Capabilities
 
Target identification and validation
A number of approaches to target identification are being taken. In-house expertise in genetic manipulation, including construction of over- and under- expressing strains for target validation is available. Construction and testing of deletion mutants in various models is available, including in vitro and in vivo systems.
 
Whole Cell Assays
Dedicated BL3 facilities for in vitro work with whole cell screens are available. Liquid handling, culture and growth/reporter readouts from whole cell assays will be available. The ability to conduct HTS using libraries of compounds will form a starting point for further inhibitor development and target identification. In addition, target-based whole cell screens are under development and can be applied to novel targets.
 
Microbiology
The TDR group has extensive experience in handling M. tuberculosis cultures including running aerobic, hypoxic (Wayne and low oxygen models), starvation and macrophage infection models. Determination of MIC and MBC can be performed in-house, as well as kill kinetics and determination of resistance frequencies.
 
Key skills and expertise
Microbiology
Molecular biology
Mycobacteria
 
The TB Discovery Research group has extensive experience of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, in particular expertise with: