Non-bacterial regulators of bacterial transcription

The widespread global emergence of bacteria resistant to antibiotics necessitates research into novel antibacterial drugs and drug targets. Bacteriophages, viruses that infect and destroy bacteria, have evolved numerous ways to arrest essential bacterial processes such as DNA transcription and replication, in order to successfully take over the bacterial host for bacteriophage reproduction. The methods employed by bacteriophages represent a new toolbox to inform and inspire novel antibacterial drug and drug target discovery. Professor Wigneshweraraj will focus on research into bacteriophage-derived inhibitors of bacterial RNA polymerase, the enzyme responsible for all RNA synthesis in bacteria.