Exploring the chemical space of prenylated phenolics Antimicrobial activity, membrane permeabilization & cytotoxicity

Antimicrobial resistance is making it harder and harder to treat bacterial infections, creating a need for new antimicrobial compounds. This PhD research explored natural compounds from plants, called prenylated phenolics, as potential alternatives to existing antimicrobials. The research investigated what structural features of these compounds enable them to be effective against bacteria, how they interact with the membranes of bacterial cells, and whether they are also harmful to human cells. Several compounds were highly effective against the bacteria called Streptococcus mutans and antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Their effectiveness was linked to specific features of their chemical structure and their ability to affect bacterial cell membranes. Moreover, some of the compounds were only harmful to human cells when used at higher concentrations than those required to inhibit the bacteria. The results offer new insights into the way prenylated phenolics function and aid in the identification of promising compounds for further development as new antimicrobials.