Nicholas Bennett

Doctor of Philosophy, (Biochemistry)
Study Completed: 2010
College of Sciences

Citation

Thesis Title
Unlocking the M13 (fl and fd) virion: Investigation into the role of the pIII C-domain of F specific filamentous bacteriophage in infection

Read article at Massey Research Online: MRO icon

Mr Bennett has elucidated the infection process of a virus that infects the bacterium Escherichia coli. His work showed this virus is unusual among all viruses in that it uses the same viral machinery to get into and out of bacterial cells. Because this virus can only attack bacteria it indirectly helps humans. It has been used in material sciences as a scaffold to make microscopic wires and batteries. Mr Bennett has found a way to change the shape of the virus, to make a mini-scaffold - 20 times shorter than the currently produced ones.  This “nanoscaffold” that Mr Bennett created may have applications in the field of nanotechnology.

Supervisors
Professor Jasna Rakonjac
Associate Professor Andrew Sutherland-Smith