The bacterial cell wall in life and death

The bacterial cell wall is essential for bacterial life and its synthesis is the target of antibiotics such as penicillin and vancomycin.  

We will use microscopy to determine the structure and function of the cell wall in Staphylococcus aureus to find out how it allows cell growth and how it acts as the interface between a cell and its environment. 

We will use our findings to elucidate the basic mechanisms underpinning growth and the action of antibiotics in bacteria.