| Summary: | Multi-drug resistant <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i> is well-known for its rapid acclimatization in hospital environments. The ability of the bacterium to endure desiccation and starvation on dry surfaces for up to a month results in outbreaks of health care-associated infections. Previously, indole and its derivatives were shown to inhibit other persistent bacteria. We found that among 16 halogenated indoles, 5-iodoindole swiftly inhibited <i>A. baumannii</i> growth, constrained biofilm formation and motility, and killed the bacterium as effectively as commercial antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin, colistin, and gentamicin. 5-Iodoindole treatment was found to induce reactive oxygen species, resulting in loss of plasma membrane integrity and cell shrinkage. In addition, 5-iodoindole rapidly killed three <i>Escherichia coli</i> strains, <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>, and the fungus <i>Candida albicans</i>, but did not inhibit the growth of <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>. This study indicates the mechanism responsible for the activities of 5-iodoindole warrants additional study to further characterize its bactericidal effects on antibiotic-resistant <i>A. baumannii</i> and other microbes.
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