ISIS Neutron and Muon Source Data Journal

Using neutron reflectivity from monolayer models of bacterial cell membranes to understand the interaction with an antimicrobial peptide

Abstract: Antimicrobial peptides are being investigated as an alternative to antibiotics, as bacteria seem less able to acquire resistance to them. We have been investigating the way in which these peptides interact with models for the membranes that enclose bacteria. Bacteria have two membranes and the outer one is decorated by long chain sugar molecules, which extend away from the bacteria. We have learnt how to anchor these molecules at the air/water interface and have used the reflection of neutrons from this interface to study the layer structure. In this experiment we will study how much antimicrobial peptide interacts with this first layer of defence at the periphery of the bacteria and how it changes the layer structure. We will also measure the initial interaction of the peptide with a model for the inner bacterial membrane. This will help us understand how the peptides kill bacteria.

Principal Investigator: Dr Simon Titmuss
Experimenter: Dr Iva Manasi
Experimenter: Dr Rob Barker
Local Contact: Dr Maxmilian Skoda
Experimenter: Miss Laura McKinley

DOI: 10.5286/ISIS.E.RB1520344

ISIS Experiment Number: RB1520344

Publisher: STFC ISIS Neutron and Muon Source

Data format: RAW/Nexus
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Data Citation

The recommended format for citing this dataset in a research publication is as:
[author], [date], [title], [publisher], [doi]

For Example:
Dr Simon Titmuss et al; (2015): Using neutron reflectivity from monolayer models of bacterial cell membranes to understand the interaction with an antimicrobial peptide, STFC ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, https://doi.org/10.5286/ISIS.E.RB1520344

Data is released under the CC-BY-4.0 license.