A5063415618- Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology
- Antimicrobial Resistance in Staphylococcus
- RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
- Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Bacterial biofilms and quorum sensing
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Leptospirosis research and findings
- Wastewater Treatment and Nitrogen Removal
- Veterinary medicine and infectious diseases
- Enzyme Structure and Function
- Marine and coastal ecosystems
- Plant and Fungal Interactions Research
- Biochemical and Structural Characterization
- CRISPR and Genetic Engineering
- Iron-based superconductors research
- Corrosion Behavior and Inhibition
- Bioactive Compounds and Antitumor Agents
- Vibrio bacteria research studies
- DNA and Nucleic Acid Chemistry
- Insect Utilization and Effects
- Antimicrobial Peptides and Activities
- Dental Research and COVID-19
- Zebrafish Biomedical Research Applications
- Chromium effects and bioremediation
University of Central Lancashire
2016-2022
University of Sheffield
2004-2015
Absynth Biologics (United Kingdom)
2009
University of Georgia
2000
UConn Health
1996-2000
Universitat de Barcelona
1988-1993
Université Libre de Bruxelles
1991
Abstract Background In recent years there has been an increasing problem with Staphylococcus aureus strains that are resistant to treatment existing antibiotics. An important starting point for the development of new antimicrobial drugs is identification "essential" genes bacterial survival and growth. Results We have developed a robust microarray PCR-based method, Transposon-Mediated Differential Hybridisation (TMDH), uses novel bioinformatics identify transposon inserts in genome-wide...
The innate immune system is the primary defence against versatile pathogen, Staphylococcus aureus. How this organism able to avoid killing and cause infections poorly understood. Using an established larval zebrafish infection model, we have shown that overwhelming due subversion of phagocytes by staphylococci, allowing bacteria evade found foci disease. Larval coinfected with two S. aureus strains carrying different fluorescent reporter gene fusions (but otherwise isogenic) had bacterial...
Summary In Bacillus subtilis , EzrA is involved in preventing aberrant formation of FtsZ rings and has also been implicated the localization cycle Pbp1. We have identified orthologue Staphylococcus aureus to be essential for growth cell division this organism. Phenotypic analyses following titration levels S. shown that protein required peptidoglycan synthesis as well assembly divisome at midcell cytokinesis. Protein interaction studies revealed forms a complex with both cytoplasmic...
The sdiA gene codes for a protein that regulates expression of the ftsQAZ cluster essential cell division genes Escherichia coli. SdiA up-regulates ftsQ2p promoter initiates transcription into cluster. In this paper, we report is itself regulated by factor released growth medium E. When had previously supported coli (conditioned medium) was used to support an indicator strain contained sdiA-lacZ transcriptional reporter, there 50 80% decrease in as monitored beta-galactosidase activity....
Surfactant-mediated removal of proteins from biomembranes invariably results in partial or complete loss function and disassembly multi-protein complexes. We determined the capacity styrene-co-maleic acid (SMA) co-polymer to remove components cell division machinery membrane drug-resistant staphylococcal cells. SMA-lipid nanoparticles solubilized FtsZ-PBP2-PBP2a complexes intact cells, demonstrating close physical proximity these within lipid bilayer. Exposure bacteria (-)-epicatechin...
SulA and MinCD are specific inhibitors of cell division in Escherichia coli . In this paper, size exclusion chromatography was used to study the effect on oligomerization state endogenous FtsZ cytoplasmic extracts, immunofluorescence microscopy determine formation FtsZ, FtsA ZipA rings at potential sites. prevented high‐molecular‐weight polymers by interfering with dimerization subsequent oligomerization. contrast, inhibitor did not prevent extracts or ring structures vivo However, rings....
Summary The cellular responses of Borrelia burgdorferi To reactive oxygen species (ROS) encountered during the different stages its infective cycle are poorly understood. Few enzymes responsible for protecting proteins, DNA/RNA and lipids from damage by ROS have been identified characterized. Data presented here suggest that bb0728 encodes an enzyme involved in this process. Biochemical analyses on purified recombinant BB0728 indicated it functioned as a coenzyme A disulphide reductase...
We have established a plasmid-based system that enables tightly controlled gene expression and the generation of GFP fusion proteins in Staphylococcus aureus simply rapidly. This takes advantage an Escherichia coli-S. shuttle vector contains replication region S. theta-mode multiresistance plasmid pSK41, is therefore stable low-copy-number latter organism. also multiple cloning site downstream IPTG-inducible Pspac promoter for insertion interest. Production encoded can be stringently...
Summary Bacterial cell division is a fundamental process that requires the coordinated actions of number proteins which form complex macromolecular machine known as divisome. The membrane‐spanning DivIB and its orthologue FtsQ are crucial divisome components in G ram‐positive ram‐negative bacteria respectively. However, role almost all integral proteins, including , still remains largely unknown. Here we show extracellular domain able to bind peptidoglycan have mapped binding β subdomain....
We propose a method for determining the mortality rate allochthonous bacteria released in aquatic environments without interference due to loss of culturability specific culture media. This consists following disappearance radioactivity from trichloroacetic acid-insoluble fraction water samples which [3H]thymidine-prelabeled have been added. In coastal seawater, we found that actual fecal was 1 order magnitude lower than on Minor adaptation procedure may facilitate assessment effect...
Abstract Background Bacterial growth and division requires a core set of essential proteins, several which are still unknown function. They also attractive targets for the development new antibiotics. YsxC is member family GTPases highly conserved across eubacteria with possible ribosome associated Results Here, we demonstrate by creation conditional lethal mutant that ysxC apparently in S. aureus . To begin to elucidate function, translational fusion CBP-ProteinA tag staphylococcal...
All life demands the temporal and spatial control of essential biological functions. In bacteria, recent discovery coordinating elements provides a framework to begin explain cell growth division. Here we present supramolecular structure in membrane coccal bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, which leads formation large-scale pattern across entire body; this has been unveiled by studying distribution proteins involved lipid metabolism (PlsY CdsA). The organization is found require MreD,...
The iron-regulated surface determinant proteins (Isd) of Staphylococcus aureus are expressed during iron limitation and have been proposed to be involved in the scavenging from heme. In this study, genes encoding IsdA, IsdB, IsdH were inactivated order determine their combined role. triple mutant was found no defect growth under any conditions tested. Also using a mouse septic arthritis model S. systemic disease, significant difference bacterial load observed for mutant, compared with its...
Online social networks are increasingly used by the population on a daily basis. They considered powerful tool for science communication and their potential as educational tools is emerging. However, usefulness in academic practice still matter of debate. Here, we present results our pioneering experience teaching full Basic Microbiology course via Twitter (#microMOOCSEM), consisting 28 lessons 40-45 minutes duration each, at tweet per minute rate during 10 weeks. Lessons were prepared 30...
The starvation-survival of Escherichia coli in seawater was assessed by plate and epifluorescence counts, 3H-label decrease, cellular DNA concentrations, metabolic activities. These assays were performed on two types populations, adapted non-adapted to seawater. number viable cells the population remained constant throughout sterile In contrast, a significant decrease ability E. form colonies plates following observed. However, this drop counts not mirrored 3H-label, which did show major...