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Published on: January 7, 2022
Rationally designed small compounds inhibit pilus biogenesis in uropathogenic bacteria
Jerome S Pinkner1, Han Remaut, Floris Buelens
1Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
New pilicides effectively inhibit the assembly of adhesive pili in Gram-negative pathogens like E. coli, reducing virulence factors by 90%. This discovery offers a promising strategy for developing novel anti-virulence drugs.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Drug Discovery
- Structural Biology
Background:
- Adhesive pili are crucial virulence factors in Gram-negative pathogens, assembled via the chaperone-usher pathway.
- Inhibiting pilus biogenesis is a potential anti-virulence strategy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and evaluate a novel chemical platform, pilicides, targeting chaperone-usher pathway-mediated pilus biogenesis.
- To assess the efficacy of pilicides against uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC).
Main Methods:
- Chemical synthesis of bicyclic 2-pyridone pilicides.
- Evaluation of pilicide activity in E. coli pilus biogenesis systems (type 1 and P pili).
- Structural analysis of pilicide-chaperone complex (P pilus chaperone PapD) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) to determine mechanism of action.
Main Results:
- Pilicides reduced hemagglutination, adherence to bladder cells, and biofilm formation by approximately 90% in E. coli strains.
- Structural studies revealed pilicide binding to the PapD chaperone at the usher interaction surface.
- Mutations in the binding site impaired pilus formation, and SPR confirmed interference with chaperone-usher complex binding.
Conclusions:
- Pilicides effectively inhibit key virulence factors (adhesive pili) in Gram-negative pathogens.
- The findings demonstrate a promising proof-of-concept for developing anti-virulence drugs targeting pilus biogenesis.
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