Mechanisms of copper and silver toxicity in Staphylococcus aureus

Based at Newcastle University, Kevin's research aims to understand the roles of metal ions and metalloproteins in biological systems, how metal selectivity is achieved in vivo, and how metals cause toxicity when metal homeostasis breaks down due to metal excess, genetic mutation or disease. This puts his research interests on the interface between inorganic chemistry and biochemistry. His Fellowship project aims to bring together data obtained by a range of biochemical, genetic, biophysical and proteomic approaches to understand the molecular mechanisms by which copper ions kill Staphylococcus aureus cells, and to assess the risk of spontaneous resistance arising.