Paul F Agris
The RNA Institute, SUNY at Albany, USA
Title: Engineering a new class of antibiotic against an RNA target
Biography
Biography: Paul F Agris
Abstract
Constantly evolving drug-resistant and multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-positive pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus (methicillin-resistant, MRSA), Streptococcus pneumoniae and Clostridium difficile represent an ever-increasing source of morbidity and mortality in the USA. A new class of topically applied antibiotics against MRSA and other dangerous multi-drug resistant pathogenic infections such as staphylococci and streptococci has been developed. Some bacteria are even developing resistance to vancomycin, an antibiotic drug of last resort. To address these demands, we have selected, screened and characterized a novel putative antibiotic that has little-to-no toxicity, and to which bacteria are slow to develop resistance. This new class of antibiotic targets a ribonucleic acid (RNA) in the cell, rather than a protein. The RNA target is unique to Gram-positive bacteria and is not found in humans, and it is important to basic functions required for the bacteria to live. Our small molecule antibiotic drug turns OFF the RNA function, simultaneously halting expression of as many as 24 genes critical in bacteria, killing the pathogens. Preliminary studies indicate that the new antibiotic is effective against bacteria that had been isolated from humans, is not toxic to human cells in lab cultures at doses effective against bacteria, and is not toxic
in preliminary topical animal studies.