Our research focuses on developing new therapeutic strategies for multidrug-resistant infections. We are currently investigating antimicrobial and adjuvant drug candidates for infections caused by vancomycin-resistant bacteria and azole-resistant fungi. Our recent studies have shown that disulfiram and its structural analogs lower the MIC of vancomycin, thereby enhancing bacterial susceptibility to this first-line antibiotic used in MRSA infections. Mechanistic studies indicate that disulfiram inhibits central glucose metabolism, which may interfere with the cellular processes underlying vancomycin resistance. In Candida species, disulfiram exhibits fungicidal activity and demonstrates synergism with copper through a fungistatic mechanism. Structural analogs containing the (dithioperoxo)thiolate core were also found to possess enhanced antifungal activity against azole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida auris.
Highlights of our research publications from various lab projects are presented below.
Projects in the lab have been supported by NIH-NIAID, NASA-EPSCoR, WVCTSI, and Marshall University Schools of Pharmacy and Medicine.
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