Repurposing SKQ1 as a meropenem potentiator against NDM-1-producing Escherichia coli.

SKQ1 effectively restores meropenem activity against NDM-1-producing Escherichia coli by inhibiting NDM-1 and disrupting bacterial envelope functions.

• Why it matters: The spread of NDM-1 severely limits carbapenem antibiotics, creating an urgent need for new strategies to overcome resistance and improve treatment outcomes.
• What they did: Researchers used surface plasmon resonance screening to identify SKQ1, then confirmed its synergy with meropenem through checkerboard assays, enzyme kinetics, molecular modeling, and biological tests involving 34.99 μg/mL IC50.
• The result: The combination enhanced antibiotic efficacy, reduced inflammation, and impaired biofilm formation, demonstrating SKQ1’s potential as a repurposed adjuvant to combat NDM-mediated resistance.