Description:
Metabolite Stimulation to Potentiate Antimicrobial Nitrofurantoin Activity in Tolerant Bacteria
Princeton Docket # 20-3641-1
Researchers in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Princeton University have discovered metabolites that stimulate the susceptibility of antibiotic tolerant bacteria to the antimicrobial agent nitrofurantoin. This technology functions by stimulating metabolic activity that is required to activate nitrofurantoin inside of tolerant bacterial cells.
Antibiotic tolerant bacteria are becoming increasingly prevalent as a major cause of relapsed infections. Urinary tract infections, which are often caused by pathogenic Escherichia coli, are quite common and a high percentage of these infections relapse. Nitrofurantoin accumulates in the urine and is commonly used to treat urinary tract infections. Antibiotic-tolerant bacteria, which no longer respond to nitrofurantoin treatment alone, can lead to high relapse rates. Exploring treatments for relapsed infections is pivotal in increasing positive health outcomes for urinary tract infection patients. This technology represents a significant step forward in our ability to treat relapsed urinary tract infections by augmenting existing nitrofurantoin treatments.
Applications
- Treating antibiotic tolerant bacterial infections
- Re-sensitizing bacteria responsible for urinary tract infections to nitrofurantoin
Advantages
- Reducing the incidence of an infection relapse
- Adjuvant to an existing treatment
Intellectual Property & Development Status
Patent protection is pending.
Princeton is currently seeking commercial partners for the further development and commercialization of this opportunity.
The Inventors
Mark P. Brynildsen is an Associate Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Princeton University. His group is focused on using systems biology and metabolic engineering to understand and address threats to human health. He was an HHMI Postdoctoral Associate and has received an NSF CAREER Award.
Sandra Aedo is a postdoctoral associate in the lab of Mark Brynildsen. She received her Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from New York Medical College.
Contact
Laurie J. Tzodikov
Princeton University Office of Technology Licensing
(609) 258-7256 • tzodikov@princeton.edu
Sean King
Princeton University Office of Technology Licensing
sbking@princeton.edu