SINGLE-MOLECULE SENSING THROUGH AN ENGINEERED BIOLOGICAL NANOPORE Nanopore sensors are a new technology hailed for their single-molecule sensing abilities, having thus far been used to sequence nucleic acids, detect proteins and test drug efficacy. My Masters thesis focused on the investigation of biological nanopores for use as diagnostic devices. This project demanded numerous rounds of protein purification as well as the generation and in-depth analysis of nanopore data in order to confirm the use of specific pores as single-molecule sensors able to detect cancer biomarkers. I also had the privilege of publishing a review during my studies, entitled "Beta-barrel nanopores as diagnostic sensors: an engineering perspective" which can be found at: https://doi.org/10.3390/bios14070345INVESTIGATING THE SUBSTRATE CATALYSIS OF FREE AND ENCAPSULATED DYE-DECOLOURISING PEROXIDASEThe study of nanocompartments offers new and exciting opportunities for biotechnological applications, such as in vaccine design and targeted delivery of both organic and inorganic therapeutic agents. My honours project centred around understanding how substrates enter the encapsulin nanocompartment found in Mycobacterium tuberculosis; a protein cage that 'encapsulates' a dye-decolourising peroxidase.I employed protein expression and purification techniques and enzyme activity assays in order to understand how 28 substrates were catalysed by encapsulated and un-encapsulated dye-decolourising peroxidase.UNDERSTANDING THE IMMUNE RESPONSE TO LEISHMANIA MAJOR L. major is the causative agent of leishmaniasis, a little-known but devastating disease transmitted to humans through the bite of phlebotomus sand flies. My third year project focused on understanding the differing immune responses to L. major and their impact on disease outcome.I used a variety of biochemical assay techniques, such as PCR, ELISA and DNA purification techniques to understand immune regulation in mouse models.