Liam Turk
2025: Dr Liam Turk of Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha – University of Canterbury will study a class of bacterial proteins called TAXI transporters, to pave the way for new antibiotics
In an era of rising antimicrobial resistance, finding new bacterial targets for drugs is crucial. Like doors in a wall, transporter proteins allow bacteria to take up nutrients through their cell membranes. TAXI transporters are one such "door", which importantly exist only in bacterial and not human cell membranes. This makes them an ideal target for drug development.
Despite their potential, TAXI transporters remain poorly understood. In their New Zealand Mana Tūāpapa Future Leader Fellowship, Dr Liam Turk will determine the three-dimensional structure of these transporters, and elucidate the molecular mechanism they use to shuttle nutrients across the cell membrane. By understanding how these bacterial "doors" work, the project will inform efforts to identify drugs that can jam them shut, and prevent bacterial growth. The findings offer a promising strategy in the fight against antibiotic-resistant infections.
Predicted 3D model of a bacterial transporter protein. Supplied.