A Three-Pronged Approach to Combatting Antibiotic Resistance Restricted; Files & ToC
Post, Savannah (Summer 2022)
Published
Abstract
Widespread use of antibiotics and the decline of pharmaceutical investment has led to the proliferation of antibiotic resistance in many important diseases. Herein I discuss three different strategies that utilize small molecules to combat this growing problem: species-selective inhibition, combination therapies, and anti-virulence. Many currently utilized antibiotics are broad-spectrum, meaning that they target both Gram-positive and Gram-negative species. An alternative strategy is to take a more targeted approach wherein compounds selectively target a specific pathogen or group of pathogens, to protect the human microbiome. Promysalin is a natural product that exhibits species-selective inhibition against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which has developed widespread clinical resistance. My research has elaborated on previous work in our group, and I have strategically developed several panels of analogs based on computational modeling, in search of more potent derivatives. I have also explored promysalin in combination with various antibiotics and other small molecules as a second strategy for combatting bacterial resistance. The final approach I explored to circumvent resistance emergence is the use of anti-virulence strategies. Virulence aids in bacterial pathogenicity but is not required for growth. By targeting these pathways instead of killing the bacteria, we are minimizing the selective pressure to mutate and develop resistance. The cahuitamycins are a group of natural products that inhibit biofilm formation in Acinetobacter baumannii, a known virulence behavior. My work has focused on the first total synthesis and analog development of these natural products. These findings have set the stage for future work in our lab investigating the mechanism of action of these new antimicrobial compounds.
Table of Contents
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Primary PDF
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File download under embargo until 19 August 2024 | 2022-07-23 00:07:26 -0400 | File download under embargo until 19 August 2024 |
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File download under embargo until 19 August 2024 | 2022-07-23 00:07:37 -0400 | File download under embargo until 19 August 2024 |