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Updated: Oct 16, 2026

Assay Development for High-Throughput Drug Screening Against Mycobacteria
Published on: October 25, 2024
Fingolimod potentiates minocycline against multidrug-resistant Elizabethkingia
Jie Sun1, Qiang Feng1, Can Yang2
1Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Affiliated Taian City Central Hospital of Qingdao University, Taian, China.
Objectives:
Elizabethkingia spp. are intrinsically resistant to multiple antimicrobial classes and are emerging nosocomial pathogens. This study evaluated the antibacterial activity of fingolimod against Elizabethkingia and its interaction with minocycline.
Methods:
Sixteen residual clinical isolates were examined. Baseline single-agent susceptibility was assessed by a single disk-diffusion determination and by VITEK 2. Fingolimod MIC and MBC values were measured by broth microdilution. Biofilm formation was quantified by crystal violet staining. Fingolimod-minocycline interactions were evaluated by checkerboard and time-kill assays. Preliminary protective activity was examined in a Galleria mellonella model infected with EA12.
Results:
Disk diffusion and VITEK 2 showed method-dependent discordance for piperacillin-tazobactam. Fifteen of 16 isolates formed biofilm; 13 of these 15 were weak and two were moderate producers. Fingolimod MICs ranged from 6.25 to 25 μg/mL. Fingolimod reduced the minocycline MIC by 4-8-fold in six synergistic isolates. The combination produced preliminary, isolate-specific protection in Galleria mellonella infected with EA12.
Conclusion:
Fingolimod exhibits antibacterial activity against Elizabethkingia spp. and potentiates minocycline in a subset of isolates. These findings support further development of fingolimod-based combination strategies and optimization of the fingolimod scaffold.
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