Understanding pore formation by the complement membrane attack complex

该项目旨在提高我们对膜攻击复合物（MAC）功能的理解。MAC是人体免疫系统利用的一种大型蛋白质复合物，通过在靶细胞的脂质膜上打孔来靶向入侵的细菌和寄生虫。MAC是一个蛋白质超家族的一部分，MACPF（膜攻击复合物/穿孔素超家族）/CDC（胆固醇依赖性细胞溶解素）超家族，用于动物（毒液和免疫）、真菌（防御）和致病菌（疾病）。该项目的目的是尽可能以最高分辨率成像MAC如何在细菌细胞的背景下形成毛孔，并探索它实时插入细胞的方式。预期的项目成果可能为未来的应用研究奠定基础，以改善抗生素的输送和新型农药的开发。

The project aims to improve our understanding of the function of the membrane attack complex (MAC). MAC is a large protein complex used by the human immune system to target invading bacteria and parasites by punching holes in the lipid membranes of target cells. The MAC is part of a superfamily of proteins, the MACPF (membrane attack complex/perforin superfamily)/CDC (cholesterol-dependent cytolysins) superfamily, used by animals (in venoms and immunity), fungi (in defence) and pathogenic bacteria (in disease). The aim of this project is to image to the highest possible resolution how the MAC form pores in the context of bacterial cells and explore the way it inserts into cells in real time. Intended project outcomes may lay the foundation for applied future research into improved antibiotic delivery and novel pesticide development.