Trehalose is a non-mammalian disaccharide that has well-established roles in the growth and virulence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and recent reports have revealed its importance to other bacteria, including pathogens such as Clostridioides difficile and Salmonella typhi. Given the increasingly recognized significance of trehalose to bacterial pathogenesis, it is essential that novel tools be developed to investigate and target trehalose metabolism in diverse bacteria. In this regard, modified versions of trehalose, or trehalose analogues, are valuable tool compounds and have potential as diagnostic imaging agents and leads for antibiotic development. One of the areas of focus of our research program is to use chemical and chemoenzymatic synthesis as a platform to develop novel trehalose-based probes and inhibitors. This presentation describes our recent progress in trehalose analogue synthetic method development and applications of these compounds to investigate and interrupt trehalose metabolism in mycobacteria and C. difficile.

Chemical tools to elucidate and exploit trehalose metabolism in pathogenic bacteria

2019 Fall National Meeting

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.