Undergraduate researcher develops novel antibiotic

The work done by faculty researchers within the College of Science goes beyond studies and innovation. They also dedicate a great deal of time to their students—supporting research goals and mentoring those ready to make their mark. Undergraduate researcher Mosufa Zainab experienced this dedication first-hand in the lab of associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry, Robin Couch.

Zainab’s time as an undergraduate researcher served, she said, as one of the most gratifying experiences of her academic career. “As a student, learning about biochemical changes in living organisms was like entering into a new universe, full of adventures and discoveries. However, that sense of discovery was confined to the space of the classroom and comprised solely of the facts in textbooks. Research has allowed me to experience science in its truest form—where facts are in the phase of discovery,” Zainab said.

For her Undergraduate Research Scholars Program 2018 project, she worked in the Couch Lab at the Institute of Advanced Biomedical Research. Her project focused on the development of novel antibiotics targeting the non-mevalonate pathway (MEP), seeking to combat the growing threat of antibiotic resistant pathogens. Today, antibiotic resistance has become a leading cause of death and disease worldwide. Each year, drug-resistant bacteria infect at least two million people within the United States alone. Of those documented cases, approximately 23,000 prove to be fatal. If left unchecked, antibiotic resistant pathogens pose a catastrophic threat to the human population.

“Throughout my time spent in the Couch lab, I learned a lot about the research process. The effort to develop novel antibiotics is a daunting task, and yet is absolutely necessary to halt the growing threat of infection from antibiotic resistant bacteria. While I realize there is still a great deal of work to be done, I feel honored to play a small part in moving the scientific community forward and helping in the design of a new class of antibiotics.” Zainab said.

This experience exemplifies one of the many opportunities available to undergraduates interested in research.

To read Zainab’s blog, visit:http://studentsasscholarsgmu.blogspot.com/2018/10/oscar-student-mosufa-zainab-studies.html