Auranofin promotes antibacterial effect of doripenem against carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii

Aims This study was performed to identify the potential for repurposing auranofin as an antibiotic adjuvant against carbapenemase-producing Acinetobacter baumannii. Methods and Results The clinically isolated A. baumannii strains used in this study were all resistant to carbapenems and harboured the bla(OXA-23) gene. The synergistic effect of auranofin and doripenem against carbapenemase-producing A. baumannii was confirmed through checkerboard and growth kinetic analyses. This study also demonstrated the inhibitory effects of auranofin against A. baumannii biofilms. The anti-biofilm effects of auranofin were visualized by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Furthermore, auranofin inhibited motility, one of the virulence factors. Additionally, the changes in the expression of carbapenemase-, biofilm- and efflux pump-related genes induced by auranofin were confirmed via quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Conclusions Our results demonstrated that auranofin has an antibacterial effect with doripenem and an inhibitory effect on several factors related to carbapenem resistance. Significance and Impact of the Study This study suggests that auranofin is a promising antibiotic adjuvant that can be used to prevent antibiotic resistance in carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii.

Automated summary

This study demonstrates the potential of repurposing auranofin as an antibiotic adjuvant against carbapenemase-producing Acinetobacter baumannii. The synergistic effect of auranofin and doripenem is confirmed, as well as the inhibitory effects of auranofin on biofilms and motility. Auranofin also induces changes in gene expression related to carbapenem resistance.