Need: Currently there is a need to provide alternative and improved agents for the treatment of bacterial infections. Especially the need to treat drug resistant strains of bacteria.

Invention Description: This invention provides a method and pharmaceutical preparations for inhibiting the growth of bacterial microorganisms that currently resist drug options. The compounds are specifically useful in the treatment of penicillin-resistant infections. In preferred embodiments, this can be used to inhibit bacterial infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria (e.g. S. aureus) and Gram-negative bacteria (e.g. E. coli). This agent works by inhibiting D-Ala-D-Ala ligase (DDL) and highly conserved bacterial enzyme related to cell wall biosynthesis. The (D)-Ala analog in the P1 position is the preferred inhibitor. However, the (L) and (DL) compounds are also possible antibacterial agents. This agent has presented no acute toxicity in testing.

File Number: 08UMK011 

Web site: http://www.umkc.edu/ors/tt/

Disease: Infectious Diseases