Modification of existing antibiotics in the form of precursor prodrugs that can be subsequently activated by nitroreductases of the target pathogen

The use of existing antibiotics in the form of prodrug followed by activation using enzymes of pathogenic origin could be a useful approach for antimicrobial therapy. To investigate this idea, a common antibiotic, sulfamethoxazole has been redesigned in the form of a prodrug by simple functional group replacement. Upon reductive activation by a type I nitroreductase from a pathogen, the drug displayed enhanced antimicrobial capacity. This strategy could improve the efficacy and selectively of antibiotics and reduce the incidence of resistance.

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