Rui Liu
Assistant Research Professor
- Office
- 379 Stepan Chemistry
Notre Dame, IN 46556 - rliu3@nd.edu
Research Areas
- Biochemistry
Research Specialties
- Medicine
- Synthesis
Prospective Graduate Students
Biography
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2022-present | Assistant Research Professor, University of Notre Dame |
| 2017-2022 | Research Scientist, University of Notre Dame |
| 2013-2017 | Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Notre Dame |
| 2011-2012 | Assistant Investigator, Chinese Academy of Sciences |
| 2011 | Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry, Peking Union Medical College |
| 2007 | M.S. in Medicinal Chemistry, Soochow University |
| 2004 | B.S. in Pharmacy, Hebei University |
Selected Awards
2009 Outstanding Graduate of Peking Union Medical College
2008 Outstanding Master's Thesis, Soochow University
Research Interests
My research focuses on developing new synthetic methodology and incorporating it into the discovery of drugs that can treat various diseases caused by viruses, parasites, or bacteria. My most recent work focuses on a new agent discovered that is effective against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). Exploiting the iron sequestration processes of microorganisms, my research also includes development of novel siderophore drug conjugates (sideromycins) with activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, especially multi-drug resistant strains listed by the WHO as being of most concern.
Selected Publications
- Liu, R.; Miller, P. A. and Miller, M. J. "Antibiotic Repurposing: Conjugation of the Gram-Positive Only Peptide Antibiotic Bacitracin to a Bis-Catechol Siderophore Mimetic Imparts Potent Activity Against Multi-Drug Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii" 2026 ACS Infectious Diseases, 12 (4), pp.1254–1259. DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.5c00943.
- Lacasse, E.; Binette, R.; Guibout, H.; Liu, R.; Lin, Y. M.; Ghosh, M.; Boudreault, P. L.; Miller, M. J. and Malouin, F. "Unraveling the Mechanisms Behind the Enhanced Efficacy of β-Lactam-Based Sideromycins" 2025 Communications Biology, 8 (1), 1535. DOI: 10.1038/s42003-025-08898-9.
- Yano, M.; Lawson-Rulli, J. M.; Coates, R. M.; Heldring, J.; Miller, M. J. and Liu, R. "Improved in Vitro Potency of Clofazimine Derivatives Against Neisseria Species" 2024 European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry Reports, 11, 100147. DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmcr.2024.100147.
- Liu, R.; Marshall, K.; Ma, R.; Pham, K.; Shetye, G.; Liu, Z. H.; Cho, S. Y.; Jeong, H.; Franzblau, S. G.; Moraski, G. C. and Miller, M. J. "Syntheses and Studies of Deuterated Imdiazo[1,2-a]Pyridine-3-Carboxamides with Potent Anti-Tuberculosis Activity and Improved Metabolic Properties" 2022 Bioorganic Chemistry, 128, 106074. DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2022.106074.
- Liu, R.; Miller, P. A. and Miller, M. J. "Conjugation of Aztreonam, a Synthetic Monocyclic Beta-Lactam Antibiotic, to a Siderophore Mimetic significantly Expands Activity Against Gram-Negative Bacteria" 2021 ACS Infectious Diseases, 7 (11), pp.2979-2986. DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.1c00458.
- Miller, M. J. and Liu, R. "Design and Syntheses of New Antibiotics Inspired by Nature's Quest for Iron in an Oxidative Climate" 2021 Accounts of Chemical Research, 54 (7), pp.1646-1661. DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.1c00004.