Activity of new N-acylated ciprofloxacin derivatives against faculative intracellular bacteria

Bartonella species are facultative intracellular pathogens responsible for a range of diseases in animals and in humans. A selection of N-acyl ciprofloxacin analogues, chemically synthesized from ciprofloxacin, have been tested in vitro for activity against Bartonella species as models for therapeutic development. Nine Bartonella strains, including five of B. henselae , two of B. quintana , and one each of B. elizabethae and B. vinsonii , have been tested for susceptibility to different N-acyl ciprofloxacin derivatives. Several techniques have been used to test the in vitro antibacterial activity of the derivatives. Seven of them, labeled RC4-125, RC4-143, RC4-147, RC5-28, RC5-29, RC5-32 and RC5-69 showed significant intracellular anti- Bartonella activity. These synthetically derived N-acyl ciprofloxacin derivatives may be useful in the therapeutic treatment of infections caused by Bartonella.