Corallopyronin A exhibits potent activity against staphylococci including MRSA and isolates from prosthetic infections.

PURPOSE: This study evaluates the in vitro antimicrobial activity of Corallopyronin A (CorA) against a diverse collection of Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS), comprising both laboratory strains and clinical isolates. The dataset includes methicillin-resistant and methicillin-susceptible strains, as well as small colony variants (SCVs), to assess its therapeutic potential in staphylococcal infections.

METHODS: A total of 116 staphylococcal strains, comprising clinical isolates and laboratory strains, were subjected to minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) testing. Minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) were determined for a subset of 70 strains. Time-kill assays were conducted for five S. aureus strains using 4 × MIC of CorA. Additionally, checkerboard assays were performed with 11 antibiotics to evaluate potential additive or synergistic interactions.

RESULTS: CorA demonstrated potent antimicrobial activity with MIC values ranging from 0.125 to 2 mg/L. The MIC was 0.5 mg/L for S. aureus and 1 mg/L for CNS. Methicillin-resistant strains exhibited significantly higher susceptibility than methicillin-sensitive strains. Time-kill assays revealed a reduction of 1.5-3 log CFU/mL in viable counts within 24 h. Minimum bactericidal concentration testing showed bactericidal activity in a subset of strains, occurring in 71% of CNS isolates and 34% of S. aureus strains, while the remaining S. aureus and CNS isolates displayed a bacteriostatic response. Checkerboard assays indicated additive interactions with glycopeptides, including dalbavancin and oritavancin.

CONCLUSIONS: CorA shows strong in vitro activity against a broad range of staphylococcal strains, particularly methicillin-resistant isolates. Its additive effects with clinically relevant antibiotics further support its potential in combination therapy for the treatment of resistant staphylococcal infections.

© 2026. The Author(s).

PMID: 41820727