Exploring the repurposed role of solithromycin as an antivirulence agent against Staphylococcus aureus and its...

Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium that can cause various infections. The rise in Staphylococcal-resistant infections has led to the need for new treatments. The accessory gene regulator (agr) quorum-sensing system, which regulates the expression of genes involved in hemolysin, protease, and biofilm production, has been implicated in the virulence of S. aureus's pathological characteristics.

This study investigates the potential of Solithromycin (SOL), a next-generation macrolide with broad-spectrum activity, to be repurposed as an antivirulence agent against S. aureus, MRSA, and ΔagrA strains.

Using various antibacterial assays, the antibacterial and antivirulence activities of SOL were evaluated against S. aureus, MRSA, and ΔagrA strains. The sub-inhibitory concentration MIC₅₀ of SOL was tested for anti-virulence activity by assessing motility, biofilm formation, hemolysin, and protease production. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) were used to visualize biofilm morphology. Conventional PCR was used to detect virulence genes following SOL treatment.

SOL demonstrated significant antibacterial efficacy against S. aureus, MRSA, and ΔagrA strains with MIC₉₀ (0.8 μg/mL) and MIC₅₀ (0.4 μg/mL). SOL decreased S. aureus motility at MIC₅₀ but had no effect on MRSA and ΔagrA strains. Hemolysin and protease activities were unaffected in all the tested strains. SEM and CLSM revealed significant reductions in biofilm formation and thickness. SOL at MIC₉₀ and MIC₅₀ reduced Congo red staining intensity. MIC₅₀ inhibited MRSA and ΔagrA biofilms by 36.6 and 56.4%, respectively, with no significant effect on S. aureus biofilms in the crystal violet assay. PCR showed no leukocidin gene in the treated strains.

This study highlights the potential of SOL as an antivirulence agent, emphasizing the importance of targeting regulators, such as ΔagrA, in managing S. aureus infections.