Piericidin bacterial inhibitors

A method of selecting a bacterial type III secretion system inhibitor, the method comprising:

• infecting a mammalian cell with a Gram negative bacterium, wherein the mammalian cell comprising an NF-κB reporter, and wherein the Gram negative bacterium is characterized as having a type III secretion system and is selected from Yersina spp. or Pseudomonas spp;
• contacting the mammalian cell with a screening compound;
• measuring a first expression level of the NF-κB reporter in the presence of the screening compound, wherein the screening compound is provided in a vehicle;
• measuring a second expression level of the NF-κB reporter in the presence of the vehicle without the screening compound;
• and
• identifying the screening compound as a bacterial type III secretion system inhibitor if the first expression level is less than the second expression level.