Increased hydrophobic interactions of iclaprim with Staphylococcus aureus dihydrofolate reductase are responsible for the increase in affinity and antibacterial activity
Oefner, C., Bandera, M., Haldimann, A., Laue, H., Schulz, H., Mukhija, S., Parisi, S., Weiss, L., Lociuro, S., Dale, G.E.(2009) J Antimicrob Chemother 63: 687-698
- PubMed: 19211577 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jac/dkp024
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
3FRA, 3FRB, 3FRD, 3FRE, 3FRF - PubMed Abstract: 
Iclaprim is a novel 2,4-diaminopyrimidine that exhibits potent, rapid bactericidal activity against major Gram-positive pathogens, including methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus, and is currently in clinical development for the treatment of complicated skin and skin structure infections. An understanding of the known mechanism of resistance to trimethoprim led to the design of this new inhibitor, with improved affinity towards dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) from S. aureus and clinically useful activity against S. aureus including isolates resistant to trimethoprim. The objective of this study was to characterize the mode of action of iclaprim and its inhibitory properties against DHFR.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Arpida AG, Duggingerstrasse 23, CH-4153 Reinach, Switzerland.