PhD Student
University of Florida
Multiplexed-analysis of polar antibiotics presents a challenge for efficient and specific quantification with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). I am developing novel and efficient LC-MS/MS assays for different antibiotics, β-lactamase inhibitors, and antivirals, including their active metabolites. These assays present a cornerstone of novel mechanistic insights on the penetration of the antibiotic to their bacterial (e.g. periplasmic or intracellular) target site and thereby greatly benefit our lab’s NIH/NIAID R01 AI136803 on “Combating resistant superbugs by understanding the molecular determinants of target site penetration and binding” (PI Bulitta).