PhD fellowship in “Molecular Mechanisms of Antibacterial Action and Resistance of Novel Antibacterial Agents” at the Department of Microbial Bioactive Compounds, Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine, University of Tübingen

The PhD project is part of the EU funded “Cell Envelope Anti-bacterials” Doctoral Network (CLEAR)

Staphylococcus aureus an important pathogen which can cause life-threatening diseases such as pneumonia, endocarditis and sepsis. Multidrug resistance necessitates new treatment options. Ticagrelor is a platelet aggregation inhibitor used as a medication for the prevention of stroke and cardiac illnesses. Our collaborators at the University Liege discovered that ticagrelor has also antibacterial activity against S. aureus und preliminary data on the mode of action exist. In this PhD project we will use our established mode of action analysis platform, comprising an array of microbiological, biochemical, biophysical, microscopic and genetic techniques, to compare the molecular antibacterial mode of action of ticagrelor with those of novel ticagrelor derivatives discovered at the University Liege as well as other antibacterial agents. A mechanism causing ticagrelor resistance will also be investigated. The project will be conducted in close collaboration with the universities of Liege and Copenhagen