There is an urgent need to explore new targets and develop novel
therapeutics due to the emergence of multi-drug resistant bacteria. Recently, selected
members of Carbohydrate Esterase family 4 namely peptidoglycan and exopolysaccharide
de-N-acetylases from bacterial pathogens have been identified as promising antibacterial
drug targets. This chapter highlights the state of the art in their physiological roles,
biochemical characterization, regulation, localization, structure determination and
mechanism of action. Initial efforts and strategies that will guide the development of
novel inhibitors against bacterial pathogens, including biofilm forming and spore
forming ones, are also reviewed.
Keywords: Biofilm formation, enzyme inhibitors, lysozyme resistance,
peptidoglycan deacetylases, polysaccharide deacetylases, spore formation,
virulence factors.
