Project Code
MRCIIAR25Br Spencer
Research Theme
Infection, Immunity, Antimicrobial Resistance and Repair
Project Summary Download
Summary
Increasing resistance makes developing new antibiotics, that kill bacteria by different mechanisms from existing agents, a public health priority. G-quadruplexes (G4s) are specific nucleotide structures, formed by guanine-rich sequences, that represent potential antibacterial targets as their stabilisation by small-molecules disrupts cellular processes (DNA replication, transcription). We have identified several small molecules with antibacterial activity that bind G-quadruplex sequences in vitro. This project combines imaging, whole-genome sequencing and proteomics, together with antibacterial susceptibility assays and investigations of resistant mutants; to investigate their cellular targets and killing mechanisms and assess the potential of G4 ligands for development of new generations of antibiotics.
Lead Supervisor
Professor James Spencer
Lead Supervisor Email
Jim.Spencer@bristol.ac.uk
University Affiliation
Bristol