Scheffers group

We study fundamental aspects of bacterial cell growth and division, as well as small molecules that can kill bacteria by inhibiting these processes.

Our fundamental work is currently aimed at understanding how bacteria construct their cell walls. This wall provides structure and strength to the cell, and lies on the outside of the cell. Fundamental questions include where the wall is constructed and how this construction is regulated to achieve a specific cell shape. Our work on killing bacteria is done together with collaborators in Brazil and is aimed at killing bacteria that infect orange trees in an environmental friendly way, as the currently used pesticides carry a large environmental burden. We are currently in the process of testing some of our novel compounds in the field and hope that these compounds can improve agriculture.