7-Fluoroindole is a reagent used in chemical synthesis. It has been used to synthesize antiviral compounds against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus along with creation of immunomodulators. It is an important raw material and intermediate used in organic synthesis, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and dyestuffs.
7-fluoroindole (7FI) was identified as a compound that inhibits biofilm formation and blood hemolysis without inhibiting the growth of planktonic P. aeruginosa cells. Moreover, 7FI markedly reduced the production of quorum-sensing (QS)-regulated virulence factors 2-heptyl-3-hydroxy-4(1H)-quinolone, pyocyanin, rhamnolipid, two siderophores, pyoverdine and pyochelin. 7FI clearly suppressed swarming motility, protease activity and the production of a polymeric matrix in P. aeruginosa. However, unlike natural indole compounds, synthetic 7FI did not increase antibiotic resistance. Therefore, 7FI is a potential candidate for use in an antivirulence approach against persistent P. aeruginosa infection.
