PhD Study Tackles Infectious Diseases

BY: .

‘It is a great achievement and I am feeling very happy. My future aspiration is to become a successful researcher,’ said Dr Babita Kushwaha on graduating with a PhD in Pharmaceutical Chemistry.

Supervised by Professor Rajshekhar Karpoormath, her study was titled, Design, Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Linezolid Derivatives as Potential Anti-tubercular and Antimicrobial Agents.

‘Infectious diseases (via microbial infections) have challenged humankind for centuries and account for many deaths around the world due to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance. Resistance to anti-tubercular drugs has worsened an already bad situation. My study thus aimed to identify linezolid-like molecules as potential antimicrobial and anti-tubercular agents,’ she explained.

Kushwaha said that, while she encountered a number of challenges during the study, she was able to overcome them and succeed with hard work and her supervisor’s assistance.

Words: Nombuso Dlamini

Photograph: Supplied