Evaluation of serine protein kinase HPrK as an antibacterial target in gram-positive bacteria and mycoplasmas

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a critical global health challenge, highlighting the need for new antibiotic targets. HPrK is a serine kinase that is important in regulation of carbon metabolism and virulence in gram-positive bacteria and mycoplasmas. In this study, we validated that HPrK was an essential gene in <i>S. suis</i> and could be used as a promising target for antibacterial drug development. Based on HPrK, we identified the kinase inhibitor CDK9-IN-2, which exhibits significant antibacterial activity against multidrug-resistant <i>S. suis</i> isolates and various gram-positive species and mycoplasmas. These findings indicated HPrK as a viable target for novel antimicrobial agents, advancing strategies to combat antimicrobial resistance.