Antimicrobial activities of squalamine mimics Journal Article


Authors: Kikuchi, K.; Bernard, E. M.; Sadownik, A.; Regen, S. L.; Armstrong, D.
Article Title: Antimicrobial activities of squalamine mimics
Abstract: We investigated the antimicrobial properties of compounds with structural features that were designed to mimic those of squalamine, an antibiotic isolated from the stomach of the dogfish shark. The mimics, like squalamine, are sterol-polyamine conjugates. Unlike squalamine, the mimics were simple to prepare, at high yield, from readily available starting materials. Several squalamine mimics showed activity against gram-negative rods, gram-positive cocci including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium, and fungi. Some had little or no hemolytic activity. The hydrophobicity of the sterol backbone and the length and the cationic charge of the side chains appeared to be critical determinants of activity. One of the squalamine mimics, SM-7, was bactericidal against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and S. aureus; its activity was decreased by divalent or monovalent cations and by bovine serum albumin. Subinhibitory concentrations of SM-7 markedly enhanced the antimicrobial activity of rifampin against gram-negative rods. These results suggest that the compounds may disrupt an outer membrane of gram-negative rods. Squalamine mimics are a new class of broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents. The antagonism of their activity by serum and albumin and their hemolytic properties may limit their use as systemic agents. The squalamine mimics, because of their potencies, broad spectra of antimicrobial activity, and potential for systemic toxicity, appear to be good candidates for development as topical antimicrobial agents.
Keywords: antibiotic agent; unclassified drug; nonhuman; animal cell; logistic models; drug design; structure-activity relationship; anti-bacterial agents; escherichia coli; staphylococcus aureus; bacterial infection; mycosis; pseudomonas aeruginosa; antimicrobial activity; bacterial outer membrane; sheep; microbial sensitivity tests; enterococcus faecalis; priority journal; article; sm 7; squalene derivative; cholestanols
Journal Title: Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy
Volume: 41
Issue: 7
ISSN: 0066-4804
Publisher: American Society for Microbiology  
Date Published: 1997-07-01
Start Page: 1433
End Page: 1438
Language: English
PUBMED: 9210661
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC163935
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 17 March 2017 -- Source: Scopus
Citation Impact
MSK Authors
  1. Donald Armstrong
    240 Armstrong
  2. Edward M Bernard
    58 Bernard