AbstractsMedical & Health Science

Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial disease treated with antibiotics. But because of the prevalence, nature, and lengthy treatment of the disease, TB is in need of new antibiotics. But, big pharma companies, who have historically been responsible for developing many of the world’s critical antibiotic agents, have significantly decreased investment in antibiotic research and development (R&D). Many sectors are devoted to addressing this issue including non-profit, commercial, government, and academia. Specifically in academia and regards to TB, Regis University has pursued research in the identification of inhibitors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis class IIa fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase (MtFBA), an essential enzyme in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. If successful, these inhibitors could serve as potential scaffolds for future therapeutic agents to combat TB. The antibiotic funding problem cannot be tackled without significant cooperation and collaboration. The issue should be addressed with increased collaboration between small biotech companies and big pharma, increased publicity for bacterial diseases, reevaluation of clinical trials, and inspiring the next generation of chemists to simply do science. Advisors/Committee Members: Ahrendt, Kateri.