Catechol-substituted siderophore colistin exhibits superior antimicrobial activity than its unmodified polypeptide counterpart

Abstract Catechol moieties have been covalently coupled to the last-resort polypeptide antibiotic colistin via esterification and amidation reactions, inspired by the superior antimicrobial action of cefiderocol, i.e., a catechol-substituted siderophore cephalosporin. Among the tested strategies, th...

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Main Authors: Sara Bescós-Ramo, Enrique Gámez, María del Mar Encabo-Berzosa, Milagros Piñol, Luis Oriol, Manuel Arruebo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-06-01
Series:BMC Chemistry
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13065-025-01538-7
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author Sara Bescós-Ramo
Enrique Gámez
María del Mar Encabo-Berzosa
Milagros Piñol
Luis Oriol
Manuel Arruebo
author_facet Sara Bescós-Ramo
Enrique Gámez
María del Mar Encabo-Berzosa
Milagros Piñol
Luis Oriol
Manuel Arruebo
author_sort Sara Bescós-Ramo
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Catechol moieties have been covalently coupled to the last-resort polypeptide antibiotic colistin via esterification and amidation reactions, inspired by the superior antimicrobial action of cefiderocol, i.e., a catechol-substituted siderophore cephalosporin. Among the tested strategies, the incorporation of the catechol motif by amidation reduces by 50% the minimum concentration to inhibit the growth of a clinical strain of uropathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli) in its planktonic form. Its minimum bactericidal concentration is reduced by 25% after chemical modification. The tested modified antibiotic did not show cytotoxicity against human fibroblasts and keratinocytes at bactericidal doses. Additionally, due to the potential nephrotoxicity of colistin, the cytotoxicity of this catechol-substituted siderophore colistin was evaluated in a 3D model of human renal organoids showing no cytotoxicity at the doses tested. The chemical incorporation of catechol groups to existing antibiotics can reduce the doses to exert a fast antimicrobial action reducing the chances to develop antibiotic resistance.
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publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher BMC
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series BMC Chemistry
spelling doaj-art-8cc0782aafaa429783fe56ebd24ec8942025-08-20T02:40:14ZengBMCBMC Chemistry2661-801X2025-06-0119111410.1186/s13065-025-01538-7Catechol-substituted siderophore colistin exhibits superior antimicrobial activity than its unmodified polypeptide counterpartSara Bescós-Ramo0Enrique Gámez1María del Mar Encabo-Berzosa2Milagros Piñol3Luis Oriol4Manuel Arruebo5Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón (INMA), CSIC-Universidad de ZaragozaInstituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón (INMA), CSIC-Universidad de ZaragozaInstituto Aragonés de Ciencias de la Salud (IACS)Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón (INMA), CSIC-Universidad de ZaragozaInstituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón (INMA), CSIC-Universidad de ZaragozaInstituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón (INMA), CSIC-Universidad de ZaragozaAbstract Catechol moieties have been covalently coupled to the last-resort polypeptide antibiotic colistin via esterification and amidation reactions, inspired by the superior antimicrobial action of cefiderocol, i.e., a catechol-substituted siderophore cephalosporin. Among the tested strategies, the incorporation of the catechol motif by amidation reduces by 50% the minimum concentration to inhibit the growth of a clinical strain of uropathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli) in its planktonic form. Its minimum bactericidal concentration is reduced by 25% after chemical modification. The tested modified antibiotic did not show cytotoxicity against human fibroblasts and keratinocytes at bactericidal doses. Additionally, due to the potential nephrotoxicity of colistin, the cytotoxicity of this catechol-substituted siderophore colistin was evaluated in a 3D model of human renal organoids showing no cytotoxicity at the doses tested. The chemical incorporation of catechol groups to existing antibiotics can reduce the doses to exert a fast antimicrobial action reducing the chances to develop antibiotic resistance.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13065-025-01538-7ColistinAntibioticCatecholSiderophorePolymyxin EEsterification
spellingShingle Sara Bescós-Ramo
Enrique Gámez
María del Mar Encabo-Berzosa
Milagros Piñol
Luis Oriol
Manuel Arruebo
Catechol-substituted siderophore colistin exhibits superior antimicrobial activity than its unmodified polypeptide counterpart
BMC Chemistry
Colistin
Antibiotic
Catechol
Siderophore
Polymyxin E
Esterification
title Catechol-substituted siderophore colistin exhibits superior antimicrobial activity than its unmodified polypeptide counterpart
title_full Catechol-substituted siderophore colistin exhibits superior antimicrobial activity than its unmodified polypeptide counterpart
title_fullStr Catechol-substituted siderophore colistin exhibits superior antimicrobial activity than its unmodified polypeptide counterpart
title_full_unstemmed Catechol-substituted siderophore colistin exhibits superior antimicrobial activity than its unmodified polypeptide counterpart
title_short Catechol-substituted siderophore colistin exhibits superior antimicrobial activity than its unmodified polypeptide counterpart
title_sort catechol substituted siderophore colistin exhibits superior antimicrobial activity than its unmodified polypeptide counterpart
topic Colistin
Antibiotic
Catechol
Siderophore
Polymyxin E
Esterification
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13065-025-01538-7
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