Trefan Archibald '05 prepares enzymes for an experiment. Trefan is on the research team of David Bollivar in the biology department.

Basic Research Aims for Eventual Impact on Cystic Fibrosis

July 2, 2004

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — The research being conducted this summer by David Bollivar, associate professor of biology at Illinois Wesleyan, may one day have significance in the fight against cystic fibrosis, a life-threatening genetic disorder that causes severe lung damage and nutritional deficiencies.

Bollivar and the undergraduate student researchers are exploring an enzyme called porphobillnogen synthase (PBGS). One of the interesting aspects of PBGS is its sensitivity to lead.

"The absence of the active PBGS enzyme appears to contribute to the symptoms of lead poisoning," said Bollivar, who is particularly interested in studying the enzyme in two related species of bacteria, Rhodobacter capsulatus and Rhodobacter sphaeroides.

Although Bollivar acknowledges that most of his research does not lead directly to cures or treatments for human conditions, he adds that this does not minimize the important contributions of such basic research. "This research can have an impact on our understanding of biological processes that may ultimately lead to improvements in our lives," he said.

Eventually, Bollivar would like to use what he uncovers about the PBGS enzyme in bacteria to fight cystic fibrosis. "I plan to work with the PBGS enzyme from a human pathogen called Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an organism that is a significant cause of death in cystic fibrosis patients," Bollivar said.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is difficult to treat because it is resistant to many common antibiotics. Added Bollivar: "The hope is that a drug can be developed that would block the PBGS in the bacterium."