Molecular Microbiology

The research in the department of Molecular Microbiology aims at understanding protein export, solute transport and cell division in micro-organisms. All these processes take place at the cytoplasmic membrane of micro-organisms, and membrane biology is where our department excels. Protein export and cell division are studied in Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis, whereas solute transport is studied in a range of (predominantly Gram-positive) bacteria, archaea and lower eukaryotes (fungi). The emphasis of the work is on understanding protein export, solute transport and cell division at a mechanistic level. In addition to the experimental research, bio-informatics analyses are performed to classify (predicted) membrane proteins in structural classes. 

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Molecular Microbiology on TV

Labyrint, a Dutch popular science TV show, did a show on antibiotic resistance on Feb 1st 2011. The show features Dutch clinicians who explain the problem of resistant bacteria in a clinical setting (1st part) and Dutch scientists, including Arnold Driessen, who are aiming to discover new antibiotics (2nd part, from ~13mins). The show can be watched here (in Dutch).