Role of linear azol(in)e-containing peptides in the lifestyle of human pathogens

Linear azol(in)e-containing peptides (LAPs) are a rapidly expanding and largely underexplored class of bacterial ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides, many of which exhibit strong antimicrobial activity. Despite their structural similarity, the mode of action and activity spectrum of LAPs show a remarkable diversity of which the structural basis and functional significance is poorly understood. This PhD project aims to investigate the antimicrobial activity, ecological role, structure-activity relationship and evolutionary flexibility of LAPs from Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus, three notorious foodborne pathogens with different lifestyles. It also aims to engineer new derivatives with improved activities.