Targeting the G-quadruplex as a novel strategy for developing antibiotics against hypervirulent drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The rapid emergence of multiple drug-resistant (MDR) bacterial pathogens and the lack of a novel antibiotic pipeline pose a serious threat to global healthcare. The limited number of established targets further restricts the identification of novel antibiotics to treat life-threatening MDR infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus strains. Therefore, novel targets for developing antibiotics are urgently required. In this study, we hypothesized that the G-quadruplex (G4)-binding ligands can be used as novel antibiotics as their binding can possibly downregulate/block the expression of vital genes.

Methods

To test this, first we screened the antibiotic properties of representative G4-binding ligands against hypervirulent and MDR S. aureus USA300 and determined the

SUBMITTER: Sultan M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11796246 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature