University of Nebraska

Nutech Ventures

Raul Barletta

Patrick H Dussault

Robert Powers

N Beth Harris

Wantanee Sittiwong

Zhengyu Feng

Ofelia Barletta-Chacon

This disclosure relates to amphiphilic compounds containing a cyclobutene or cyclobutane moiety. In some embodiments, the compounds are useful for treating infection bysuch as. Cyclobutene containing compounds are also useful as monomers in the preparation of amphiphilic polymers.

Amphiphilic cyclobutenes and cylobutanes

Disclosed are methods for the determination of virulence determinants in bacteria and in particular bacteria of the genus. Also disclosed are compositions and methods for stimulating an immune response in an animal using bacteria and virulence determinants identified by the methods of the present invention.

Method for identification of virulence determinants

Recombinant mycobacterial strains which overproduce essential biosynthetic enzymes of pathogenic mycobateria are provided. These strains overproduce enzymes involved in the synthesis and incorporation of-alanine into mycobacterial peptidoglycan, the backbone of the mycobacterial cell wall. These overproducing strains may be used as reference strains in in vitro screening methods to identify antimycobacterial agents.

Recombinant mycobacteria overexpressing D-alanine ligase gene and uses therefore

The present invention is directed to D-alanine racemase mutants of mycobacterial species. The D-alanine racemase gene (alrA) is involved in the systhesis of D-alanine, a basic component of peptidoglycan that forms the backbone of the bacterial cell wall. The present invention is also directed to methods of making live-attenuated vaccines against pathogenic mycobacteria using such alrA mutants and to the vaccines made according to such methods. The present invention is further directed to use of alrA mutants in methods for screening antimycobacterial agents that are synergistic with peptidoglycan inhibitors. Finally, the present invention is directed to methods to identify new pathways of D-alanine biosynthesis for use in developing new drugs targeting peptidoglycan biosynthesis in mycobacteria and to identify vaccines useful against pathogenic mycobacteria.

Growing community of inventors

Lincoln, NE, United States of America

Raul Barletta