University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus · ChemistryBacterial Lipid Transport and Resistance Lab
Helen I Zgurskaya · Norman, Oklahoma
Research Focus
Dr. Helen Zgurskaya's lab focuses on understanding how certain bacteria, particularly those that cause serious infections like tuberculosis and gram-negative pathogens, transport lipids and drugs in their cells. By studying unique proteins and their structures, the lab aims to uncover mechanisms behind bacterial resistance to antibiotics and to develop new therapeutic approaches. The research combines diverse disciplines, including biochemistry, microbiology, and machine learning, to provide insights that can lead to the discovery of novel antibiotics.
Mycobacterium tuberculosisdrug transportantibiotic resistanceMmpL proteinsGram-negative bacteriamachine learninglipid transportefflux pumpsantimicrobial discovery
Research Aims
5AIM 01Characterize the transport activities of MmpL transporters in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
AIM 02Reconstitute and study the functions of MmpL protein complexes.
AIM 03Define the structures of MmpL transporters and their protein partners.
AIM 04Develop predictive models for antibiotic permeation across Gram-negative bacterial membranes.
AIM 05Establish relationships between RND transporter properties and biological activity.
Skills the Lab Values
protein purificationmolecular cloningcell culturecryoelectron microscopynanodisk reconstitutionx-ray crystallographyWestern blotPCRbioinformaticsmachine learning technique development
Output against the department
Publications198bottom 47% of dept.114th of 216
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations9.4ktop 49% of dept.106th of 216
this lab
most citedleast cited
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