His current research is directed at modulating
alpha-proteobacteria and related mitochondria and their signaling processes, and new compounds are in pre-clinical studies affecting activated immune cells showing promise against the secondary effects of
stroke,
hypoxia and
neurodegeneration, in studies funded by the
Department of Defense, with Marc Halterman, PhD, MD. Other
tetracycline compounds that are non-antibiotic compounds effective against
mitochondrial processes are being studied with
Johan Auwerx at EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland, and
Andrew Dillin at the
University of California, Berkeley. In agriculture and with the
USDA and the Citrus Research Development Foundation his research has led to series of compounds active against
Huanglongbing, known as Citrus Greening, an infectious disease in citrus caused by this invasive species of alpha-proteobacteria that has devastated the Florida citrus industry, and compounds from his labs completed field studies showing potent activity in sparing citrus trees from this
pathogen also known as
Liberibacter asiaticus (
Candidatus). In the field of
archaeobiology Nelson is first author of
Mass spectroscopic characterization of tetracycline in the skeletal remains of an ancient population from Sudanese Nubia 350–550 CE, published in 2010, which reported that ancient civilizations were producing antibiotics and used them to treat diseases. His work used anhydrous
hydrogen fluoride to dissolve mummy bones found in Nubia followed by mass spectroscopic characterization. This research was chronicled in the documentary "How Beer Saved the World" produced by the
Discovery Channel. He also is known for his scientific research into the non-antibiotic uses of the
tetracyclines and for his work on the history of the compounds and in
chemoinformatics, drug design innovation and chemical discovery. His team synthesized over 3,000 new derivatives, ultimately leading to the discovery of novel third-generation tetracycline compounds, including omadacycline and sarecycline. Nuzyra is useful against resistant
bacteria and used for severe cases of skin infections,
ABSSSIs,
Community Acquired Pneumonia (CABP) and nontuberculosis mycobacteria. Nuzyra also has demonstrated activity against
Anthrax, and was purchased by the US government under a
BARDA contract for Project Bio-shield to treat
anthrax exposure (
Bacillus anthracis), and is now in the
Strategic National Stockpile in the US in case of a
bioterrorism attack. Nuzyra was also approved for use against
the Plague, caused by
Yersinia pestis infections. == Awards ==