Abstract: There is currently a high demand for new therapeutic antibiotics with new mechanisms of action. Disclosed are two small molecules, tryglysin A and B, with novel chemical structures and potent antibiotic activity against a narrow spectrum of bacteria. This narrow spectrum of activity indicates the tryglysins could be working through a novel antibiotic mechanism of action. Due to this narrow spectrum, the tryglysins could be used as highly targeted therapeutics to treat or prevent disease without disturbing other important, “beneficial” bacteria within the human microbiome, which is a great improvement over virtually all other clinically used antibiotics that are broad-spectrum. The tryglysins are potent against several streptococcal pathogens, including Streptococcus pneumonia, the leading cause of pneumonia, and Streptococcus mutans, the primary causative agent of tooth decay and gum disease.

Abstract: This invention provides a practical synthesis route for 4,5-dihydroxypentane-2,3-dione (DPD), an unstable small molecule which is proposed to be the source of universal signaling agents for quorum sensing in bacteria. The synthesis route includes new intermediates and allows preparation of isotopically-labeled DPD and ent-DPD. The method provides sufficient quantities of DPD for study of spontaneous binding of borate to DPD, the signal for the marine bacteria V. harveyi.

Abstract: This invention provides a practical synthesis route for 4,5-dihydroxypentane-2,3-dione (DPD), an unstable small molecule which is proposed to be the source of universal signaling agents for quorum sensing in bacteria. The synthesis route includes new intermediates and allows preparation of isotopically-labeled DPD and ent-DPD. The method provides sufficient quantities of DPD for study of spontaneous binding of borate to DPD, the signal for the marine bacteria V.