A novel drug that reduces pneumococcal toxicity by targeting pneumolysin (PLY): efficacy of the traditional Chinese medicine Radix Paeoniae Alba
This study provides the first evidence that a multicomponent TCM achieves targeted antivirulence effects by blocking PLY oligomerization, providing a resistance-proof therapeutic strategy. Our findings bridge the "body-strengthening and evil-eliminating" principle of TCM with molecular pathogenesis, highlighting the potential of RPA as a novel antivirulence agent for pneumococcal infections.
Authors
- Liping Sun (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3679-4469)
- Jing Han (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6824-4595)
- Yonglin Zhou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7704-187X)
- Yan Xu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2697-1297)
Institutions
- Ningxia University (CN)
- Huzhou Vocational and Technical College (CN)
- Changchun University of Chinese Medicine (CN)
- The Affiliated Hospital to Changchun University of Chinese Medicine (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Frontiers in Pharmacology
- Published
- 2025-11-10
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2025.1609457
- Primary Topic
- Pneumonia and Respiratory Infections
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- China Postdoctoral Science Foundation