| EPSRC Reference: |
EP/H02994X/1 |
| Title: |
Understanding Peptide Antibiotics at the Single Molecule Level |
| Principal Investigator: |
Cronin, Dr B |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Oxford Chemistry |
| Organisation: |
University of Oxford |
| Scheme: |
Postdoc Research Fellowship |
| Starts: |
01 April 2010 |
Ends: |
08 September 2012 |
Value (£): |
294,165
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Analytical Science |
Chemical Biology |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology |
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| Related Grants: |
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| Panel History: |
| Panel Date | Panel Name | Outcome |
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27 Jan 2010
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PDRF CDIP Interview Panel
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Announced
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17 Dec 2009
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PDRF CDIP Sift Panel
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Excluded
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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Antimicrobial peptides are agents of the most ancient defence systems; they assist multicellular organisms in fighting against microbes. Most membrane active peptides act by affecting lipid bilayer integrity either by disruption or pore formation. Our knowledge of the pores formed by antimicrobial peptides is limited as their small size and heterogeneity makes them difficult to study using many conventional techniques. Recent advances in methods to detect individual molecules give us the opportunity to explore the mechanism of action of these peptides in greater detail. I propose to study the mechanism of action of several membrane active peptides found in nature which bind to and insert into lipid bilayers to form pores. I will study three groups of pore forming compounds by applying simultaneous single molecule fluorescence and single channel electrical recording measurements to image the pores they form.1. Alamethicin and magainin II; the two archetypal pore forming peptides.2. Equinatoxin II; an actinoporin, part of the host defence mechanism of the sea anemone Actinia equine.3. Daptomycin; a lipopeptide antibiotic in clinical use.At a time of increasing bacterial resistance these peptides are of great interest as potential antimicrobial drugs. Knowledge of their mechanism of defence against infection will also aid in the development of novel, synthetic antimicrobial agents. These compounds may augment immunity, restore potency or amplify the mechanisms of conventional antibiotics and minimise antimicrobial resistance mechanisms among pathogens.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.ox.ac.uk |