Nitroxoline resistance is associated with significant fitness loss and diminishes in vivo virulence of Escherichia coli

Microbiol Spectr. 2024 Jan 11;12(1):e0307923. doi: 10.1128/spectrum.03079-23. Epub 2023 Dec 8.

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a global threat and requires the exploration of underestimated treatment options. Nitroxoline, an effective broad-spectrum antibiotic, does not suffer from high resistance rates in the clinics but surprisingly, it is not heavily used yet. Our findings provide compelling evidence that Nitroxoline resistance renders bacteria unable to cause an infection in vivo, thereby reinvigorating the potential of Nitroxoline in combating AMR.

Keywords: antibiotic resistance; fitness; genome analysis; metabolism; nitroxoline; proteomics; urinary tract infection; virulence.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Anti-Infective Agents, Urinary
  • Escherichia coli
  • Escherichia coli Infections* / drug therapy
  • Escherichia coli Infections* / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Nitroquinolines*
  • Urinary Tract Infections* / microbiology
  • Virulence

Substances

  • nitroxoline
  • Anti-Infective Agents, Urinary
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Nitroquinolines

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