Abstract
Polymyxins are considered a last-line treatment against infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria. In addition to their use as a potent antibiotic, polymyxins have also been utilized as outer membrane (OM) permeabilizers, capable of augmenting the activity of a partner antibiotic. Several polymyxin derivatives have been developed accordingly, with the objective of mitigating associated nephrotoxicity. The conversion of polymyxins to guanidinylated derivatives, whereby the L-γ-diaminobutyric acid (Dab) amines are substituted with guanidines, are described herein. The resulting guanidinylated colistin and polymyxin B (PMB) exhibited reduced antibacterial activity but preserved OM permeabilizing properties that allowed potentiation of several antibiotic classes. Rifampicin, erythromycin, ceftazidime and aztreonam were particularly potentiated against clinically relevant MDR Gram-negative bacteria. The potentiating effects of guanidinylated polymyxins with ceftazidime or aztreonam were further enhanced by adding the β-lactamase inhibitor avibactam.