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EPSRC Reference: GR/L87972/01
Title: SYNTHESIS OF NEW GLYCOPEPTIDE ANTIBIOTICS USING GLYCOSYL TRANSFERASES OBTAINED FROM CE-PRODUCING BACTERIA
Principal Investigator: Williams, Professor D
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department: Chemistry
Organisation: University of Cambridge
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 January 1998 Ends: 30 June 2001 Value (£): 167,842
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Biological & Medicinal Chem.
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
No relevance to Underpinning Sectors
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
The antibiotics of last resort against infection by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are vancomycin and teicoplanin. Recently, alarming reports have appeared on the transfer of genes encoding for vancomycin resistance in vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) to MRSA resulting in so called superbugs. Major features of the mode of action of vancomycin-group antibiotics include dimerisation and membrane anchoring, both resulting in increased antibacterial activity. The dimerisation of these glycopeptides is promoted by the presence of sugar residues. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that ligand binding and dimerisation are cooperative effects.We intend to synthesise new glycopeptide antibiotics by using glycosyl transferases obtained from CE-producing bacteria. Applying our current knowledge about the mode of action of the glycopeptide antibiotics, we anticipate that these antibiotics will have improved activity against VRE. The new compounds will be fully characterised using modern analytical techniques. Furthermore, there binding strength towards cell wall analogues will be examined as well as their antibacterial activity.
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Organisation Website: http://www.cam.ac.uk