New research seeks to prevent the spread of Foot and Mouth Disease and the devastating effects an outbreak would bring to the livestock industry.
Stefan Sarafianos, assistant professor of molecular microbiology and immunology at the University of Missouri-Columbia, is advancing Missouri's agriculture.
While his work focuses on unraveling the molecular details of how enzymes function and how to inhibit their functions in relation to human disease, his research has recently found promising outcomes in fighting Foot and Mouth Disease.
Using X-ray crystallography, he has identified the structure of the enzyme which causes the disease and has designed a compound that works to inhibit the virus from reproducing.
LEARN MORE:
Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology
New Discoveries Make it Harder for HIV to Hide from Drugs
Reviewed 2013-01-24