From Breast Cancer to Antimicrobial: Combating Extremely Resistant Gram-Negative “Superbugs” Using Novel Combinations of Polymyxin B with Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators

Novel therapeutic approaches are urgently needed to combat nosocomial infections caused by extremely drug-resistant (XDR) “superbugs.” This study aimed to investigate the synergistic antibacterial activity of polymyxin B in combination with selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) against problematic Gram-negative pathogens. In vitro synergistic antibacterial activity of polymyxin B and the SERMs tamoxifen, raloxifene, and toremifene was assessed using the microdilution checkerboard and static time–kill assays against a panel of Gram-negative isolates. Polymyxin B and the SERMs were ineffective when used as monotherapy against polymyxin-resistant minimum inhibitory concentration ([MIC] ≥8 mg/L) Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae , and Acinetobacter baumannii . However, when used in combination, clinically relevant concentrations of polymyxin B and SERMs displayed synergistic killing against the polymyxin-resistant P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae , and A. baumannii isolates as demonstrated by a ≥2–3 log10 decrease in bacterial count (CFU/ml) after 24 hours. The combination of polymyxin B with toremifene demonstrated very potent antibacterial activity against P. aeruginosa biofilms in an artificial sputum media assay. Moreover, polymyxin B combined with toremifene synergistically induced cytosolic green fluorescence protein release, cytoplasmic membrane depolarization, permeabilizing activity in a nitrocefin assay, and an increase of cellular reactive oxygen species from P. aeruginosa cells. In addition, scanning and transmission electron micrographs showed that polymyxin B in combination with toremifene causes distinctive damage to the outer membrane of P. aeruginosa cells, compared with treatments with each compound per se . In conclusion, the combination of polymyxin B and SERMs illustrated a synergistic activity against XDR Gram-negative pathogens, including highly polymyxin-resistant P. aeruginosa isolates, and represents a novel combination therapy strategy for the treatment of infections because of problematic XDR Gram-negative pathogens.