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Fatty acids-based compounds as novel prophylaxis or treatment for oropharyngeal Neisseria gonorrhoeae: an in vitro study

delete2026-06-09
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OA
AI
S
Syed Ameer Hamza
R
Rita Paolini *
C
Caroline Moore *
M
Magnus Unemo
T
Tami Yap
M
Michael McCullough *
A
Alyce Mayfosh *
T
Thomas Rau
S
Stephen Kleid *
J
Jane S. Hocking *
F
Fabian Yuh Shiong Kong
A
Antonio Celentano *
DOI:10.1080/22221751.2026.2678644delete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Oropharyngeal gonorrhoea remains a global challenge due to rising antimicrobial resistance and limited therapeutic options, necessitating urgent calls for new treatments and prophylaxis. This study evaluates the in vitro activity of arginine-based fatty acids against Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) strains in a validated oropharyngeal model. Five oropharyngeal cell lines (tonsillar/buccal/gingival/floor of mouth/uvular) were infected with two NG strains. Intracellular infection was assessed at 15/30/60 min. MIC₉₀ and cytotoxicity of five arginine-based fatty acids were determined. Promising candidates were evaluated for NG clearance at 30/60/120 min (post-infection) and prevention of infection (pre-infection) after 30/120 min drug exposure. Arginine-undecanoate (AU) and arginine-laurate (AL) were the most effective fatty-acids, showing potent bactericidal activity, with no cytotoxicity in any cell lines up to 300 µg/mL. In post-exposure experiments, AL at 150 µg/mL and at MICx3 achieved rapid, dose-dependent clearance of ≥94% for FA1090 and ≥90% for WHO R respectively within 30 min in all cell lines except in uvular cells. AU showed time-dependent killing with clearance of ≥95% for FA1090 and ≥88% for WHO-R at 120 min at 150 and 108 µg/mL (MICx3) respectively. In pre-exposure experiments, AL at maximum non-cytotoxic concentration (300 µg/mL) was more effective than AU, achieving 83·3-97·4% clearance in all cell lines within 30 min. AL and AU can be promising, non-toxic candidates for the prevention or treatment of oropharyngeal NG. Use, pre- and post-sex via topical formulations, could potentially reduce oropharyngeal NG transmission.
Keywords:
Oropharyngeal gonorrhoea
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
antimicrobial resistance
fatty acid antimicrobials
bacterial infections

Journal

E
Emerging Microbes & Infections
IF:
0
Papers:
75
Citations:
0

Organization

R
ramsay health
Scholars:
2
Papers: 1
Citations: 0
Ö
örebro university
Scholars:
552
Papers: 294
Citations: 7
T
The University of Melbourne
Scholars:
955
Papers: 421
Citations: 5
W
wintermute biomedical inc.
Scholars:
3
Papers: 1
Citations: 0
U
university of melbourne
Scholars:
5.6W
Papers: 5.4W
Citations: 69
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