靶向质粒接合转移的肉桂酸——应对抗生素耐药性的新策略

Gong Li; Ang Gao; Xin-Yi Lu; Tian-Hong Zhou; Shi-Ying Zhou; Li-Juan Xia; Lei Wan; Yu-Zhang He; Xin-Yi Chen; Wen-Ying Guo; Jia-Min Zheng; Hao Ren; Sheng-Qiu Tang; Xiao-Ping Liao; Liang Chen; Jian Sun

doi:10.1016/j.eng.2025.06.040

工程（英文） ›› 2026, Vol. 57 ›› Issue (2) : 165 -177. DOI: 10.1016/j.eng.2025.06.040

研究论文

靶向质粒接合转移的肉桂酸——应对抗生素耐药性的新策略

Gong Li ^a^,^b^,^c^,^# ,
Ang Gao ^a^,^c^,^# ,
Xin-Yi Lu ^a^,^c ,
Tian-Hong Zhou ^a^,^c ,
Shi-Ying Zhou ^a^,^c ,
Li-Juan Xia ^a^,^c ,
Lei Wan ^a^,^c ,
Yu-Zhang He ^a^,^c ,
Xin-Yi Chen ^a^,^c ,
Wen-Ying Guo ^a^,^c ,
Jia-Min Zheng ^a^,^c ,
Hao Ren ^a^,^c ,
Sheng-Qiu Tang ^b ,
Xiao-Ping Liao ^a^,^c ,
Liang Chen ^d^,^* ,
Jian Sun ^a^,^c^,^*

作者信息 +

Targeting Plasmid Conjugation with Cinnamic Acid: A Novel Approach to Combat Antibiotic Resistance

Gong Li ^a^,^b^,^c^,^# ,
Ang Gao ^a^,^c^,^# ,
Xin-Yi Lu ^a^,^c ,
Tian-Hong Zhou ^a^,^c ,
Shi-Ying Zhou ^a^,^c ,
Li-Juan Xia ^a^,^c ,
Lei Wan ^a^,^c ,
Yu-Zhang He ^a^,^c ,
Xin-Yi Chen ^a^,^c ,
Wen-Ying Guo ^a^,^c ,
Jia-Min Zheng ^a^,^c ,
Hao Ren ^a^,^c ,
Sheng-Qiu Tang ^b ,
Xiao-Ping Liao ^a^,^c ,
Liang Chen ^d^,^* ,
Jian Sun ^a^,^c^,^*

Author information +

文章历史 +

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Abstract

The global spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) continues to worsen, with plasmid-mediated conjugation serving as a major transmission route. Although developing conjugation inhibitors to block this process is a promising strategy, current options are limited by toxicity and poor in vivo efficacy. This study evaluated the effect of cinnamic acid (CA; 3-phenyl-2-acrylic acid), a widely abundant food additive found in cinnamon, on plasmid conjugation. CA effectively inhibited the conjugation of various resistance plasmids in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that CA disrupts the electron transport chain (ETC) and proton motive force (PMF) by inhibiting the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, leading to reduced intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP)—a critical factor for plasmid conjugation. Biocompatibility assays showed that CA maintains high biosafety while preserving gut microbiota homeostasis. Therefore, these findings provide new insights into ARG inhibition and highlight the potential of CA as a novel strategy to combat the global rise in antibiotic-resistant infections.

关键词

Key words

Conjugation / Cinnamic acid / Horizontal gene transfer / Conjugation inhibitor / Energy metabolism

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Gong Li,Ang Gao,Xin-Yi Lu,Tian-Hong Zhou,Shi-Ying Zhou,Li-Juan Xia,Lei Wan,Yu-Zhang He,Xin-Yi Chen,Wen-Ying Guo,Jia-Min Zheng,Hao Ren,Sheng-Qiu Tang,Xiao-Ping Liao,Liang Chen,Jian Sun. 靶向质粒接合转移的肉桂酸——应对抗生素耐药性的新策略[J]. 工程（英文）, 2026, 57(2): 165-177 DOI:10.1016/j.eng.2025.06.040