Principal Investigators: Nicholas Oberlies, Noemi Paguigan, Emily Britton, Huzefa Raja, Nadja Cech, Justin Stempin
Application Number: 62/831,990
UNCG Number: 19-0004
Category: Chemistry & Biochemistry
Description:
Infections caused by drug resistant bacterial pathogens are a serious problem worldwide, and there is a need to develop new strategies to treat these infections without promoting resistance development. The research presented here focuses on a one such approach, the inhibition of the spreading factor hyaluronidase. Hyaluronidase is secreted by Gram positive bacteria including the common human pathogens Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus aga/actiae (Group B Streptococcus). This enzyme breaks down the glycosaminoglycan hyaluronan (found in human tissue) into disaccharide units, facilitating spread of the bacterial pathogen through tissue and dissemination of toxins. The disaccharides also serve as an energy source to bacteria, enabling them to proliferate in the host. Thus, inhibiting bacterial hyaluronidase is a promising approach for inhibiting the spread and damage resulting from bacterial infection. Collectively, these findings suggest the potential of fungal metabolites as the basis for new anti-virulence therapeutics.
Immediate & Future Applications:
For infections to worsen, they need to spread. Bacteria have evolved ways to decompose tissue, so that they can spread. This invention describes a way to thwart that ‘decomposition’ process, thereby preventing spreading of an infection. We can see this as a stand alone treatment and/or as an adjuvant with antibiotic treatments.
Inventor Info: Nicholas Oberlies
- https://chem.uncg.edu/oberlies/
- https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=hmHmqu8AAAAJ&hl=en
- https://chem.uncg.edu/person/nicholas-oberlies/
- https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Nicholas_Oberlies
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-oberlies-518b9493
- https://u.osu.edu/naturalproducts/dr-nicholas-oberlies/
- https://www.springer.com/cda/content/document/cda_downloaddocument/Oberlies+.pdf?SGWID=0-0-45-822901-p173621671
Inventor Info: Noemi Paguigan
Inventor Info: Emily Britton
Inventor Info: Huzefa Raja
Inventor Info: Nadja Cech
Inventor Info: Justin Stempin
Media:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRcg8kwoGd4
- https://www.bizjournals.com/triad/news/2011/09/12/uncg-prof-aiding-parasite-research.html
- https://newsandfeatures.uncg.edu/uncg-chemists-working-on-10-million-research-grant/