Biophysics of bacterial cell wall biosynthesis

Our lab uses advanced microscopy methods to understand how biomolecules inside bacteria work together as natural ‘nano-machines’ to perform the impressive engineering tasks of expanding and dividing cells.

Bacterial cell elongation

Most bacterial cells are surrounded by a mesh-like wall that protects them from their environments and prevents them from exploding due to high internal pressure. For a bacterial cell to grow, it needs to expand this wall. This involves many biomolecules working together to build and remodel the wall carefully without the cell bursting. In some ways this is like expanding the hull of a submarine while it’s under pressure deep underwater.

Bacterial cell division

Cell division is a fundamental requirement for bacteria and a key antibiotic target. It is also a remarkable feat of engineering by the cell: a collection of nano-scale proteins must coordinate their activities over a micrometer scale to build a cross-wall through the cell against heavy outward pressure.

Advanced microscopy methods

The field of microbiology owes its existence to the invention of the microscope, and microscopy remains one of the most powerful approaches for studying bacteria. We continue to push the development of advanced microscopy methods to learn all the unique tips and tricks bacteria have evolved.