Converting organosulfur compounds to inorganic polysulfides against resistant bacterial infections

Zhuobin Xu, Zhiyue Qiu, Qi Liu, Yixin Huang, Dandan Li, Xinggui Shen, Kelong Fan, Juqun Xi, Yunhao Gu, Yan Tang, Jing Jiang, Jialei Xu, Jinzhi He, Xingfa Gao, Yuan Liu, Hyun Koo, Xiyun Yan and Lizeng Gao ()
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Zhuobin Xu: Yangzhou University
Zhiyue Qiu: Yangzhou University
Qi Liu: Yangzhou University
Yixin Huang: Yangzhou University
Dandan Li: Yangzhou University
Xinggui Shen: Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
Kelong Fan: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Juqun Xi: Yangzhou University
Yunhao Gu: Yangzhou University
Yan Tang: Yangzhou University
Jing Jiang: Yangzhou University
Jialei Xu: Sichuan University
Jinzhi He: Sichuan University
Xingfa Gao: Jiangxi Normal University
Yuan Liu: University of Pennsylvania
Hyun Koo: University of Pennsylvania
Xiyun Yan: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Lizeng Gao: Yangzhou University

Nature Communications, 2018, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Abstract The use of natural substance to ward off microbial infections has a long history. However, the large-scale production of natural extracts often reduces antibacterial potency, thus limiting practical applications. Here we present a strategy for converting natural organosulfur compounds into nano-iron sulfides that exhibit enhanced antibacterial activity. We show that compared to garlic-derived organosulfur compounds nano-iron sulfides exhibit an over 500-fold increase in antibacterial efficacy to kill several pathogenic and drug-resistant bacteria. Furthermore, our analysis reveals that hydrogen polysulfanes released from nano-iron sulfides possess potent bactericidal activity and the release of polysulfanes can be accelerated by the enzyme-like activity of nano-iron sulfides. Finally, we demonstrate that topical applications of nano-iron sulfides can effectively disrupt pathogenic biofilms on human teeth and accelerate infected-wound healing. Together, our approach to convert organosulfur compounds into inorganic polysulfides potentially provides an antibacterial alternative to combat bacterial infections.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06164-7

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