Overcoming β-lactamase-mediated antibiotic resistance by combining biomolecular simulation and experiment

Project Code

MRCIIAR26Br Van der Kamp

Project Type

The project will be a combination of dry and wet; with a focus on dry-lab (computational) activities, but wet-lab based activities are also a key component (enzyme production & purification, enzyme kinetics, structural biology).

Research Theme

Infection, Immunity, Antimicrobial Resistance and Repair

Project Summary Download

Summary

Antibiotic resistance threatens human health. β-lactamases cause resistance to β-lactams, the most widely used antibiotics. Class C β-lactamases are not well understood, but variants are emerging that help bacteria evade even ‘last resort’ treatments. By combining computer simulation (molecular dynamics, reaction simulations) and experimental methods (enzyme assays, crystallography) you will study how, finding links between structure and activity. This will help to regain the upper hand in the ‘biochemical warfare’ between humans and bacteria.

Lead Supervisor

Dr Marc Van der Kamp

Lead Supervisor Email

marc.vanderkamp@bristol.ac.uk

University Affiliation

Bristol