title: Drug repositioning: auranofin as a prospective antimicrobial agent for the treatment of severe staphylococcal infections.
abstract: Auranofin, (AF), a gold(I) complex in clinical use for the therapy of rheumatoid arthritis, is reported here to produce remarkable bactericidal effects in vitro against Staphylococcus sp. Noticeably, a similar antimicrobial action and potency are also noticed toward a few methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains but not toward Escherichia coli. The time and concentration dependencies of the antimicrobial actions of AF have been characterized through recording time kill curves, and a concentration dependent profile highlighted. Overall, the present results point out that auranofin might be quickly and successfully repurposed for the treatment of severe bacterial infections due to resistant Staphylococci.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Viale Pieraccini 6, 50139, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Iris
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Cassetta
authors.forename: Tiziano
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Marzo
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fallani
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Novelli
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Messori
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001310:Auranofin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D058492:Drug Repositioning; D006801:Humans; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001310:Auranofin