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David L. Williams, PhD

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David L. Williams, PhD

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Associate Professor, Department of Microbial Pathogens and Immunity

Rush Medical College

Associate Professor, Department of Microbial Pathogens and Immunity

Contact Information

Address: Cohn Building - 1735 W. Harrison St., Suite 616
Chicago, IL 60612
Phone:
(312) 942-1375
Email:
david_williams@rush.edu

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Research Profile

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PhD, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign
Postdoc, Institute Pasteur de Lille
Postdoc, Cornell University, NYSAES
BS, Cornell University
David L. Williams, PhD, has more than 20 years of experience studying the biochemistry and molecular biology of schistosome parasites, with extensive experience with both in vitro and in vivo methods. He has made numerous important contributions, including the identification of the worm’s major redox enzymes, the central importance and essential nature of thioredoxin glutathione reductase (TGR) in worm redox biochemistry and the worm’s dependence on peroxiredoxins for H2O2 neutralization.

He conducted the first high-throughput screen against a parasite drug target and identified oxadiazole-2-oxides as potential schistosomicidal compounds. He has contributed to the basic understanding of the catalytic mechanisms and structures of flavoenzymes and peroxiredoxins. Williams has pioneered studies on a novel protein, phytochelatin synthase, involved in detoxification of xenobiotics and heavy metals in parasitic worms. He has also initiated studies on an uncharacterized cytochrome P450 protein in the worm.
Current Funding
R21AI115208-01A1 NIH/NIAID Williams (PI)
“Deorphanization of Schistosome Cytochrome P450”
The goals of this project are to define the function of CYP450 in schistosomes, to expand the miconazole series of CYP450 inhibitors, and to develop a photoactivatable probe.

1R21AI127635-01 NIH/NIAID Williams, Petukhov, Thatcher (co-PIs)
“Identification of preclinical drug candidates for the treatment of schistosomiasis”
The research will exploit differences in redox defenses between schistosome worms and humans to discover and optimize small molecule inhibitors to selectively disrupt worm redox for new treatments for schistosomiasis.

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