The project involves experimental work on the Borrelia burgdorferi substrate-binding protein BmpD. The aim of the project is to characterize new BmpD-binding molecules, which could function as antimicrobial agents. The student would express and purify recombinant BmpD, characterize the purified protein and carry out ligand binding assays using multiple different methods, including differential scanning fluorometry (DSF). Furthermore, ligand complexes are crystallized for structure determination by x-ray crystallography.
Biosciences background on the level of a 3rd year BSc or MSc student, basic knowledge of protein structures, basic laboratory skills.