Slam Dependent Surface Lipoproteins of Gram-Negative Bacteria: Protectors and Foragers in Harsh Environments - Livestream

As a biochemist and microbiologist, the overarching goal of my research program is to understanding the molecular basis of bacterial pathogenesis with the view of discovering new targets for antibiotics or vaccines. Antibiotic resistance is a major health care issue as the widespread use of antimicrobials over the years has resulted in a dramatic increase in bacterial drug resistance including the emergence of superbugs such as multi-drug resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae and multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. 

Research in the Moraes lab focuses on the structural and functional characterization of surface proteins particularly those that are involved in immune evasion, protein and ion translocation across bacterial membranes. Members of the Moraes Lab dissect the components of the translocation pathways and examine their interactions in molecular detail. Biochemical tools such as X-ray Crystallography and Cryo-Electron Microscopy provide us with atomic resolution 3D-models of proteins, while Surface Plasmon Resonance, Isothermal Titration Calorimetry, Bio-layer Interferometry, Microscale Thermophoresis and other biochemical/biophysical techniques are used to validate models that describe their mechanism of action. Our research investigates various receptors and transport functions that are essential for pathogenic bacteria to survive and proliferate, thus providing the foundation for developing novel antimicrobial therapeutics including vaccines and novel antibiotics.

Speaker: Trevor Moraes, Stanford University