High efficacytreatment of murine Pseudomonas aeruginosa catheter-associated urinary tract infections using the c-di-GMP modulating anti-biofilmcompound Disperazol in combination with ciprofloxacin

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Persistent urinary tract infections (UTIs) in hospitalized patients constitute an important medical problem. It is estimated that 75% of nosocomial UTIs are associated with urinary tract catheters with P. aeruginosa being a species that forms biofilmson these catheters. These infections are highly resistant to standard-of-care antibiotics, and the effectsof the host immune defenses, which allows for development of persistent infections. With antibiotics losing their efficacy,new treatment options against resilient infections, such as catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs), are critically needed. Central to our anti-biofilmapproach is the manipulation of the c-di-GMP signaling pathway in P. aeruginosa to switch bacteria from the protective biofilmto the unprotected planktonic mode of life. We recently identifieda compound (H6-335-P1), that stimulates the c-di-GMP degrading activity of the P. aeruginosa BifA protein which plummets the intracellular c-di-GMP content and induces dispersal of P. aeruginosa biofilmbacteria into the planktonic state. In the present study, we formulated H6-335-P1 as a hydrochloride salt (Disperazol), which is water-soluble and facilitates delivery via injection or oral administration. Disperazol can work as a monotherapy, but we observed a 100-fold improvement in efficacywhen treating murine P. aeruginosa CAUTIs with a Disperazol/ciprofloxacincombination. Biologically active Disperazol reached the bladder 30 min after oral administration. Our study provides proof of concept that Disperazol can be used in combination with a relevant antibiotic for effectivetreatment of CAUTIs.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere01481-23
JournalAntimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy
Volume68
Issue number6
Number of pages16
ISSN0066-4804
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 American Society for Microbiology.

    Research areas

  • anti-biofilmcompound, antibiotic resistance (AMR), biofilm,infection, c-di-GMP regulation, CAUTI, Pseudomonas aeruginosa

ID: 394779828