Exploring carbohydrates for infection - a new hope

Title : Exploring carbohydrates for infection - a new hope

Abstract:

In the search for new antibiotics with new mechanisms of action to overcome bacterial antibiotic resistance, we present our results based on sugar-based bactericides targeting membrane lipid polymorphism.  The mode of action involves membrane permeabilization by local induction of inverted hexagonal phases. The sugar structure is key for the bactericidal activity and for preventing bacteria resistance as cell envelope ultrastructures cannot easily change without substantial loss of function.

Biography:

Prof. Dr. Amelia Pilar Rauter graduated in Chemical Engineering at the Universidade Técnica de Lisboa. Started her academic career as Vertragsassistent of the Technische Universitaet Graz in Austria, and received her Ph.D. in 1982. After one more year, she obtained a position as Lecturer of the Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, pursuing her academic career in this University. She is Full Professor of Organic Chemistry (retired in July 2020), the President of IUPAC Division of Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, the President of the International Carbohydrate Organisation and the Secretary of the European Carbohydrate Organisation. She is the founder of the Portuguese Society of Chemistry Carbohydrate Group, and the founder and leader of the CQE Carbohydrate Chemistry Group at Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa (FCUL). She has more than 400 publications (web of science), h = 48.