Faculty - Angela Wilks
The focus of ongoing research in the Wilks group is the regulation, structure and function of proteins involved in the acquisition and utilization of heme by bacterial pathogens. Pathogens such as Shigella dysenteriae, or the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa require iron for their survival and virulence. Therefore, many bacterial pathogens have developed sophisticated mechanisms by which they utilize the host heme containing proteins as a source of iron. We utilize a number of tools including bacterial genetics, genomics and proteomics, molecular biology, and heterologous protein expression systems to characterize the individual proteins and pathways involved in the acquisition and utilization of heme. In addition physical techniques such as optical absorption, resonance Raman, NMR and X-ray crystallography allow us to determine the structural features required for heme binding, transport and catalysis. By understanding the mechanism of heme uptake and iron release at the molecular level it may be possible to identify novel therapeutic targets for future antimicrobial drug development.