Our faculty member Assoc. Dr. Mehmet ÖZBİL's TÜBİTAK 1001 Project Has Been Accepted

Our faculty member Assoc. Dr. Mehmet Özbil's TÜBİTAK 1001 project titled "Discovery of candidate drug molecules targeting iron uptake pathways of N. meningitidis bacteria against meningitis by virtual scanning with pharmacophore model" was accepted. In the project, iron uptake pathways of N. meningitidis bacteria will be studied. Although bacterial meningitis is an important disease today, mortality rates are quite high, especially in children, and broad-spectrum antibiotic drugs currently used are not specific to N. meningitidis, which is the main bacterium causing meningitis and antibiotic-resistant. Therefore, there is a need for the discovery of drugs that will target only N. meningitidis and have fewer side effects. With this research project, the triple protein complex structure of the iron pathway, whose three-dimensional structure has not been clarified before, will be modeled and its balanced structure will be revealed by MD simulations. Candidate drug molecules will be revealed by virtual scanning method with pharmafocor model and MD simulations, which will be formed from protein interface interactions by using two different protein complex structures that make up the iron uptake pathway of bacteria. The project is unique in that it uncovers new candidate drug molecules specific to N. meningitidis bacteria that will simultaneously inhibit both iron uptake pathways. With the successful achievement of this goal, the first step will be taken for a domestic drug effective against meningitis to take place in the world pharmaceutical market.