Synthetic Cation Transporters Eradicate Drug-Resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>, Persisters, and Biofilms.

ABSTRACT: New drugs are urgently required to address the ongoing health crisis caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections. Added to the challenge is the difficult-to-treat persister cells and biofilm which are tolerant to the antibiotics. Here we report a new approach to these problems, describing the design and synthesis of aminoxy-acid-based dipeptides that facilitate cation transport across cell membranes to disrupt bacterial ion homeostasis. Remarkably, these synthetic cation transporters display significant antibacterial activity against MRSA, while maintaining high selectivity over mammalian cells. They also effectively eliminate bacterial persisters and reduce established biofilms. Additionally, they inhibit biofilm formation and suppress bacterial virulent

SUBMITTER: Fong PM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11938004 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature