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    Suppression of type 1 pilus assembly in uropathogenic Escherichia coli by chemical inhibition of subunit polymerization

    Lo, A.W. and Van de Water, K. and Gane, P.J. and Chan, A.W. and Steadman, David and Stevens, Kiri and Selwood, D.L. and Waksman, Gabriel and Remaut, H. (2013) Suppression of type 1 pilus assembly in uropathogenic Escherichia coli by chemical inhibition of subunit polymerization. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 69 (4), pp. 1017-1026. ISSN 1460-2091.

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    Abstract

    OBJECTIVES: To identify and to characterize small-molecule inhibitors that target the subunit polymerization of the type 1 pilus assembly in uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). METHODS: Using an SDS-PAGE-based assay, in silico pre-filtered small-molecule compounds were screened for specific inhibitory activity against the critical subunit polymerization step of the chaperone-usher pathway during pilus biogenesis. The biological activity of one of the compounds was validated in assays monitoring UPEC type 1 pilus biogenesis, type 1 pilus-dependent biofilm formation and adherence to human bladder epithelial cells. The time dependence of the in vivo inhibitory activity and the overall effect of the compound on UPEC growth were determined. RESULTS: N-(4-chloro-phenyl)-2-{5-[4-(pyrrolidine-1-sulfonyl)-phenyl]-[1,3,4]oxadiazol-2-yl sulfanyl}-acetamide (AL1) inhibited in vitro pilus subunit polymerization. In bacterial cultures, AL1 disrupted UPEC type 1 pilus biogenesis and pilus-dependent biofilm formation, and resulted in the reduction of bacterial adherence to human bladder epithelial cells, without affecting bacterial cell growth. Bacterial exposure to the inhibitor led to an almost instantaneous loss of type 1 pili. CONCLUSIONS: We have identified and characterized a small molecule that interferes with the assembly of type 1 pili. The molecule targets the polymerization step during the subunit incorporation cycle of the chaperone-usher pathway. Our discovery provides new insight into the design and development of novel anti-virulence therapies targeting key virulence factors of bacterial pathogens.

    Metadata

    Item Type: Article
    Keyword(s) / Subject(s): UPEC, anti-virulence, chaperone–usher pathway, type 1 pili, urinary tract infections
    School: Birkbeck Faculties and Schools > Faculty of Science > School of Natural Sciences
    Research Centres and Institutes: Structural Molecular Biology, Institute of (ISMB)
    Depositing User: Sarah Hall
    Date Deposited: 14 Jan 2014 17:25
    Last Modified: 02 Aug 2023 17:09
    URI: https://eprints.bbk.ac.uk/id/eprint/8976

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