An in vitro Gram-negative double bilayer envelope mimetic

An attractive target for antimicrobial development is the bacterial cell envelope, with the mechanisms of its formation potentially holding the key to generating new antimicrobials. All Gram-negative bacteria possess two membranes that enclose the cell. Studying this double membrane system accurately within the laboratory has remained impossible with models only of individual membranes. Here, we aim to recreate the bacterial double membrane system on top of a solid sensor support giving us a unique platform to investigate its structure and function. Through this system we will be able to probe the fundamentals of its biochemistry, with pathways being studied in real time in a highly realistic setting for the first time. Such a system will provide a hugely powerful tool for understanding the fundamentals of membrane formation and potentially lead to the development of new antimicrobials.