Novel Linear Lipopeptide Paenipeptins with Potential for Eradicating Biofilms and Sensitizing Gram-Negative Bacteria to Rifampicin and Clarithromycin

We report the structure-activity relationship analyses of 17 linear lipopeptide paenipeptin analogues. Analogues 7, 12, and 17 were more potent than the lead compound. Analogue 17 was active against carbapenem-resistant and polymyxin-resistant pathogens. This compound at 40 μg/mL resulted in 3 log and 2.6 log reductions of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respectively, in catheter-associated biofilms in vitro. Analogue 17 showed little hemolysis at 32 μg/mL and lysed 11% of red blood cells at 64 μg/mL. Analogues 9 and 16 were nonhemolytic and retained potent P. aeruginosa-specific antimicrobial activity. These two analogues when used alone lacked activity against Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumoniae; however, analogue 9 and 16 at 4 μg/mL decreased the MIC of rifampicin and clarithromycin against the same pathogens from 16 to 32 μg/mL to nanomolar levels (sensitization factor: 2048-8192). Therefore, paenipeptins, alone or in combination with rifampicin or clarithromycin, are promising candidates for treating bacterial infections.