Synergistic activity of a synthetic 1,2,4-oxadiazole-containing derivative and oxacillin against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus aureus represents an important opportunistic pathogen able to cause many infections in humans and animals as skin or lung infections, endocarditis, toxic shock syndrome, and sepsis. The inappropriate use of antibiotics has favoured the diffusion of resistant- bacteria, as for beta-lactams and the selection of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), that has nullified the efforts done in the discovery of antimicrobial agents. Thus, the discovery of new compounds potentially able to control diseases by resistant bacteria and restore the activity of existing antibiotics represents an urgent goal. Oxadiazole nucleus is a relevant scaffold in organic and medicinal chemistry for its elevated versatility to afford molecular diversity, and for therapeutic potential. Previously, a wide library of oxadiazole-containing derivatives was discovered as potent antibacterial agents against multidrug-resistent MRSA strains. Our study is aimed to further expand the structural diversity around the selected scaffold in order to define the antibacterial activity.