Exploiting a bacterial drug-resistance mechanism: a light-activated construct for the destruction of MRSA.
A cunning and dangerous plan foiled! An enzyme-specific molecular construct exploits the overexpression of beta-lactamase in several drug-resistant bacteria. Specific photodynamic toxicity was detected towards beta-lactam-resistant methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), whereby the usual mechanism for antibiotic resistance (cleavage of the beta-lactam ring) releases the phototoxic component from the prodrug (see picture; Q = quencher).
Zheng
Xiang
X
Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, 40 Blossom Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
Sallum
Ulysses W
UW
Verma
Sarika
S
Athar
Humra
H
Evans
Conor L
CL
Hasan
Tayyaba
T
D007700:Kinetics; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D011355:Prodrugs / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000633:toxicity
D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011355:Prodrugs; D001618:beta-Lactamases