Characterisation of key Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus predation proteins

The bacterial predator Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus is a useful, natural obligate killer of other bacteria. The potential exists to use Bdellovibrio (whole cells, or protein products in isolation) for a variety of antimicrobial purposes (healthcare, agriculture, bioremediation). We are beginning to investigate the means by which this specialized predator recognizes, enters and kills its prey.
This project will use biochemistry and structural biology approaches to characterize proteins involved in predation. We will start by investigating three distinct sub-projects - (i) a novel protein proven to be essential for predation, postulated by us to be involved in protein folding; (ii) a receptor present in Bdellovibrio that contributes to killing efficiency, presumably by directing predator in a chemotactic fashion toward areas of high prey density; and (iii) a novel family of related proteins that regulate other genes during invasion of prey.