Recent developments of quinolone-based derivatives and their activities against Escherichia coli

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is the most common pathogen in both hospital and community settings, and is capable of causing infections that can lead to serious consequences. Quinolones, one of the most common antibiotics in clinical use, are effective weapons to treat E. coli infections. However, the resistance of E. coli to quinolones develops rapidly and spreads widely. Thus, it has become increasingly urgent to enhance the potency of quinolones against both drug-susceptible and drug-resistant E. coli. This review aims to summarize the recent developments of quinolone derivatives with potential activity against E. coli, and to discuss the structure-activity relationship for further rationale design of this kind of derivatives.