Understanding the biosynthesis of complex polyketide lipid toxins in pathogenic mycobacteria

一些主要的传染病，如肺结核，是由细菌引起的，这些细菌产生非常不寻常的脂质（脂肪），可以杀死人体细胞或干扰人体免疫系统。该项目的目的是研究细菌如何制造这些脂质。这些知识将为阻止细菌脂质产生和预防疾病的治疗开辟新的途径。在利用细菌脂质机制制造新药和其他各种化学品方面也有潜在的应用。

Some major infectious diseases such as tuberculosis are caused by bacteria that make very unusual lipids (fats) that can kill human cells or interfere with the human immune system. The aim of this project is to work out how bacteria make these lipids. This knowledge will open up new avenues for treatments to stop bacterial lipid production and prevent disease. There are also potential applications in harnessing the bacterial lipid machinery to make new drugs and a wide range of other chemicals.