This summer Dr. Shrestha accompanied by several Berea college student, conducted research on exploring the key interactions of ATP synthase using site-directed mutagenesis, chemical modifications, and a battery of functional assays that may inform future antibacterial drug development.
Research overview:
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are at least 2.8 million infections and 35,000 deaths per year in the USA alone caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and the WHO has estimated 10 million deaths worldwide by 2050. Over several years, bacteria responsible for common or severe infections have developed resistance to each new antibiotic coming to market. The success of the bedaquiline drug, which selectively inhibits the ATP synthase of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, has identified ATP synthase as an ideal target for the development of antibiotics. Additionally, the surge in drug-resistant bacterial infections necessitates the identification of novel drug target sites on ATP synthase. Therefore, I am interested in exploring the key interactions of ATP synthase using site-directed mutagenesis, chemical modifications, and a battery of functional assays that may inform future antibacterial drug development.
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