Tuning the antibacterial activity of amphiphilic neamine derivatives and comparison to paromamine homologues.

Aminoglycosides are antibiotic drugs that act through binding to rRNA. In the search for antimicrobial amphiphilic aminoglycosides targeting bacterial membranes, we report here on the discovery of three dialkyl derivatives of the small aminoglycoside neamine active against susceptible and resistant Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. One of these derivatives (R = 2-naphthylpropyl), which has good activity against MRSA and VRSA, showed a low toxicity in eukaryotic cells at 10 μM.

Imidazonaphthyridine systems (part 2): Functionalization of the phenyl ring linked to the pyridine pharmacophore and its replacement by a pyridinone ring produces intriguing differences in cytocidal activity.

We recently discovered that five- and pseudo-five-fused-ring derivatives in an imidazonaphthyridine series were promising hit compounds for the development of new DNA-intercalators. In this study, novel (dihydro)imidazo[1,6] and [1,7]naphthyridi(no)nes were prepared including pseudo-pentacycles. All the compounds synthesized were screened against four tumor cell lines.

The Pseudomonas aeruginosa membranes: a target for a new amphiphilic aminoglycoside derivative?

Aminoglycosides are among the most potent antimicrobials to eradicate Pseudomonas aeruginosa. However, the emergence of resistance has clearly led to a shortage of treatment options, especially for critically ill patients. In the search for new antibiotics, we have synthesized derivatives of the small aminoglycoside, neamine.

Synthesis and antimicrobial evaluation of amphiphilic neamine derivatives.

The aminoglycoside antibiotics bind to the 16S bacterial rRNA and disturb the protein synthesis. One to four hydroxyl functions of the small aminoglycoside neamine were capped with phenyl, naphthyl, pyridyl, or quinolyl rings. The 3',4'- (6), 3',6- (7a), and the 3',4',6- (10a) 2-naphthylmethylene derivatives appeared to be active against sensitive and resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains.