ACS Infect Dis. (2019) 5 (9): 1597-1608

Cyclipostins and Cyclophostin analogs are multi-target inhibitors that impair growth of Mycobacterium abscessus

Madani, A.; Ridenour, J. N.; Martin, B. P.; Paudel, R. R.; Abdul Basir, A.; Le Moigne, V.; Herrmann, J. L.; Audebert, S.; Camoin, L.; Kremer, L.; Spilling, C. D.; Canaan, S.; Cavalier, J.-F.

Twelve new Cyclophostin and Cyclipostins analogs (CyC19-30) were synthesized, thus extending our series to 38 CyCs. Their antibacterial activities were evaluated against four pathogenic mycobacteria (Mycobacterium abscessus, Mycobacterium marinum, Mycobacterium bovis BCG and Mycobacterium tuberculosis) and two Gram negative bacteria. The CyCs displayed very low toxicity towards host cells and were only active against mycobacteria. Importantly, several CyCs were active against extracellular M. abscessus (CyC17/CyC18β/CyC25/CyC26) or intramacrophage residing mycobacteria (CyC7(α,β)/CyC8(α,β)) with minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC50) values comparable to or better than those of amikacin or imipenem, respectively. An activity-based protein profiling combined with mass spectrometry allowed identification of the potential target enzymes of CyC17/CyC26, mostly being involved in lipid metabolism and/or in cell wall biosynthesis. Overall, these results strengthen the selective activity of the CyCs against mycobacteria, including the most drug-resistant M. abscessus, through the cumulative inhibition of a large number of Ser- and Cys-enzymes participating in key physiological processes.