Malacidin A
Also known as: Calcium-Dependent Antibiotic from soil metagenome, Malacidin
Summary
Malacidin A is a novel calcium-dependent lipopeptide antibiotic discovered through culture-independent metagenomic mining of soil microbiomes. It was identified in 2018 and demonstrates potent activity against multidrug-resistant Gram-positive pathogens, including MRSA. It operates via a calcium-dependent mechanism targeting bacterial cell wall synthesis and showed efficacy in a rat skin wound infection model. No resistance was detected after extended serial passage, making it a promising candidate for further development.
Mechanism of Action
Binds calcium ions to form a complex that targets bacterial cell wall biosynthesis by disrupting lipid II synthesis and peptidoglycan crosslinking, leading to cell lysis; active against Gram-positive bacteria including MRSA without detectable resistance development in laboratory studies.
Routes of Administration
No administration routes recorded yet.
Goals & Uses
- Treatment of multidrug-resistant Gram-positive infectionsAntimicrobial / Infectious DiseaseLow
- Treatment of MRSA infectionsAntimicrobialLow
- Overcoming antibiotic resistanceAntimicrobial ResearchLow
Contraindications
- Human useClinicalHigh
Adverse Effects
- Unknown adverse effectsGeneralUnknown
Drug Interactions
No drug interactions recorded yet.
Population Constraints
- All human populationsGeneralAbsolute
Regulatory Status
- European UnionUnapprovedNo regulatory filing or approval in the European Union.
- United StatesUnapprovedResearch compound only; no IND or clinical trial registration identified as of available data.
- United KingdomUnapprovedNo regulatory filing or approval in the United Kingdom.
Malacidin A is a research-stage compound with no approved clinical indication in any jurisdiction. It has not entered human clinical trials as of the available literature.
Evidence & Sources
No sources recorded yet.