Research led by Dr. Nilesh Banavali and colleagues at the Wadsworth Center has been selected for the cover of the journal Biochemistry. The featured paper examines how medically important antibacterial drugs interact with the ribosomes of Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. Using a novel computational approach, the research team predicted detailed three-dimensional structures and binding affinities for multiple antibacterials targeting the bacterial ribosome’s small subunit. These findings provide a framework for the rational design of next-generation antibacterial therapies that retain or improve activity against specific pathogens while minimizing unintended effects on human cells and the human microbiome.
Selection for the journal cover reflects the broad importance of this work and its potential relevance to efforts addressing antibiotic resistance and infectious diseases. The research also highlights New York State’s leadership in developing innovative approaches for Lyme disease and other bacterial infections.