High-throughput screening of small-molecules libraries identified antibacterials against clinically relevant multidrug-resistant  A. baumannii  and K. pneumoniae

A study aimed to identify new chemical entities (NCEs) with activity against Gram-negative bacteria, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii, to develop new antibiotics. A high-throughput phenotypic screen and selection cascade were developed, identifying 72 compounds with confirmed activity against these pathogens. Two new chemical series with potency and absence of cytotoxicity were identified, and their activity was also determined against clinical isolates of A. baumannii. This work provides proof of principle for the screening strategy for new antibiotics against these pathogens.