Discovery of new dibenzodiazepine derivatives as antibacterials against intracellular bacteria.

The emergence and spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria underscore the critical need for novel antibacterial interventions. In our screening of 12 synthesized thienobenzodiazepines, pyridobenzodiazepines, and dibenzodiazepines, we successfully identified a small molecule compound SW33. Notably, SW33 demonstrated potent inhibitory activity against intracellular multidrug-resistant and fluoroquinolone-resistant strains of S. typhimurium in both macrophages and epithelial cells. Furthermore, SW33 was also effective against intramacrophagic Salmonella typhi , Yersinia enterocolitica , and Listeria monocytogenes . These significant findings suggest that SW33 possesses broad-spectrum activity against intracellular bacteria.