Methods for improved in vitro - in vivo efficacy determination

Abstract

The invention provides methods for determining and evaluating the in vitro-in vivo activity relationship of the efficacy of families of compounds for infectious diseases such as tuberculosis. The validity of the methods can be confirmed by evaluation of the compounds in animal models, for example, in murine models of tuberculosis. Examples of families of antibacterial compounds that can be evaluated for in vivo efficacy using the in vitro methods described herein include benzimidazoles, pyridopyrazines, pteridines, diphenyl ethers, beta-lactams, PBP inhibitors, and compounds that are non-ribonucleic acid and protein synthesis inhibitors. The methods can be used to evaluate classes of small molecule compounds and inhibitors that may be effective against any bacterial pathogen. The methods aid the identification of compounds, such as various benzimidazoles, with modes of action having activity against clinical isolates, as well as non-replicating persistent bacilli, which can therefore enhance current clinical therapeutic regimens.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(c) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 951,412, filed Mar. 11, 2014, which is incorporated herein by reference.GOVERNMENT SUPPORT[0002]This invention was made with government support under Grant Nos. AI078251 and AI082164 awarded by the National Institutes of Health. The government has certain rights in the invention.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]It is estimated that a third of the world's population is infected with Mycobacteria tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), and between 5-10% of those infected individuals will develop the active disease over their lifetime. As a result, TB is the second leading cause of death from an infectious disease and the leading cause of death from a bacterial infection worldwide. In addition to the global burden, the increasing rates of multi-drug resistant strains (MDR) that require extensive treatment regimens with second line drugs impac...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent text explains how to identify and assess the effectiveness of certain compounds in treating infections caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis). The compounds are tested in an animal model of tuberculosis, and those with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC50) of less than 15 μg / mL are found to effectively kill or inhibit the growth of M. tuberculosis cells. This information can be used to develop new treatments for tuberculosis.

Problems solved by technology

In addition to the global burden, the increasing rates of multi-drug resistant strains (MDR) that require extensive treatment regimens with second line drugs impacts disease management.

However, the determination of their in vivo efficacy cannot be determined by analysis of their minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) alone, and adequate in vitro methods for determining in vivo efficacy are urgently needed.

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