Scientists Meet Scientists – TUM-IAS Wednesday Coffee Talk by Prof. Stephan Sieber on “Metronidazole and ether derivates target Helicobacter pylori via simultaneous stress induction and inhibition”
Events, WCT |
On 03 June 2026, Prof. Dr. Stephan Sieber (Chair of Organic Chemistry II, TUM) will talk about “Metronidazole and ether derivates target Helicobacter pylori via simultaneous stress induction and inhibition”.
Abstract: Metronidazole is a front-line drug for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infections. However, its mode of action and cellular targets are poorly defined, and higher dosing and combination therapies are required to overcome resistance. Here we performed activity-based protein profiling with tailored metronidazole probes and identified chaperonin HpGroEL and thiol peroxidase HpTpx as prominent targets, the latter being essential for H. pylori survival under oxidative stress. Alkynylated ether probes exhibited enhanced antibacterial potency compared with the parent drug in vitro, including activity against resistant strains. Biological assays, chemical proteomics and co-crystallization studies confirmed target engagement, with enhanced binding of ether derivatives to HpTpx. Refined ether analogues exhibited favourable pharmacological profiles without cytotoxicity. The in vivo activity of ether analogues using an H. pylori mouse model demonstrated full bacterial eradication at low dosing. Our findings reveal that stress induction and simultaneous inhibition of the stress response represent a mechanism of this compound class.
Related TUM Press Release: Stomach Cancer: New Drug 60 Times More Effective Against Key Bacteria - TUM
Date: June 03, 2026
Time: 13:00 CET (until approx. 14:00)
Location: online
Registration: The TUM-IAS Wednesday Coffee talks are held online via Microsoft Teams. To register and to receive the Teams link, please send an email to events@ias.tum.de.
THE TUM-IAS WEDNESDAY COFFEE TALKS
Every Wednesday after lunch, it's all about a new topic - current research highlights at TUM, insights into the work of our Fellows from all over the world, sometimes even topics not usually found at TUM, such as history or theology.
The talks held online start every Wednesday during TUM lecture time at 13:00 CE(S)T. Everyone is welcome - TUM researchers of all levels, students, visiting scholars, and anyone interested!
Would you like to receive regular updates on the TUM-IAS Wednesday Coffee Talk and the online link? Just send a short note to events@ias.tum.de.
An overview of upcoming and past TUM-IAS Wednesday Coffee Talks can be found at the TUM-IAS Wednesday Coffee Talk Overview.