Emerging multidrug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains with altered penA alleles threaten the effectiveness of the last outpatient antibiotic, ceftriaxone, for gonorrhoea treatment. We discovered a boron-based penicillin-binding protein inhibitor that addresses penA-mediated ceftriaxone resistance with potent antibacterial activity, suitable pharmacokinetics, and good safety, selectivity and in vivo efficacy, making it a promising candidate for further development.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals
Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription
$32.99 / 30 days
cancel any time
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 digital issues and online access to articles
$119.00 per year
only $9.92 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on SpringerLink
- Instant access to the full article PDF.
USD 39.95
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Jensen, J. S. & Unemo, M. Antimicrobial treatment and resistance in sexually transmitted bacterial infections. Nat. Rev. Microbiol. 22, 435–450 (2024). A review article that presents challenges in treatments of sexually transmitted bacterial infections including gonorrhoea.
St. Cyr, S. et al. Update to CDC’s treatment guidelines for gonococcal infection, 2020. Morbidity Mortality Weekly Rep. 69, 1911–1916 (2020). This report presents an evidence-based update of the gonorrhoea treatment guidelines.
Liu, B. et al. Discovery of taniborbactam (VNRX-5133): a broad-spectrum serine- and metallo-β-lactamase inhibitor for carbapenem-resistant bacterial infections. J. Med. Chem. 63, 2789–2801 (2020). This paper reports the discovery of the β-lactamase inhibitor, taniborbactam.
Trout, R. E. et al. Discovery of VNRX-7145 (VNRX-5236 etzadroxil): an orally bioavailable β-lactamase inhibitor for Enterobacterales expressing Ambler class A, C, and D enzymes. J. Med. Chem. 64, 10155–10166 (2021). This paper reports the discovery of the orally bioavailable β-lactamase inhibitor, ledaborbactam etzadroxil.
Grams, R. J. et al. The rise of boron-containing compounds: advancements in synthesis, medicinal chemistry, and emerging pharmacology. Chem. Rev. 124, 2441–2511 (2024). A review article that presents boron-containing compounds as important pharmacophores for drug discovery.
Additional information
Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
This is a summary of: Uehara, T. et al. A penicillin-binding protein inhibitor series to target drug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Nat. Microbiol. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-026-02309-3 (2026).
T.U. used Paperpal to help prepare their contribution to this Research Briefing.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
A boron-based agent to treat multidrug-resistant gonorrhoea. Nat Microbiol 11, 1151–1152 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-026-02330-6
Published:
Version of record:
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-026-02330-6
