Through their collaboration with Brookhaven National Laboratory’s (BNL) SPARK Program, Eastport-South Manor Jr.-Sr. High School research students visited the National Synchrotron Light Source II at BNL to collect X-ray diffraction data on the protein beta lactamase.
The protein beta lactamase is an enzyme that digests penicillin-based antibiotics and is a major cause of antibiotic resistance in bacteria. Students are studying the beta lactamase from several species of bacteria that cause infections in humans. The student researchers plan to analyze the structure and publish this information, to help scientists develop alternative antimicrobial treatments.
The students worked with beamline scientists Dr. Kevin Battaile and Dr. Vivian Stojanoff. Due to a collaboration with SPARK program, the district has worked on research at BNL since 2017.