研究领域

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Molecular Genetics of the antibiotic-producing bacteria Streptomyces and their bacteriophages. Bacteria in the genus Streptomyces are prolific producers of antibiotics, anti-cancer agents, immune-suppressants, and other bioactive natural products. The aim of Maggie Smith’s research is to investigate and exploit genetic processes in Streptomyces and their close relatives to facilitate novel drug development. Colonies of Streptomycelividans growing on an agar plate. The fuzzy surface of the colonies indicate the formation of spores. A major theme in Maggie’s lab is to study the genetics of host-phage interactions. A new family of phage-encoded integrases, the serine integrases were first characterised in Maggie’s group. Integrases are natures DNA cut and paste tool and can be used to integrate and excise DNA from chromosomes. This is a useful tool for genetic engineering and has been deployed in bacteria, fungi, animals and plants. In Streptomyces sp. vectors based on serine integrases are widely used to transfer genes for antibiotic biosynthesis between strains. Maggie’s lab have studied many different serine integrases and are now using them to create stable vectors for the cloning and design of new antibiotics analogues based on erythromycin.