Novel Small Molecule Agent for the Dispersal of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, and other Type IV Pili Bacteria

Web Published:
11/4/2020
Description:

Novel Small Molecule Agent for the Dispersal of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, and other Type IV Pili Bacteria

 

Princeton docket # 20-3677

 

Researchers in the department of molecular biology, Princeton University, have identified a novel small molecule agent for the dispersal of P. Aeruginosa.  Using an assay, called Dispersal of Initially Surface-attached Pathogens after Extract Lavage (DISPEL), they were able to isolate this molecule and using LC/MS and NMR they elucidated the structure and assessed the functionality of the molecule in being able to reduce bacterial growth and inhibiting a variety of pilis dependent phenotypes of p. aeruginosa.

 

While the discovery of penicillin led to a revolution in the treatment of infectious diseases caused by bacteria, in recent years antibiotic resistance has become an increasing problem. Due to the rise of antibiotic resistance some scientists believe that drugs that affect bacterial virulence may be able to help treat disease while reducing the chance for resistance. One possible virulence factor studied by the researchers is the attachment of bacteria to various surfaces. It has been shown that the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa has reduced virulence when they are unable to sense the surface. The identified novel small molecule may be used to displace bacteria attached to surfaces.

 

Surface attachment of P. aeruginosa is particularly problematic as surface association induces virulence and biofilm formation, which hamper later antibiotic treatments. Previous efforts have searched for biofilm dispersal agents, but there are no known factors that specifically disperse surface-attached P. aeruginosa.

 

Applications

•       Reduction of hospital acquired infections

•       Prevention of healthcare and industrial biofouling

•       Decontamination of surfaces/ medical devices

 

Advantages

•       Novel dual mechanism of action

•       Resistance prone

•       Reduction of virulence and biofilm formation

 

Publication

bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.07.14.203174

 

Inventors

Zemer Gitai is the Edwin Grant Conklin Professor of Biology in Department of Molecular Biology. His research focuses on the cell biology of bacteria.  His lab studies how cells self-organize across spatial scales, using quantitative, molecular, and engineering approaches.  His work discovered new components of the bacterial cytoskeleton, new functions for bacterial polymers in metabolism, compartmentalization, and chromosome dynamics, and established the importance of protein assembly for unexpected processes like metabolism and pathogenesis.  Prof. Gitai's achievements have been recognized by many prestigious awards, including the NIH New Innovator Award, the Beckman Young Investigator Award, and the HFSP Young Investigator Award.

 

Mohamed Donia is an associate professor of molecular biology in the Department of Molecular Biology. His research interests are mainly to study the chemical and biological interactions within complex microbial communities (microbe-microbe interactions) and between microbial communities and their multicellular hosts (microbe-host interactions). In addition, the Donia lab has a special interest in the uncultivable microbial components of complex communities, which have eluded research attempts for decades despite their abundance and clear importance. Dr. Donia is a recipient of the NIH Director's New Innovator Award, the Kenneth Rainin Foundation Innovation and Breakthrough Awards, and is named a Pew Biomedical Scholar. Dr. Donia is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board for Deepbiome Therapeutics.

 

Robert Scheffler is a graduate student in the Gitai lab.

 

Yuki Sugimoto was a post-doc with the Donia lab.

  

Intellectual Property Status

Patent protection is pending. Industrial collaborators are sought to further develop and commercialize this technology.

 

Contacts

 

Laurie Tzodikov

Princeton University Office of Technology Licensing • (609) 258-7256• tzodikov@princeton.edu

 

Isla Xi Han

Princeton University Office of Technology Licensing • xihan@princeton.edu

Patent Information:
For Information, Contact:
Prabhpreet Gill
Licensing Associate
Princeton University
609-258-3653
psgill@princeton.edu
Inventors:
Zemer Gitai
Robert Scheffler
Mohamed Donia
Yuki Sugimoto
Keywords: