I used the techniques of DNA extraction, gene cloning, mutation, DNA sequencing and others necessary for gene-engineering to provide basic insights into the functions and structures of bacterial enzymes. I have cloned several protease enzymes from Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and the expressed enzymes were purified and characterized. I have determined their substrate specificity and some of their physicochemical properties. I discovered that one enzyme couldn’t be inhibited by the substrate that normally inhibits the activity of the proteases, while the rest of enzymes showed strong substrate inhibition phenomenon. The data I obtained should be useful to understand the details of substrate binding of some proteases, which may be a drug target for some pathogens.
I have a practical knowledge of a set of bioinformatics tools used for protein modeling, structure based drug design and molecular docking.
I had a practical research in identification of bacteria using different biochemical tests; also, I had a good experience in identification of some microorganisms from soil and selection of some strains which may produce more useful antibiotics.
I have determined the potency of antibiotics in pharmaceutical dosage forms using microbiological analysis in comparison to chemical analysis. The results obtained showed that there was no significant difference between the two methods of assay; and the microbiological assay was satisfactory for the assay of drug in its pharmaceutical dosage form.
