About
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As I had previously noted, this regulation, if implemented, would have disastrous consequences on our ability to develop innovative technologies that…
As I had previously noted, this regulation, if implemented, would have disastrous consequences on our ability to develop innovative technologies that…
Liked by Shahila M Christie
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It was an honor to join partner Portal Innovations, LLC advisory session in Chicago this week. Kudos to the team for creating value for the Chicago…
It was an honor to join partner Portal Innovations, LLC advisory session in Chicago this week. Kudos to the team for creating value for the Chicago…
Liked by Shahila M Christie
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☀ Time for late summer WIB-Chicago highlights! We generally reserve this time of year for fun, relaxed networking opportunities. We reflect on the…
☀ Time for late summer WIB-Chicago highlights! We generally reserve this time of year for fun, relaxed networking opportunities. We reflect on the…
Liked by Shahila M Christie
Experience & Education
Volunteer Experience
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Vice President - Chicago Chapter
Women In Bio - Engage. Educate. Empower.
- 1 year
Involved in furthering the mission of Women in Bio, an organization of professionals committed to promoting careers, leadership, and entrepreneurship of women in the life sciences.
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Vice-Chair, Membership Committee, WIB-National
Women In Bio - Engage. Educate. Empower.
- 1 year
Involved in furthering the mission of Women in Life Sciences which is to promote careers, leadership, and entrepreneurship of women. Specifically involved in overseeing the membership teams of the various Women in Bio Chapters nationwide.
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Mentor
MATTER
- Present 5 years
Assist and mentor healthcare startups refine their scientific and business strategies to move their technologies along the path towards commercialization.
Publications
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Structural and biological evaluation of a novel series of benzimidazole inhibitors of Francisella tularensis enoyl-ACP reductase (FabI).
Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters (Elsevier)
Francisella tularensis, the causative agent of tularemia, presents a significant biological threat and is a Category A priority pathogen due to its potential for weaponization. The bacterial FASII pathway is a viable target for the development of novel antibacterial agents treating Gram-negative infections. Here we report the advancement of a promising series of benzimidazole FabI (enoyl-ACP reductase) inhibitors to a second-generation using a systematic, structure-guided lead optimization…
Francisella tularensis, the causative agent of tularemia, presents a significant biological threat and is a Category A priority pathogen due to its potential for weaponization. The bacterial FASII pathway is a viable target for the development of novel antibacterial agents treating Gram-negative infections. Here we report the advancement of a promising series of benzimidazole FabI (enoyl-ACP reductase) inhibitors to a second-generation using a systematic, structure-guided lead optimization strategy, and the determination of several co-crystal structures that confirm the binding mode of designed inhibitors. These compounds display an improved low nanomolar enzymatic activity as well as promising low microgram/mL antibacterial activity against both F. tularensis and Staphylococcus aureus and its methicillin-resistant strain (MRSA). The improvements in activity accompanying structural modifications lead to a better understanding of the relationship between the chemical structure and biological activity that encompasses both enzymatic and whole-cell activity.
Other authorsSee publication -
A novel combinatorial biocatalytic approach for producing antibacterial compounds effective against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB)
Applied microbiology and biotechnology
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Special Challenges to the Rational Design of Antibacterial Agents
Annual Reports in Medicinal Chemistry / Academic Press / Elsevier
The rational design of pharmaceutical agents with activity against bacterial targets presents several unique challenges due to the significant differences in the target bacterial cells and the eukaryotic cells of their mammalian hosts. The structural features and cellular components commonly targeted in drug design programs are often unique to bacteria. While this provides an excellent opportunity in terms of selectivity and decreased toxicities, there are also special factors that must be…
The rational design of pharmaceutical agents with activity against bacterial targets presents several unique challenges due to the significant differences in the target bacterial cells and the eukaryotic cells of their mammalian hosts. The structural features and cellular components commonly targeted in drug design programs are often unique to bacteria. While this provides an excellent opportunity in terms of selectivity and decreased toxicities, there are also special factors that must be considered, including distribution to the target, bacterial cell penetration, efflux, metabolism and elimination, and the rapid emergence of bacterial resistance. These factors can play a key role in the design of compounds intended for use against bacterial targets and the application of traditional and nontraditional screening strategies aimed at identifying such compounds. This report discusses these special issues pertaining to antibacterial drug discovery, presents practical approaches to overcoming these challenges, and highlights some recent examples of their application.
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Structural and Enzymatic Analyses Reveal the Binding Mode of a Novel Series of Francisella tularensis Enoyl Reductase (FabI) Inhibitors
Journal of Medicinal Chemistry
Due to structural and mechanistic differences between eukaryotic and prokaryotic fatty acid synthesis enzymes, the bacterial pathway, FAS-II, is an attractive target for the design of antimicrobial agents. We have previously reported the identification of a novel series of benzimidazole compounds with particularly good antibacterial effect against Francisella tularensis, a Category A biowarfare pathogen. Herein we report the crystal structure of the F. tularensis FabI enzyme in complex with our…
Due to structural and mechanistic differences between eukaryotic and prokaryotic fatty acid synthesis enzymes, the bacterial pathway, FAS-II, is an attractive target for the design of antimicrobial agents. We have previously reported the identification of a novel series of benzimidazole compounds with particularly good antibacterial effect against Francisella tularensis, a Category A biowarfare pathogen. Herein we report the crystal structure of the F. tularensis FabI enzyme in complex with our most active benzimidazole compound bound with NADH. The structure reveals that the benzimidazole compounds bind to the substrate site in a unique conformation that is distinct from the binding motif of other known FabI inhibitors. Detailed inhibition kinetics have confirmed that the compounds possess a novel inhibitory mechanism that is unique among known FabI inhibitors. These studies could have a strong impact on future antimicrobial design efforts and may reveal new avenues for the design of FAS-II active antibacterial compounds.
Other authorsSee publication
Honors & Awards
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Women in Bio Founder's Professional Development Scholarship
Women in Bio
Languages
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English
Full professional proficiency
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Hindi
Professional working proficiency
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Kannada
Limited working proficiency
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Gujarati
Elementary proficiency
Organizations
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Women In Bio
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- Present -
American Chemical Society
Member
- Present -
American Society for Microbiology
Member
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More activity by Shahila
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Exciting news! In tomorrow’s episode of LRTU, we welcome Steven Lehmann and Jeremy Langsam from Portal Innovations, LLC. They’ll share their insights…
Exciting news! In tomorrow’s episode of LRTU, we welcome Steven Lehmann and Jeremy Langsam from Portal Innovations, LLC. They’ll share their insights…
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Phew - Seattle Tech week was totally intense and I'm just starting to get back on my feet! Apart from attending a plethora of panel discussions and…
Phew - Seattle Tech week was totally intense and I'm just starting to get back on my feet! Apart from attending a plethora of panel discussions and…
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Discover the power of #AI in #drugdiscovery: faster candidate identification, reduced lab costs, and accelerated timelines, all made possible by…
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I am thrilled to share that I have been selected for @digitalundivided’s BREAKTHROUGH Atlanta program, sponsored by JPMorgan Chase & Co.! Designed…
I am thrilled to share that I have been selected for @digitalundivided’s BREAKTHROUGH Atlanta program, sponsored by JPMorgan Chase & Co.! Designed…
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Proud to announce that our team at the Polsky Center at the University of Chicago is partnering with Portal Innovations, LLC to launch the “UChicago…
Proud to announce that our team at the Polsky Center at the University of Chicago is partnering with Portal Innovations, LLC to launch the “UChicago…
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We had a full house today at #CoMotionLabs Startup Hall for Ascend Venture Capital's "Valley VCs 💗 Seattle Startups. Featured were panelists…
We had a full house today at #CoMotionLabs Startup Hall for Ascend Venture Capital's "Valley VCs 💗 Seattle Startups. Featured were panelists…
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In case you missed it, here's our official press release on our partnership with the Polsky Center at the University of Chicago for their new Hyde…
In case you missed it, here's our official press release on our partnership with the Polsky Center at the University of Chicago for their new Hyde…
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