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Prioritising Uropathogenic Escherichia coli Drug Targets: Network Analysis and Inhibitor Identification
Harpreet Kaur1, Balvinder Mohan1, Neelam Taneja1
1Department of Medical Microbiology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, 160012 India.
Indian Journal of Microbiology
|June 22, 2026
Summary
Researchers identified MurF as a key drug target for treating urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by E. coli. Telithromycin, an existing drug, shows promise for repurposing to combat antimicrobial resistance in UTIs.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Computational Biology
- Drug Discovery
Background:
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a global health concern, frequently caused by Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC).
- Rising antimicrobial resistance (AMR) complicates the treatment of UTIs, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies.
- Identifying new drug targets in UPEC is crucial for developing effective treatments against resistant infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify essential drug targets in UPEC with no human homologues using an in-silico approach.
- To screen existing FDA-approved drugs for potential repurposing against identified UPEC targets.
- To find novel therapeutic options for UTIs amidst growing AMR.
Main Methods:
- Performed a non-redundant analysis of the UPEC CFT073 proteome using computational tools.
- Utilized metabolic pathway, protein-protein interaction, and subcellular localization analyses.
- Conducted molecular docking of 1615 FDA-approved drugs against the identified target MurF.
Main Results:
- Identified MurF as a highly promising drug target essential for UPEC survival.
- Screened 1615 FDA-approved drugs against MurF, identifying potential candidates for drug repurposing.
- Molecular docking and simulation confirmed telithromycin as a top-ranked repurposed drug candidate.
Conclusions:
- This study demonstrates the potential of drug repurposing for treating UTIs caused by UPEC.
- Telithromycin emerged as a promising candidate for treating UTIs, warranting further investigation.
- Further in vitro and in vivo studies are required to validate telithromycin's efficacy for clinical use.
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