Repurposing human kinase inhibitors to create an antibiotic active against drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, persisters and biofilms.

Le P, Kunold E, Macsics R, Rox K, Jennings MC, Ugur I, Reinecke M, Chaves-Moreno D, Hackl MW, Fetzer C, Mandl FAM, Lehmann J, Korotkov VS, Hacker SM, Kuster B, Antes I, Pieper DH, Rohde M, Wuest WM, Medina E, Sieber SA

Nat Chem 12 (2) 145-158 [2020-02-00; online 2019-12-16]

New drugs are desperately needed to combat methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections. Here, we report screening commercial kinase inhibitors for antibacterial activity and found the anticancer drug sorafenib as major hit that effectively kills MRSA strains. Varying the key structural features led to the identification of a potent analogue, PK150, that showed antibacterial activity against several pathogenic strains at submicromolar concentrations. Furthermore, this antibiotic eliminated challenging persisters as well as established biofilms. PK150 holds promising therapeutic potential as it did not induce in vitro resistance, and shows oral bioavailability and in vivo efficacy. Analysis of the mode of action using chemical proteomics revealed several targets, which included interference with menaquinone biosynthesis by inhibiting demethylmenaquinone methyltransferase and the stimulation of protein secretion by altering the activity of signal peptidase IB. Reduced endogenous menaquinone levels along with enhanced levels of extracellular proteins of PK150-treated bacteria support this target hypothesis. The associated antibiotic effects, especially the lack of resistance development, probably stem from the compound's polypharmacology.

PubMed 31844194

DOI 10.1038/s41557-019-0378-7

Crossref 10.1038/s41557-019-0378-7

mid: EMS84651
pmc: PMC6994260
pii: 10.1038/s41557-019-0378-7