Scientists Discover New Potential Theapeutic for the Treatment of CDI

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a worldwide health threat that is typically triggered by the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, which disrupt the natural gut microbiota and allow this Gram-positive anaerobic pathogen to thrive. The increased incidence and severity of disease coupled with decreased response, high recurrence rates, and emergence of multiple antibiotic-resistant strains have created an urgent need for new therapies.

Oresic Bender, etal. (2015) describe pharmacological targeting of the cysteine protease domain (CPD) within the C. difficile major virulence factor toxin B (TcdB). Through a targeted screen with an activity-based probe for this protease domain,  the researchers identified a number of potent CPD inhibitors, including one bioactive compound, ebselen, which is currently in human clinical trials for a clinically unrelated indication. This drug showed activity against both major virulence factors, TcdA and TcdB, in biochemical and cell-based studies. Treatment in a mouse model of CDI that closely resembles the human infection confirmed a therapeutic benefit in the form of reduced disease pathology in host tissues that correlated with inhibition of the release of the toxic glucosyltransferase domain (GTD). The researchers say their results show that this non-antibiotic drug can modulate the pathology of disease and therefore could potentially be developed as a therapeutic for the treatment of CDI. Their work was published in Science Translational Medicine (log-in required).

Reference: Oresic Bender K, Garland M, Ferreyra JA, et al. A small-molecule antivirulence agent for treating Clostridium difficile infection. Science Translational Medicine.  Sept. 23, 2015. Vol. 7, Issue 306, pp. 306ra148. DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aac9103