Antibacterial and anti-biofilm activities of thiazolidione derivatives against clinical staphylococcus strains

Both Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis can form biofilms on natural surfaces or abiotic surfaces, such as medical implants, resulting in biofilm-associated diseases that are refractory to antibiotic treatment. We previously reported a promising antibacterial compound (Compound 2) and its derivatives with bactericidal and anti-biofilm activities against both S. epidermidis and S. aureus. We have further evaluated the antibacterial activities of four Compound 2 derivatives (H2-38, H2-39, H2-74 and H2-81) against 163 clinical strains of S. epidermidis and S. aureus, including methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant strains, as well as biofilm-forming and non-biofilm-forming strains. The four derivatives inhibited the planktonic growth of all of the clinical staphylococcal isolates, including methicillin-resistant S. aureus and methicillin-resistant S. epidermidis and displayed bactericidal activities against both immature (6 h) and mature (24 h) biofilms formed by the strong biofilm-forming strains. The derivatives, which all target YycG, will help us to develop new antimicrobial agents against multidrug-resistant staphylococci infections and biofilm-associated diseases.