The introductions of the bicyclic 4-nitroimidazole and the oxazolidinone classes of antimicrobial agents represented the most significant advancements in the infectious disease area during the past two decades. Pretomanid, a bicyclic 4-nitroimidazole, and linezolid, an oxazolidinone, are also part of a combination regimen approved recently by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of pulmonary, extensively drug resistant (XDR), treatment-intolerant or nonresponsive multidrug-resistant (MDR) Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB). To identify new antimicrobial agents with reduced propensity for the development of resistance, a series of dual-acting nitroimidazole-oxazolidinone conjugates were designed, synthesized and evaluated for their antimicrobial activity. Compounds in this conjugate series have shown synergistic activity against a panel of anaerobic bacteria, including those responsible for serious bacterial infections.

No abstract

TNP-2198, a stable conjugate of a rifamycin pharmacophore and a nitroimidazole pharmacophore, has been designed, synthesized, and evaluated as a novel dual-targeted antibacterial agent for the treatment of microaerophilic and anaerobic bacterial infections. TNP-2198 exhibits greater activity than a 1:1 molar mixture of the parent drugs and exhibits activity against strains resistant to both rifamycins and nitroimidazoles. A crystal structure of TNP-2198 bound to a Mycobacterium tuberculosis RNA polymerase transcription initiation complex reveals that the rifamycin portion of TNP-2198 binds to the rifamycin binding site on RNAP and the nitroimidazole portion of TNP-2198 interacts directly with the DNA template-strand in the RNAP active-center cleft, forming a hydrogen bond with a base of the DNA template strand. TNP-2198 is currently in Phase 2 clinical development for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection, Clostridioides difficile infection, and bacterial vaginosis.

BackgroundInfection occurs in ~1–2% of prosthetic joint replacement surgeries, with staphylococci being the most common cause. TNP-2092 is an investigational drug composed of rifamycin and quinolizinone pharmacophores conjugated via a stable linker. Here, we determined TNP-2092’s in vitro activity against biofilms formed by staphylococci associated with prosthetic joint infection and compared activity to that of ciprofloxacin and rifampin alone and in combination, as well as to daptomycin and vancomycin.MethodsA total of 80 staphylococcal isolates (40 Staphylococcus aureus and 40 Staphylococcus epidermidis) were studied. Planktonic state minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of TNP-2092, ciprofloxacin, rifampin, ciprofloxacin + fixed concentration (1 mg/mL) rifampin, daptomycin and vancomycin were determined following CLSI guidelines. Tween-80（0.002%）was added to TNP-2092 to prevent drug binding to plastic plates. Minimum biofilm inhibitory concentrations (MBICs) and minimum biofilm bactericidal concentration (MBBCs) were determined as follows. Bacteria were grown in TSB to logarithmic phase and adjusted to a turbidity of 0.5 McFarland; 150 µL aliquots were transferred to individual wells of 96-well flat-bottom plates and the plates covered with 96-pegged lids. Plates were incubated on a shaker for 5 hours at 37℃. Pegged lids were rinsed using 200 µL PBS/well and placed into a microtiter plate containing serial 2-fold drug dilutions in CAMHB Plates were incubated for 20–24 hours at 37°C and MBICs read by visual turbidity. Pegged lids were rinsed with PBS and placed into plates filled with 200 µL CAMHB/well and incubated for 20–24 hours at 37°C after which MBBCs were determined by assessing visual turbidity.ResultsResults shown in the table.ConclusionTNP-2092 has promising in vitro activity against prosthetic joint infection-associated staphylococcal biofilms. DisclosuresRobin Patel, MD, ASM and IDSA: Other Financial or Material Support, Travel reimbursement, editor’s stipends; CD Diagnostics, Merck, Hutchison Biofilm Medical Solutions, Accelerate Diagnostics, ContraFect, TenNor Therapeutics Limited, Shionogi: Grant/Research Support; Curetis, Specific Technologies, NextGen Diagnostics, PathoQuest, Qvella: Consultant; NBME, Up-to-Date, the Infectious Diseases Board Review Course: Honorarium recipient, Other Financial or Material Support; Patent on Bordetella pertussis/parapertussis PCR issued, a patent on a device/method for sonication with royalties paid by Samsung to Mayo Clinic, and a patent on an anti-biofilm substance issued: Other Financial or Material Support, Patents.