Research

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Synthetic Biology underpins advances in the bioeconomy

Biological systems - including the simplest cells - exhibit a broad range of functions to thrive in their environment. Research in the Imperial College Centre for Synthetic Biology is focused on the possibility of engineering the underlying biochemical processes to solve many of the challenges facing society, from healthcare to sustainable energy. In particular, we model, analyse, design and build biological and biochemical systems in living cells and/or in cell extracts, both exploring and enhancing the engineering potential of biology. 

As part of our research we develop novel methods to accelerate the celebrated Design-Build-Test-Learn synthetic biology cycle. As such research in the Centre for Synthetic Biology highly multi- and interdisciplinary covering computational modelling and machine learning approaches; automated platform development and genetic circuit engineering ; multi-cellular and multi-organismal interactions, including gene drive and genome engineering; metabolic engineering; in vitro/cell-free synthetic biology; engineered phages and directed evolution; and biomimetics, biomaterials and biological engineering.

Publications

Citation

BibTex format

@article{Smith:2017:femsle/fnx121,
author = {Smith, WD and Bardin, E and Cameron, L and Edmondson, CL and Farrant, KV and Martin, I and Murphy, RA and Soren, O and Turnbull, AR and Wierre-Gore, N and Alton, EW and Bundy, JG and Bush, A and Connett, GJ and Faust, SN and Filloux, A and Freemont, PS and Jones, AL and Takats, Z and Webb, JS and Williams, HD and Davies, JC},
doi = {femsle/fnx121},
journal = {FEMS Microbiology Letters},
title = {Current and future therapies for Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in patients with cystic fibrosis},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/femsle/fnx121},
volume = {364},
year = {2017}
}
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RIS format (EndNote, RefMan)

TY  - JOUR
AB  - Pseudomonas aeruginosa opportunistically infects the airways of patients with cystic fibrosis and causes significant morbidity and mortality. Initial infection can often be eradicated though requires prompt detection and adequate treatment. Intermittent and then chronic infection occurs in the majority of patients. Better detection of P. aeruginosa infection using biomarkers may enable more successful eradication before chronic infection is established. In chronic infection P. aeruginosa adapts to avoid immune clearance and resist antibiotics via efflux pumps, β-lactamase expression, reduced porins and switching to a biofilm lifestyle. The optimal treatment strategies for P. aeruginosa infection are still being established, and new antibiotic formulations such as liposomal amikacin, fosfomycin in combination with tobramycin and inhaled levofloxacin are being explored. Novel agents such as the alginate oligosaccharide OligoG, cysteamine, bacteriophage, nitric oxide, garlic oil and gallium may be useful as anti-pseudomonal strategies, and immunotherapy to prevent infection may have a role in the future. New treatments that target the primary defect in cystic fibrosis, recently licensed for use, have been associated with a fall in P. aeruginosa infection prevalence. Understanding the mechanisms for this could add further strategies for treating P. aeruginosa in future.
AU  - Smith,WD
AU  - Bardin,E
AU  - Cameron,L
AU  - Edmondson,CL
AU  - Farrant,KV
AU  - Martin,I
AU  - Murphy,RA
AU  - Soren,O
AU  - Turnbull,AR
AU  - Wierre-Gore,N
AU  - Alton,EW
AU  - Bundy,JG
AU  - Bush,A
AU  - Connett,GJ
AU  - Faust,SN
AU  - Filloux,A
AU  - Freemont,PS
AU  - Jones,AL
AU  - Takats,Z
AU  - Webb,JS
AU  - Williams,HD
AU  - Davies,JC
DO  - femsle/fnx121
PY  - 2017///
SN  - 0378-1097
TI  - Current and future therapies for Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in patients with cystic fibrosis
T2  - FEMS Microbiology Letters
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/femsle/fnx121
VL  - 364
ER  -
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