Affiliations: Centre for Genomics and Applied Gene Technology,
Institute of Integrative Omics and Applied Biotechnology (IIOAB), Nonakuri,
Purba Medinipur, WB-721172, India | School of Biotechnology, Devi Ahilya University,
Khandwa Road Campus, Indore, MP-452001, India
Abstract: Neisseria gonorrhoeae is responsible for causing gonorrhea, one of
the most common sexually transmitted diseases prevailing globally. Although
extensive researches are in progress in order to control the transmission of
the disease and to develop drug(s) against the pathogen, till date no effective
vaccine or specific drug could be developed and only antibiotic treatment is in
use. Perhaps, due to excess use of antibiotics, several resistant strains have
been found. In the present study, metabolic pathways-related candidate drug and
vaccine targets have been identified in N. gonorrhoeae virulent strain FA
1090 using an in silico subtractive genomics approach. 106 putative drug
targets out of 537 essential genes have been predicted. 67 cytoplasmic and 9
membrane enzymes, along with 10 membrane transporters are found to be the
potential drug targets from the host-pathogen common metabolic pathways. Among
these targets, competence lipoproteins (NGO0277) and cysW have been identified
as candidate vaccine targets. 20 drug targets have been identified from
pathogen specific unique metabolic pathways. Out of these, 6 enzymes are
involved in dual metabolic pathways and 2 are expressed in cell wall and
fimbrium. These gonococci-specific proteins are expected to be better possible
drug targets. Screening of the functional inhibitors against these novel
targets may result in discovery of novel therapeutic compounds that can be
effective against antibiotic resistant strains.
