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

Nat Chem. 2020 Feb;12(2):145-158. doi: 10.1038/s41557-019-0378-7. Epub 2019 Dec 16.

Abstract

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacokinetics
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Autolysis / chemically induced
  • Benzodioxoles / chemical synthesis
  • Benzodioxoles / pharmacokinetics
  • Benzodioxoles / therapeutic use*
  • Biofilms / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Drug Repositioning*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects*
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / physiology
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Molecular Dynamics Simulation
  • Molecular Structure
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Sorafenib / analogs & derivatives*
  • Sorafenib / pharmacokinetics
  • Sorafenib / therapeutic use*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Benzodioxoles
  • PK150 antibacterial compound
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Sorafenib