A small-molecular inhibitor against Proteus mirabilis urease to treat catheter-associated urinary tract infections

Sci Rep. 2021 Feb 12;11(1):3726. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-83257-2.

Abstract

Infection and blockage of indwelling urinary catheters is significant owing to its high incidence rate and severe medical consequences. Bacterial enzymes are employed as targets for small molecular intervention in human bacterial infections. Urease is a metalloenzyme known to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis and virulence of catheter-associated Proteus mirabilis infection. Targeting urease as a therapeutic candidate facilitates the disarming of bacterial virulence without affecting bacterial fitness, thereby limiting the selective pressure placed on the invading population and lowering the rate at which it will acquire resistance. We describe the design, synthesis, and in vitro evaluation of the small molecular enzyme inhibitor 2-mercaptoacetamide (2-MA), which can prevent encrustation and blockage of urinary catheters in a physiologically representative in vitro model of the catheterized urinary tract. 2-MA is a structural analogue of urea, showing promising competitive activity against urease. In silico docking experiments demonstrated 2-MA's competitive inhibition, whilst further quantum level modelling suggests two possible binding mechanisms.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amidines / pharmacology
  • Amidines / therapeutic use*
  • HaCaT Cells
  • Humans
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy
  • Proteus Infections / drug therapy*
  • Proteus mirabilis / enzymology*
  • Toxicity Tests
  • Urease / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Urinary Catheterization / adverse effects*
  • Urinary Tract Infections / drug therapy*
  • Urinary Tract Infections / microbiology

Substances

  • Amidines
  • 2-mercaptoacetamidine
  • Urease