We investigate bacterial enzymes like MraY and WecA involved in cell wall biosynthesis to identify and develop novel antibacterial agents through structural, biochemical, and synthetic approaches.

We identified MenA inhibitors targeting menaquinone biosynthesis that kill drug-resistant and non-replicating M. tuberculosis at low MICs, show selectivity across Mycobacterium species, and reduce C. difficile spore viability, making them promising leads for novel antibacterial therapies.

We identified pleuromutilin analogues and a novel molecule with potent in vivo and in vitro activity against MDR and colistin-resistant Gram-negative pathogens, including K. pneumoniae and A. baumannii, and are currently investigating their mechanisms and molecular targets.

We identified WecA-derived DPAGT1 inhibitors that enhance anticancer drug efficacy and selectively inhibit cancer cell lines, including metastatic pancreatic cancer in vivo, without significant toxicity to healthy cells, using a counter-selection assay to ensure selectivity over the human DPAGT1 homologue.

We achieved total synthesis of a natural product that induces apoptosis in apoptosis-resistant cancer cells like AsPC-1, validating its potential through in vitro and ex vivo assays as a promising anticancer agent.