Antibacterial mechanism of hyper-branched poly-L-lysine against methicillin-resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> and its synergistic and antagonistic interactions with conventional antibiotics.

ABSTRACT: The global proliferation of multidrug-resistant pathogens, particularly methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), constitutes a severe threat to public health, rendering many conventional antibiotics obsolete. In the post-antibiotic era, where the pace of bacterial resistance evolution far exceeds that of new drug discovery, novel therapeutic strategies are urgently required. This study investigates the antibacterial potential of hyper-branched poly-L-lysine (HBPL), a synthetic antimicrobial polymer, against MRSA. We elucidate a multi-modal, physically disruptive mechanism of action initiated by electrostatic binding to the bacterial envelope, followed by rapid membrane permeabilization and cellular collapse, as visualized by electron and confocal microscopy. HBPL demonstr

SUBMITTER: Wang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12540308 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature