The Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada (IMRIC)

Congratulations to Dr. Gideon Mamou of the Institute for Medical Research on winning the Prestigious ERC Starting Grants for Groundbreaking Studies

Dr. Gideon Mamou got the ERC Grant for his research on the structure of the bacterial envelope and its role in protecting against antibiotics. His work focuses on the multi-layered envelope that shields the bacterial cell, enabling it to withstand antibiotic treatments. While many components of this envelope have been identified, the understanding of their interrelationships remains limited. Dr. Mamou aims to deepen the understanding of how the cell coordinates the construction of all the envelope components and to uncover interactions within the envelope that contribute to its capability to protect against antibacterial substances.

About the research

The research program focuses on the multi-layered bacterial envelope which protect the cell and plays a crucial role in environmental and host-pathogen interactions. Although multiple components of the envelope have been studied, the interactions among them remain poorly explored. The research program aims to deepen the knowledge about the cooperation and coordination between different components during envelope biogenesis. By understanding the mechanisms of envelope biogenesis this work could help developing new strategies to disrupt envelope integrity and facilitate the discovery of antimicrobials.