Supervisor: Asst Prof. Kimberly Kline

Project Title: Characterisation of sortases in Enterococcus faecalis.

What differentiates beneficial bacteria from detrimental ones? Numerous virulence factors contribute to increased pathogenicity of certain species. Enterococcus faecalis has emerged as a dangerous opportunistic pathogen and adhesion heavily contributes to its pathogenicity. Most of the adhesins are attached to the cell wall by enzymes – sortases which are conserved within Gram-positive bacteria. Irina’s research focuses on characterisation of regulation and biogenesis of sortases. It also addresses localisation of sortases and interaction of sortases with its substrates. Understanding these processes may provide a clue on how influence sortases and decrease bacterial pathogenicity within Gram-positive bacteria.