A whole cell luminescence-based screen for inhibitors of the bacterial Sec machinery

There is a pressing need for new antibiotics to combat rising resistance to those already in use. The bacterial general secretion (Sec) system has long been considered a good target for novel antimicrobials thanks to its irreplacable role in maintaining cell envelope integrity; yet the lack of a robust, high-throughput method to screen for Sec inhibition has so far hampered efforts to realise this potential. Here, we have adapted our recently-developed in vitro assay for Sec activity – based on the split NanoLuc luciferase – to work at scale and in living cells. A simple counterscreen allows compounds that specifically target Sec to be distinguished from those with other effects on cellular function. As proof of principle we have applied this assay to a library of 5000 compounds and identified a handful of moderately effective in vivo inhibitors of Sec. We therefore anticipate that the methods presented here will be scalable to larger compound libraries, in the ultimate quest for Sec inhibitors with clinically relevant properties.