Daniel P. Flaherty
Assistant Professor
Medicinal Chemistry/Molecular Pharmacology
Purdue University
United States of America
Biography
Dr. Daniel P. Flaherty, is employed as an Assistant Professor of Department of Medicinal Chemistry/Molecular Pharmacology at Purdue University. He received his PhD from University of Nebraska Medical Center (Mentor: Jonathan Vennerstrom). His research interests include: to study the structure-activity relationship of this compound as it pertains to antimicrobial activity. We have been able to synthesize and test 84 analogs to improve activity versus a panel of Gram-positive pathogens and M. tuberculosis from 16 μg/mL to 1 μg/mL. We have also shown that these compounds are active against membrane compromised and efflux pump deficient strains of Gram-negative species. Through microarray and bioassay data we have been able to show that terfenadine and it's analogs are novel bacterial topoisomerase inhibitors, an area of active research in the pharmaceutical industry. The project will continue to focus on improving potency versus Gram-positive species and MTb while modulating physicochemical properties to reduce known hERG liabilities.
Research Interest
Cognitive and affective abnormalities in psychopathology
Publications
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Flaherty DP, Miller JR, Garshott DM, Hedrock M, Gosalia P, et al. (2014) Discovery and development of selective activators targeting the apoptotic CHOP pathway of the unfolded protein response. ACS Med. Chem. Lett 5: 1278 - 1283.
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Perlmutter JI, Forbes LT, Krysan DJ, Ebsworth-Mojica E, Flaherty DP, et al. (2014) Repurposing the antihistamine terfenadine for antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. J. Med. Chem 57: 8540 – 8562.
