Bacterial antibiotic resistance is an emerging global problem which is compounded by the lack of newly developed antibiotics.  Therefore, research into new antibiotic targets is a high priority.  We are currently investigating a range of bacterial proteins which represent valid targets for the design of novel antibacterial drugs, due to their association with bacterial virulence and/or viability and their lack of homology with human proteins.  These targets include proteins involved in cell wall biosynthesis, protein folding and biofilm formation from a range of human bacterial pathogens.    

This study describes the cloning; optimisation of expression in Escherichia coli; initial characterisation and the purification/crystallisation strategy used for the group of MviN integral membrane proteins that are associated with cell wall biosynthesis.  Subsequent work will make use of our facilities at the Australian Synchrotron to determine the high resolution structures of these proteins.  The protein structures will be used to provide information on their mechanism of action for the development of antibiotics.