Research

Research at a glance

Following the discovery of bacteria, it was often believed that they are spontaneously generated very simple organisms. Bacteria were often regarded as a disordered “sack of molecules”. However, this incorrect view gradually changed and today we know that the bacterial cell is highly ordered and its organization is essential for bacterial viability.

One of the first characteritics of bacterial physiology to be explored was the diverese structure of their envelope. This diveresity was discovered by Hans Christian Gram and his renowned Gram-staining. The bacterial envelope is interface between the bacterium and the outside world, it controls the influx and efflux of nutrients, serves as an exoskeleton supporting the cell shape and hosts most of the virulence factors. In Gram-positive bacteria this compartment is comprised of two layers, the plasma membrane and the cell wall, while in Gram-negatives an additional outer membrane exists. Together, these layers form a formidable barrier to antibiotics making Gram-negative bacteria notoriously resilient to various treatments. Nonetheless, the envelope also serves as a primary target for various antimicrobials including penicillin, the first modern antibiotic.

In our lab we are taking a multidisciplinary approach to study the spatiotemporal organization of the bacterial envelope and try to learn how the interactions between its components contribute to its function. For this aim, we integrate advanced microscopy, biochemistry, genetic screens and molecular biology tools to answer intriguing and medically important questions. Our ongoing projects focus on envelope biogenesis in Gram-negative bacteria, while new projects are aiming to explore the response of Gram-positive Enterococs to antibiotics targeting their cell wall.

Research Topics