College: School of Pharmacy, University of Otago

Email: hwaji220@student.otago.ac.nz

Thesis title: Design and synthesis of novel Chlamydia drugs acting as inhibitors of the bacterial enzyme CtHtrA protease

Co-supervisors: Associate Professor Joel Tyndall (School of Pharmacy, University of Otago), Dr Allan Gamble (School of Pharmacy, University of Otago)

Project description:

Chlamydia trachomatis is one of the leading causative agents of sexually transmitted infections. Recent clinical evidence indicates emergence of antibiotic resistance with the current first-line chlamydial antibiotic treatments. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop novel anti-chlamydia drugs. I am working on structure-based drug design to target CtHtrA protein responsible for chlamydial replication, virulence and survival under stress conditions. I am also researching delivery of antibacterial compound using a polymeric nanoparticle drug delivery system (PLGA nanoparticles) prepared using a microfluidic approach.