Suzanne Walker

The Walker Group has expertise in studying bacterial cell wall biosynthesis and its inhibition. We have developed chemical approaches to study the membrane-linked steps of peptidoglycan and teichoic acid biosynthesis, and have made fundamental contributions to understanding the enzymes involved in these processes and the mechanisms of action of antibiotics that inhibit them. We work on Gram positive organisms, including the pathogens Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis, and a major research focus includes exploring novel strategies to overcome antibiotic resistant microorganisms. My research program combines organic chemistry, enzymology, high throughput screening, biophysics, and bacterial genetics to address problems of interest.