Engineering of broad-spectrum chimeric antibacterial lysins for use in household cleaning products

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The extensive use of antimicrobial cleaning products results on the release into the environment of biocides that can be poorly biodegradable and toxic to aquatic life. To address the need for more environmentally friendly, but still effective, antimicrobial cleaners, this project focuses on the rational design of broad-spectrum bacteriolytic enzymes (lysins), and the evaluation of their efficacy and stability in household cleaning products. Lysins can kill bacteria by degrading essential components of the bacterial cell wall. They are ubiquitous in nature and produced by virtually all organisms such as animals, plants, fungi, phages, and bacteria themselves to fight bacterial competitors or invaders. Lysozyme and serum amidase are examples of lysins produced by our own immune system. However, most natural lysins have a narrow spectrum of target bacteria and are not suitable for use in cleaning products as their activity and stability can be impacted by the ingredients commonly present in these products.The objective of this PhD project is to engineer novel lysins that target a wide range of bacteria and can be used as eco-friendly and non-toxic antimicrobial additives in household cleaners. The project will not only generate key fundamental knowledge on the molecular architecture, activity, specificity, and antibacterial efficacy of these novel lysins but will combine this fundamental understanding with a high impact industrial application.This PhD project offers an outstanding, multidisciplinary training opportunity at the interface of microbiology, chemistry (peptide science) and biophysics. Training will be provided at the excellent research facilities of the Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology (Newcastle University) and the Biophysical Sciences Institute and Chemistry Department (Durham University) and will encompass all the molecular biology techniques required to successfully clone, express, and engineer different lysins, as well as the biochemistry techniques required to purify these new lysins and to evaluate their enzymatic activity and bacteriolytic efficacy. In addition, opportunities to prepare antimicrobial peptides using solid phase peptide synthesis will be available. The PhD student is enrolled at the doctoral training programme of the Faculty of Medical Sciences of Newcastle University which provides additional local training in scientific and technical research skills, and in transferable skills, within a stimulating research environment.