Resensitizing carbapenem- and colistin-resistant bacteria to antibiotics using auranofin

Nat Commun. 2020 Oct 16;11(1):5263. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-18939-y.

Abstract

Global emergence of Gram-negative bacteria carrying the plasmid-borne resistance genes, blaMBL and mcr, raises a significant challenge to the treatment of life-threatening infections by the antibiotics, carbapenem and colistin (COL). Here, we identify an antirheumatic drug, auranofin (AUR) as a dual inhibitor of metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs) and mobilized colistin resistance (MCRs), two resistance enzymes that have distinct structures and substrates. We demonstrate that AUR irreversibly abrogates both enzyme activity via the displacement of Zn(II) cofactors from their active sites. We further show that AUR synergizes with antibiotics on killing a broad spectrum of carbapenem and/or COL resistant bacterial strains, and slows down the development of β-lactam and COL resistance. Combination of AUR and COL rescues all mice infected by Escherichia coli co-expressing MCR-1 and New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase 5 (NDM-5). Our findings provide potential therapeutic strategy to combine AUR with antibiotics for combating superbugs co-producing MBLs and MCRs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Auranofin / administration & dosage*
  • Carbapenems / pharmacology*
  • Colistin / pharmacology*
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial
  • Escherichia coli / drug effects
  • Escherichia coli / enzymology
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Escherichia coli Infections / drug therapy*
  • Escherichia coli Infections / microbiology
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / genetics
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / metabolism
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • beta-Lactamase Inhibitors / administration & dosage*
  • beta-Lactamases / genetics
  • beta-Lactamases / metabolism

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Carbapenems
  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • beta-Lactamase Inhibitors
  • Auranofin
  • beta-Lactamases
  • Colistin