Project description
Peptidoglycan-binding domains in predatory bacteria: a potential route to novel antibiotics
Myxobacteria are predatory soil bacteria that actively kill bacteria of other species to consume their biomass. Understanding the mechanisms of activation of their predatory machinery could point the way to the production of novel antibiotics. A transcriptome analysis of the predator bacterium Myxococcus xanthus in a predator–prey co-culture has revealed a likely transcription regulatory response of the predator to its environment. Specifically, five genes coding for proteins with peptidoglycan-binding domains are activated along with several gene clusters related to the production of secondary metabolites. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the LYSM project will attempt to discover the mechanisms behind this with a focus on the role of peptidoglycan-binding proteins during predation.
Objective
As a microbiologist with an expertise based on the study of the genetic response of microorganisms to their environment and other microorganisms, with a strong background in myxobacterial biology, I will study the induction of new antibiotic compounds in predator-prey co-cultures through the LYSM project. A transcriptome analysis of the predator bacterium Myxococcus xanthus in such conditions has revealed the induction of five genes coding for proteins with peptidoglycan-binding LysM domains together with several gene clusters involved in the production of secondary metabolites. The LYSM project will be carried out at the Department of Microbiology of the Universidad de Granada (UGR) under the supervision of Prof. José Muñoz Dorado. Their current line of research in bacterial predation and the experience I acquired throughout my international post-doctoral stages will create a strong synergy where we will achieve greater advances than we would separately. His research group counts with several experts in myxobacteria, bacterial predation, and transcriptional regulation, and an excellent network of international collaborators, that will contribute to the success of this project.
This research project aims to discover mechanisms to “awaken” silent new secondary metabolites genes of M. xanthus through predator-prey interaction focusing on the role of peptidoglycan-binding proteins during predation.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesgenetics
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologybacteriology
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteins
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiological behavioural sciencesethologybiological interactions
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiological behavioural sciencesbehavioural ecology
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Keywords
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Main Programme
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European FellowshipsCoordinator
18071 Granada
Spain