We then demonstrated that OXA-23, the beta-lactamase that confers resistance, is itself an outer-membrane lipoprotein. Inhibiting lipoprotein trafficking via LolF thus also causes over-accumulation of OXA-23 to the inner membrane, which exaggerates these inhibitor’s antibiotic properties.

To understand this unique effect, we used a photoaffinity probe of this HTS hit to assign the Lol complex as the protein target of this compound! Resistance selection, Lol overexpression, and CRISPR studies also confirm lipoprotein trafficking as the major MOA.

Also, an awesome collaborative paper I worked on during my PhD is now published in PNAS!

www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

Our collaborators discovered a small molecule that is a BETTER antibiotic against beta-lactam resistant bacteria than beta-lactam sensitive ones. We wanted to understand why.

ATL Roller Derby Pride match! Highly recommend checking out if there’s a team near you :)

nice turnout in ATL!

My PhD Defense is tomorrow!! If you’re interested in hearing about some soon-to-be published work on the discovery and synthesis of new gram-negative antibiotic compounds with a unique mechanism of action, DM for a zoom link!

My first time at the Atlanta symphony, it’s absolutely packed!!!

Absolutely killer defense celebration today. Congrats DR German Vargas-Cuebas!!!

Another one from a JACS SI: