The antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities of copper(II) complexes.

In this study we have analysed metal complexes of the general structure [M(IL)(AL)](2+) (where IL represents functionalised 1,10-phenanthrolines and AL represents 1S,2S- or 1R,2R-diaminocyclohexane) and [Cu(IL)3](2+). Antimicrobial activity was tested on a number of bacterial strains, showing that copper(II) compounds were active against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, albeit that activity was generally higher for the former. The antibiofilm activity was then determined against a clinical isolate of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Strikingly, the copper complexes tested showed significant activity against biofilms, and were better in the removal of biofilms than vancomycin, an antibiotic that is currently used in the treatment of MRSA infections. PMID: 25124857 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25124857?dopt=Abstract

Source: Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry - July 22, 2014 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Beeton ML, Aldrich-Wright JR, Bolhuis A Tags: J Inorg Biochem Source Type: research