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KRN7000 analogues as biofilm disrupting agents against Streptococcus pyogenes and Proteus mirabilis

The Journal of Antibiotics volume 78, pages 246–255 (2025)Cite this article

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Abstract

In this study, three KRN7000 analogues with variations in the sugar and glycosidic linkage were synthesised to assess their efficacy in disrupting the biofilms of S. pyogenes and P. mirabilis. All three analogues exhibited antibacterial activity, with the effects being more prominent at lower concentrations in S. pyogenes. The N-alkylated, 1-deoxy analogue emerged as the most effective, significantly reducing biofilm formation and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in both organisms. Microscopic analysis revealed notable disruption of biofilm structure by the analogue, resulting in a significant reduction in EPS for both organisms and decreasing cell surface hydrophobicity. These results position the KRN7000 analogue as a promising candidate for developing glycolipid-based antibiofilm agents.

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Acknowledgements

Financial support from ICMR, India (Grant number: VIR/17/2020/ECD-I) is gratefully acknowledged.

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Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally: K. A. Krishnakumar, R. Remya Babu.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemical Sciences and Technology Division, CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, 695019, India

    K. A. Krishnakumar & Ravi S. Lankalapalli

  2. Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India

    K. A. Krishnakumar & Ravi S. Lankalapalli

  3. Department of Biotechnology, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, 695581, India

    R. Remya Babu

  4. Department of Botany, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, 695581, India

    Shiburaj Sugathan

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  1. K. A. Krishnakumar
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  4. Ravi S. Lankalapalli
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Correspondence to Shiburaj Sugathan or Ravi S. Lankalapalli.

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Krishnakumar, K.A., Remya Babu, R., Sugathan, S. et al. KRN7000 analogues as biofilm disrupting agents against Streptococcus pyogenes and Proteus mirabilis. J Antibiot 78, 246–255 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41429-025-00810-1

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