Targeting of the Essential acpP, ftsZ, and rne Genes in Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii by Antisense PNA Precision Antibacterials.

ABSTRACT: Infections by carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii (CRAB), a widespread nosocomial pathogen, are becoming increasingly difficult to prevent and treat. Therefore, there is an urgent need for discovery of novel antibiotics against CRAB. Programmable, precision antisense antibiotics, e.g., based on the nucleic acid mimic PNA (peptide nucleic acid) have shown promise in this respect in the form of PNA-BPP (bacteria penetrating peptide) conjugates targeting essential bacterial genes. In the present study, we designed and synthesized a series of PNA-BPPs targeting the translation initiation region of the ftsZ, acpP, or rne gene of CRAB strains. The antimicrobial activity of the compounds and effects on gene expression level was compared to that of analogous mismatch PNA controls. Three antisense co

SUBMITTER: Nejad AJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8071358 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature