A Fully Asymmetric Protein-Containing Gram-Negative bacterial Outer membrane Model

Due to antimicrobial resistance, bacterial infections, specifically those due to Gram-negative (GN) bacteria, represent a serious danger to human health. To combat infections by these pathogens, there is an urgent need to develop new antibiotics. The GN bacterial outer membrane (OM), with its unique architecture provides bacteria with additional protection against many antibiotics and has long been a target for the few remaining broad-spectrum antibiotics. Model membranes are a valuable tool for gaining a deeper understanding of the behaviour of the GN OM, and when combined with powerful characterisation techniques such as neutron reflectometry can been used to provide precise complex structural information into the mechanisms of action of new and existing antibiotics. Herein we propose to continue developing a novel route to obtain fully asymmetric, protein containing OM model systems. As such we will develop one of the most physiologically relevant models of the GN OM currently available.