Dr. Jack Dunkle, assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, has received a grant from the National Institutes of Health to study antibiotic resistance in collaboration with researchers at Spring Hill College in Mobile, AL.  Antibiotic resistance is a major concern as many of the commonly used antibiotic drugs become ineffective and bacteria evolve that are resistant to all available treatments.  The team will study the erythromycin resistance methyltransferase enzyme, which is one process by which bacteria become resistant to antibiotics. By understanding the mechanism for this enzyme, Dr. Dunkle and his team hope to be able to identify potential targets for drugs to combat antibiotic resistance.  UA Press Release