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Establishing the Minimal Bactericidal Concentration of an Antimicrobial Agent for Planktonic Cells (MBC-P) and Biofilm Cells (MBC-B)
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Resistance to and synthesis of the antibiotic mupirocin

Christopher M Thomas1, Joanne Hothersall, Christine L Willis

  • 1School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.

Nature Reviews. Microbiology
|March 2, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Mupirocin, an antibiotic for skin infections and MRSA, exhibits resistance through target mutation or alternative enzymes. Understanding its biosynthesis and chemical synthesis aids in developing future antibiotics.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Biochemistry
  • Medicinal Chemistry

Background:

  • Mupirocin is a polyketide antibiotic effective against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and various skin infections.
  • Resistance to mupirocin can be low-level (target mutation) or high-level (alternative isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize the mechanisms of mupirocin resistance.
  • To describe the biosynthesis of mupirocin.
  • To highlight the potential for future antibiotic development.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on mupirocin.
  • Analysis of mupirocin biosynthesis pathways.
  • Consideration of chemical synthesis approaches.

Main Results:

  • Identified two distinct mechanisms of mupirocin resistance.
  • Detailed the genetic basis of mupirocin biosynthesis involving polyketide synthases and tailoring enzymes.
  • Confirmed the feasibility of chemical synthesis for mupirocin.

Conclusions:

  • Knowledge of mupirocin's resistance mechanisms and biosynthesis is crucial for combating MRSA.
  • The biosynthesis pathway and chemical synthesis provide a foundation for creating novel mupirocin derivatives and antibiotics.

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