Using Small Molecule Adjuvants to Repurpose Azithromycin for Use Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

A major contributor to fatality in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients stems from infection with the opportunistic bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa. As a result of the CF patient's vulnerability to bacterial infections, one of the main treatment focuses is antibiotic therapy. However, the highly adaptive nature of P. aeruginosa, in addition to the intrinsic resistance to many antibiotics exhibited by most Gram-negative bacteria, means that multi-drug resistant (MDR) strains are increasingly prevalent. This makes eradication of pseudomonal lung infections nearly impossible once the infection becomes chronic. New methods to treat pseudomonal infections are greatly needed in order to eradicate MDR bacteria found within the respiratory tract and ultimately better the quality of life for CF patients. Herein, we describe a novel approach for combatting pseudomonal infections through the use of bis-2-aminoimidazole adjuvants that can potentiate the activity of a macrolide antibiotic commonly prescribed to CF patients as an anti-inflammatory agent. Our lead bis-2-AI exhibits a 1024-fold reduction in the minimum inhibitory concentration of azithromycin in vitro and displays activity in a Galleria mellonella model of infection.