Technology Opportunities

Peptide-Based Induction of Bacterial Cell Death

The Field

• The bacterial toxin MazF induces bacterial cell death by triggering downstream death pathways. The labile anti-toxin MazE is constantly synthesized by bacteria and inactivates MazF by sequestering it.
• Several antibiotics, such as rifampicin, chloramphenicol, mitomycin C act by affecting the MazF/MazE balance.

Innovation Highligts

• The invention grounds on the recently discovered Extracellular Death Factor (EDF). EDF is a secreted bacterial pentapeptide which induces MazF-mediated cell death. EDF is the only naturally-occurring peptide known to act as a ‘quorum sensing' DEATH factor.
• EDF target bacteria include different E.coli strains. Staphylicoccus aureus, Psedomonas aeruginosa, and Bacillus subtilis EDF-like factors are under current research.
• The innovation concerns also EDF antagonists, which may confer antibiotic sensitivity by inducing mazEF plasmid loss.
• EDF-based antibacterial composition may be used for sterilizing as well as for pharmaceutical purposes.
• Possibility of modifying the EDF original sequence by the addition of amino acids and other moieties, thus improving physiological properties and allowing different administration modes.

Development Milestones

• Proof of concept established in different E.coli strains.

The Opportunity

• The list of conditions induced by potentially EDF-targeted bacteria includes: diarrhoea, dysentery, hemorrhagic colitis, pyogenic infection, abscesses, septicaemia, pneumonia, meningitis, lung infection, cystic fibrosis.
• EDF-based compounds provide a new and specific venue to induce bacterial cell death.