Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37671807›Full record

ArticleThe Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy2023

A hydrophilic polyimidazolium antibiotic targeting the membranes of Gram-negative bacteria.

Yahua Chen, Melvin Yong, Ming Li, Zhangyong Si, Chong Hui Koh, Pearlyn Lau, Yi Wei Chang, Jeanette Teo, Mary B Chan-Park, Yunn-Hwen Gan

Open access · hybridAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in The Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
0.8field-weighted citation impact, top 34% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 8 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. A conserved KL2-capsule-related phage-resistant mechanism in carbapenem-resistantFrontiers in cellular and infection microbiology · 2026
    Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Yahua ChenInfectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Department of Biochemistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
Melvin YongInfectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Department of Biochemistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
Ming LiInfectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Department of Biochemistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
Zhangyong SiSchool of Chemistry, Chemical and Biotechnology, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.
Chong Hui KohSchool of Chemistry, Chemical and Biotechnology, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.
Pearlyn LauInfectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Department of Biochemistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
Yi Wei ChangInfectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Department of Biochemistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
Jeanette TeoDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore.ORCID 0000-0002-9321-3341
Mary B Chan-ParkSchool of Chemistry, Chemical and Biotechnology, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.ORCID 0000-0003-3761-7517
Yunn-Hwen GanInfectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Department of Biochemistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
National University of Singapore · SGNanyang Technological University · SGNational University Hospital · SG

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesThe rise of MDR Gram-negative bacteria (GNB), especially those resistant to last-resort drugs such as carbapenems and colistin, is a global health risk and calls for increased efforts to discover new antimicrobial compounds. We previously reported that polyimidazolium (PIM) compounds exhibited significant antimicrobial activity and minimal mammalian cytotoxicity. However, their mechanism of action is relatively unknown. We examined the efficacy and mechanism of action of a hydrophilic PIM (PIM5) against colistin- and meropenem-resistant clinical isolates.

methodsMIC and time-kill testing was performed for drug-resistant Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical isolates. N-phenyl-1-naphthylamine and propidium iodide dyes were employed to determine membrane permeabilization. Spontaneous resistant mutants and single deletion mutants were generated to understand potential resistance mechanisms to the drug.

resultsPIM5 had the same effectiveness against colistin- and meropenem-resistant strains as susceptible strains of GNB. PIM5 exhibited a rapid bactericidal effect independent of bacterial growth phase and was especially effective in water. The polymer disrupts both the outer and cytoplasmic membranes. PIM5 binds and intercalates into bacterial genomic DNA upon entry of cells. GNB do not develop high resistance to PIM5. However, the susceptibility and uptake of the polymer is moderately affected by mutations in the two-component histidine kinase sensor BaeS. PIM5 has negligible cytotoxicity on human cells at bacterial-killing concentrations, comparable to the commercial antibiotics polymyxin B and colistin.

conclusionsPIM5 is a potent broad-spectrum antibiotic targeting GNB resistant to last-resort antibiotics.

Indexed as

Anti-Bacterial AgentsAnti-Infective AgentsAnimalsColistinDrug Resistance, Multiple, BacterialEscherichia coliGram-Negative BacteriaHumansMammalsMeropenemMicrobial Sensitivity TestsAnti-Bacterial AgentsAnti-Infective AgentsColistinMeropenem

Identifiers

PMID37671807
PMCPMC10545527
OpenAlexW4386467434

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.