Research Interests
Antimicrobial Therapies, Bacteriophage Enzyme Therapy, Natural Products with Antibacterial Activity, Medical Microbiology, Overcoming Resistance to Antibiotics (MRSA), Quantitative Analysis of Complement Activation on Biological Surfaces.
Peter Taylor was appointed to the School of Pharmacy (University of London) at the end of 1998 after a career that encompassed academia (Leeds University) and industry (Sandoz Research Institute in Vienna, Bayer Research Centres in Wuppertal and West Haven and the Ciba Geigy/Novartis Centre for Advanced Drug Delivery in Horsham).
Professor Taylor's major research interest involves novel approaches to the treatment of infectious disease; he is particularly interested in opportunities to develop therapeutics that suppress or abrogate the emergence of drug resistant variants by modification of the bacterial phenotype. A capsule depolymerising enzyme, endosialidase E, that selectively removes the protective polysaccharide capsule from the neonatal neuropathogen Escherichia coli K1, has (in collaboration with Professor Paul Luzio at the Cambridge Institute for Medical Research) been cloned, sequenced, expressed as a fully active enzyme and evaluated as a novel therapeutic tool in models of neonatal septicaemia and meningitis. The enzyme has proven to be remarkably efficacious and the concept of phenotype modification by enzyme-mediated capsule removal is being extended to other conditions, partly in collaboration with the George Eliava Institute for Bacteriophage, Microbiology and Virology, Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia. The early stages of this work were funded by the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (BSAC) and the Wellcome Trust - the current phase of this programme is receiving support from the MRC.
He has received substantial funding from the MRC and EPSRC to investigate a novel approach to the treatment of infections due to methicillin-resistant staphylococci based on modulation of beta-lactam resistance by catechin gallates derived from Japanese green tea. This work involves collaborations with Professor Jim Anderson at the University of Nottingham, Mitsui Norin through Dr Yukihiko Hara, and with the group of Professor Shinichi Uesato of the University of Kansai in Osaka – the Japanese collaborations have been supported by a grant from the Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation. Other potential approaches to the treatment of severe Gram-positive infections, particularly those due to MRSA, through the use of pyrrolobenzodiazepine dimer DNA cross-linking agents are being pursued by a Wellcome Trust-funded collaboration with Professor David Thurston of the School of Pharmacy, who pioneered the use of DNA cross-linking agents for tumour chemotherapy.
Other recent collaborations have included projects with Spirogen Ltd. to examine the antibacterial properties of novel DNA-binding compounds, with support from the EPSRC. Professor Taylor led a MRC Co-operative Group entitled "Novel approaches to the treatment of bacterial infections" involving partners at the University of Cambridge and the Eastman Dental Institute, University College London. The group is also looking at natural products derived from Pelargonium species with anti-tubercule activity. This work was supported initially by the Wellcome Trust and is based on a South African herbal remedy that became known in the West as Stevens’ Cure. A programme of research has recently been initiated to determine the effects of microgravity on the properties of pathogenic staphylococci. His group is also involved in the optimisation of expression of recombinant proteins of commercial medical interest and have worked closely with biotechnology companies in this area.
Publications
Mills DC, Gundogdu O, Elmi A, Bajaj-Elliott M, Taylor PW, Wren BW & Dorrell N. The application of a vertical diffusion chamber to model host-pathogen interations during Camphylobacter jejuni infection of intestinal epithelial cells. Infection and Immunity: in press
Rosado H, O'Neill AJ, Blake K, Walther M, Long PF, Hinds J & Taylor PW. 2011. Rotating wall vessel alters protein secretion and global gene expression by Staphylococcus aureus. International Journal of Astrobiology doi:10.1017/S1473550411000346.
Putcha, L., Taylor, P.W., Boyd, J.L. 2011. Biopharmaceutical challenges of therapeutics in space - formulation and packaging considerations. Therapeutic Delivery 2, 1373-1376.
Anderson JC, McCarthy R, Paulin S & Taylor PW. 2011. Anti- staphylococcal activity and antibiotic resistance attenuating capacity of structural analogues of (-)-epicatechin gallate. Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters 21 6996-7000.
Taylor, P.W., Putcha, L. 2011. Stability of medications in space: therapeutic implications for extended duration space missions. pp221-239 in "Advances in Engineering Research vol 1", ed. V.M. Petrova, Nova Science Publishers, Hauppauge, NY.
Rosado H, Rahman KM, Feuerbaum E-A, Hinds J, Thurston DE & Taylor PW.2011 The minor groove binding agent ELB-21 forms multiple interstrand and intrastand covalent cross-links with duplex DNA and displays potent bactericidal activity against methicillicn-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Journal of Animicrobial Chemotherapy 66, 985-996.
Taylor PW, Arnet I, Fischer A & Simpson I. 2010. Pharmaceutical quality of nine generic orlistat products, compared to Xenical®. Obesity Facts: In press.
Bernal P, Pinho M, Lemaire S, Hara Y, Hinds J & Taylor PW. Insertion of epicatechin gallate into the cytoplasmic membrane of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus disrupts penicillin-binding protein (PBP)2a-mediated lactam resistance by delocalizing PBP2. Journal of Biological Chemistry doi: 10.1074/jbc.M110.114793, 2010.
Zelmer A, Martin M, Gundogdu O, Birchenough G, Lever R, Wren BW, Luzio JP & Taylor PW. Administration of capsule-selective endosialidase E minimizes changes in organ gene expression induced by experimental systemic infection with Escherichia coli K1. Microbiology doi: 10.1099/mic.0.036145-0, 2010.
Glonti T, Chanishvili N & Taylor PW. Bacteriophage-derived enzyme that depolymerises the alginic acid capsule associated with cystic fibrosis isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Journal of Applied Microbiology 108, 695-702, 2010.
Rosado H, Doyle M, Hinds J & Taylor PW. Low-shear modelled microgravity alters expression of virulence determinants by Staphylococcus aureus. Acta Astronautica 66, 408-413, 2010.
Taylor PW, Bernal P & Zelmer A. Modification of the bacterial phenotype as an approach to counter the emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens. Pp43-78 in "Antibiotic Resistance", ed. A.R. Bonilla & K.P. Muniz. Nova Science Publishers, Hauppauge, NY, 2009.
Doyle M, Feuerbaum E-A, Fox KR, Hinds J, Thurston DE & Taylor PW. Response of Staphylococcus aureus to subinhibitory concentrations of a sequence-selective, DNA minor groove cross-linking pyrrolobenzodiazepine dimer. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 64, 949-959, 2009.
Bernal P, Zloh M & Taylor PW. Disruption of D-alanyl esterification of Staphylococcus aureus cell wall teichoic acid by the ?-lactam-resistance modifier (-)-epicatechin gallate. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 63, 1156-1162, 2009.
Kim CE, Griffiths WJ & Taylor PW. Components derived from Pelargonium stimulate macrophage killing of Mycobacterium species. Journal of Applied Microbiology 106, 1184-1193, 2009.
Rosado, H, Doyle M, Hinds J & Taylor PW. Low-shear modelled microgravity alters expression of virulence determinants by Staphylococcus aureus. Proceedings of the 59th International Astronautical Federation Congress IAC-08-A1.7.-A2.7.5, 2008.
Cushnie TPT, Taylor PW, Nagaoka Y, Uesato S, Hara Y & Lamb AJ. Investigation of the antibacterial activity of 3-O-octanoyl-(-)-epicatechin. Journal of Applied Microbiology 105. 1461-1469, 2008.
Zelmer A, Bowen M, Jokilammi A, Finne J, Luzio JP & Taylor PW. Differential expression of the polysialyl capsule during blood-to-brain transit of neuropathogenic Escherichia coli K1. Microbiology, 154, 2522-2532, 2008.
Taylor PW & Rosado H. Manned missions to Mars - the likely impact of microbial infection. pp165-185 in "Planet Mars Research Focus", ed. LA Costas. Nova Science Publishers, Hauppauge, NY. 2008.
Taylor, P.W. 2008. An anti-bac alert. Public Service Review: Health 14, 36-37.
Shah S, Stapleton PD & Taylor PW. The polyphenol (-)-epicatechin gallate disrupts the secretion of virulence-related proteins by Staphylococcus aureus. Letters in Applied Microbiology 46, 181-185, 2008.
Cushnie TPT, Hamilton VES, Chapman DG, Taylor PW & Lamb AJ. Aggregation of Staphylococcus aureus following treatment with the antibacterial flavonol galangin. Journal of Applied Microbiology 103, 1562-1567, 2007.
Stapleton PD, Shah S, Ehlert K, Hara Y & Taylor PW. The beta-lactam-resistance modifier (-)-epicatechin gallate alters the architecture of the cell wall of Staphylococcus aureus. Microbiology 153, 2093-2103, 20
Hadjivassileva T, Stapleton PD, Thurston DE & Taylor PW. Cross-linking of bacterial duplex DNA by pyrrolobenzodiazepine dimers, agents with activity against Gram-positive bacteria. International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents 29, 672-678, 2007.
Stapleton PD, Gettert J & Taylor PW. Epicatechin gallate, a component of green tea, reduces halotolerance in Staphylococcus aureus. International Journal of Food Microbiology 111, 276-279, 2006.
Taylor PW & Brown M. Advancing pharmacy education and research through Maplethorpe fellowships. Pharmaceutical Journal 276, 208-213, 2006.
Taylor PW & Keenan MHJ. Pharmaceutical quality of generic isotretinoin products, compared to Roaccutane. Current Medical Research and Opinion 22, 603-615, 2006.
Stapleton, PD, Shah, S, Hara, Y & Taylor, PW. Potentiation of catechin gallate-mediated sensitization of Staphylococcus aureus to oxacillin by nongalloylated catechins. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 50, 752-755, 2006.
Taylor, PW, Stapleton, PD & Hamilton-Miller, JMT. Antimicrobial properties of green tea catechins. Food Science and Biotechnology Bulletin, 2, 71-81, 2005.
Taylor, PW, Maalim, S & Coleman, S. The strange story of umckaloabo. Pharmaceutical Journal, 275, 790-792, 2005.
Rowland, RES, Taylor, PW & Florence, AT. Attachment, uptake and transport of noanoparticles coated with an internalin A fragment through a Caco-2 monolayer. Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology, 15, 313-317, 2005.
Taylor, PW & Sommer, AP. Towards rational treatment of bacterial infections during extended space travel. International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, 26, 183-187, 2005.
Hadjivassileva, T, Thurston, DE & Taylor, PW. Pyrrolobenzodiazepine dimers: novel sequence-selective, DNA-interactive, cross-linking agents with activity against Gram-positive bacteria. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 56, 513-518, 2005.
Mushtaq, N, Redpath, MB, Luzio, JP & Taylor, PW. Treatment of experimental Escherichia coli infection with recombinant bacteriophage-derived capsule depolymerase. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 56, 160-165, 2005.
Anderson, JC, Headley, C, Stapleton, PD & Taylor, PW. Asymmetric total synthesis of B-ring modified (-)-epicatechin gallate analogues and their modulation of beta-lactam resistance in Staphylococcus aureus. Tetrahedron 61, 7703-7711, 2005.
Anderson, JC, Headley, C, Stapleton, PD & Taylor, PW. Synthesis and antibacterial activity of a hydrolytically stable (-)-epicatechin gallate analogue for the modulation of beta-lactam resistance in Staphylococcus aureus. Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 15, 2633-2635, 2005.
Hitch, G, Pratten, J & Taylor, PW. Isolation of bacteriophages from the oral cavity. Letters in Applied Microbiology, 39, 215-219, 2004.
Stapleton, PD, Shah, S, Hamilton-Miller, JMT, Hara, Y, Nagaoka, Y, Kumagai, A, Uesato, S & Taylor, PW. Anti-Staphylococcus aureus activity and oxacillin resistance modulating capacity of 3-O-acyl-catechins. International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, 24, 374-380, 2004.
Seidel, V & Taylor, PW. In vitro activity of extracts and constituents of Pelargonium against rapidly growing mycobacteria. International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, 23, 613-619, 2004.
Stapleton, PD, Shah, S, Anderson, EC, Hara, Y, Hamilton-Miller, JMT & Taylor, PW. Modulation of beta-lactam resistance in Staphylococcus aureus by catechins and gallates. International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, 23, 462-467, 2004.
Mushtaq, N, Redpath, MB, Luzio, JP & Taylor, PW. Prevention and cure of Escherichia coli K1 systemic infection by modification of bacterial phenotype. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 48, 1503-1508, 2004.
Taylor, PW. Antimycobacterial activity of indigenous South African plants. South African Medical Journal, 93, 904-907, 2003.
Taylor, PW, Stapleton, PD & Luzio, JP. New ways to treat bacterial infections. Drug Discovery Today, 7, 1086-1091, 2002.
Stapleton, PD & Taylor, PW. Methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus: mechanisms and modulation. Science Progress, 85, 57-72, 2002.
Leggate, DR, Bryant, JM, Redpath, MB, Head, D, Taylor, PW & Luzio, JP. Expression, mutagenesis and kinetic analysis of recombinant K1E endosialidase to define the site of proteolytic processing and the requirement for a specific aspartate residue in catalysis. Molecular Microbiology, 44, 749-760, 2002.
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