Screening and Molecular Docking of Novel Benzothiazole Derivatives as Potential Antimicrobial Agents

The burden of antibiotic resistance necessitates a continued search for new antimicrobials. We evaluated the antimicrobial activities of novel benzothiazoles synthesized by our group. Antibacterial activity was evaluated in vitro in Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and Escherichia coli, while the antifungal activity was tested in Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger, and expressed as the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC; µg/mL). MIC values of benzothiazole compounds ranged from 25 to 200 µg/mL. Compounds 3 and 4 gave high antibacterial and moderate antifungal activities, while 10 and 12 showed moderate activity against all tested organisms. In addition, some benzothiazole compounds significantly suppressed the activity of Escherichia coli dihydroorotase and inhibited the dimorphic transition of Candida albicans. Moreover, the active benzothiazole compounds induced DNA and protein leakage in Aspergillus niger spores. Molecular interactions of benzothiazole derivatives with dihydroorotase revealed the formation of hydrogen bonds with the active site residues LEU222 or ASN44. Strong hydrophobic interactions of the bulky thiazole and naphthalene rings at the entrance to the active site might interfere with the access of substrates to their binding sites, which results in dihydroorotase inhibition. Thus, inhibition of dihydroorotase might contribute to the observed antimicrobial actions of these compounds.