Theses/Dissertations - Chemistry & Biochemistry
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Browsing Theses/Dissertations - Chemistry & Biochemistry by Subject "Aptamers."
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Item Characterization of the metallo-ß-lactamase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, IMP-1.(2014-06-11) Solida, Nicole R.; Kim, Sung-Kun, 1968-; Chemistry and Biochemistry.; Baylor University. Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry.The rate at which pathogenic bacteria are gaining antibiotic resistance has become increasingly alarming. Major contributors of this antibiotic resistance in microbes are a class of enzymes known as β-lactamases. These enzymes are effective in breaking down the most commonly prescribed antibiotics at present. This work investigates two separate metallo-β-lactamase enzymes, first IMP-1, which provides antibiotic resistance to Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and second Bla2, which grants antibiotic resistance to Bacillus anthracis. The main focus of this work was to investigate and characterize IMP-1 according to its activity and stability in temperature and pH. This was done in an effort to increase the general knowledge for potential inhibitors to be designed. The secondary focus of this work was to examine the ability of novel hydroxamate compounds to inhibit the growth of bacterial cells expressing Bla2. In addition to this work, aptamers were investigated as a potential means of future inhibitor design.Item Selection of aptamers against live E.coli cells using Cell SELEX.(2011-01-05T19:45:04Z) Shipley, Sheena.; Kim, Sung-Kun, 1968-; Chemistry and Biochemistry.; Baylor University. Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry.Aptamers are oligonucleotides that bind with great specificity and affinity to a target molecule. These oligonucleotides are produced through the course of Systemic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment (SELEX). SELEX is a combinatorial chemistry technique used to generate a random DNA or RNA library, which is then incubated with a target molecule. The binding aptamers are divided from the nonbinding random pool DNA/aptamers, and then amplified via polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Double stranded DNA molecules have been used to select against purified target molecules; in this study we have developed a selection technique using live Escherichia coli cells as a target and using Bacillus subtilis and Enterobacter aerogenes as negative controls. Aptamer pools obtained from approximately 8 rounds of Cell SELEX demonstrated an affinity for E .coli cells when tested via fluorescence detection.