ACADEMICS

  • Wei-Chu Xu

    Contact Information
    Office ST-410 R
    508-929-8294
    weichu.xu@worcester.edu 

    Education
    B.S., Suzhou University, Suzhou, China
    M.S., Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Ph.D., Chinese Academy of Sciences

  • Courses Taught
    • CH120 & CH121 - General Chemistry Lab
    • CH201, CH202, CH203, CH204 - Organic Chemistry Lecture & Lab
    • BI980 - Drug Discovery & Development, from lab to pharmacy
    • CH350 - Medicinal Chemistry: the organic chemistry of drug design and drug action
    Research
    Publications
    1. Synthesis and Absolute Configuration Assignment of 9-Hydroxyrisperidone Enantiomers Wei-Chu Xu, George E Wright, M. Yanachkova,  I. Yanachkova  Letter in Organic Chemistry 2014, 11, 470-473.
    2. A Novel Agent Effective Against Clostridium difficile Infection       S. Dvoskin, Wei-Chu Xu, N. C. Brown, I. Yanachkov, M. Yanachkova, G.E.Wright  Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 2012, 56 (3), 1624-6.
    3. Clostridium difficile DNA Polymerase IIIC: Basis for Activity of Antibacterial Compounds  A. Torti, A. Lossani, L. Savi, F. Focher, G.E.Wright, N.C.Brown, Wei-Chu Xu Current Enzyme Inhibition 2011, 7, 147-153.
    4. 7-Alkyl-N2-substituted-3-deazaguanines. Synthesis, DNA polymerase III inhibition and antibacterial activity  Wei-Chu Xu, G.E.Wright, N.C.Brown; Z.Long, C.Zhi, S.Dvoskin, J.Gambino, M.barnes, M.Butler Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters 2011, 21, 4197-4202.
    5. Inhibitors of C. difficile DNA polymerase IIIC – mechanism, antimicrobial activity,  and anti Cdiff  activity in vivo. S. Dvoskin, N.C. Brown, Wei-Chu Xu, F. Focher, and G.E. Wright,  Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 2010.
    6. Clostridium difficile DNA polymerase IIIC: cloning, purification and analysis of specific inhibitors Andrea Torti, Andrea Lossani, Federico Focher, Wei-Chu Xu, Sofya Dvoskin, Joseph J. Gambino, Neal C. Brown and George E. Wright    “Evolving DNA Polymerases: Chemistry meets Biology”, Monte Verita, Switzerland, May 9-14, 2010
    7. Prodrug Delivery of AU-FQ Antibacterial Compounds G.E.Wright, S.Dvoskin, M.Yanachkova, Wei-chu Xu, I.B.Yanachkov, E.Dix, N.C. Brown, M.M.Butler, L.Kustigian, T.Bowlin, Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 2007, F1-2111.
    8. Novel Inhibitors of Bacterial DNA Polymerase IIIC  M.M.Butler, S.C. Cardinale, M.H.Barnes,J.J.Gambino, Wei-chu Xu, G.E.Wright,T.L.Bowlin Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 2005. F-1875.
    9. Hybrid Antibacterials. DNA Polymerase-Topoisomerase Inhibitors  C.Zhi, Z.Long, A. Manikowski, J.Comstock, Wei-chu Xu, N.C.Brown, P.M.Tarantino, Jr., K.A.Holm, E.J.Dix, G.E.Wright, M.H.Barnes, M.M.Butler, S.Lamothe, I.Motorina and R. Storer, J. Med. Chem.2006, 49, 1455-1465.
    10. Active Site Directed Inhibitors of Replication-specific Bacterial DNA Polymerases  G.E. Wright, N.C. Brown, Wei-Chu Xu, Z. Long, C. Zhi, J.J. Gambino, M.H. Barnes and M.M. Butler Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 2005, 15, 729-32.
    11. Synthesis of Substituted 6-Anilinouracils and Their Inhibition of DNA Polymerase IIIC and Gram-positive Bacterial Growth, C. Zhi, Z. Long, J. Gambino, Wei-Chu Xu, N.C. Brown, M.H. Barnes, M.M. Butler, W. LaMarr, and G.E. Wright  Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2003, 13, 2731.
    12. Novel Protein Kinase C Inhibitors: Synthesis and PKC Inhibition of b-Substituted Polythiophene Derivatives Wei-Chu Xu, Qin Zhou, Curtis L. Ashendel, Ching-te Chang, Ching-jer Chang Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters 1999, 9, 2279.
    13. Discovery and Development of Antitumor Agents From Medicinal Plants Ching-jer Chang, Curtis L. Ashendel, T.C.K. Chan, Robert, L. Geahlen, Jerry L. Mclaughlin, David J. Waters, Wei-Chu Xu  Proceedings of International Symposium on Natural Products Sciences, Sept. 10, 1999, Seoul, Korea, pages 3-12.
    14. B,B-Dihaloterpenylboranes as Reagents for the Diastereo- and Enantioselective Synthesis of syn-Aldols.  P.V. Ramachandran, Wei-Chu Xu, H.C. Brown Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 1997, 8, 1379.
    15. B,B-Dihaloalkylboranes as Efficient Reagents for the Stereoselective Synthesis of syn-Aldols.  P.V. Ramachandran, Wei-Chu Xu, H.C. Brown    Tetrahedron Letters 1997, 38, 769.
    16. The Synthesis of the C(8)-C(13) Fragment of the Natural Occurring Sex Pheromone of Matsucoccus matsumurae Japanese Pine Bast Scale. Guo-Qiang Lin, Wei-Chu Xu, Ying Guo   Chinese J. Org. Chem. 1997, 17, 145. (see also CA 126:305473s)
    17. Contrasting Steric Effects of the Ketones and Aldehydes in the Reactions of the Diisopinocampheyl Enolborinates of Methyl Ketones with Aldehydes. P.V.Ramachandran, Wei-Chu Xu, H.C. Brown    Tetrahedron Lett. 1996, 37, 4911.
    18. Enzymatic Synthesis of (2E, 4E)-(6R,10R)-4,6,10,12-Tetramethyl-2,4-tridecadien-7-one, the Sex Pheromone of Matsucoccus matsumurae Japanese Pine Bast Scale. Guo-Qiang Lin, Wei-Chu Xu Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, 1996, 4, 375.
    19. A Convergent and Stereoselective Synthesis of the Sex Pheromone Component for Macrocentrus grandii.  Guo-Qiang Lin, Wei-Chu Xu   Tetrahedron, 1996, 52, 5907.
    20. Lipase Catalyzed Acetylation of meso-2,4-Dimethyl-1,5-pentanediol and the Synthesis of Prelog-Djerassi Lactone.   Guo-Qiang Lin, Wei-Chu Xu   Chinese J. of Chemistry, 1995, 13, 380. (see also CA 123:256376q)
    21. Synthesis and Bioassay of All Four Stereoisomers of (2E,4E)-(6R,10R)-4,6,10,12-Tetramethyl-2,4-tridecadien-7-one, the Assignment of the Absolute Configuration of the Sex Pheromone of Matsucoccus matsumurae Japanese Pine Bast Scale.  Guo-Qiang Lin, Wei-Chu Xu, Yun-Tai Qi, Guo-Min Chen   Chinese J. of Chemistry,中国化学 1995, 13, 85. (see also CA 122:265067w)
    22. Attractive Activity of Optical Isomers of the Sex Pheromone of Matsucoccus matsumurae(Kuwana).  Yun-Tai Qi, Guo-Min Chen, Guo-Qiang Lin, Wei-Chu Xu    Acta Entomologica Sinica, 昆虫学报1994, 37, 393.
    23. Enantioselective Synthesis of All Four Stereoisomers of (2E, 4E)-4,6,10,12-Tetramethyl-2,4-trideca dien-7-one, the Sex Pheromone of Matsucoccus Pine Bast Scale. Guo-Qiang Lin, Wei-Chu Xu    Tetrahedron Lett. 1993, 34, 5931.
    24. Antibacterial Efficacy of Novel Anilinouracil/Fluoroquinolone Hybrids Interscience Conference of Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy July, 2003 Chicago, USA
    25. A Simple One-Pot Asymmetric Enolboration-Aldolization-Reduction Procedure for the Synthesis of Anti-1,3-diols in Very High Enantiomeric Excess. P.V. Ramachandran, Wei-Chu Xu, Zhi-Hui Lu, H.C. Brown    213th ACS National Meeting, San Francisco, CA April 13-17, 1997; Abstract part 2,  Orgn 651.
    26. An Examination of the Effects of Alkyl group, Leaving Group, Amines, Solvents And Other Parameters on the Stereoselective Enolboration and Aldolization of Ketones with Various RBX2 Reagents. P.V. Ramachandran, Wei-Chu Xu, H.C. Brown 213th ACS National Meeting, San Francisco, CA April 13-17, 1997; Abstract part 2,  Orgn 609.
    27. The Effects of the Steric Requirements of Ketones and Aldehydes in the Aldol Reactions of Diisopinocampheyl Enolborinates. Wei-Chu Xu, P.V.Ramachandran, H.C. Brown    29thGreat Lakes Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Normal, IL May 19-22, 1996; Abstract 117.
    Honors and Grants
    1. Solid state synthesis and applications of oligo(phenylene-ethynes)
      SBIR Program under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
      Award Number: 1R43GM093694-01 National Institute of General Medical Sciences,
      07/01/2010 - 06/30/2011; Amount: $191,458
    2. A soft topical antiandrogenic drug
      Award Number: 1R43AR063503-01A1 National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
      09/01/2013-08/31/2014; Amount: $237,357
    3. Synthesis of N7-alkylated purine, an intermediate for anti-clostridium difficile drug discovery
      Worcester State University Summer Undergraduate Research grant 06/01-2017-08/15/2017
    4. Synthesis and evaluation of the metabolites GLS362E, an anti-clostridium difficile lead compound
      Worcester State University Faculty Mini-Grant 07/2017-06/2018
    5. Synthesis of thielavin derivatives as antimicrobial compounds for disease treatment. WSU Aisiku Interdisciplinary STEM Research Team Initiative Grant, with Dr. Kerr (Chemistry) and Dr. Greenwell (Biology), 12/2017-5/2019
    6. Synthesis of Novel Depsides as Gram-positive and Gram-negative Antibacterials
      Worcester State University Summer Undergraduate Research grant 06/01-2018~08/15/2018
    7. Syntheses and Purification of C. Diff Drug Metabolites
      WSU Aisiku Summer Undergraduate Student Research Fellowship
    Invited Lectures
    1. Discovery and Development of GLS362E, an anti-Cdiff drug, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburg, 3/23/2018
    Poster Presentations
    1. Synthesis and evaluation of the metabolites of GLS362E, an anti-Clostridium difficile lead compound. Antonia Marashio, Bryan Urbina, Kim Anh Vu, Renata Lima, Weichu Xu 4/18/2018 WSU Celebration of Scholarship and Creativity
    2. Synthesis of Depside Derivatives as Antimicrobial Compounds for Disease Treatment Renata Lima, Antonia Marashio, Bryan Urbina, Weichu Xu 4/18/2018 WSU Celebration of Scholarship and Creativity