Research Explorer

Project

The role of capsular exopolysaccharide depolymerases as host determinant for Klebsiella pneumoniae phages, and their enzymatic properties.
Code
01SF0716
Duration
01 October 2016 → 30 September 2020
Funding
Regional and community funding: Special Research Fund
Promotor
Research disciplines
  • Natural sciences
    • Bacteriology
    • Infectious diseases
  • Engineering and technology
    • Medical molecular engineering of nucleic acids and proteins
Keywords
Bacteriophages enzymes exopolysaccharide depolymerases
 
Project description
 

This doctoral research proposal investigates the unique relationship between the bacterial capsular serotype, bacteriophage-encoded depolymerases that degrade capsular exopolysaccharides and the bacteriophage host spectrum, specifically for Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteriophages. The enzymatic properties of these exopolysaccharide depolymerases will be analysed. A first-in-class phage engineering method will be introduced to study the role of these enzymes in the tail fibers of bacteriophages