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Updated: May 29, 2026

Visualization of Bacterial Resistance using Fluorescent Antibiotic Probes
Published on: March 2, 2020
Mode of action investigation for the antibacterial cationic anthraquinone analogs
Ka Yee Chan1, Jianjun Zhang, Cheng-Wei Tom Chang
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Utah State University, 0300 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322 0300, USA.
Abstract:
Reported previously by our group, we have developed a novel class of antibacterial cationic anthraquinone analogs with superb potency (MIC <1μg/mL) against Gram positive (G+) pathogens including Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). However, most of these compounds only manifest modest antibacterial activity against Gram negative (G-) bacteria. Further investigation on the antibacterial mode of action using fluorogenic dyes reveals that these compounds exert two different modes of action that account for the difference in their antibacterial profile. It was found that most of the compounds exert their antibacterial activity by disrupting the redox processes of bacteria. At high concentration, these compounds can also act as membrane disrupting agents. This information can help to design new therapeutics against various bacteria.
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