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Updated: Feb 2, 2026
08:32
Development and Assessment of Intracellular Infection Models for Staphylococcus aureus
Published on: January 17, 2025
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The antimetabolite 3-bromopyruvate selectively inhibits Staphylococcus aureus
Paolo Visca1, Federica Pisa2, Francesco Imperi3
1Department of Sciences, University 'Roma Tre', Rome, Italy.
International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents
|November 26, 2018
Summary
The anticancer drug 3-bromopyruvate (3BP) shows potent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, including drug-resistant strains. This compound also disrupts bacterial biofilms, offering a potential new strategy against staphylococcal infections.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Drug Discovery
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Antibacterial resistance necessitates novel therapeutic agents with unique mechanisms of action.
- Current treatments face challenges due to increasing resistance in bacterial pathogens.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the antistaphylococcal activity of 3-bromopyruvate (3BP), an antimetabolite with preclinical anticancer applications.
- To evaluate the efficacy of 3BP against Staphylococcus aureus and other ESKAPE pathogens.
Main Methods:
- Assessed bactericidal activity of 3BP against Staphylococcus aureus, including multi-drug-resistant strains.
- Tested 3BP against a panel of ESKAPE bacteria (Enterococcus faecium, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter spp.).
- Evaluated 3BP's synergistic effects with gentamicin and its antibiofilm activity.
Main Results:
- 3-bromopyruvate demonstrated potent bactericidal activity against Staphylococcus aureus, comparable to its anticancer concentrations.
- No significant activity was observed against other ESKAPE bacteria, indicating selectivity.
- 3BP exhibited synergistic effects with gentamicin and disrupted preformed Staphylococcus aureus biofilms.
Conclusions:
- 3-bromopyruvate possesses novel antibacterial and antibiofilm properties against Staphylococcus aureus.
- 3BP represents a promising candidate for further preclinical development as an antistaphylococcal agent.
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