Mark L. Nelson

Last updated
Mark L. Nelson
Born1960
NationalityAmerican
EducationBachelor of Science (BS), Chemistry and Microbiology, Ph.D, Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology
Alma mater Tufts University
Gannon University
Occupation(s)Chemist and inventor
Years active1990-present
Known forDrug Discovery, medicinal chemistry
SpouseJanice Badger Nelson
Children1
AwardsACS Heroes of Chemistry Award - 2019, Fulbright Lectureship Fellow, Cairo, Egypt, 1996, Distinguished Alumni Award, 2003 Gannon University
Websitealtoris.com

Mark L. Nelson (born 1960) is an American chemist specializing in the field of antibiotics and tetracyclines. His synthesis techniques have resulted in over 40 patents and he conceived and synthesized with Mohamed Ismail along with Laura Honeyman and Kwasi Ohemeng, the tetracycline antibiotic Omadacycline (Nuzyra), the first of the Aminomethylcycline subclass of tetracyclines to reach medical use. [1] Nuzyra is useful against resistant bacteria and used for severe cases of skin infections, ABSSSIs, Community Acquired Pneumonia (CABP) and nontuberculosis mycobacteria. Nuzyra also has demonstrated activity against Anthrax, and was purchased by the US government under a BARDA contract for Project Bio-shield to treat anthrax exposure ( Bacillus anthracis ), and is now in the Strategic National Stockpile in the US in case of a bioterrorism attack. Nuzyra was also approved for use against the Plague, caused by Yersinia pestis infections.

Contents

Career

Nelson is the Vice President of Chemistry and Business Development for Altoris, Inc., in San Diego, California, and uses cheminformatics tools to manufacture and supply chemicals and reagents for all fields of science to their customers worldwide. Altoris creates computational software for drug and chemical discovery, and works with pharmaceutical companies, academics and governmental agencies providing chemical design consultation and the production of screening collections for structure based drug design and pharmaceutical development. Their software, Chem Apps SARVision is used worldwide to study chemical compounds, their biological activity, and uses artificial intelligence and AI-machine language methods to study large chemical data sets and collections of molecules of medical importance.

Research

His current research is directed at modulating alpha-proteobacteria and related mitochondria and their signaling processes, and new compounds are in pre-clinical studies affecting activated immune cells showing promise against the secondary effects of stroke, hypoxia and neurodegeneration, in studies funded by the Department of Defense, with Marc Halterman, Chief of Neurology at SUNY Stonybrook, The Renaissance School of Medicine.

Other tetracycline compounds that are non-antibiotic compounds effective against mitochondrial processes are being studied with Johan Auwerx at EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland, and Andrew Dillin at the University of California, Berkeley. These compounds promote mitochondrial health and fitness, affect immune cell activation, increasing tolerance of the immune system to infectious diseases and promoting mitohormesis, longevity and survival rates in mammals affected by viral, parasitic and bacterial disease states.

In agriculture and with the USDA and the Citrus Research Development Foundation his research has led to series of compounds active against Huanglongbing, known as Citrus Greening, an infectious disease in citrus caused by this invasive species of alpha-proteobacteria that has devastated the Florida citrus industry, and compounds from his labs completed field studies showing potent activity in sparing citrus trees from this pathogen also known as Liberibacter asiaticus (Candidatus).

In the field of archaeobiology Nelson is first author of Mass spectroscopic characterization of tetracycline in the skeletal remains of an ancient population from Sudanese Nubia 350–550 CE, [2] [3] published in 2010, which reported that ancient civilizations were producing antibiotics and used them to treat diseases. His work used anhydrous hydrogen fluoride to dissolve mummy bones found in Nubia followed by mass spectroscopic characterization. This research was chronicled in the documentary "How Beer Saved the World" produced by the Discovery Channel. [4] [5] [6] [7]

He also is known for his scientific research into the non-antibiotic uses of the tetracyclines and for his work on the history of the compounds. [8]

Awards

Nelson received a Fulbright Lectureship Fellow Award, Cairo, Egypt, for his research into antibiotic resistance mechanisms, the Distinguished Alumni Award in Science at Gannon University (2003) and more recently he received the 2019 American Chemistry Society Heroes of Chemistry award [9] for his synthetic and biological work leading to Nuzyra and Seysara, which were approved by the FDA in October 2018 for use as antibiotics in health and medicine.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antibiotic</span> Antimicrobial substance active against bacteria

An antibiotic is a type of antimicrobial substance active against bacteria. It is the most important type of antibacterial agent for fighting bacterial infections, and antibiotic medications are widely used in the treatment and prevention of such infections. They may either kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria. A limited number of antibiotics also possess antiprotozoal activity. Antibiotics are not effective against viruses such as the ones which cause the common cold or influenza; drugs which inhibit growth of viruses are termed antiviral drugs or antivirals rather than antibiotics. They are also not effective against fungi; drugs which inhibit growth of fungi are called antifungal drugs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Louis Pasteur</span> French chemist, pharmacist and microbiologist (1822–1895)

Louis Pasteur was a French chemist, pharmacist, and microbiologist renowned for his discoveries of the principles of vaccination, microbial fermentation, and pasteurization, the last of which was named after him. His research in chemistry led to remarkable breakthroughs in the understanding of the causes and preventions of diseases, which laid down the foundations of hygiene, public health and much of modern medicine. Pasteur's works are credited with saving millions of lives through the developments of vaccines for rabies and anthrax. He is regarded as one of the founders of modern bacteriology and has been honored as the "father of bacteriology" and the "father of microbiology".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Ehrlich</span> German physician and scientist (1854–1915)

Paul Ehrlich was a Nobel Prize-winning German physician and scientist who worked in the fields of hematology, immunology and antimicrobial chemotherapy. Among his foremost achievements were finding a cure for syphilis in 1909 and inventing the precursor technique to Gram staining bacteria. The methods he developed for staining tissue made it possible to distinguish between different types of blood cells, which led to the ability to diagnose numerous blood diseases.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tetracycline</span> Antibiotic used to treat a number of infections

Tetracycline, sold under various brand names, is an oral antibiotic in the tetracyclines family of medications, used to treat a number of infections, including acne, cholera, brucellosis, plague, malaria, and syphilis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthrax</span> Infection caused by Bacillus anthracis bacteria

Anthrax is an infection caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Infection typically occurs by contact with the skin, inhalation, or intestinal absorption. Symptom onset occurs between one day and more than two months after the infection is contracted. The skin form presents with a small blister with surrounding swelling that often turns into a painless ulcer with a black center. The inhalation form presents with fever, chest pain, and shortness of breath. The intestinal form presents with diarrhea, abdominal pains, nausea, and vomiting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minocycline</span> Antibiotic medication

Minocycline, sold under the brand name Minocin among others, is a tetracycline antibiotic medication used to treat a number of bacterial infections such as some occurring in certain forms of pneumonia. It is generally less preferred than the tetracycline doxycycline. Minocycline is also used for the treatment of acne and rheumatoid arthritis. It is taken by mouth or applied to the skin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oxytetracycline</span> Antibiotic

Oxytetracycline is a broad-spectrum tetracycline antibiotic, the second of the group to be discovered.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gannon University</span> Private university in Erie, Pennsylvania, U.S.

Gannon University is a private Catholic university with campuses in Erie, Pennsylvania, and Ruskin, Florida. Established in 1925, Gannon University enrolls approximately 4,600 undergraduate and graduate students annually and has over 47,000 alumni. Its intercollegiate athletics include 18 athletic programs for men and women competing at the NCAA Division II level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doxycycline</span> Tetracycline-class antibiotic

Doxycycline is a broad-spectrum antibiotic of the tetracycline class used in the treatment of infections caused by bacteria and certain parasites. It is used to treat bacterial pneumonia, acne, chlamydia infections, Lyme disease, cholera, typhus, and syphilis. It is also used to prevent malaria. Doxycycline may be taken by mouth or by injection into a vein.

Semisynthesis, or partial chemical synthesis, is a type of chemical synthesis that uses chemical compounds isolated from natural sources as the starting materials to produce novel compounds with distinct chemical and medicinal properties. The novel compounds generally have a high molecular weight or a complex molecular structure, more so than those produced by total synthesis from simple starting materials. Semisynthesis is a means of preparing many medicines more cheaply than by total synthesis since fewer chemical steps are necessary.

An antimicrobial is an agent that kills microorganisms (microbicide) or stops their growth. Antimicrobial medicines can be grouped according to the microorganisms they act primarily against. For example, antibiotics are used against bacteria, and antifungals are used against fungi. They can also be classified according to their function. The use of antimicrobial medicines to treat infection is known as antimicrobial chemotherapy, while the use of antimicrobial medicines to prevent infection is known as antimicrobial prophylaxis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demeclocycline</span> Chemical compound

Demeclocycline is a tetracycline antibiotic which was derived from a mutant strain of Streptomyces aureofaciens.

On 2 April 1979, spores of Bacillus anthracis were accidentally released from a Soviet military research facility in the city of Sverdlovsk, Soviet Union. The ensuing outbreak of the disease resulted in the deaths of at least 68 people, although the exact number of victims remains unknown. The cause of the outbreak was denied for years by the Soviet authorities, which blamed the deaths on consumption of tainted meat from the area, and subcutaneous exposure due to butchers handling the tainted meat. The accident was the first major indication in the Western world that the Soviet Union had embarked upon an offensive programme aimed at the development and large-scale production of biological weapons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tetracycline antibiotics</span> Type of broad-spectrum antibiotic

Tetracyclines are a group of broad-spectrum antibiotic compounds that have a common basic structure and are either isolated directly from several species of Streptomyces bacteria or produced semi-synthetically from those isolated compounds. Tetracycline molecules comprise a linear fused tetracyclic nucleus to which a variety of functional groups are attached. Tetracyclines are named after their four ("tetra-") hydrocarbon rings ("-cycl-") derivation ("-ine"). They are defined as a subclass of polyketides, having an octahydrotetracene-2-carboxamide skeleton and are known as derivatives of polycyclic naphthacene carboxamide. While all tetracyclines have a common structure, they differ from each other by the presence of chloro, methyl, and hydroxyl groups. These modifications do not change their broad antibacterial activity, but do affect pharmacological properties such as half-life and binding to proteins in serum.

Lloyd Hillyard Conover was an American chemist and the inventor of tetracycline. For this invention, he was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Conover was the first to make an antibiotic by chemically modifying a naturally produced drug. He had close to 300 patents to his name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anaplasmosis</span> Medical condition

Anaplasmosis is a tick-borne disease affecting ruminants, dogs, and horses, and is caused by Anaplasma bacteria. Anaplasmosis is an infectious but not contagious disease. Anaplasmosis can be transmitted through mechanical and biological vector processes. Anaplasmosis can also be referred to as "yellow bag" or "yellow fever" because the infected animal can develop a jaundiced look. Other signs of infection include weight loss, diarrhea, paleness of the skin, aggressive behavior, and high fever.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority</span> Government organization in Washington D.C., United States

The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA)' is a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) office responsible for the procurement and development of medical countermeasures, principally against bioterrorism, including chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threats, as well as pandemic influenza and emerging diseases. BARDA was established in 2006 through the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) and reports to the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR). The office manages Project BioShield, which funds the research, development and stockpiling of vaccines and treatments that the government could use during public health emergencies such as chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear (CBRN) attacks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kingdom of Kush</span> Ancient kingdom in Nubia, Africa

The Kingdom of Kush, also known as the Kushite Empire, or simply Kush, was an ancient kingdom in Nubia, centered along the Nile Valley in what is now northern Sudan and southern Egypt.

George J. Armelagos was an American anthropologist, and Goodrich C. White Professor of Anthropology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Armelagos significantly impacted the field of physical anthropology and biological anthropology. His work has provided invaluable contributions to the theoretical and methodological understanding human disease, diet and human variation within an evolutionary context. Relevant topics include epidemiology, paleopathology, paleodemography, bioarchaeology, evolutionary medicine, and the social interpretations of race, among others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Omadacycline</span> Chemical compound

Omadacycline, sold under the brand name Nuzyra, is a broad spectrum antibiotic medication belonging to the aminomethylcycline subclass of tetracycline antibiotics. In the United States, it was approved in October 2018, for the treatment of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia and acute skin and skin structure infections.

References

  1. "Structure-Activity Relationship of the Aminomethylcyclines and the Discovery of Omadacycline". Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. Retrieved 2016-01-26.
  2. Willingham, Emily (27 March 2011). "Ancient Nubians might have brewed beer for antibiotics". Earth & Sky. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  3. "Antibiotics 1700 Years Ago - In Beer!". Science 2.0. 3 April 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  4. "Ancient brew masters tapped antibiotic secrets". ScienceDaily. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  5. McNally, Jess. "Ancient Nubians Made Antibiotic Beer". WIRED. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  6. Clark, Carol. "Ancient brewmasters tapped drug secrets". Emory University. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  7. Parry, Wynne (9 September 2010). "Ancient African Cocktail: Beer and a Shot of Antibiotic". Live Science. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  8. Nelson, Mark; Levy, Stuart (1 December 2011). "The history of the tetracyclines" . Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  9. "Gannon University Alumni & Friends". www.gannon.edu. Retrieved 2023-11-30.