معرفی
Catherine Tooke is a Dr Prize Fellow in the Department of Life Sciences at the University of Bath, where she conducts independent research on β-lactam antibiotic action and resistance in Gram-negative pathogens. She is accepting doctoral students and leads an MRC-funded research project. She also holds an honorary position as Research Fellow at the University of Bristol (2023–2025).
Her research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of Penicillin Binding Proteins (PBPs) and β-lactamases (BLAs), enzymes central to bacterial resistance against β-lactam antibiotics. She employs interdisciplinary approaches combining microbiology, biochemistry, structural biology, and biomolecular simulation to investigate enzyme function, inhibition, and resistance evolution.
Recent publications reveal a strong trend in characterizing β-lactamase activity, particularly in enzymes like KPC-2 and CTX-M-15, exploring mechanisms such as tautomer-specific deacylation, serine-lysine cross-linking, and allosteric regulation through loop dynamics. Her work bridges chemical and biological insights to combat antimicrobial resistance.
Scientific Contributions:
- Principal Investigator on MRC-funded project: 'Understanding ß-lactam antibiotic action and resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae through penicillin binding protein characterisation' (2025–2030).
Advising and Grants:
Dr. Tooke is accepting doctoral students and leads an independent research project funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC), demonstrating her role as a mentor and principal investigator in antimicrobial resistance research.
Labs and Research Teams:
She conducts research within the Department of Life Sciences at the University of Bath, collaborating with interdisciplinary teams in biochemistry and microbiology. Her network includes researchers from institutions such as the University of Bristol, and she works with experts in structural biology and computational enzymology.
