CHEM305L

(Advanced Biochemistry: the biochemistry of tuberculosis) Tuberculosis remains one of the top 10 most deadly infectious diseases worldwide. There is an immense need for new tuberculosis antibiotics to fight drug-resistant tuberculosis and shorten treatment times. New tools in biochemistry and molecular biology raise the possibility of designing and developing new antibiotics. Through the primary literature and review articles, students explore existing antituberculosis antibiotics and their mechanisms of action. Students utilize new biochemistry techniques including protein purification, enzyme activity assays, protein structure prediction, and virtual ligand screening. Students test antibiotic drugs or antibiotic candidates for their mechanisms of action. Class meet once per week for four hours and be a mix of lecture, journal clubs, presentations, lab experiments, and a final paper. Prerequisite/Corequisite: CHEM 300 or permission of instructor