Permeability barriers of Gram-negative pathogens and approaches to bypass them A major source of resistance in Gram-negative species is the permeability barrier created by a synergistic action of slow uptake and active efflux of antibiotics across the outer membrane. The proposed research will address a critical need to understand penetration across the cell envelope of Gram-negative species and to develop antibiotics affective against these pathogens. In preliminary studies, we established novel mathematical and empirical approaches to analyze drug uptake across a two-membrane barrier with active efflux. Based on these results, we formulated a hypothesis that permeation and hence activities of antibiotics are affected by bacterial barriers and active efflux differently and that these differences are defined by physicochemical properties of antibiotics. To critically test this hypothesis, we will apply the new formalism and methods to analyze permeability barriers of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii and Burkholderia spp. that differ significantly in the composition of their outer membranes and efflux pumps. These pathogens are notorious for their virtually unbreachable permeability barriers. Our goal is to establish structure-activity relationships between drug uptake, efflux and inhibitory activities for a select library of compounds in the context of barriers with different permeability properties. The proposed studies will define the limits of barriers and compounds and will create a framework for optimization of antibiotics targeting the ?impermeable? pathogens.

Public Health Relevance

This project will advance understanding how antibiotics penetrate cell envelopes of antibiotic- resistant Gram-negative pathogens. New mathematical and empirical tools will be used to analyze permeation of compounds into cells and to identify physicochemical features of antibiotics that enable their penetration across various barriers.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI132836-04
Application #
9914090
Study Section
Drug Discovery and Mechanisms of Antimicrobial Resistance Study Section (DDR)
Program Officer
Ernst, Nancy L
Project Start
2017-05-08
Project End
2021-04-30
Budget Start
2020-05-01
Budget End
2021-04-30
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2020
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Oklahoma Norman
Department
Chemistry
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
848348348
City
Norman
State
OK
Country
United States
Zip Code
73019
Zgurskaya, Helen I; Rybenkov, Valentin V; Krishnamoorthy, Ganesh et al. (2018) Trans-envelope multidrug efflux pumps of Gram-negative bacteria and their synergism with the outer membrane barrier. Res Microbiol 169:351-356
Wolloscheck, David; Krishnamoorthy, Ganesh; Nguyen, Jennifer et al. (2018) Kinetic Control of Quorum Sensing in Pseudomonas aeruginosa by Multidrug Efflux Pumps. ACS Infect Dis 4:185-195