REFORM Nation wants taxes on the ultra-wealthy as
WOMEN’S RAGE WORKS Distinguished
MEN’S BASKETBALL Knights win third game in
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inequality continues to rise
writers wrestle with the uses of resentment and anger SEE INSIDE BEAT, PAGE 8
a row in rematch of Big Ten tournament
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RUTGERS UNIVERSITY—NEW BRUNSWICK
THURSDAY JANUARY 31, 2019
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Rutgers student goes viral on Instagram CATHERINE NGUYEN STAFF WRITER
Julia Van Etten was first inspired to photograph her microorganism samples under a microscope by her marine biology classes in college, in which she would collect different types of plankton and observe them. JULIA VAN ETTEN
U. scientists work with international partners to solve enzyme mystery ANNIE KIM CONTRIBUTING WRITER
In an international collaboration with universities in Poland, Russia and England, Rutgers scientists solved a 30-year mystery of a specific enzyme’s molecular machinery in producing an important antibody, which is a key protein used by the immune system to fight off bacteria. Enzymes are a type of protein, and their primary role is to speed up
chemical reactions within the body. Konstantin Severinov, a principal investigator at the Waksman Institute of Microbiology and professor of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry at Rutgers—New Brunswick, studied the enzyme called McbBCD, whose job is to produce an antibody called microcin B, which is specifically deadly against E. coli bacteria. The research team was able to understand both the production and complicated chemical structure of
microcin B by decoding the three-dimensional structure of the enzyme. This discovery of how the enzyme functions enables scientists to now provide different adaptations of the antibody, which will also help to further research on new antibodies in the future. “Antibiotic resistance is becoming a major problem and, if unchecked, it may throw us back to pre-antibiotic era when people were dying from what is now considered easily curable conditions,” Severinov said.
Julia Van Etten, a graduate student in the Department of Ecology Evolution and Natural Resources, has always been interested in the unusual. Van Etten has recently gone viral due to her Instagram page, @couch_ microscopy, which shows close-up photographs of different microorganisms found in bodies of water. The account has garnered more than 18,000 followers within a year and a half. “I was just taking some photos, and thought they were pretty cool ... I don’t know, I just made it one day,” she said. “I didn’t think anyone was going to follow me other than my
This discovery is important because it reduces the progression of microbial resistance to antibiotics. He said a way to overcome the problem is to look for new antibiotics, but ones that are different from the ones currently in use because bacteria have already acquired resistance to them. Severinov, alongside an international team, traced the enzyme’s molecular machinery to understand how the antibody was being produced. After understanding the production, they were able to naturally control the production to create synthetic derivatives, or man-made imitations, of the natural antibody to increase its potency. Though the discovery is significant, it will most likely not be used in clinical trials. While the understanding of
friends, and then people just started following me. It was insane.” She started the Instagram page out of boredom when she was stuck at home and recovering from Lyme disease. Though she majored in marine biology, Van Etten has always been artistic, so she spent her time painting at home before moving on to something else. Inspired by her marine biology classes in college, in which she would collect different types of plankton for observation under a microscope, Van Etten decided to purchase a microscope to use in her home. She then collected water SEE STUDENT ON PAGE 5
the antibody helps in the production of synthetic versions of it, Severinov said there was also the potential possibility that one of the newfound derivatives will not react as anticipated. As a result, antibacterial molecules such as microcin B are unlikely to make it to market production due to strict regulations and requirements. He said the discovery was still important in uncovering the secret to the production of natural antibodies. “But this work must be done for out of an effort of hundreds of labs, ever y once in a while you get a hit that becomes a real drug. In fact, the stor y of Rutgers’ Selman Waksman shows this well,” he said.
Konstantin Severinov, a principle investigator at the Waksman Institute of Microbiology and professor of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry at Rutgers—New Brunswick, will be able to provide different adaptations of the enzyme McbBCD. RUTGERS.EDU VOLUME 150, ISSUE 128 • UNIVERSITY ... 3 • OPINIONS ... 6 • INSIDE BEAT... 10 • DIVERSIONS ... 11 • SPORTS ... BACK