New CF treatment: Inhibitors of bacterial quinolone biosynthesis in P. aeruginosa and B. cepacia

This new and uniquely potent compound effectively insulates signal-based attack coordination among pathogenic germs and the associated toxin production. This prevents the spread and at the same time stops immunosuppression. The compound could be used in place of or in combination with antibiotics to provide effective long-term care, particularly in chronically affected patients.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a worldwide spread bac­terium and is known to cause severe diseases, especially in chronically ill or immune-compromised patients. An infection thus hits cystic fibrosis (CF) patients particularly hard, since an additional chronic infection of the respiratory system results in a drastic drop in lung function. It has also been confirmed that the pathogen leads to a long-term change of the microbiome in the lung.

Various inhibitors of signaling pathways (i.e. quinolone biosynthesis) are already known, but their efficacy has so far not been sufficiently demonstrated in living cells, or the necessary concentrations have been too high. Up to now, the inhibition of this signaling pathway has therefore been irrelevant in terms of pharmacological effects. This is now set to change.

The compound described here effectively inhibits the pro­duction of 2-alkyl quinolones (via PqsD or HmqD), i.e. the signal-based coordination of attacks among the pathogenic bacteria and the associated toxin production, thus curbing the spread of pathogens. At the same time immunosup­pression is stopped.
An infection with such a pathogen is associated with sig­nificantly impaired lung function, particularly in CF patients. By inhibiting the bacterial signaling pathways, the spread can be effectively controlled without causing side effects or resistance.
This new and highly potent compound could be used in place of or together with antibiotics and thus be of great benefit in the longer term, especially (but not exclusively) for CF patients.

• Complete inhibition of quinolone biosynthesis
• Selective binding and high activity at low concentrations
• Efficacy confirmed in situ in cell cultures of pathogenic P. aeruginosa and Burkholderia
• Avoidance of new resistances and increase of antibiotic effect through a combination of active ingredients

Depending on the bacterial population density, an attack is coordinated via messenger substances (quinolones); the targeted disruption of this signaling process can efficiently contain an attack. Given the fact that antibiotics are less and less effective in the long term, one promising approach is to use efficient inhibitors in the fight against pathogenic bacteria, especially when it comes to chronic diseases.

"Competitive Live-Cell Profiling Strategy for Discovering Inhibitors of the Quinolone Biosynthesis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa"

Michaela Prothiwa, Felix Englmaier, and Thomas Böttcher

Journal of the American Chemical Society 2018 140 (43), 14019-14023

DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b07629