Oragenics Co-Authors a Publication Describing the Dual Mechanism of Action of Lantibiotics

Molecular modeling offers additional insights enabling the design and development of novel antibiotics.

TAMPA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oragenics, Inc. (NYSE American: OGEN) (“Oragenics” or the “Company”) in collaboration with researchers from Florida International University’s Department of Physics and Biomolecular Sciences Institute, today announced the publication of a study entitled “Lipid II Binding and Transmembrane Properties of Various Antimicrobial Lanthipeptides.” The study was published in the Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation (https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jctc.1c00666). The alarming rise in antibiotic resistant infections in recent years and the dire need for the development of new antimicrobials is globally recognized. Oragenics’ lantibiotics are promising candidates to fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria due to their unique and dual mode of action, including interference with cell wall synthesis by binding to Lipid II and creation of unique pores in bacterial membranes. In this publication, atomic-scale molecular dynamics computational studies were used to compare both the Lipid II binding ability and the membrane interactions of several lanthipeptides, demonstrating the unique properties of Oragenics’ lantibiotics and unveiling a rational path to improve the therapeutic profile of our compounds.

“We continue to expand our lantibiotic pipeline in order to create new ways of fighting antibiotic-resistant infections,” stated Frederick W. Telling, Ph.D., Executive Chairman of Oragenics. Dr. Telling added, “This publication provides us with additional insight on how to exploit the unique properties of our compounds, which we hope may ultimately result in the development of drugs with a broader spectrum of activity that include Gram-negative infections.”

About Oragenics, Inc.

Oragenics, Inc. is a development-stage company dedicated to fighting infectious diseases including coronaviruses and multidrug-resistant organisms. Its lead product is Terra CoV-2, a vaccine candidate to prevent COVID-19 and variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The Terra CoV-2 program leverages coronavirus spike protein research licensed from the NIH and the National Research Council of Canada NRC with a focus on addressing supply-chain challenges, and offering more patient-friendly administration, such as intranasal. Its lantibiotics program features a novel class of antibiotics against infectious diseases that have developed resistance to commercial antibiotics.

Forward-Looking Statements

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