Please join us for the next early career academics presenting in the Peptide and Protein Science online series will be Stephen Cochrane from the Queen’s University Belfast and Nazia Mehrban from University of Bath on 31st March at 1 pm (Zoom).
Stephen Cochrane – Queen’s University Belfast
Title: Synthesis and Mechanistic Studies on Antimicrobial Peptides that Bind to Bacterial Polyprenyl-Containing Biomolecules.
Abstract: As the world emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact that infectious diseases can have on human health and the global economy has never been clearer. Antibiotics are the cornerstone of modern medicine. They are essential for the treatment of bacterial infections, as well as for performing important medical procedures like surgery and chemotherapy. However, deaths due to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising every year and in 2019 AMR killed more people than malaria, HIV and breast cancer. Non-ribosomal antimicrobial peptides (NRAPs) are a structurally rich class of antimicrobial compounds that usually target the bacterial cell membrane, making them immune to intracellular resistance mechanisms. Many NRAPs specifically bind to membrane-embedded polyprenyl-containing biomolecules (PBs), such as undecaprenyl phosphate and lipid II. Despite bacteria having thousands of unique PBs, only a handful of these have been exploited as antibiotic targets. Research in the Cochrane lab focuses on the synthesis and study of NRAPs that target PBs and an overview of this work will be presented in this seminar.
Nazia Mehrban – University of Bath
Title: Designing smart biomaterials for healthcare: from regenerative medicine to soft robots
Abstract: Surgical attempts to repair diseased and damaged tissue have limitations; primarily reduced functional restoration, patient discomfort and high healthcare costs associated with inflammation and failed implants. Biomaterials used to overcome some of these issues are further limited by their chemistry and architecture which don’t always reflect the internal environment of the body.
My group designs and manufactures novel ‘smart’ biomaterials capable of controlling cell behaviour and offering better integration with healthy tissue. We have further shown that by mimicking some of the chemistry and architecture of extracellular matrix proteins, these materials are capable of reconstructing damaged tissue matrix, promoting repair and reducing chronic inflammation.
In this talk I will be covering some of the key design criteria and explaining how we have adapted the technology to promote migration, proliferation, and functional differentiation in different cell types and how we’re currently using our knowledge to help design soft robotic tissue replacements.
If you would like to present in future seminars, please contact one of the organisers. We welcome presentations from early career UK-based academics or senior postdoctoral researchers seeking to establish an independent career in peptide and protein science.
Louis Luk: lukly@cardiff.ac.uk
Chris Coxon: chris.coxon@ed.ac.uk
Louise Walport: louise.walport@crick.ac.uk
Stephen Cochrane – Queen’s University Belfast
Title: Synthesis and Mechanistic Studies on Antimicrobial Peptides that Bind to Bacterial Polyprenyl-Containing Biomolecules.
Abstract: As the world emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact that infectious diseases can have on human health and the global economy has never been clearer. Antibiotics are the cornerstone of modern medicine. They are essential for the treatment of bacterial infections, as well as for performing important medical procedures like surgery and chemotherapy. However, deaths due to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising every year and in 2019 AMR killed more people than malaria, HIV and breast cancer. Non-ribosomal antimicrobial peptides (NRAPs) are a structurally rich class of antimicrobial compounds that usually target the bacterial cell membrane, making them immune to intracellular resistance mechanisms. Many NRAPs specifically bind to membrane-embedded polyprenyl-containing biomolecules (PBs), such as undecaprenyl phosphate and lipid II. Despite bacteria having thousands of unique PBs, only a handful of these have been exploited as antibiotic targets. Research in the Cochrane lab focuses on the synthesis and study of NRAPs that target PBs and an overview of this work will be presented in this seminar.
Nazia Mehrban – University of Bath
Title: Designing smart biomaterials for healthcare: from regenerative medicine to soft robots
Abstract: Surgical attempts to repair diseased and damaged tissue have limitations; primarily reduced functional restoration, patient discomfort and high healthcare costs associated with inflammation and failed implants. Biomaterials used to overcome some of these issues are further limited by their chemistry and architecture which don’t always reflect the internal environment of the body.
My group designs and manufactures novel ‘smart’ biomaterials capable of controlling cell behaviour and offering better integration with healthy tissue. We have further shown that by mimicking some of the chemistry and architecture of extracellular matrix proteins, these materials are capable of reconstructing damaged tissue matrix, promoting repair and reducing chronic inflammation.
In this talk I will be covering some of the key design criteria and explaining how we have adapted the technology to promote migration, proliferation, and functional differentiation in different cell types and how we’re currently using our knowledge to help design soft robotic tissue replacements.
If you would like to present in future seminars, please contact one of the organisers. We welcome presentations from early career UK-based academics or senior postdoctoral researchers seeking to establish an independent career in peptide and protein science.
Louis Luk: lukly@cardiff.ac.uk
Chris Coxon: chris.coxon@ed.ac.uk
Louise Walport: louise.walport@crick.ac.uk
