DC9: Exploring conformational flexibility & structural architecture of adhesins in host-ESKAPE interactions

For the Stradivarious project the PhD candidate will be based at The University of Manchester, United Kingdom, and will be exploring the conformational flexibility and structural architecture and ensemble of adhesins in host-ESKAPE interactions. 'ESKAPE' pathogens top the World Health Organisation's global bacterial pathogen priority list. Target adhesins will be isolated and structurally characterised. Their interactome and dynamics will be then studied in presence/absence of host cells, by state-of-the-art methods, such as PELDOR spectroscopy and cryo-EM. This will enable the dissection of host-ESKAPE interactions at the molecular level and identify the key proteins in these fundamental cellular processes.

The main objectives of the project will be to investigate adhesin biomechanics, drug-protein and protein-protein interactions under infectious conditions and in pathogen-derived variants.

The PhD candidate will be trained on and use state-of-the-art structural biology approaches, such as Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy and cryo-Electron Microscopy (cryo-EM), combined with modelling and Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations.