F19
Our lead compound F19 has shown promise in combating multi-drug resistant bacteria such as MRSA and C. diff. F19 binds to staphylococcal transcription factor AgrA, thereby blocking its association with cognate DNA Promotor1.. This results in inhibition of expression of all toxins and virulence factors under control of the agr operon. We have successfully shown the effectiveness of F19 in in vitro and in vivo models of MRSA. Additionally, we have shown that when used in conjunction with existing antibiotics, MRSA becomes sensitized to low doses of otherwise ineffective bacteria. F19 is a promising compound for the treatment of MRSA, but ongoing research has suggested F19 is also effective on additional gram-positive bacteria including Clostridium difficile, Bacillus anthracis, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Staphylococcus epidermidis.
F19 is a multi-functional platform that can be used in a variety of medical and surgical applications. In a clinical setting, F19 can be used as a stand-alone treatment or in combination with existing medications giving more treatment options based on patient need. Additionally, prophylactic coating of F19 on implants, catheters, joints, pacemakers, breast implants, etc. have the potential to prevent post-operative infections. The greatest strength of F19 comes in its adaptability to numerous applications.
F19 offers considerable personal and societal benefits relative to current treatments. F19 can help patents prevent and treat currently untreatable infections, saving lives and increasing quality of life for those afflicted. On a larger scale, implementation of F19 in the clinical setting has the potential to significantly reduce the amount of antibiotics used at-large, slowing the evolution of antibiotic resistant bacteria. The Q2Pharma team is excited add F19 to our communal toolbox to fix the issue of antibiotic resistance.
- Kuo, David, et al. “Novel quorum-quenching agents promote methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (mrsa) wound healing and sensitize mrsa to β-lactam antibiotics.” Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy 59.3 (2015): 1512-1518.
