Fighting Antibiotic Resistance • Drug Repurposing and Structure-Based Optimization of Benzoxaboroles as LexA Inhibitors

Antimicrobial resistance is one of the most pressing threats to global health. A viable strategy to counteract resistant strains is the identification of microbial targets that disrupt bacterial adaptation and survival pathways. Among these, the SOS response is crucial, as it promotes DNA repair, mutagenesis, filamentation, and biofilm formation. The transcriptional repressor LexA is a central regulator of this system and represents a promising target for novel antibacterial strategies. In this study, we pursue the development of LexA inhibitors through a dual approach combining drug repurposing of FDA-approved benzoxaboroles with structure-based chemical optimization.