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