Structural and functional characterisation of BAM inhibition by L-type pyocins and the disruption of the bacterial outer membrane

Microbes live in diverse environments where they must compete for resources. Gram-negative bacteria have developed a diverse toolkit to gain competitive advantages over other bacteria. One such tool is the protein antibiotic group of L-type pyocins, which are potent inhibitors of bacterial growth. This thesis examines how L-type pyocins can be utilised to develop new antibiotics, which are required to treat emerging multidrug-resistant human pathogens. It reveals the structural and physiological mechanisms of how L-type pyocins kill bacteria and what happens to exposed cells. This helps our understanding of L-type pyocins and further progresses them toward medical applications.