Our approach is to study fundamental mechanisms which may lead to the identification of new targets for antimicrobials and control regimes.
Bacterial endospores are highly resistant and a constant problem to the food industry.
We have characterised the structure of the spore cell wall peptidoglycan and identified important features in heat resistance and differentiation. Staphylococcus aureus is a major human pathogen of increasing importance due to the prevalence of antibiotic resistant strains. The organism is able to produce a wide range of toxins and we have identified key environmental conditions which elicit toxin gene expression. At present we are studying the molecular mechanisms which regulate virulence determinant production and the ability to survive in the host. Staphylococcus aureus is able to survive for long periods not associated with the host.