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Astbury opens doors to European collaborators

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The Astbury Centre Biostructure Laboratory has today been awarded the status of an Instruct-ERIC facility, prestigious recognition of the Centre’s world-class technology and expertise in structural biology. This partnership will allow researchers from Europe to access the electron microscopy, NMR and mass spectrometry facilities within the Astbury Centre and the Faculty of Biological Sciences. The...

Scientists unlock key to photosynthesis

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This discovery could lead to photosynthesis being ‘redesigned’ to achieve higher yields and meet urgent food security needs. The research, published in the journal Nature, reveals the structure of cytochrome b6f - the protein complex that significantly influences plant growth via photosynthesis. Using a high-resolution structural model, scientists found that the protein complex provides the electrical connection...

'Wolves in sheep's clothing' – the superbugs outsmarting lab tests

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Hospital screening tests are failing to identify the true extent of microbial resistance, according to new research. Scientists have found that disease-causing bacteria carry antibiotic resistance genes that are dormant as a result of a genetic mutation. During screening, the bacteria appear susceptible to antibiotics. But such mutations easily become lost, rapidly transforming the bacteria...

'Tricked' bacteria open new pathways to antimicrobial treatments

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Scientists have developed a new technique to trick bacteria into revealing hundreds of holes in their cell walls, opening the door for drugs that destroy bacteria’s cells. Targeting these pores could make current antibiotics more effective or allow for the development of antibiotic-free drugs that can use these openings. When subjected to certain stimuli, such...

Lorna Dougan promoted to Professor of Physics

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Congratulations to Lorna Dougan (picture front, third from the right) who has been promoted to Professor. Lorna is based in the School of Physics and is a member of the Astbury Centre

Antiseptic resistance in bacteria could lead to next-gen plastics

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The molecular machinery used by ‘superbugs’ to resist chemicals designed to kill them could also help produce precursors for a new generation of nylon and other polymers, according to new research. Scientists from the University of Leeds have collaborated with Australian researchers to identify ancient protein pumps that make infectious bacteria tough to treat, but...

Professor Richard Henderson awarded Honorary Degree

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Congratulations to Richard Henderson who received the honorary degree, Doctor of Science at the FBS graduation ceremony on 19th July. Richard is a biophysicist and molecular biologist who was the first to successfully produce a three-dimensional image of a biological molecule at atomic resolution using a technique known as cryo-electron microscopy; for which he was...

Astbury members receive prestigious awards

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Congratulations to Sarah Harris, Qian Wu, Megan Wright and Patricija van Oosten Hawle, (left to right in the photograph) who have all been awarded prestigious prizes in the last few weeks. Dr Sarah Harris from the School of Physics and Astronomy was one of the 12 female scientists and engineers presented with hand-crafted jewellery at...

Understanding how peptides self-assemble

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Scientists have developed an integrated computational and experimental approach to investigate the way proteins and peptides – chains of amino acids – aggregate. Understanding the way the peptides assemble into such aggregates is important for two reasons: 1. Amyloid fibrils are a form of peptide aggregate and some of these are involved in the development...

New regulator of immune responses discovered

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Scientists have identified a new internal regulator that helps control the body’s response to fight infection. The discovery could be a target for new drugs to tackle autoimmune diseases, such as lupus and scleroderma, where healthy tissues are attacked by the body’s own immune system. Autoimmune diseases include a wide range of difficult-to-treat conditions, including...