Uli Schwarz-Linek
Uli Schwarz-Linek was originally trained as an organic chemist at the University of Leipzig, Germany. As a postdoc at Oxford University he worked on the fibronectin-binding mechanism of streptococci, staphylococci and borreliae. He is currently a Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) at the Biomedical Sciences Research Complex at the University of St Andrews, Scotland. He leads research directed at understanding structure, mechanism of host protein recognition and function of Gram-positive bacterial surface proteins, with a strong emphasis on group A streptococci. His group specialises in structural biology and protein biochemistry, complemented with biophysical and cell-based techniques. The group has a particular interest in TIE (thioester, isopeptide, ester domain) proteins of Gram-positive pathogens including GAS, vancomycin-resistant enterococci, Bacillus anthracis and Clostridium difficile. Their most significant contribution to the field was the discovery of bacteria-encoded, TIE protein-mediated covalent binding as a novel molecular principle in host-microbe interactions. The other focus of the group is the structural characterization of GAS M proteins, and the analysis of molecular mechanisms of post-streptococcal rheumatic sequelae. The lab further exploits TIE domains for protein engineering to develop molecular tools for diagnostics, therapy and nanotechnology.
Abstracts this author is presenting: