Small molecule suppression of carbapenem resistance in NDM-1 producing Klebsiella pneumoniae.

The already considerable global public health threat of multi-drug resistant Gram-negative bacteria has become even more of a concern following the emergence of New-Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM-1) producing strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae and other Gram-negative bacteria. As an alternative approach to the traditional development of new bactericidal entities, we have identified a 2-aminoimidazole derived small molecule that acts as an antibiotic adjuvant and is able to suppress resistance of a NDM-1 producing strain of K. pneumoniae to imipenem and meropenem, in addition to suppressing resistance of other β-lactam non-susceptible K. pneumoniae strains. The small molecule is able to lower carbapenem minimum inhibitory concentrations by up to 16-fold while exhibiting little bactericidal activity itself.