# Novel Bacterial Topoisomerase Inhibitors Targeting Gram-Negative Bacteria

> **NIH NIH R21** · OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $195,000

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
 Antimicrobial resistance, especially in Gram-negative bacterial pathogens, constitutes an urgent threat
to human health. The discovery and development of new chemical matter inhibiting essential bacterial targets
constitutes one powerful approach to addressing this issue. Novel Bacterial Type II Topoisomerase Inhibitors
(NBTIs) derive their antibacterial activity from inhibition of the clinically validated enzymes DNA gyrase and
topoisomerase IV (TopoIV). A novel binding mode that obviates target-based cross-resistance to
fluoroquinolones has established NBTIs as a new class of antibiotics. However, the ultimate potential of the NBTI
class to treat infections caused by Gram-negative pathogens has been limited by cardiovascular safety concerns
as well as by the intrinsic challenges of achieving high intracellular concentrations in Gram-negative bacteria.
This proposal elaborates strategies to address these key issues that have limited the advancement of the field.
 We have previously synthesized innovative dioxane-linked NBTIs directed at Gram-positive pathogens
such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Broad spectrum antibacterial screening revealed that
representative compounds also possess promising activity against Gram-negative bacteria such as
Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii. These rationally-designed inhibitors also demonstrate
attenuated hERG inhibition as compared to structure-matched controls, offering the promise of improved
cardiovascular safety. In this proposal, we hypothesize that the incorporation of specific molecular features, such
as a primary amine and reduced conformational flexibility, will enable further improvements in Gram-negative
antibacterial activity while preserving a favorable safety profile. We will determine minimum inhibitory
concentrations (MICs) and enzymatic (gyrase and TopoIV) IC50 values from a panel of relevant Gram-negative
bacteria (P. aeruginosa, A. baumannii, and E. coli). We will utilize our synthetic expertise to interrogate this
hypothesis using multiple chemical series, one involving direct modification of our earlier NBTIs and one targeting
a restructured NBTI pharmacophore.
 Our interdisciplinary team will rigorously test these hypotheses according to the following specific aims:
 1) Optimize dioxane-linked NBTIs for Gram-negative activity
 a. Incorporate a primary amine
 b. Reduce conformational flexibility
 2) Redesign NBTI enzyme-binding moiety to incorporate a primary amine
 3) Quantify potency with enzymes and cells; measure hERG inhibition
 Successfully achieving our aims will deliver NBTI lead molecules with enhanced safety and whole cell
antibacterial activity against critically important Gram-negative pathogens.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10242615
- **Project number:** 5R21AI148986-02
- **Recipient organization:** OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Mark J. Mitton-Fry
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $195,000
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-08-20 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10242615

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10242615, Novel Bacterial Topoisomerase Inhibitors Targeting Gram-Negative Bacteria (5R21AI148986-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10242615. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*