Thamarai Dorai-Schneiders

Accepting PhD Students

PhD projects

Project I:<br/><br/>Development of Novel Small Molecule Adjuvants against Multidrug Resistant Gram-negative Bacteria.<br/><br/>Supervisors: <br/>Dr. Thamarai Schneiders and Prof. Malcolm Walkinshaw<br/><br/><br/>Abstract: <br/>Intrinsic proteins that control pleiotrophic phenotypes in bacterial metabolism and physiology present a novel approach to inhibit microbes on several levels. This project aims to identify adjuvants targeting specific transcription factors involved in the development of antimicrobial resistance and establishment of infection. As such the specific aims of the research project are to firstly optimise a high throughput assay for the validation of novel compounds against multidrug resistant gram-negative bacteria secondly, identify the key residues that are critical for adjuvant+protein interaction and finally, to determine the efficacy of these novel adjuvants in combination with antibiotics against a panel of multidrug resistant gram-negative bacteria. In an era of increasing antimicrobial resistance, novel strategies that address the development and persistence of such phenotypes are essential for the discovery of new compounds.<br/><br/><br/>Project II:<br/>Elucidating the Role of Intrinsic Regulators in Host-Pathogen Interactions.<br/><br/>Supervisors: <br/>Dr. Thamarai Schneiders <br/><br/><br/>Abstract: <br/>Transcription factors that control pleiotropic phenotypes in bacterial metabolism and physiology present a novel approach to inhibit microbes on several levels. This project aims to understand the role of intrinsic regulatory proteins, in host-microbe interactions. As such the specific aims of the research project are to determine the transcription factor-dependent regulatory cascade in-vivo, its effect on host-pathogen interactions and persistence of antimicrobial resistance. Establishing the role of these regulatory factors in conferring phenotypes linked to host-pathogen and pathogen-drug responses will provide insights into whether these proteins can be exploited as a drug target. In an era of increasing antimicrobial resistance, novel strategies that address the development and persistence of such phenotypes are essential for the discovery of new compounds.<br/><br/>Funding Available:<br/>Details of each scholarship schemes can be found at <br/>http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/student-funding/search-scholarships<br/><br/><br/>