Bacteriology has advanced significantly over the last 25 years, primarily driven by the development of new technologies. Through the application of techniques bacterial cell has evolved physically form a “encased bag of enzymes” to a dynamically coordinated multitude of protein complexes; and genetically are close to defining a minimal genome. However, in so doing we are discovering that we lack an understanding of the very basic processes necessary for a bacterial cell to “grow”. Consequently the overall objective is bridge the gap between genetics, bioinformatics, biochemistry and physiology, with the cell wall and membrane representing a technical border. My group currently have diverse projects linked to the properties of, and the complications imposed by the cell wall.
This presentation will try to show how current research projects have evolved and where they are hopefully going, with respect to both the specific processes necessary to allow the cell to enlarge and divide – through the synthesis/modification/degradation of cell wall. And how the bacterial cell is powering the process!