Shapeshifting bullvalene-linked vancomycin dimers as effective antibiotics against multidrug-resistant gram-positive bacteria.

Ottonello, Alessandra, Wyllie, Jessica A, Yahiaoui, Oussama, Sun, Shoujun, Koelln, Rebecca A, Homer, Joshua A, Johnson, Robert M, Murray, Ewan, Williams, Paul, Bolla, Jani R, Robinson, Carol V, Fallon, Thomas, Soares da Costa, Tatiana P, Moses, John E (April 2023) Shapeshifting bullvalene-linked vancomycin dimers as effective antibiotics against multidrug-resistant gram-positive bacteria. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of USA, 120 (15). e2208737120. ISSN 0027-8424

URL: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/37011186
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2208737120

Abstract

The alarming rise in superbugs that are resistant to drugs of last resort, including vancomycin-resistant enterococci and staphylococci, has become a significant global health hazard. Here, we report the click chemistry synthesis of an unprecedented class of shapeshifting vancomycin dimers (SVDs) that display potent activity against bacteria that are resistant to the parent drug, including the ESKAPE pathogens, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), as well as vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA). The shapeshifting modality of the dimers is powered by a triazole-linked bullvalene core, exploiting the dynamic covalent rearrangements of the fluxional carbon cage and creating ligands with the capacity to inhibit bacterial cell wall biosynthesis. The new shapeshifting antibiotics are not disadvantaged by the common mechanism of vancomycin resistance resulting from the alteration of the C-terminal dipeptide with the corresponding d-Ala-d-Lac depsipeptide. Further, evidence suggests that the shapeshifting ligands destabilize the complex formed between the flippase MurJ and lipid II, implying the potential for a new mode of action for polyvalent glycopeptides. The SVDs show little propensity for acquired resistance by enterococci, suggesting that this new class of shapeshifting antibiotic will display durable antimicrobial activity not prone to rapidly acquired clinical resistance.

Item Type: Paper
Subjects: diseases & disorders > Bacterial Infections
diseases & disorders
CSHL Authors:
Communities: CSHL labs > Moses lab
CSHL Cancer Center Program
CSHL Cancer Center Program > Gene Regulation and Inheritance Program
SWORD Depositor: CSHL Elements
Depositing User: CSHL Elements
Date: 11 April 2023
Date Deposited: 20 Apr 2023 19:01
Last Modified: 09 Feb 2024 15:41
PMCID: PMC10104512
Related URLs:
URI: https://repository.cshl.edu/id/eprint/40881

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