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Gonorrhea is a major public health problem. It is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in the world; rates in Saskatchewan are among the highest in Canada. Little is known about how cells divide in Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Ng), the microorganism that causes this disease. Dr. Jo-Anne Dillon is studying a key protein (FtsA) involved in Ng cell division. She is investigating its role in septum formation in Ng, which may differ from other bacteria. This project will use a variety of scientific methods – including bioinformatics, microbiology, molecular biology, biochemistry, and advanced microscopy – to determine how FtsA interacts with other cell division proteins in Ng. Because this microorganism is becoming resistant to most antibiotics used to treat gonorrhea, having a better understanding of how bacteria divide promises to inform development of new antimicrobial agents that inhibit cell division proteins.

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