# Exploration of SF3 as a Chemical Probe for Chlamydial Biology

> **NIH NIH R21** · RBHS-ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON MEDICAL SCHOOL · 2020 · $195,209

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
 This R21 grant explores the utilities of a novel chemical probe termed SF3, which belongs to a group
of compounds termed selective antichlamydial benzal acylhydrazones (SACBAHs). Chlamydia trachomatis
is the number one sexually transmitted bacterial pathogen, which accounts for 60% of the total infected
cases reported to the Centers for Diseases and Prevention. Common complications from C. trachomatis
infection include infertility, abortion, ectopic pregnancy and pelvic inflammatory syndrome. Unfortunately, an
effective vaccine has yet to be developed despite numerous efforts by the scientific community over half of
a century. Although several broad-spectrum antibiotics can be used to treat the infection, they negatively
affect the beneficial microbiota, and may increases the risk of antibiotic resistance in unrelated pathogens.
In addition, clinical treatment failure with current therapies is common. There is a clear need to develop
selective inhibitors and investigate their mechanisms for treatment and prevention of chlamydial infection.
Our research group has identified SACBAHs as novel antichlamydials. SACBAHs exhibit several important
characteristics. First, they are effective against chlamydial growth. Second; they do not affect host cell
growth at concentrations that show complete inhibition of chlamydial growth. Third, they do not affect the
growth of beneficial lactobacilli, which dominate the vaginal microbiota in most reproductive-age women.
Our preliminary studies suggest that SACBAHs inhibit chlamydiae by interfering with the function of the
Chlamydia-specific transcription factor GrgA. We will determine how SF3 affects chlamydial transcription at
both the cellular and molecular levels.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10043281
- **Project number:** 1R21AI154305-01
- **Recipient organization:** RBHS-ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON MEDICAL SCHOOL
- **Principal Investigator:** HUIZHOU FAN
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $195,209
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-01 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10043281

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10043281, Exploration of SF3 as a Chemical Probe for Chlamydial Biology (1R21AI154305-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10043281. Licensed CC0.

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