The University of Copenhagen (UKBH), Denmark

Institute of Molecular Biology

The major contribution of UKBH to this consortium is the application of phage display technology to the analysis of microbial adhesion to food contact surfaces and mucosal cells. Phage displayed peptide libraries will be used in convergent evolution studies designed to identify microbial adhesion proteins that mediate binding to a range of biotic (protein and glycan) and abiotic ligands. Subsequent transcriptomic analysis of adhesion protein-encoding sequences will enable the factors that influence expression of key proteins to be analysed. It is anticipated that a better understanding of the molecular basis of microbial adhesion will have a number of important consequences. For example, it may allow us to predict and optimise the adhesion capacity of probiotic microbes - for example by manipulation of culture conditions. It is also hoped that non-toxic ‘smart’ cleaning agents based on the disruption of specific adhesion components may be developed.

 

Key persons for PathogenCombat

William Willats (involved in WP2) has extensive experience in the fields of phage display and high throughput analysis of protein interactions. For example, phage display was used for the generation of synthetic antibody probes for pectic polysaccharide components of functional food ingredients. Recently, the William Willats group was one of the first to develop comprehensive carbohydrate microarrays for the high throughput screening of protein/glycan interactions. William Willats also has considerable experience in the development and use of monoclonal antibodies, including the production of fluorescently tagged synthetic phage display antibodies.

 

Isabel Møller (involved in WP2), PhD student