2024 KTU Session 2

February 24, 2024

Where do antibiotics come from and how do they work?

An Interactive Session led by Dr. Pablo Sobrado

Professor, Associate Department Head, Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech

Pablo Sobrado is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry. He received his PhD in Biochemistry and Biophysics from Texas A&M University. He did a short postdoctoral training at the University of Chile before moving to the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Wisconsin, Madison where he was an American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellow. The research in his lab focuses on determining the chemical mechanism, 3D-structure, and the identification of inhibitors of flavin-dependent enzymes involved in a) breakdown of environmental pollutants and b) nutrient intake in pathogenic fungi, c) antibiotic resistance, and d) plant metabolism. 

Enzymes are machines that perform chemical reactions in all living organisms. During this session, we will learn about the function of these wonderful machines in processes like antibiotic discovery and resistance, and application in biotechnology. In particular, we will learn how scientists who study enzymes, enzymologists, perform their work here at Virginia Tech. We will learn the role that enzymology plays in drug development and in the biotechnology industry.