Halogenated Quinolines: Antibacterial Agents that Prevent and Eradicate Microbial Biofilms

Related to technology: Lead 15941, 15298

Antibiotic Effectively Disinfects and Eradicates Bacterial Pathogens Where Biofilm Is Present

This series of antibacterial agents, known as the halogenated quinolines, are able to eradicate free-floating (planktonic) bacteria in addition to persistent, surface-attached bacterial biofilms against gram positive organisms such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE), and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE). Bacterial cells housed within a biofilm are metabolically dormant, persister cells that display high levels of tolerance towards conventional antibiotics and biocides. Bacterial biofilms occur in the majority of bacterial infections and accumulate on essentially all surface types, including medical implants and industrial pipes. Researchers at the University of Florida have discovered halogenated quinoline small molecules that are able to eradicate greater than 99.9 percent of biofilm cells through a mechanism that is non-toxic to mammalian cell lines, including red blood cells.

Application

Clinical and non-clinical applications for eradicating biofilm-associated bacterial pathogens and surfaces colonized by persistent biofilms

Advances

• Halogenated quinolines are able to eradicate persister cells, a phenotype rare among conventional antibiotics and biocides
• Can eliminate bacterial biofilms against multiple drug-resistant pathogens, preventing MRSA, MRSE and VRE

Technology

The halogenated quinoline is highly tunable and University of Florida researchers have synthesized and evaluated more than 100 synthetic halogenated quinoline analogues. Continued efforts are underway to further develop halogenated quinolines for numerous applications related to bacterial biofilm infections and disinfectants. These halogenated quinolines demonstrate potent biofilm eradication activities against MRSA, MRSE and VRE biofilms.