Development of Fimbrolides, Halogenated Furanones and their Derivatives as Antimicrobial Agents

Traditional treatment for bacterial infection is based on compounds that target bacterial viability or growth. However, a major concern with this approach is the frequent development of drug-resistant mutants. The discovery of bacterial quorum sensing (QS) systems, which control fundamental processes involved in bacterial physiology and virulence, has opened new avenues for the development of antimicrobial agents for the control of bacterial infections. Fimbrolides isolated from Australian native marine alga Delisea pulchra are excellent examples of QS inhibitors provided by nature. Fimbrolides and their analogues exhibit excellent QS inhibitory activity without interfering with bacterial growth, and thus offer promising targets for development of new strategies to control microbial colonisation of surfaces. This chapter describes the types of natural fimbrolides, their biosynthesis, and synthesis of related halogenated furanone and dihydropyrrolone analogues, as well as their biological activities and applications as antimicrobial coatings for the prevention of bacterial infections.