Albert Berghuis

Albert Berghuis serves as a Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology within McGill University's Faculty of Medicine, holding the prestigious Canada Research Chair in Structural Biology. His laboratory operates from the Bellini Life Sciences Building at McGill Life Sciences Complex, where he leads research at the intersection of structural biology and antimicrobial resistance.

Professor Berghuis specializes in elucidating the molecular mechanisms of antibiotic resistance through advanced structural techniques including X-ray diffraction, scattering, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. His research particularly focuses on bacterial proteins that confer protection against antibiotics, with significant contributions to understanding aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes and their role in resistance development. His group employs complementary biophysical approaches such as isothermal titration calorimetry to examine protein-drug interactions at atomic resolution, directly informing the development of next-generation antibiotics and resistance-breaking adjuvants.

Analysis of his recent publication record reveals consistent expertise in structural mechanisms of antibiotic resistance, with increasing diversification into malaria therapeutics, cancer-related protein studies, and viral resistance mechanisms. His work spans fundamental enzymology of resistance proteins to translational applications in drug design, maintaining strong emphasis on structural characterization of protein-ligand interactions across diverse biological contexts.

Scientific Recognition:

• Canada Research Chair in Structural Biology

Professor Berghuis' research program receives substantial support through his Canada Research Chair appointment, enabling his team to maintain cutting-edge structural biology capabilities for investigating antimicrobial resistance mechanisms. His laboratory serves as a key resource for structural insights into protein-drug interactions within McGill's infectious disease research ecosystem.

Based at the Bellini Pavilion within McGill's Life Sciences Complex, Berghuis' research group forms part of McGill University's robust structural biology community, collaborating across departments to address critical challenges in antimicrobial resistance through atomic-level structural understanding.