Peptide nucleic acids as antibacterial agents via the antisense principle

Authors
Citation
Pe. Nielsen, Peptide nucleic acids as antibacterial agents via the antisense principle, EXPERT OP I, 10(2), 2001, pp. 331-341
Citations number
57
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Review
Categorie Soggetti
Pharmacology & Toxicology
Journal title
EXPERT OPINION ON INVESTIGATIONAL DRUGS
ISSN journal
1354-3784 → ACNP
Volume
10
Issue
2
Year of publication
2001
Pages
331 - 341
Database
ISI
SICI code
1354-3784(200102)10:2<331:PNAAAA>2.0.ZU;2-D
Abstract
Peptide nucleic acid (PNA) is a peptide-like DNA mimic that was introduced almost ten years ago. It was immediately predicted that PNA would have a br ight future in gene therapeutic drug development, but progress in this dire ction has been rather modest thus far. This is predominantly due to ineffic ient uptake of PNA by most living cells. However, within the past couple of years a variety of methods have been devised to address this problem and t he stage should now be set for more rapid progress. Several studies have de monstrated antisense effects ex vivo in cells in culture and two reports on direct injection of PNA into the brain of rats are also interesting. Only a few studies have addressed the possible exploitation of the antisense pri nciple for development of antibacterial drugs. However, the first in vitro results using antiribosomal RNA PNAs and antisense PNAs targeted to the bet a -lactamase gene on Escherichia coli cultures were quite promising. Most r ecently, these preliminary studies have been extended to demonstrate in viv o efficacy of antibacterial PNAs in an E. coil peritonitis/sepsis mouse mod el. Therefore, PNA drug development again is rapidly picking up pace.