FimH antagonists for the oral treatment of urinary tract infections: from design and synthesis to in vitro and in vivo evaluation.

Urinary tract infection (UTI) by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is one of the most common infections, particularly affecting women. The interaction of FimH, a lectin located at the tip of bacterial pili, with high mannose structures is critical for the ability of UPEC to colonize and invade the bladder epithelium. We describe the synthesis and the in vitro/in vivo evaluation of α-D-mannosides with the ability to block the bacteria/host cell interaction.