Grant: Canada Research Chairs

Dr. Eltiss research has made major advances in understanding and harnessing the bacterial degradation of steroids and aromatic compounds, including lignin. This degradation is essential to the global carbon cycle and therefore to the health of the biosphere. Moreover, it is a rich source of biocatalysts for developing sustainable industrial processes. In Mycobacterium tuberculosis, cholesterol degradation has recently emerged as a potential drug target. Dr. Eltiss research will contribute to: paradigm-shifting insights into bacterial degradation, including the enzymes involved; urgently needed novel therapeutics for treating tuberculosis; and innovative biocatalysts and platforms to transform forest biomass into high-value products.