
Glycobiology of host-microbe interactions in the gut
My current project focuses on the impact of bacterial sialic acid metabolism on gut homeostasis. In particular I am interested in how a novel bacterial mechanism of utilising mucin-derived sialic acid may provide a competitive advantage to bacteria expressing an intramolecular trans-sialidases, and help to protect the gut from pathogens. This work builds on the findings of my PhD project ‘Sialic acid metabolism in gut microbes’ which I also undertook at the Quadram Institute with Prof. Nathalie Juge.
Previous to my time at QIB I studied Biochemistry at the University of East Anglia, and as part of the degree programme undertook a year in Industry placement in Prof. Claire Domoney’s lab at the John Innes Centre where I was involved in a project to increase understanding of chlorophyll degradation and turnover pathways in plants. I continued with the same research theme following my undergraduate and discovered that the SGRL protein can regulate chlorophyll metabolism contributing to plant growth and development in pea.
Uncovering a novel molecular mechanism for scavenging sialic acids in bacteria.
The Journal of biological chemistry
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Membrane-enclosed multienzyme (MEME) synthesis of 2,7-anhydro-sialic acid derivatives.
Carbohydrate Research, 451, 110-117
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