IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,271,005
Granted Patent B2
US 7,271,005 · App. 10/425,241 · Granted Sep 18, 2007

Modulation of bacterial membrane permeability

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,271,005
App. No.
10/425,241
Granted
Sep 18, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

Nucleic acids and polypeptides involved in regulation of membrane permeability in bacteria are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of increasing sensitivity to antibiotics in multi-drug resistant bacteria by increasing expression of PprA or PprB proteins in bacterial cells, and methods for identifying compounds that modulate PprA/PprB expression.

Claims (16)

1. A method of increasing sensitivity of an antibiotic resistant bacterium to an antibiotic comprising:

administering to an antibiotic resistant bacterium an isolated nucleic acid comprising the polynucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 and encoding a PprA polypeptide; and,

modulating in a bacterium expression of a PprA polypeptide; and,

increasing the membrane permeability of an antibiotic resistant bacterium; thereby,

increasing the sensitivity of an antibiotic resistant bacterium to an antibiotic.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of modulating levels of the PprA polypeptide comprises introducing into the antibiotic resistant bacterium a nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the nucleic acid encodes an amino acid sequence identified by SEQ ID NO: 3.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bacterium is a Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacterium.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step results in a change in membrane permeability in the bacterium.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the antibiotic administered to the antibiotic resistant bacterium is an aminoglycoside.

7. A bacterium into which has been introduced a vector encoding a nucleic acid sequence identified by SEQ ID NO: 1 that modulates in the bacterium expression of a PprA polypeptide.

8. The bacterium of claim 7 , wherein the vector expresses the polypeptide identified by SEQ ID NO: 3.

9. The bacterium of claim 8 , wherein the polypeptide is PprA.

10. The bacterium of claim 7 , wherein the bacterium is a Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacterium.

11. A vector comprising a promoter operably linked to a nucleic acid encoding a PprA polypeptide.

12. The vector of claim 11 , wherein the nucleic acid comprises the polynucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1.