Antibiotic Conjugates with an Artificial MECAM-Based Siderophore Are Potent Agents against Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Bacterial Pathogens

The development of novel drugs against Gram-negative bacteria represents an urgent medical need. To overcome their outer cell membrane, we synthesized conjugates of antibiotics and artificial siderophores based on the MECAM core, which are imported by bacterial iron uptake systems. Structures, spin states, and iron binding properties were predicted in silico using density functional theory. The capability of MECAM to function as an effective...