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Implementation of permeation rules leads to a FabI inhibitor with activity against Gram-negative pathogens.

ABSTRACT: Gram-negative bacterial infections are a significant public health concern, and the lack of new drug classes for these pathogens is linked to the inability of most drug leads to accumulate inside Gram-negative bacteria^1-7. Here, we report the development of a web application-eNTRyway-that predicts compound accumulation (in Escherichia coli) from its structure. In conjunction with structure-activity relationships and X-ray data, eNTRyway was utilized to re-design Debio-1452-a Gram-positive-only antibiotic⁸-into versions that accumulate in E. coli and possess antibacterial activity against high-priority Gram-negative pathogens. The lead compound Debio-1452-NH3 operates as an antibiotic via the same mechanism as Debio-1452, namely potent inhibition of the enoyl-acyl carrier protein reductase FabI, as validated by in vitro enzyme assays and the generation of bacterial isolates with spontaneous target mutations. Debio-1452-NH3 is well tolerated in vivo, reduces bacterial burden in mice and rescues mice from lethal infections with clinical isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae and E. coli. This work provides tools for the facile discovery and development of high-accumulating compounds in E. coli, and a general blueprint for the conversion of Gram-positive-only compounds into broad-spectrum antibiotics.

SUBMITTER: Parker EN

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6953607 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Implementation of permeation rules leads to a FabI inhibitor with activity against Gram-negative pathogens.

Parker Erica N EN Drown Bryon S BS Geddes Emily J EJ Lee Hyang Yeon HY Ismail Nahed N Lau Gee W GW Hergenrother Paul J PJ

Nature microbiology 20191118 1

Gram-negative bacterial infections are a significant public health concern, and the lack of new drug classes for these pathogens is linked to the inability of most drug leads to accumulate inside Gram-negative bacteria<sup>1-7</sup>. Here, we report the development of a web application-eNTRyway-that predicts compound accumulation (in Escherichia coli) from its structure. In conjunction with structure-activity relationships and X-ray data, eNTRyway was utilized to re-design Debio-1452-a Gram-posi ...[more]

PMID: 31740764

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Implementation of permeation rules leads to a FabI inhibitor with activity against Gram-negative pathogens.

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Implementation of permeation rules leads to a FabI inhibitor with activity against Gram-negative pathogens.

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