Title:

Control Switches and Novel Enzymes for Programmed Bacterial Destruction-Derived from Natural Bacterial Predators

Project Outcomes:

Nottingham and Birmingham have the world leaders in the study of a predatory bacterium, Bdellovibrio. The next generation of antibacterial compounds could come from Bdellovibrio, replacing existing antibiotics that are failing due to pathogen resistance mechanisms.

Dr Lovering is expert in protein structure determination and Prof Sockett is expert in genetic manipulation of Bdellovibrio. The complementary skills of the two were brought together to determine the structure and functions of the natural antibacterial enzymes of these predators.

This project has resulted in three joint papers; two in PLoS One and one in PLoS Genetics, with an additional publication in EMBO anticipated. Grants have also been secured from the BBSRC, Leverhulme and DARPA and an application for an ERC accelerator grant is currently awaiting a decision.