2.9 Growth Inhibitors
Growth inhibitors targeting bacterial membranes are promising new antibacterial agents with a lower risk of resistance. Baicalin, fromScutellaria baicalensis , reduced mortality and lung damage in chickens with APEC lung injury. Rutin lowered AI-2 secretion, reduced biofilm formation, and protected chicken lung cells. Additionally, andrographolide from Andrographis paniculata lowered inflammation in chicken lung cells.11,24 Small molecules (SMs) are small compounds (200–500 Da) that can stop bacterial growth and enzymes. They work against different APEC types, including antibiotic-resistant ones, without harming eukaryotic cells. These findings support new treatments for APEC infections in poultry, which could also lower human ExPEC infections and reduce antibiotic resistance. Screening a small molecule library found several APEC growth inhibitors that effectively killed bacteria at low doses, improved survival in wax moth larvae, and reduced APEC levels.2,11,24