Methicillin sodium salt is a β-lactam antibiotic for inflammation research

**Background**

Bacterial infections, particularly those caused by Staphylococcus aureus, remain a significant challenge in clinical medicine due to the ability of these pathogens to resist common antibiotics. S. aureus often produces penicillinase, an enzyme that degrades the β-lactam ring of traditional penicillins, rendering them ineffective. To combat this, semi-synthetic penicillins were developed to resist enzymatic degradation, providing a critical tool for treating severe infections and studying the mechanisms of bacterial cell wall synthesis. Understanding the interaction between these antibiotics and penicillin-binding proteins is essential for developing new antimicrobial strategies and researching inflammation. In this context, we will introduce a semi-synthetic antibiotic – Methicillin sodium salt.

**Definition**

Methicillin sodium salt is a β-lactam, semi-synthetic antibiotic related to penicillin that targets penicillin-binding proteins involved in peptidoglycan synthesis, exhibiting a MIC value of 2.1 μg/mL against S. aureus.

**In Vitro and In Vivo Studies**

The Methicillin sodium salt description highlights its utility in inhibiting bacterial growth by disrupting the cell wall. Regarding Methicillin sodium salt in vitro activity, studies using leukocytes demonstrated that a concentration of 100 μg/mL over an 18-hour incubation period effectively killed intracellular S. aureus. Furthermore, it exhibited a minimal bactericidal concentration of 3.13 μg/mL, with enhanced efficacy observed under aerobic conditions.

The Methicillin sodium salt In Vivo efficacy has been evaluated across multiple animal models. In White New Zealand rabbits (2.0 to 3.0 kg), intramuscular injections of 42.5 and 85 mg/kg administered four times daily for 21 days inhibited enterococcus at 24 hours, although no statistical significance was observed for the rabbits overall. In mice infected with 5-7 X 10^8 S. aureus, a single intraperitoneal injection of 400 mg/kg resulted in a survival rate of 30.5%, which was significantly higher than the 6.9% survival rate in the compared group. Additionally, a single subcutaneous injection of 400 mg/kg suppressed the development of large abscesses and prevented death in infected mice. For researchers seeking detailed Methicillin sodium salt technical information, these results underscore its potency as a penicillinase-resistant agent. In conclusion, Methicillin sodium salt is a potent β-lactam antibiotic effective against S. aureus and useful for research into inflammation and bacterial infections.

Keywords

Methicillin, 132-92-3, Meticillin, Penicillin-binding protein (PBP), Bacterial, Antibiotic, β-lactam, semi-synthetic antibiotic, penicillin, inflammation, infection, intracellular infection, Inhibitor, inhibitor, inhibit

References

[1] Lincoln LJ, et al. Penicillinase-resistant penicillins plus gentamicin in experimental enterococcal endocarditis. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1977 Oct;12(4):484-9.
[2] Mandell GL, Vest TK. Killing of intraleukocytic Staphylococcus aureus by rifampin: in-vitro and in-vivo studies. J Infect Dis. 1972 May;125(5):486-90.