Des Field

Des Field obtained his B.Sc in Microbiology from University College Cork in 2003. He received a Doctorate in Molecular Microbiology in 2008, also from University College Cork. Dr Field's research within APC Spoke 1 (Microbes to Molecules) primarily focuses on the distinct class of antimicrobial peptides or bacteriocins (antimicrobial agents produced by bacteria that kill other bacteria) known as lantibiotics. Lantibiotics are peptides that are distinguished by the presence of unusual amino acids and have become the focus of much biomedical and pharmaceutical research due to their high potency in vitro, numerous modes of action and capacity to destroy target cells rapidly.