In response to NIAID's Strategic Plan for Biodefense Research, we have initiated a program to discover and develop broad-spectrum antimicrobials that target multiple bacterial pathogens through inhibition of alanine racemase, an enzyme in the D-alanine metabolic pathway that is essential for bacterial cell wall synthesis. This pathway is highly conserved in bacteria, virtually absent in humans, and is a validated target of cycloserine, a commercially available antibiotic that is limited by off-target toxicity. The long-term goal of this project is to develop safe and effective small molecule therapeutics that target alanine racemase in a variety of bacterial pathogens including those of biodefense importance. A proprietary high-throughput screening assay using recombinant Mycobacterium tuberculosis alanine racemase was developed to screen for novel enzyme inhibitors. A pilot screen identified promising 'hits'with antibacterial activity against M. tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes tuberculosis. At least one of these hits inhibits clinical isolates that are multi-drug resistant (MDRTB). This project will broaden the number and utility of our alanine racemase inhibitors as anti-infectives effective against multiple NIAID bacterial priority pathogens. Starting with hit compounds active against MDRTB, iterative medicinal chemistry and screening will be used to broaden the spectrum of activity of these agents against Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), the causative agent of life threatening bacteremia. This project will be performed by a multidisciplinary team of investigators from academia and industry with expertise encompassing such areas as high-throughput screening, small molecule medicinal chemistry, and structural biology who share a vision of a novel broad-spectrum alanine racemase inhibitor as a therapeutic against multiple bacterial pathogens. This project will employ methods of high-throughput screening and medicinal chemistry coupled with structural biology and animal models of MDR-TB, MRSA and anthrax to advance screening hits towards therapeutic leads.

Public Health Relevance

The long-term product goal of this project is a broad-spectrum therapeutic to treat bacterial infections of public health and biodefense importance. Accomplishing this goal would enhance our national preparedness for natural, accidental and intentional exposure to several pathogens, and help address emerging microbial drug resistance.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project--Cooperative Agreements (U01)
Project #
1U01AI082081-01
Application #
7644650
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZAI1-MMT-M (J2))
Program Officer
Xu, Zuoyu
Project Start
2009-07-01
Project End
2014-06-30
Budget Start
2009-07-01
Budget End
2010-06-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$1,151,358
Indirect Cost
Name
L2 Diagnostics, LLC
Department
Type
DUNS #
142406110
City
New Haven
State
CT
Country
United States
Zip Code
06530
Asojo, Oluwatoyin A; Nelson, Sarah K; Mootien, Sara et al. (2014) Structural and biochemical analyses of alanine racemase from the multidrug-resistant Clostridium difficile strain 630. Acta Crystallogr D Biol Crystallogr 70:1922-33
Lee, Yashang; Mootien, Sara; Shoen, Carolyn et al. (2013) Inhibition of mycobacterial alanine racemase activity and growth by thiadiazolidinones. Biochem Pharmacol 86:222-30
Scaletti, Emma R; Luckner, Sylvia R; Krause, Kurt L (2012) Structural features and kinetic characterization of alanine racemase from Staphylococcus aureus (Mu50). Acta Crystallogr D Biol Crystallogr 68:82-92
Ciustea, Mihai; Mootien, Sara; Rosato, Adriana E et al. (2012) Thiadiazolidinones: a new class of alanine racemase inhibitors with antimicrobial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Biochem Pharmacol 83:368-77
Anthony, Karen G; Strych, Ulrich; Yeung, Kacheong R et al. (2011) New classes of alanine racemase inhibitors identified by high-throughput screening show antimicrobial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. PLoS One 6:e20374