The expertise of ESR Science Leader Dr Craig Billington is being recognised as Craig receives a Marsden Grant to the tune of $941,000, for his cutting-edge research into how bacteriophage lytic enzymes can breach bacterial membranes.
Craig’s work is based on a recent discovery of a bacteriophage-encoded enzyme that can traverse the outer membrane and kill Gram-negative bacteria, including drug resistant ones. Bacteriophage are viruses that attack and kill bacteria. The molecular mechanism by which this enzyme binds to and traverses the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria is unknown—a knowledge gap Craig’s project will address.
Craig is Principal Investigator of the research, a potential ‘game-changer’ when it comes to tackling bacterial infections. The work could help lead to new ways of treating debilitating bacterial illnesses including septicaemia, urinary tract infections, and pneumonia. Being able to target these bacteria with novel bacteriophage-derived enzymes could also provide an alternative treatment course to antibiotics, helping address the significant danger posed by antimicrobial resistance.
“I’m proud to lead this exciting new project that not only addresses fundamental scientific questions about bacteriophage biology but also has practical applications in combating antimicrobial resistance, one of the greatest healthcare challenges facing humanity.”
The project has a number of aims, which include increasing understanding of bacteriophage-mediated cell lysis, setting the foundation for new antimicrobials to combat Gram-negative bacteria, and unlocking new research avenues for delivery of molecules across membranes.
It will leverage multidisciplinary expertise, including microbiology/molecular biology, structural biology, protein engineering and molecular modelling at the membrane, involving collaborators at the University of Canterbury, University of Auckland, and ETH Zurich in Switzerland.
Image: earlier work from Craig’s team showing the monomeric structure of a related bactericidal enzyme.