Sodium butyrate inhibits the expression of virulence factors in <i>Vibrio cholerae</i> by targeting ToxT protein

The world has been facing an upsurge in cholera cases since 2021, a similar trend continuing into 2022, with over 29 countries reporting cholera outbreaks (World Health Organization, 16 December 2022, Disease Outbreak News, Cholera-global situation). Treatment of cholera involves oral rehydration therapy coupled with antibiotics to reduce the duration of the illness. However, in recent years, indiscriminate use of antibiotics has contributed to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains. In this study, we have addressed the problem of antibiotic resistance by targeting virulence factors. Screening various compounds using <i>in silico</i> methods led to the identification of a small molecule, SB, that inhibits the virulence cascade in <i>V. cholerae</i>. We demonstrated that (i) SB intervened in ToxT protein-DNA binding and subsequently affected the expression of ToxT-regulated virulence genes (<i>ctxAB</i> and <i>tcpA</i>) and (ii) SB is a potential therapeutic candidate for the development of a novel antimicrobial agent.