BME Seminar Series—Antibiotic and Antiviral Design: From Molecular Mechanisms to Translational Biomedical Research

Oscar Juarez an associate professor in biology at Illinois Tech, and he will be presenting his lab’s research about antibiotic and antiviral design. 

This seminar is open to the public. 

Abstract

Over the last few months, it has become evident that the availability of effective antibiotics and antivirals is essential for the operation of the health care system—and for virtually every human activity, from politics and the economy to education, arts, and even scientific endeavors. In our lab, we are using rationally designed strategies to develop antibiotics and antivirals by identifying optimal molecular targets in bacteria or viruses; studying the structures and mechanisms of these molecules, to pinpoint steps or motifs that can be inhibited; developing chemicals or biochemicals to target these structures and steps; and test these therapeutical agents in human cells. Through this strategy we have developed two novel antibiotic families that can be used against human bacterial pathogens that produce cholera, sexually transmitted infections and hospital-acquired multi-drug resistant diseases. In addition, we are developing CROWNase, an engineered biological agent to treat COVID-19.

Biography

Oscar Juárez is an associate professor in the Department of Biology at Illinois Tech. He earned his Ph.D. in biochemistry and his M.D. in general surgery at the National University of Mexico. His B.S. degree in biology is also from the National University of Mexico.