Engineered Vancomycin, with Increased Interactions with Peptidoglycan Stem Peptide, Conquers Non-tuberculosis Mycobacteria

Vancomycin-like drugs target peptidoglycan (PG) via binding to C-terminal d-Ala-d-Ala dipeptide. An engineered vancomycin has enhanced affinity for the PG stem peptide, due to probable interactions with a third residue, meso-diaminopimelic acid, in the PG. This engineered vancomycin displays enhanced killing of mycobacteria.

Automated summary

Vancomycin-like drugs target peptidoglycan by binding to the C-terminal d-Ala-d-Ala dipeptide. An engineered vancomycin with enhanced affinity for the peptidoglycan stem peptide, possibly through interactions with meso-diaminopimelic acid, displays increased killing of mycobacteria.