Effects of novel metal based complexes on elastase of Pseudomonas aerginosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a Gram-negative multidrug resistant bacterium and an important opportunistic human pathogen that causes severe infections in immunosuppressed patients. The infection route for P. aeruginosa is typically through airways, burns, wounds, urinary tract, ear canal and via ocular exposure. This pathogen produces several virulence factors such as elastase which is an important metalloprotease responsible for cleaving elastin, collagen, fibronectin, immunoglobulins and several complement components responsible for increasing tissue damage, immune system evasion and the infectious process established in the infected host
The development of new therapies to treat P .aeruginosa infections is of significant clinical and commercial importance worldwide. This project aims to develop new interdisciplinary research at between DIT and Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Brazil, to develop and test novel bioactive metal based complexes that inhibit elastase activity. Novel bioactive compounds developed in DIT include silver (Ag) dicarboxylates and manganese (Mn) complexes bound to 1, 10 phenanthroline ligand for greater solubility and stability properties for biological test systems. This includes elastase gene cloning and expression along with site directed mutagenesis of elastase to produce a comparative mutant form. In vivo analysis using the Galleria mellonella test model in house will also be incorporated.

Student Requirements for this project:
Min. 2.1 BSc in Biological sciences
IELTS English competency

To make an application, please visit our website at www.dit.ie/phd. Full details of the project can be found at http://www.dit.ie/researchandenterprise/graduateresearchschool/phdopportunities/phdprojects/scienceshealth/