Principal Investigator (PI)
The Foundation is providing £109,801 in support.
Curtis Engelhart
GSK provides in-kind contributions (including facilities and expertise from supporting scientists for HTS and access to the compounds library).
BirA is an enzyme that links the bio-molecule biotin to Mycobacterium cellular proteins and controls Mycobacterium tuberculosis lipid metabolism. Before coming to the Open Lab to advance his research in the anti-TB compound library, Curtis optimised a cellular high throughput assay at the University of Minnesota.
The project’s overarching objective is to identify lead compounds which are active on this target (BirA). To help confirm activity on this target, scientists at the University of Minnesota have developed Mycobacterium tuberculosis mutants endowed with different expression levels of the BirA gene: deletion, under-expression and over-expression. During his time at the Open Lab, in addition to biochemical assays based on isolated BirA enzyme, Curtis is using these mutants to run cellular assays that will allow him to remove false positives.
“The open Lab offers us the technical expertise and equipment necessary to perform the research for this project. We would not be able to carry out this research project in our own academic research lab. The Open Lab provides the necessary equipment, resources, and expertise for the work – but it also provides an invaluable atmosphere of support, a center that works to find new treatments to combat diseases of the developing world.” (Curtis Engelhart, Open Lab scientist)