Restoring E. coli Sensitivity for Antibiotics by blocking TolC-Mediated Efflux

Acronym RESET-ME
Call for proposal JPI-EC-AMR Joint Transnational Call for Proposals 2018
Implementation period 01.04.2019. – 31.03.2022.
Project coordinator Dr. Björn Windshügel, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Germany
Project partners Jacobs University of Bremen, Germany
Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Latvia
 University of Helsinki, Finland
 University of Cagliari, Italy
Leader of Latvian team Prof. Aigars Jirgensons
Total Costs 1 294 162 EUR
Costs for  Latvian partner 210 000 EUR

Summary

Overexpression of efflux pumps is a major factor for drug resistance in Gram-negative bacteria. In E. coli, the AcrAB-TolC efflux pump complex transports antibiotics from the periplasm or cytoplasm into the external medium. As TolC deletion has been shown to result in increased susceptibilities of E. coli to several antibiotics, it may represent an attractive drug target.

Recently, we have identified the first organic small molecule that effectively blocks TolC function using virtual screening in combination with experimental validation of the in silico hits by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and electrophysiology studies. Building on these results, we propose to further develop this compound and in parallel to identify and develop novel TolC blockers within an interdisciplinary consortium.

The already known blocker will be progressed in three rounds of optimisation. Each round comprises compound modifications by medicinal chemistry, assessment of TolC binding and blockage using SPR and electrophysiology, various antimicrobial studies and ADMETox profiling. Novel small molecules blocking TolC will be identified and optimised using the same experimental platform, starting with virtual screening for identification of novel compounds targeting TolC.

Experimentally validated TolC blockers will be progressed in two rounds of optimisation. Ultimately, this approach will allow to assess TolC target validity for adjuvants in antimicrobial therapies and result in potent TolC blockers that may be further developed into drugs restoring E. coli susceptibility to antibiotics.