202200619, 1-7. doi: 10.1002/cbic.202200619
2023
Journal Article
A prohibitin-targeting drug modifies aspects of disease in a mouse model of Sanfilippo syndrome
Hemsley, Kim M., Beard, Helen, Doherty, Gareth G., Mubarokah, Siti, Nazri, Nazzmer and Ferro, Vito (2023). A prohibitin-targeting drug modifies aspects of disease in a mouse model of Sanfilippo syndrome. Molecular Genetics and Metabolism, 138 (2) 107145, 59-59. doi: 10.1016/j.ymgme.2022.107145
2023
Book Chapter
An enzymatic activity assay for heparanase that is useful for evaluating clinically relevant inhibitors and studying kinetics
Hammond, Edward and Ferro, Vito (2023). An enzymatic activity assay for heparanase that is useful for evaluating clinically relevant inhibitors and studying kinetics. Methods in molecular biology. (pp. 227-238) edited by Nikos K. Karamanos. New York, NY United States: Humana Press. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2946-8_16
2022
Journal Article
Synthesis of a Gal-β-(1→4)-Gal disaccharide as a ligand for the fimbrial adhesin UcaD
Boittier, Eric D., Wimmer, Norbert, Harris, Alexandria K., Schembri, Mark A. and Ferro, Vito (2022). Synthesis of a Gal-β-(1→4)-Gal disaccharide as a ligand for the fimbrial adhesin UcaD. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 76 (1), 30-36. doi: 10.1071/ch22158
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Vito Ferro is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Synthesis and applications of glycosaminoglycan mimetics
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Craig Williams
-
Doctor Philosophy
Synthesis of novel probes and inhibitors of carbohydrate-binding proteins
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor James De Voss
-
Doctor Philosophy
Synthesis of inhibitors and probes for heparan sulfate degrading enzymes
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Craig Williams
-
Doctor Philosophy
Development of new chemical tools for probing glycosaminoglycan-dependent cellular processes
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Craig Williams
-
Doctor Philosophy
Synthesis of L-sugars via radical chemistry
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Elizabeth Krenske
-
Doctor Philosophy
Antibiotic Conjugates: Joining Together to Fight Antimicrobial Resistance
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Anthony Verderosa, Professor Mark Blaskovich
-
Doctor Philosophy
Antibiotic Conjugates: Joining Together to Fight Antimicrobial Resistance
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mark Blaskovich
-
Doctor Philosophy
Development of new computational techniques for carbohydrate and agricultural chemistry
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Elizabeth Krenske
Completed supervision
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
A Synergistic Approach to L-Hexose Synthesis
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Elizabeth Krenske
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Synthesis of novel inhibitors of heparan sulfate-binding proteins
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lisbeth Grondahl, Dr Norbert Wimmer
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
The Synthesis of Potential Pharmacological Chaperones and Fluorogenic Substrates for MPS I, IIIA and VII.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Gary Schenk
-
2020
Doctor BioTechnology
How much difference is enough? Towards a regional collaboration for the evaluation of novel preventative vaccines in Latin American countries
Principal Advisor
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Synthetic Heparin Mimetics via RAFT Polymerization: Novel Anticoagulant Materials for Biomedical Applications
Principal Advisor
-
2019
Master Philosophy
SYNTHESIS OF STEROID CONJUGATES FOR TARGETED LIPOSOMAL DELIVERY OF RNA-BASED THERAPIES
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Joanne Blanchfield
-
2017
Doctor Philosophy
Synthesis of potential inhibitors of iduronate-2-sulfatase as pharmacological chaperones for MPS II and development of chemical tools for quantification of heparan sulfate in urine from MPS patients
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Craig Williams
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
Synthesis of C-2 Functionalized L-Iduronic Acid Derivatives as Potential Pharmacological Chaperones for MPS II (Hunter Syndrome)
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor James De Voss
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
The Use and Development of Catalytic Systems in Organic Synthesis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Craig Williams
-
2020
Doctor BioTechnology
Performance of Australian Biotech SMEs: The Impact of Formal Open Innovation, Absorptive Capacity and Innovation
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Sarel Gronum
-
2018
Doctor Philosophy
Exploration of the Ley-Griffith Oxidation and Subsequent Efforts Towards Epipyrone A
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Craig Williams
-
2014
Doctor Philosophy
Towards the Total Synthesis of (-)-Phorbol for Novel Anti-Cancer Studies
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Craig Williams
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Vito Ferro directly for media enquiries about:
- Carbohydrate chemistry
- heparan sulfate
- heparin
- Medicinal chemistry
- Mucopolysaccharidosis
- Sanfilippo syndrome
Need help?
For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team: