Chris Whitfield

Department
Email Address
[email protected]
Research Areas
Research Keywords
Research Description

In my lab we study the cell surface of pathogenic bacteria. When looking at these cell surfaces, we examine both their architecture and the way they assemble. This is important to understand why bacteria are pathogenic and to develop potential new therapeutic strategies to fight bacterial infections.

Research Summary

Research in my laboratory is focused on the architecture and assembly of the cell surfaces of pathogenic bacteria. Current areas of emphasis are:
1) Structure and function of multi-enzyme complexes required for the export of capsular polysaccharides through the periplasm and across the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria.
2) Structural basis for substrate recognition by ABC transporters involved in the export of bacterial cell-surface polysaccharides.
3) Structure and function studies of prokaryotic glycosyltransferase enzymes.
4) Mechanisms that couple glycan biosynthesis and chain extension to transport pathways.

Locations of international collaborators

University of Virginia, Genentech-California (USA); University of Oxford, University of St. Andrews (UK); Nankai University (China).

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