Cell membranes act as barriers against unwanted movement of ions and biomolecules and are complex surfaces littered with protein channels, ion channels, cholesterol, and a myriad of different proteins. While this surface is extremely well studied, there is still much we do not know. The work in this dissertation demonstrates...
WLBU2 is an engineered cationic amphiphilic peptide that targets Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and envelopes endotoxin while avoiding other cell types. The exact mechanism of how WLBU2 targets, binds, and disrupts bacterial cell membranes is still not completely known. Thus, the overall goal of this investigation is to determine the...