Title:Phage-choline Kinase Inhibitor Combination to Control Pseudomonas
aeruginosa: A Promising Combo
Volume: 22
Issue: 9
Author(s): Moad Khalifa, Ling Ling Few and Wei Cun See Too*
Affiliation:
- School of Health Sciences, Health Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia
Keywords:
Choline kinase inhibitor, phage therapy, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, antibiotic resistance, infection, combined therapy.
Abstract:
Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most prevalent opportunistic pathogens
in humans that has thrived and proved to be difficult to control in this “post-antibiotic era.” Antibiotic
alternatives are necessary for fighting against this resilient bacterium. Even though phages
might not be “the wonder drug” that solves everything, they still provide a viable option to combat P.
aeruginosa and curb the threat it imposes.
Main Findings: The combination of antibiotics with phages, however, poses a propitious treatment
option for P. aeruginosa. Choline kinase (ChoK) is the enzyme that synthesizes phosphorylcholine
subsequently incorporated into lipopolysaccharide located at the outer membrane of gram-negative
bacteria. Recently, inhibition of ChoKs has been proposed as a promising antibacterial strategy. Successful
docking of Hemicholinium-3, a choline kinase inhibitor, to the model structure of P. aeruginosa
ChoK also supports the use of this inhibitor or its derivatives to inhibit the growth of this microorganism.
Conclusion: Therefore, the combination of the novel antimicrobial “choline kinase inhibitors (ChoKIs)”
with a phage cocktail or synthetic phages as a potential treatment for P. aeruginosa infection has
been proposed.
