A New Promising Anti-Infective Agent Inhibits Biofilm Growth by Targeting Simultaneously a Conserved RNA Function That Controls Multiple Genes.

ABSTRACT: Combating single and multi-drug-resistant infections in the form of biofilms is an immediate challenge. The challenge is to discover innovative targets and develop novel chemistries that combat biofilms and drug-resistant organisms, and thwart emergence of future resistant strains. An ideal novel target would control multiple genes, and can be inhibited by a single compound. We previously demonstrated success against Staphylococcus aureus biofilms by targeting the tRNA-dependent regulated T-box genes, not present in the human host. Present in Gram-positive bacteria, T-box genes attenuate transcription with a riboswitch-like element that regulates the expression of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases and amino acid metabolism genes required for cell viability. PKZ18, the parent of a family of

SUBMITTER: Seyler TM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7824582 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature