Kazan Federal University

Biologists study furanone derivatives as prospective treatment for complex cases of mixed infections

Synthesis of 2(5H)-furanone derivative F131

A paper saw light in Pathogens.

Head of the Laboratory of Genetics of Microorganisms Airat Kayumov comments, “Mixed fungal-bacterial infections, such as those caused by Candida albicans plus Staphylococcus aureus, are much harder to treat than mono-infections. Usually such cases happen in patients with suppressed immunity. In mixed infections, the pathogens are orders of magnitude more resistant to antimicrobials, and they are extremely difficult to deal with.”

To treat mixed infections, researchers need to create new antimicrobials and find ways to increase the efficacy of existing ones, says Head of the Laboratory of Natural Antimicrobial Preparations Elena Trizna, “Together with the Laboratory of Biofunctional Chemistry, we seek potentiators for existing antimicrobial drugs among heterocyclic compounds of furanone. In successful combinations of drug pairings, it is possible to increase the efficacy of antimicrobial therapy in cases of drug-resistant infections.”

One such compound was synthesized by Junior Research Associate of the Biofunctional Chemistry Lab Alsu Khabibrakhmanova – a 2(5H)-furanone derivative tentatively called F131. This compound was patented by KFU.

“Our tests have shown that this compound is effective against S. aureus and C. albicans, including antibiotic-resistant strains. F131 also increases the antimicrobial activity of the fluconazole-gentamicin combination and of benzalkonium chloride against mixed infections of Candida and Staphylococcus, which allows for decreasing the active concentration of the drugs fourfold to sixteenfold. In general, combining antibiotics with F131 can be promising in decreasing the concentration of antimicrobials for the treatment of candidiasis. This lessens the toxic influence of drugs,” concludes Kayumov.

According to Dr Trizna, F131 will help in developing alternative antimicrobials for the treatment of mixed skin infections, especially for strains with antibiotic resistance.

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