{
  "abstract": "Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is non-susceptible to beta-lactams. Blockade of cell wall biosynthesis is a potential target for beta-lactam enhancement but requires further investigation. A butyrolactone derivative enhanced beta-lactams against MRSA strains by reducing the availability of D-Ala-D-Ala. Unlike D-cycloserine, it did not inhibit D-Ala-D-Ala ligase (Ddl). Nor did it show an additive or synergistic effect when combined with cycloserine, indicating a unique mechanism for blocking cell wall precursor production that does not involve the traditional Lipid II pathway. Notably, beta-lactam potentiation by our chemical or D-cycloserine was highly dependent on the intrinsic autolytic ability of the tested MRSA strains. Strains that resisted lysis upon Triton X-100 exposure showed a minimal increase in beta-lactam susceptibility, whereas highly autolytic strains showed significant changes in their beta-lactam MICs. We have thus identified autolytic ability as the Achilles Heel in the strategy of targeting cell wall biosynthesis for beta-lactam potentiation.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Creighton University"
  ],
  "article_type": "New results",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 7,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "P. M. Magdum"
    },
    {
      "name": "J. N. Grissom"
    },
    {
      "name": "B. T. Franey"
    },
    {
      "name": "S. Ullah"
    },
    {
      "name": "M. H. Abdelaziz"
    },
    {
      "name": "J. North"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "A. Sarkar"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1jt33b7930kv8.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.64898/2026.09.26.754631",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.26.754631v1.full",
  "id": "1jt33b7930kv8",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.26.754631v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "biorxiv",
      "microbiology"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2725|Antimicrobial Resistance in Staphylococcus"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7214582476",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.26.754631v1.full.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-26",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1jt33b7930kv8.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:25:00Z",
      "native_id": "10.64898/2026.09.26.754631",
      "source": "biorxiv",
      "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.26.754631v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "biorxiv:microbiology",
      "subfield": "microbiology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Beta-lactam enhancement against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus by cell wall blockade is autolysis-dependent: a butyrolactone derivative as case in point",
  "title_text": "Beta-lactam enhancement against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus by cell wall blockade is autolysis-dependent: a butyrolactone derivative as case in point",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:25:00Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1jt33b7930kv8",
  "venue": "bioRxiv",
  "versions": []
}