Sortase A Inhibition Assay

Novel Antibiotic Drug Discovery – Whatcom Community College collaboration with Prof. John Antos, Western Washington University.
This project is a collaboration with Prof. John Antos’ group at Western Washington University. Many compounds WCC students are studying were synthesized by students in the Organic Chemistry class at WWU and now small numbers are coming from WCC. This project involves studying the structure activity relationship of compounds (chalcones and chalcone-like molecules) in their ability to inhibit bacterial sortase activity. Sortases are a family of enzymes that anchor proteins to the bacterial cell wall. Inhibition of these enzymes is a mechanism being explored for developing novel antibiotics. Antibiotic resistance is a growing threat to the health of human populations. Identifying novel classes of antibiotics as well as novel targets for antibiotic treatment is critical to alleviating the mortality and morbidity arising from the increasing number infections from antibiotic resistant bacteria.