Dual-target Enzyme Inhibitors to Combat Antibacterial Resistance
to
Collaborative R&D
This project aims to develop a new antibiotic for the treatment of serious bacterial infections. Many antibiotics have been developed in the past, but over time bacteria are able to develop resistance to antibiotic drugs. Bacterial resistance has become a global concern, so new drugs are needed, especially ones against which it is hard for resistance to develop. Protein production is a key requirement for any life form, including bacteria, and there is a family of twenty enzymes involved in the key step of combining amino acids with RNA prior to attaching the correct amino acid to the growing protein chain. A drug compound that stops one of these enzymes working weakens the bacteria, allowing them to be mopped up by the body's defences. However, bacteria can evolve resistance to such inhibitors by making subtle changes to its DNA, leading to a modified version of the enzyme that is no longer blocked by the drug. This project aims to develop inhibitors that target more than one member of the enzyme family. By interfering with protein production at two independent points in the process, the bacteria are forced to evolve mutations in their DNA coding for two separate enzymes. The chances of this happening successfully are a tiny fraction of the possibility of becoming resistant to one enzyme, greatly reducing the chance of resistance developing against the drug.
The development of novel antibiotics for drug resistant infections
68,074
2021-12-01 to 2022-01-31
Collaborative R&D
The emergence of resistance to antibiotics is a major health concern. To address this concern, this project will address multiple aspects of antibacterial resistance, bringing together complementary expertise in the UK and China. Antibiotics are widely used in agriculture, where they have a valid role in protecting farm animals from disease and increasing food production. However, the use of antibiotics that are also used to treat humans could lead to increased antimicrobial resistance. The aim of this project is to develop classes of antibiotic that are specific to a species of bacterium that cause infections in pigs. This which would enable reduced use of human antibiotics in farming and mean that animal welfare can be protected without the risk of further increasing antibiotic resistance to antibiotics important for the treatment of human infections .
Continuity Grant support for Oxford Drug Design Uk-China AMR project
142,176
2020-06-01 to 2020-11-30
Feasibility Studies
no public description
Novel small molecule and TCM approaches to support pig production, minimizing generation of resistance to human antibiotics
564,052
2019-06-01 to 2022-08-31
Collaborative R&D
The emergence of resistance to antibiotics is a major health concern. To address this concern, this project will
address multiple aspects of antibacterial resistance, bringing together complementary expertise in the UK and
China. Antibiotics are widely used in agriculture, where they have a valid role in protecting farm animals from
disease and increasing food production. However, the use of antibiotics that are also used to treat humans
could lead to increased antimicrobial resistance. One of the aims of this project is to develop a new class of
antibiotics that are specific to a species of bacteria that cause infections in pigs, which would enable reduced
use of human antibiotics in farming. A second aspect of the proposal is to investigate the use of traditional
Chinese medicines (TCMs) in veterinary settings. TCMs are typically complex mixtures with unknown
mechanism of action. We will use sophisticated computational modelling methods, specifically a technique
called chemgenomics, to identify the active components of TCMs, which may enable further classes of
antibiotic to be rationally designed, or to be used synergistically with existing compounds.
Novel tRNA synthetase inhibitors to treat drug resistant Gram-negative infections
1,980,007
2019-06-01 to 2021-02-28
Small Business Research Initiative
Awaiting Public Project Summary
Dual-target tRNA synthetase inhibitors for the treatment of drug-resistant bacterial infections
922,203
2017-03-01 to 2019-02-28
Collaborative R&D
This project aims to develop a new antibiotic for the treatment of serious bacterial infections. Many antibiotics have been developed in the past, but bacteria have developed resistance to antibiotic drugs, so new drugs are urgently needed. Protein production is a key requirement for any life form, including bacteria, and there is a family of twenty enzymes involved in the key step of combining amino acids with RNA prior to attaching the correct amino acid to the growing protein chain. A drug that stops one of these enzymes working weakens the bacteria, allowing them to be mopped up by the body's defences. However, bacteria can evolve resistance to such inhibitors, leading to a modified version of the enzyme that is no longer blocked by the drug. This project aims to develop inhibitors that target more than one member of the enzyme family. By interfering with protein production at two independent points in the process, the bacteria are forced to evolve mutations in their DNA coding for two separate enzymes. The chances of this happening successfully are a tiny fraction of the possibility of becoming resistant to one enzyme, greatly reducing the chance of resistance developing against the drug.
Get notified when we’re launching.
Want fast, powerful sales prospecting for UK companies? Signup below to find out when we're live.