Therapies Development Targeting Iron Acquisition of A. Baumannii
Ace Therapeutics offers a range of therapy development services that target iron acquisition in A. baumannii. Our services include in vitro and in vivo assays to evaluate the efficacy of potential therapies, as well as consultation services to develop a customized approach for targeting iron acquisition in A. baumannii.
Iron Acquisition of A. Baumannii
One of the reasons for the success of A. baumannii as a superbug is its ability to acquire iron from its host, which is essential for its survival and growth. One of the ways A. baumannii acquires iron is through the secretion of siderophores. Siderophores are small molecules that bind to iron and facilitate its transport into the bacterial cell. Another way A. baumannii acquires iron is through the expression of outer membrane receptors. These receptors bind to host proteins that contain iron, such as transferrin and lactoferrin, and facilitate the uptake of iron into the bacterial cell.
Fig. 1 Iron acquisition and utilization mechanisms in A. baumannii within a host organism. (Cook-Libin S, et al., 2022)
Our Development Services
We provide cutting-edge development services that aim to identify and optimize novel therapeutic strategies targeting A. baumannii's iron acquisition systems. Our team of experts uses a multidisciplinary approach that combines computational and experimental methods to design and validate potential therapeutic targets. We offer a range of services that include:
- We leverage expertise in bioinformatics and computational biology to identify potential targets involved in A. baumannii's iron acquisition systems.
- We use a variety of screening platforms, including virtual screening, fragment-based screening, and phenotypic screening, to identify potential inhibitors.
- Our team uses a combination of in vitro and in silico methods to design and synthesize analogs of the hits identified in the screening phase and uses biochemical and cell-based assays to evaluate the potency, selectivity, and toxicity of these analogs.
- We conduct a range of in vivo and in vitro assays to evaluate the efficacy, pharmacokinetics, and toxicity of our lead compounds.
Several Strategies Targeting A. Baumannii's Iron Acquisition
- To develop small molecules that inhibit the function of siderophores.
- To develop antibodies that target the outer membrane receptors of A. baumannii.
- To develop small molecules that disrupt the function of heme acquisition systems.
Application Prospects
The development of therapies that target iron acquisition in A. baumannii has significant application prospects.
- These therapies have the potential to be effective against A. baumannii infections that are difficult to treat with antibiotics.
- These therapies have the potential to be effective against other bacterial pathogens that rely on iron for survival, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae.
Targeting the bacterium's iron acquisition systems is a promising approach to developing new therapies to combat this pathogen. If you are looking for a partner in the fight against A. baumannii and other superbugs, contact us today to learn more.
References
- Cook-Libin S, et al. Iron Acquisition Mechanisms and Their Role in the Virulence of Acinetobacter baumannii. Infection and Immunity, 2022, 90(10): e00223-22.
- McConnell M J, et al. Acinetobacter baumannii: Human infections, factors contributing to pathogenesis and animal models. FEMS microbiology reviews, 2013;37(2):130-155.