A new
class of fused quinazolines has been designed and synthesized
via copper-catalyzed Ullmann type C–N coupling followed by
intramolecular cross-dehydrogenative coupling reaction in moderate
to good yields. The synthesized compounds were tested for in vitro
antibacterial activity against three Gram negative (
Escherichia coli
,
Pseudomonas putida
, and
Salmonella typhi
) and two Gram
positive (
Bacillus subtilis
, and
Staphylococcus aureus
) bacteria. Among all tested
compounds,
8ga
,
8gc
, and
8gd
exhibited promising minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values
(4–8 μg/mL) for all bacterial strains tested as compared
to the positive control ciprofloxacin. The synthesized compounds were
also evaluated for their in vitro antifungal activity against
Aspergillus niger
and
Candida albicans
and compounds
8ga
,
8gc
, and
8gd
having potential antibacterial activity also showed pronounced antifungal
activity (MIC values 8–16 μg/mL) against both strains.
The bactericidal assay by propidium iodide and live–dead bacterial
cell screening using a mixture of acridine orange/ethidium bromide
(AO/Et·Br) showed considerable changes in the bacterial cell
membrane, which might be the cause or consequence of cell death. Moreover,
the hemolytic activity for most potent compounds (
8ga
,
8gc
, and
8gd
) showed their safety profile
toward human blood cells.
According
to the World Health Organization, antibiotic resistance
is a global health threat. Of particular importance are infections
caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria including Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa for which limited treatment
options exist. Multiple and simultaneously occurring resistance mechanisms
including outer membrane impermeability, overexpression of efflux
pumps, antibiotic-modifying enzymes, and modification of genes and
antibiotic targets have made antibiotic drug development more difficult
against these pathogens. One strategy to cope with these challenges
is the use of outer membrane permeabilizers that increase the intracellular
concentration of antibiotics when used in combination. In some circumstances,
this approach can rescue antibiotics from resistance or repurpose
currently marketed antibiotics. Tobramycin-based hybrid antibiotic
adjuvants that combine two outer membrane-active components have been
previously shown to potentiate antibiotics by facilitating transit
through the outer membrane, resulting in increased antibiotic accumulation
within the cell. Herein, we extended the concept of tobramycin-based
hybrid antibiotic adjuvants to tobramycin-based chimeras by engineering
up to three different membrane-active antibiotic warheads such as
tobramycin, 1-(1-naphthylmethyl)-piperazine, ciprofloxacin, and cyclam
into a central 1,3,5-triazine scaffold. Chimera 4 (TOB-TOB-CIP)
consistently synergized with ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and moxifloxacin
against wild-type and fluoroquinolone-resistant P.
aeruginosa. Moreover, the susceptibility breakpoints
of ceftazidime, aztreonam, and imipenem were reached using the triple
combination of chimera 4 with ceftazidime/avibactam,
aztreonam/avibactam, and imipenem/relebactam, respectively, against
β-lactamase-harboring P. aeruginosa. Our findings demonstrate that tobramycin-based chimeras form a
novel class of antibiotic potentiators capable of restoring the activity
of antibiotics against P. aeruginosa.
Highlights
L-Rham induces apoptosis-independent cell death in high grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) cells.
L-Rham-induced cell death is dose and time dependent in HGSOC cells grown as 2D or 3D cultures.
L-Rham is as effective as paclitaxel to reduce tumor burden and metastasis in a CAM model.
L-Rham significantly reduces tumor formation in a low tumor burden model.
L-Rham blocks ascites formation.
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