Development of Gallium(III) as an Antimicrobial Drug Targeting Pathophysiologic Iron Metabolism of Human Pathogens.

The treatment of infections is becoming more difficult due to emerging resistance of pathogens to existing drugs. As such, alternative druggable targets, particularly those that are essential for microbe viability and thus make it harder to develop resistance, are desperately needed. In turn, once identified, safe and effective agents that disrupt these targets must be developed.

Combining Gallium Protoporphyrin and Gallium Nitrate Enhances and Efficacy against : Role of Inhibition of Bacterial Antioxidant Enzymes and Resultant Increase in Cytotoxic Reactive Oxygen Species.

is a highly antibiotic-resistant opportunistic pathogenic bacteria that is responsible for thousands of deaths each year. Infections with disproportionately impact individuals with compromised immune systems as well as cystic fibrosis patients, where lung infection is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. In previous work, we showed that a combination of gallium (Ga) nitrate and Ga protoporphyrin worked well in several bacterial infection models but its mechanism of action (MOA) is unknown.