Bio-Molecular Bacterial Mastery

Bacteriocins are protein based antibiotics naturally used by bacteria to eliminate closely related competing bacterial strains. Bacteriocins penetrate bacterial cells by forming specific protein-protein complexes with compatible membrane proteins, which further allow them to engage active transport into the cell.  In our lab we try to apply an in vitro evolution approach in order to evolve bacteriocin scaffolds to interact, bind and translocate through bacterial transporters of choice. Additionally we examine the possibility to apply natural and evolved bacteriocins at their DNA\RNA form relaying on naturally competent bacterial cells to produce the antibiotic proteins. As bacteriocins act in a highly specific manner and are naturally responsible for shaping bacterial communities, we hope to develop a pipeline which would allow us to rationally shape bacterial populations at various environments.