Project Code
MRCIIAR26Ba Tooke
Project Type
This project combines both wet and dry lab elements. The primary focus will be on wet-lab methods (enzyme purification, biochemical characterisation of enzymes, structural biology) but will feature dry lab approaches (biomolecular simulation).
Research Theme
Infection, Immunity, Antimicrobial Resistance and Repair
Project Summary Download
Summary
β-Lactams, including penicillins, are the world’s most commonly used antibiotics, but resistance is rising—particularly in opportunistic bacterial pathogens like Klebsiella pneumoniae. This project investigates how β-lactams bind and react with bacterial enzymes called penicillin-binding proteins PBPs and β-lactamases, which are key to both antibiotic action and resistance. Using advanced techniques—including time-resolved X-ray crystallography at synchrotrons/XFELs (X-ray Free-Electron Lasers), biomolecular simulations, molecular biology and structural biology—we aim to evaluate and capture “molecular movies” of these reactions in action. This project provides interdisciplinary training to understand antibiotic resistance mechanisms to ultimately support the design and evaluation of new drugs.
Lead Supervisor
Dr Catherine Tooke
Lead Supervisor Email
University Affiliation
Bath