Episode 56: Fighting Antibiotic Resistance with LC-MS: Targeting Bacterial Cell Walls #chromatography #massspec

In this episode of Concentrating on Chromatography, host Dave Oliva sits down with Chris Reid to explore how chemical biology and LC-MS are being used to tackle one of the most urgent global challenges: antimicrobial resistance.As antibiotic resistance continues to rise—and new drug development struggles to keep pace—researchers are looking beyond traditional approaches. Instead of targeting how bacteria build their cell walls, Chris’s work focuses on how they break them down, opening the door to entirely new antimicrobial strategies.--- 🔬 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:* Why antimicrobial resistance is accelerating globally* What peptidoglycan is and why it’s essential to bacterial survival* How targeting cell wall degradation differs from traditional antibiotics* The strategy behind designing small molecule probes and inhibitors* How LC-MS is used to analyze peptidoglycan fragments and enzyme activity* Key analytical challenges: complex mixtures, low-abundance species, and structural similarity* The importance of sample preparation and reproducibility in LC-MS workflows* How this research could lead to new antibiotic targets--- ⚗️ LC-MS in FocusThis episode dives deep into how LC-MS enables:* Detection of peptidoglycan fragment profiles* Analysis of cross-linking patterns via retention time and mass* Identification of structural changes using tandem mass spectrometryChris also shares practical insights on:* Sample prep challenges with insoluble biomaterials* Common pitfalls in LC-MS workflows* How to ensure consistent, reproducible data--- 🚀 Why This MattersWith bacteria rapidly evolving resistance to existing drugs, the need for new antimicrobial strategies has never been greater. This research highlights how combining chemistry, biology, and analytical science can uncover entirely new ways to fight infection.--- 🎧 About the Show @ChromatographyTalk  explores the intersection of analytical chemistry, sample preparation, and real-world applications across research and industry.--- 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on:* LC-MS & chromatography* Sample preparation strategies* Real-world analytical workflows* Emerging applications in life sciences--- 🧠 Key Takeaway “We’re rapidly running out of tools in our arsenal to combat resistant organisms.”