Prof. Dr. Christian Ducho is a Full Professor of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry at Saarland University, affiliated with the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology and the Department of Pharmaceutical Science. His research group is based in Building C2.3 on the Saarbrücken campus, focusing on the design and synthesis of novel anti-infective agents through interdisciplinary chemical and biochemical approaches. Research Interests: The group specializes in functional natural product chemistry, particularly the synthesis and biosynthesis of nucleoside antibiotics and intermediates involved in bacterial cell wall biosynthesis. Another major focus is the modification and functionalization of nucleic acids as potential therapeutic agents, including backbone engineering and delivery strategies. These efforts integrate synthetic organic chemistry with analytical and biochemical techniques. Publication Trends: Recent publications highlight collaborative work on inhibitors targeting key bacterial enzymes such as MurA and metallo-β-lactamases, novel antivirulence strategies like collagenase inhibition, and innovative drug delivery systems such as muraymycin-siderophore conjugates. These reflect a strong emphasis on combating antibiotic resistance through both traditional and alternative antimicrobial mechanisms. Scientific Awards: Poster Award for Pierre Junghanns at the International Roundtable on Nucleosides, Nucleotides and Nucleic Acids, Stockholm, Sweden Advising and Grants: While specific students and funding sources are not detailed, the active publication record in high-impact journals (e.g., J. Med. Chem., J. Am. Chem. Soc., Chem. Eur. J.) indicates a robust research program supported by grants and collaborative projects. The group engages in extensive interdisciplinary collaborations with research teams across Europe. Labs and Teams: The Ducho group operates within the Pharmaceutical and Medical Chemistry division at Saarland University, maintaining a collaborative and interdisciplinary research environment focused on drug discovery and development. The team regularly contributes to international conferences and joint publications, demonstrating strong integration into the global pharmaceutical sciences community.
