Development of a Novel Gonococcal-Selective LpxC Inhibitor as a Potential Treatment for Gonorrhea.. LPX

LpxC catalyzes the first committed step of the lipid A pathway and has no sequence identity with human deacetylases, making it an attractive target for antibiotic development. We have designed and optimized LpxC inhibitor compounds that retain efficacy in the most antibiotic-resistant strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, are specific for N. gonorrhoeae over other Gram-negative pathogens, and minimally disrupt the natural microbiome.