Zap the clap with DNA: a novel microbicide for preventing Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection.
Antimicrob Agents Chemother
; : e0079424, 2024 Aug 16.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-39150247
ABSTRACT
Each year, Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Ngo) causes over 1.5 million new infections in the United States, and >87 million worldwide. The absence of a vaccine for preventing gonorrhea, the rapid emergence of multidrug-resistant and extremely drug-resistant Ngo strains, and the limited number of antibiotics available for treating gonorrhea underscore the importance of developing new modalities for addressing Ngo infection. Here, we describe DNA-based microbicides that kill Ngo but not commensals. Previously, we showed that Ngo is killed when it takes up differentially methylated DNA with homology to its genome. We exploited this Achilles heel to develop a new class of microbicides for preventing Ngo infection. These microbicides consist of DNA molecules with specific sequences and a methylation pattern different from Ngo DNA. These DNAs kill low-passage and antibiotic-resistant clinical isolates with high efficiency but leave commensals unharmed. Equally important, the DNAs are equally effective against Ngo whether they are in buffered media or personal lubricants. These findings illustrate the potential of this new class of practical, low-cost, self-administered DNA-based microbicides for preventing Ngo transmission during sexual intercourse.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Antimicrob Agents Chemother
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Estados Unidos