Development of a database for sexually transmitted diseases and in silico studies on the inhibition of selected targets of Mycoplasma genitalium

Abstract

Mycoplasma genitalium (M. genitalium) has emerged as a significant sexually transmitted infection (STI) newlineglobally over the last three decades. Recognized as a cause of male urethritis, there is also evidence newlinesupporting its involvement in cervicitis and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in women, although the newlineprecise association with reproductive diseases such as infertility remains under investigation and requires newlinefurther research. M. genitalium is characterized by its slow growth, which historically posed diagnostic newlinechallenges. The introduction of nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) has facilitated more newlinecomprehensive studies, resulting in greater insight into the organism s pathogenicity and role in disease. newlineData accumulation has improved understanding of its epidemiology and contribution to disease newlinetransmission. The management of M. genitalium presents significant challenges, largely due to its rapid newlineacquisition of antibiotic resistance. The widespread use of single-dose azithromycin in the sexual health newlinefield has led to rising treatment failures, and cure rates for first-line antimicrobials have declined. This, newlinecombined with the serious side effects associated with the second-line antibiotics, has led M. genitalium to newlinebe called the new STI superbug . As a result, finding effective antibiotic therapy for resistant strains is newlineincreasingly problematic. Urethritis, a common STI, manifests as dysuria, urethral discharge, and newlineinflammation, and is caused by pathogens including Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, and newlineM. genitalium. The overuse of antibiotics has heightened global health concerns; as resistant bacterial newlinestrains have reemerged with enhanced defenses against conventional treatments. Compounding the newlineproblem, the pipeline for new antibiotics is limited, underlining the urgent need for novel therapies and newlinedrug classes. Phytochemicals, which are natural bioactive compounds derived from plants, have drawn newlineattention as promising candidates in combating drug-resistant bacteria. Classes such as ph