Fig. 5

a Assessment of ClpP activators on the growth of S. aureus 8325-4 with genetic backgrounds of clpP, ΔclpP, and complemented clpP or I91W mutant by MIC measurement. b Assessment of SaClpP activators’ effect on the cellular SaFtsZ abundance in the intact cells of 8325-4, ΔclpP, the complemented clpP and clpPI91W strains detected in Western blot. Quantitation on the band intensity of SaFtsZ is normalized against the loading control of SaGAPDH, and the ratio in the DMSO group is considered as 1.0. c Representative views of SEM micrographs showing the effects of (R)- and (S)-ZG197 on the cell morphology of S. aureus 8325-4 having different genetic backgrounds of clpP, ΔclpP, and complemented clpP or clpPI91W. The scale bar represents 1 μm. d Representative views of SEM micrographs showing the effect of 20 µM (R)- and (S)-ZG197 on cell division of Newman and USA300 strains. The scale bar represents 1 μm. e Determination of MIC of the SaClpP activators against the growth of a panel of S. aureus strains. (R)- and (S)-ZG197, ONC212, and the clinic antibiotics oxacillin, tetracycline, erythromycin, norfloxacin, clindamycin, and gentamicin were assayed under similar conditions. The experiments were performed in triplicates. f Bactericidal effect of (R)- and (S)-ZG197 combined therapy on eradicating stationary phase USA300 (n = 3 biologically independent experiments). Cell numbers were recorded in CFU/mL. Data are presented as mean ± SD. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.