Novel Detection Techniques and Drugs to Tackle Antimicrobial Resistance

The third research stream integrates two complementary efforts: systematic drug repurposing to suppress pneumococcal virulence and a new collaborative initiative with Dr. Nagarjun Narayanaswamy, Transdisciplinary program to develop advanced DNA aptamer-based diagnostic tools to differentiate 100 serotypes of S. pneumoniae. The drug-repurposing project screens FDA-approved or clinically investigated compounds to identify small molecules that disrupt key virulence pathways rather than total bacterial killing. By focusing on molecules that interfere with adaptation, toxin activity, or other disease-critical mechanisms, the lab aims to develop anti-virulence interventions that avoid the selective pressure associated with traditional antibiotics. Because many of the screened compounds already have established safety and pharmacokinetic profiles, promising candidates can advance more rapidly through preclinical evaluation. This strategy combines speed, safety, and mechanistic precision, offering an efficient route to new therapeutics against pneumococcal disease.