Current Development of Thiazole-Containing Compounds as Potential Antibacterials against Methicillin-Resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>

Abstract

The emergence of multi-drug-resistant bacteria is threatening to human health and life around the world. In particular, methicillin-resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (MRSA) causes fatal injuries to human beings and serious economic losses to animal husbandry due to its easy transmission and difficult treatment. Currently, the development of novel, highly effective, and low-toxicity antimicrobials is important to combat MRSA infections. Thiazole-containing compounds with good biological activity are widely used in clinical practice, and appropriate structural modifications make it possible to develop new antimicrobials. Here, we review thiazole-containing compounds and their antibacterial effects against MRSA reported in the past two decades and discuss their structure-activity relationships as well as the corresponding antimicrobial mechanisms. Some thiazole-containing compounds exhibit potent antibacterial efficacy <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> after appropriate structural modifications and could be used as antibacterial candidates. This Review provides insights into the development of thiazole-containing compounds as antimicrobials to combat MRSA infections.