In a recent PNAS paper, the group demonstrates that the bacteriocin hijacks a transporter normally used for bringing iron into the cell, to sneak across the outer membrane. The work will help on-going efforts to develop bacteriocins, which are naturally occurring protein antimicrobials, as next-generation antibiotics.
A group of researchers led by Colin Kleanthous in the Department of Biochemistry has shown for the first time how a toxin released by bacteria delivers its toxic payload into cells.
