Project: How is selective metal ion transport achieved at the host-pathogen interface?
McDevitt group
Biological discrimination between metal ions remains poorly understood, yet essential to their function in the chemically complex environment of the host-pathogen interface. Recent studies from our group have shown that many bacterial metal ion transporters are not restricted to solely interacting with the ion(s) that they import. These observations have challenged the prevailing dogma for how biological selectivity of metals is achieved. To resolve this question, this project will use state-of-the-art methods, including single molecule FRET, electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and reconstituted proteoliposomes, to reveal how bacterial metal ion transporters achieve selectivity for their physiological substrates.
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McDevitt group
2 vacancies
Metal ions are essential for cellular chemistry in every cell in all forms of life. Research in the McDevitt group seeks to understand the role of metal ions in bacteria and how they influence host-pathogen interactions. Our specific research interests are: to understand how bacteria acquire essential metal ions from the environment; characterise the cellular roles of metal ions in bacteria; and elucidate the role of metal ions at host-pathogen interface. By understanding the chemical biology of bacteria, our work opens the way to developing novel antimicrobials to starve invading pathogens of crucial trace elements.
McDevitt group Current Projects
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Understanding the biological chemistry of pneumococcal disease
PhD/MPhil, Honours
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How is selective metal ion transport achieved at the host-pathogen interface?
PhD/MPhil, Honours
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Mapping elemental fluxes during host-pathogen interaction
PhD/MPhil, Honours
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Metal ion homeostasis in Klebsiella pneumoniae
PhD/MPhil, Honours
Research degrees at the Doherty Institute are administered by the University of Melbourne.