Recursive dynamics of GspE through machine learning enabled identification of inhibitors

Type II secretion System has been increasingly recognized as a key driver of virulence in many pathogenic bacteria including Achromobacter xylosoxidans. ATPase GspE is the powerhouse of the T2SS. It powers the entire secretion process by binding with ATP and hydrolyzing it. Therefore, targeting it was thought to have a profound effect on the normal functioning of the whole T2SS. A. xylosoxidans is a Gram-negative bacterium that poses a rising concern to immunocompromised people. It is responsible for many opportunistic infections mostly in people with cystic fibrosis. Due to its intrinsic and acquired resistance mechanisms, it is challenging to treat. In this current study, an extensive machine learning-enabled computational investigation was carried out. Drug libraries were screened using machine learning random forest algorithm trained on non-redundant dataset of 8722 antibacterial compounds with reported IC₅₀ values. Active compounds were then further subjected to molecular docking. To unravel the dynamics and better understand the stability of complexes, the top complexes were subjected to MD Simulations followed by various post-simulation analyses including Trajectory analysis, Atom Contacts, SASA, Hydrogen Bond, RDF, binding free energy calculations, PCA, and AFD analysis. Findings from the study unanimously unveiled Asinex-BAS00263070-28551 as the best inhibitor as it instigated the recursive dynamics of the target by making key hydrogen bond interactions with Walker A motif, suggesting it could serve as the promising drug candidate against GspE. Further experimental in-vivo and in-vitro validation is still required to authenticate the therapeutic effects of these drugs.