biostudies-literatureFurlan BMICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033714https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11765573biostudies-literatureUnknown26(2)The widespread emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a serious threat to global public health and among Gram-positive cocci, <i>Streptococcus pneumoniae</i> constitutes a priority in the list of AMR-threatening pathogens. To counteract this fundamental problem, the bacterial cell division cycle and the crucial proteins involved in this process emerged as novel attractive targets. FtsZ is an essential cell division protein, and FtsZ inhibitors, especially the benzamide derivatives, have been exploited in the last decade. In this work, we identified, for the first time, some benzodioxane-benzamide inhibitors capable of targeting FtsZ in <i>Streptococcus pneumoniae</i>, in addition to their previously demonstrated activity against other bacteria. These promising benzamides, with miniInternational journal of molecular sciencesTargeting Bacterial Cell Division with Benzodioxane-Benzamide FtsZ Inhibitors as a Novel Strategy to Fight Gram-Positive Ovococcal Pathogens.PMC11765573PTA2020-018219-IPID2019-104544GB-I00PID2022-136951NB-I00Monterroso BValoti ESobrinos-Sanguino MStraniero VFurlan BZorrilla SSammartino MLanzini AMassidda OSuigo LfalseTargeting Bacterial Cell Division with Benzodioxane-Benzamide FtsZ Inhibitors as a Novel Strategy to Fight Gram-Positive Ovococcal Pathogens.The widespread emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a serious threat to global public health and among Gram-positive cocci, <i>Streptococcus pneumoniae</i> constitutes a priority in the list of AMR-threatening pathogens. To counteract this fundamental problem, the bacterial cell division cycle and the crucial proteins involved in this process emerged as novel attractive targets. FtsZ is an essential cell division protein, and FtsZ inhibitors, especially the benzamide derivatives, have been exploited in the last decade. In this work, we identified, for the first time, some benzodioxane-benzamide inhibitors capable of targeting FtsZ in <i>Streptococcus pneumoniae</i>, in addition to their previously demonstrated activity against other bacteria. These promising benzamides, with mini2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Jan2025-04-19T18:20:12.722Z2025-04-19T18:20:12.722ZS-EPMC117655733985942810.3390/ijms26020714