Faculty Profile
Mark Hamann (Faculty Member is Retired, or has otherwise left the University)
Professor of Pharmacognosy
Phone Number: (662)915-5730
Email: mthamann@olemiss.edu
http://www.pharmacy.olemiss.edu/pharmacognosy/hamann.html
Key Words: NMR structure, synthesis, pharmacology, ecological roles and pharmaceutical utility of marine natural products, bacterial symbiosis on the production of clinically significant natural products
Research Description: Dr. Hamann's research group is actively involved in the isolation, structure assignment using NMR and synthesis of marine natural products with activity against cancer, malaria, tuberculosis and neurological disorders. Metabolites are isolated from a variety of sources including marine invertebrates, algae, bacteria and dinoflagellates. In addition to drug leads Dr. Hamann's group is involved in the characterization of molecules associated with harmful algal blooms and the role of symbiosis on the production of invertebrate secondary metabolites. NMR structure assignments are made utilizing two dimensional methods to assign gross, relative and absolute configuration. Molecular modeling is utilized extensively to assist with and validate NMR assignments and a combination of chemical and spectroscopic methods are utilized to solve relative and absolute configuration. A combination of synthesis and biosynthesis are utilized together to assemble and optimize complex, biologically active marine natural products. Some of the classes of marine natural products characterized can be generated effectively utilizing total synthesis however for many classes a combination of biosynthesis and chemical synthesis are essential to generate a product cost-effectively.
Honors Theses:
Dwyer, Madeline (2016) Biological Activity of Garcinia kola on Hepatitis C. (full text)
Dulaney, Kelli Louise (2013) "Rapamycin Drug Production by the Agricultural Pathogen Xylella fastidiosa "
Woodruff, Kully Lynn (2008) "Optimization Studies of the Important Drug Lead Kahalalide F which Acts on a Novel Cancer Target RPS25"
Available Research Projects:
Discovery of better treatments for the control of cancer and HCV
Project Description: The project involve the discovery and development of better treatments for cancer and HCV as well as other emerging infectious diseases. As a source material we are studying the bacteria and fungi that is symbiotic with plants and invertebrates.
Desired Student Qualifications: An interest in biomedical research with a major in biology, chemistry, engineering, pharmacy or related fields. Of greatest interest are students interested in completing their Honors Thesis on some aspect of the program.
Project Timeline: 2013-2018
Duties of Student Researcher: 1. Collect plants and marine algae/invertebrates. 2. Culture bacteria and fungi living inside the tissue of these species. 3. Assess the metabolites produced by these unusual organisms 4. Honors students will prepare a thesis and publish there results in an International Journal
Last Updated on 2013-10-25 08:50:38