Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have developed a new compound that could potentially revolutionize the treatment of bacterial infections in mice, including those that can result in rare but potentially fatal “flesh-eating” illnesses. The compound targets gram-positive bacteria that cause drug-resistant staph infections, toxic shock syndrome, and other deadly illnesses. Developed through a collaboration between the labs of Scott Hultgren, Michael Caparon, and Fredrik Almqvist, this compound could be the first of a new class of antibiotics.
The novel compound, named GmPcides, has shown broad-spectrum activity against numerous bacteria, including enterococci, staphylococci, streptococci, and C. difficile. The compound is based on a type of molecule called ring-fused 2-pyridone, and its development was initially aimed at preventing bacterial films from attaching to the surface of urethral catheters. The discovery of its infection-fighting properties against multiple types of bacteria was a happy accident, leading to further research and development of GmPcides.
In a study focusing on Streptococcus pyogenes, responsible for 500,000 deaths globally each year, including cases of flesh-eating disease, mice treated with GmPcides showed significant improvement over untreated mice. The compound appeared to reduce the virulence of the bacteria, speed up healing, and have a significant impact on bacterial cell membranes. The treatment made the bacterial membranes permeable, causing damage that disrupted the bacteria’s functions and made them less effective in combating the host’s immune response.
In addition to their effectiveness against bacteria, GmPcides were found to be less likely to lead to drug-resistant strains. Experiments aiming to create resistant bacteria showed very few cells able to withstand treatment and pass on their advantages to the next generation of bacteria. The researchers have patented the compound used in the study and licensed it to a company, QureTech Bio, with the hope of collaborating with a pharmaceutical company for further development and clinical trials.
The collaborative effort that led to the development of GmPcides highlights the importance of interdisciplinary science in addressing complex issues like antimicrobial resistance. Bacterial infections are a significant health concern, becoming increasingly multi-drug resistant and harder to treat. The researchers believe that integrating different fields of study can lead to innovative ideas that have the potential to benefit patients by providing more effective treatments for bacterial infections. While there is still a long way to go before GmPcides can reach local pharmacies, the promising results suggest a potential breakthrough in the fight against bacterial infections.