Research Field:
Enzyme Evolution and Engineering

Specific Research Interests/Topics:
• Investigating enzymes that disrupt microbial communication and exploring their potential as antimicrobial agents.
• Engineering enzymes for the bioremediation of plastics, pesticides, and mycotoxins.

Research Methods:
• Utilizing phylogenetic analysis and directed evolution to understand the functional evolution of microbial enzymes.
• Engineering enzymes to enhance their traits for improved performance.

Main projects in the lab include:
1. Investigating the mechanisms behind the disruption of microbial communication through biochemical studies.
2. Utilizing the catalytic efficiency of enzymes to degrade xenobiotics.
3. Engineering enzymes for use in antimicrobial treatments.

Lab Facilities and capabilities:
• We optimize recombinant expression protocols in E. coli for protein purification and subsequent enzymatic characterizations.
• We construct genetic libraries and develop screening assays to tailor directed enzyme evolution campaigns for various enzymatic traits (e.g., activity, stability, optimal pH).
• Our lab specializes in identifying new enzymes through sequence and structural analysis.
• We perform real-time RT-PCR in a 96-well plate format.

Available Research Services:
Recombinant expression protocols in in E. coli for protein purification and downstream enzymatic characterizations

Potential industries:

1. Pharma
2. Biotech
3. Agtech