Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 4, 2026
10:51
The Synthesis, Characterization and Reactivity of a Series of Ruthenium N-triphosPh Complexes
Published on: April 10, 2015
Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial Activity of a Ruthenium(II) Polypyridyl Complex against Multidrug-Resistant Uropathogens
Beth James1, Simon D Fairbanks2, Mia Horton3
1Medical Technologies Innovation Facility (MTIF), Nottingham Trent University, Clifton Lane, Nottingham NG11 8NS, U.K.
ACS Omega
|July 3, 2026
Summary
KLS-116, a novel ruthenium complex, effectively combats multidrug-resistant bacteria and eradicates biofilms, offering a promising solution for device-associated infections like catheter-associated urinary tract infections.
Area of Science:
- Medicinal Chemistry
- Microbiology
- Biomaterials Science
Background:
- Antimicrobial resistance and biofilm formation are critical challenges in treating device-associated infections.
- Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) represent a significant clinical burden.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate KLS-116, a ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complex, as a potential next-generation antimicrobial agent.
- To assess KLS-116's efficacy against multidrug-resistant uropathogens and its activity against bacterial biofilms.
Main Methods:
- Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined for various uropathogens.
- Checkerboard assays were performed to evaluate KLS-116's interaction with conventional antibiotics.
- Biofilm eradication was assessed in both static and dynamic (continuous-flow catheter) models.
Main Results:
- KLS-116 demonstrated potent bactericidal activity with MICs ≤ 25 μM against diverse uropathogens.
- No antagonistic interactions were observed when KLS-116 was combined with standard antibiotics.
- KLS-116 significantly reduced mature biofilms in catheter models and showed a low propensity for resistance development over 42 days.
Conclusions:
- KLS-116 exhibits broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and potent anti-biofilm properties.
- Its favorable resistance profile and compatibility with existing antibiotics make it a promising candidate for managing CAUTIs and other biofilm-related infections.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:25Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA
Antibiotic resistance in bacteria arises when microorganisms evolve the ability to withstand drugs designed to kill them or inhibit their growth, rendering once-effective treatments useless. This phenomenon, driven by genetic change and selection under antibiotic exposure, poses a profound threat to modern medicine. Mechanisms include drug-inactivating enzymes (e.g., β-lactamases), efflux pumps that eject antibiotics, mutations altering antibiotic targets, decreased drug uptake, and acquisition...
01:25Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within the One...
01:28Inhibitors of Bacterial DNA Synthesis
Bacterial pathogens depend on precise and efficient DNA replication to sustain infection. Two type II topoisomerases—DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV—are critical to this process, as they resolve DNA supercoiling and unlink chromosomes during replication. Fluoroquinolones, synthetic derivatives of quinolones, exploit this mechanism by stabilizing the transient DNA–enzyme cleavage complex, preventing strand religation, and causing lethal double-strand breaks. These antibiotics are selectively...
01:27Combined Effects of Drugs: Synergism
Synergism is a useful mechanism where combining two or more drugs is more effective than each constituent used alone. Such combinations are also called supra-additive interactions. The drugs collectively enhance the final therapeutic effect by acting on different targets. Another advantage is that the low dose of each constituent drug is sufficient to achieve the desired effect. This helps reduce the duration of therapy and lower the adverse effects of these drugs.
Such synergistic combinations...
Such synergistic combinations...
01:28Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing
Quorum sensing is a mechanism of bacterial communication that enables coordinated gene expression in response to changes in population density. This facilitates collective behaviors that enhance survival, resource acquisition, and ecological adaptation. This process relies on small signaling molecules called autoinducers that accumulate as bacterial populations grow. When a critical threshold concentration of autoinducers is reached, bacterial cells collectively modify gene expression,...
01:29Biofilms
Biofilms are complex communities of microorganisms encased in a self-produced extracellular polysaccharide matrix attached to surfaces. These microbial consortia can include single or multiple species, providing enhanced survival benefits by forming organized, multilayered structures.The formation of biofilms occurs through four key stages: attachment, colonization, development, and dispersal.During attachment, free-swimming planktonic cells adhere to a surface, often facilitated by...