Professor Dr. Dmitry Ghilarov

Biography

Dmitry Ghilarov is an Associate Professor in Biochemistry at the University of Oxford. His long-term research aim is to reveal the fundamental principles of bacterial molecular machines and how they utilize energy to manipulate the three-dimensional structure of peptides and nucleic acids. His research into bacterial molecular machines is leading to novel therapeutics, as bacterial diversity produces fascinating examples of protein machines with unique enzymatic activities. Ghilarov's work focuses on understanding how these systems can be inhibited to create new antibacterials. His main research directions employ a combination of biochemistry and structural biology methods, including the study of RiPPs (ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides), the roles of bacterial DNA topoisomerases in connection with the replisome and SMC proteins, and bacterial antiviral defense systems, particularly the BREX (bacteriophage exclusion system).

Research Interests