51
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Lee JH, Kim YG, Gwon G, Wood TK, Lee J. Halogenated indoles eradicate bacterial persister cells and biofilms. AMB Express 2016; 6:123. [PMID: 27921270 PMCID: PMC5138170 DOI: 10.1186/s13568-016-0297-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2016] [Accepted: 11/27/2016] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of antibiotic resistance has necessitated new therapeutic approaches to combat recalcitrant bacterial infections. Persister cells, often found in biofilms, are metabolically dormant, and thus, are highly tolerant to all traditional antibiotics and represent a major drug resistance mechanism. In the present study, 36 diverse indole derivatives were investigated with the aim of identifying novel compounds that inhibit persisters and biofilm formation by Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus. 5-Iodoindole and other halogenated indoles, 4-fluoroindole, 7-chloroindole, and 7-bromoindole, eradicated persister formation by E. coli and S. aureus, and 5-iodoindole most potently inhibited biofilm formation by the two bacteria. Unlike other antibiotics, 5-iodoindole did not induce persister cell formation, and 5-iodoindole inhibited the production of the immune-evasive carotenoid staphyloxanthin in S. aureus; hence, 5-iodoindole diminished the production of virulence factors in this strain. These results demonstrate halogenated indoles are potentially useful for controlling bacterial antibiotic resistance.
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52
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Transposon-Sequencing Analysis Unveils Novel Genes Involved in the Generation of Persister Cells in Uropathogenic Escherichia coli. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2016; 60:6907-6910. [PMID: 27550350 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01617-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2016] [Accepted: 08/17/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Persister cells are highly tolerant to different antibiotics and are associated with relapsing infections. In order to understand this phenomenon further, we exposed a transposon library to a lethal concentration of ampicillin, and mutants that survived were identified by transposon sequencing (Tn-Seq). We determined that mutations related to carbon metabolism, cell envelope (cell wall generation and membrane proteins), and stress response have a role in persister cell generation.
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53
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Zhao Y, McAnulty MJ, Wood TK. Toxin YafQ Reduces Escherichia coli Growth at Low Temperatures. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0161577. [PMID: 27557125 PMCID: PMC4996492 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0161577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2016] [Accepted: 08/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxin/antitoxin (TA) systems reduce metabolism under stress; for example, toxin YafQ of the YafQ/DinJ Escherichia coli TA system reduces growth by cleaving transcripts with in-frame 5'-AAA-G/A-3' sites, and antitoxin DinJ is a global regulator that represses its locus as well as controls levels of the stationary sigma factor RpoS. Here we investigated the influence on cell growth at various temperatures and found that deletion of the antitoxin gene, dinJ, resulted in both reduced metabolism and slower growth at 18°C but not at 37°C. The reduction in growth could be complemented by producing DinJ from a plasmid. Using a transposon screen to reverse the effect of the absence of DinJ, two mutations were found that inactivated the toxin YafQ; hence, the toxin caused the slower growth only at low temperatures rather than DinJ acting as a global regulator. Corroborating this result, a clean deletion of yafQ in the ΔdinJ ΔKmR strain restored both metabolism and growth at 18°C. In addition, production of YafQ was more toxic at 18°C compared to 37°C. Furthermore, by overproducing all the E. coli proteins, the global transcription repressor Mlc was found that counteracts YafQ toxicity only at 18°C. Therefore, YafQ is more effective at reducing metabolism at low temperatures, and Mlc is its putative target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yueju Zhao
- Institute of Food Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Agro-products Processing, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, 100193, P. R. China
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802-4400, United States of America
| | - Michael J. McAnulty
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802-4400, United States of America
| | - Thomas K. Wood
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802-4400, United States of America
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802-4400, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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54
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Donné J, Van Kerckhoven M, Maes L, Cos P, Dewilde S. The role of the globin-coupled sensor YddV in a mature E. coli biofilm population. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2016; 1864:835-9. [PMID: 27083533 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2016.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2016] [Revised: 03/30/2016] [Accepted: 04/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Biofilm-associated infections are hard to treat because of their high antibiotic resistance and the presence of a very persistent subpopulation of bacteria. The second messenger molecule cyclic di-guanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP) plays a very important role in this biofilm physiology. Here, we evaluated the role of YddV, an enzyme with a c-di-GMP synthesis function, in the formation and maturation of Escherichia coli biofilms. Our results suggest that YddV stimulates biofilm growth via its role in the production of c-di-GMP and this likely by influencing the production of matrix (e.g. poly-N-acetylglucosamine (PGA)). However, lowering the YddV expression did not alter the biofilm formation since there was no significant difference between the biofilm phenotypes of WT E. coli and YddV-knockout bacteria. Additionally, YddV expression had no significant influence on the amount of persister cells within the biofilm population, questioning the use of YddV as therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joke Donné
- Protein Chemistry, Proteomics and Epigenetic Signalling (PPES), Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Marian Van Kerckhoven
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), Faculty of Pharmaceutical, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Louis Maes
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), Faculty of Pharmaceutical, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Paul Cos
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), Faculty of Pharmaceutical, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Sylvia Dewilde
- Protein Chemistry, Proteomics and Epigenetic Signalling (PPES), Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
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55
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Chowdhury N, Kwan BW, McGibbon LC, Babitzke P, Wood TK. Toxin MqsR cleaves single-stranded mRNA with various 5' ends. Microbiologyopen 2016; 5:370-7. [PMID: 26846703 PMCID: PMC4905990 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2015] [Revised: 11/29/2015] [Accepted: 12/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxin/antitoxin (TA) systems are the means by which bacterial cells become persistent; that is, those cells that are tolerant to multiple environmental stresses such as antibiotics by becoming metabolically dormant. These persister cells are responsible for recalcitrant infections. Once toxins are activated by the inactivation of antitoxins (e.g., stress-triggered Lon degradation of the antitoxin), many toxins reduce metabolism by inhibiting translation (e.g., cleaving mRNA, reducing ATP). The MqsR/MqsA TA system of Escherichia coli cleaves mRNA to help the cell withstand oxidative and bile acid stress. Here, we investigated the role of secondary structure and 5' mRNA processing on MqsR degradation of mRNA and found that MqsR cleaves only single-stranded RNA at 5'-GCU sites and that MqsR is equally active against RNA with 5'-triphosphate, 5'-monophosphate, and 5'-hydroxyl groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nityananda Chowdhury
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802-4400
| | - Brian W Kwan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802-4400
| | - Louise C McGibbon
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802-4400.,Center for RNA Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802-4400
| | - Paul Babitzke
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802-4400.,Center for RNA Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802-4400
| | - Thomas K Wood
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802-4400.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802-4400.,Center for RNA Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802-4400
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56
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Persistence Increases in the Absence of the Alarmone Guanosine Tetraphosphate by Reducing Cell Growth. Sci Rep 2016; 6:20519. [PMID: 26837570 PMCID: PMC4738310 DOI: 10.1038/srep20519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2015] [Accepted: 01/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Most bacterial cells are stressed, and as a result, some become tolerant to antibiotics by entering a dormant state known as persistence. The key intracellular metabolite that has been linked to this persister state is guanosine tetraphosphate (ppGpp), the alarmone that was first linked to nutrient stress. In Escherichia coli, ppGpp redirects protein production during nutrient stress by interacting with RNA polymerase directly and by inhibiting several proteins. Consistently, increased levels of ppGpp lead to increased persistence; but, the mechanism by which elevated ppGpp translates into persistence has not been determined. Hence, we explored persistence in the absence of ppGpp so that the underlying mechanism of persister cell formation could be explored. We found that persister cells still form, although at lower levels, in the absence of ppGpp. Additionally, the toxin/antitoxin systems that we investigated (MqsR, MazF, GhoT, and YafQ) remain able to increase persistence dramatically in the absence of ppGpp. By overproducing each E. coli protein from the 4287 plasmid vectors of the ASKA library and selecting for increased persistence in the absence of ppGpp (via a relA spoT mutant), we identified five new proteins, YihS, PntA, YqjE, FocA, and Zur, that increase persistence simply by reducing cell growth.
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57
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Harrison A, Dubois LG, St John-Williams L, Moseley MA, Hardison RL, Heimlich DR, Stoddard A, Kerschner JE, Justice SS, Thompson JW, Mason KM. Comprehensive Proteomic and Metabolomic Signatures of Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae-Induced Acute Otitis Media Reveal Bacterial Aerobic Respiration in an Immunosuppressed Environment. Mol Cell Proteomics 2015; 15:1117-38. [PMID: 26711468 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.m115.052498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
A thorough understanding of the molecular details of the interactions between bacteria and host are critical to ultimately prevent disease. Recent technological advances allow simultaneous analysis of host and bacterial protein and metabolic profiles from a single small tissue sample to provide insight into pathogenesis. We used the chinchilla model of human otitis media to determine, for the first time, the most expansive delineation of global changes in protein and metabolite profiles during an experimentally induced disease. After 48 h of infection with nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae, middle ear tissue lysates were analyzed by high-resolution quantitative two-dimensional liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Dynamic changes in 105 chinchilla proteins and 66 metabolites define the early proteomic and metabolomic signature of otitis media. Our studies indicate that establishment of disease coincides with actin morphogenesis, suppression of inflammatory mediators, and bacterial aerobic respiration. We validated the observed increase in the actin-remodeling complex, Arp2/3, and experimentally showed a role for Arp2/3 in nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae invasion. Direct inhibition of actin branch morphology altered bacterial invasion into host epithelial cells, and is supportive of our efforts to use the information gathered to modify outcomes of disease. The twenty-eight nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae proteins identified participate in carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism, redox homeostasis, and include cell wall-associated metabolic proteins. Quantitative characterization of the molecular signatures of infection will redefine our understanding of host response driven developmental changes during pathogenesis. These data represent the first comprehensive study of host protein and metabolite profiles in vivo in response to infection and show the feasibility of extensive characterization of host protein profiles during disease. Identification of novel protein targets and metabolic biomarkers will advance development of therapeutic and diagnostic options for treatment of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alistair Harrison
- From the ‡The Center for Microbial Pathogenesis, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio 43205
| | - Laura G Dubois
- ‡‡Duke Proteomics and Metabolomics Core Facility, Duke Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University, Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710
| | - Lisa St John-Williams
- ‡‡Duke Proteomics and Metabolomics Core Facility, Duke Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University, Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710
| | - M Arthur Moseley
- ‡‡Duke Proteomics and Metabolomics Core Facility, Duke Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University, Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710
| | - Rachael L Hardison
- From the ‡The Center for Microbial Pathogenesis, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio 43205
| | - Derek R Heimlich
- From the ‡The Center for Microbial Pathogenesis, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio 43205
| | | | - Joseph E Kerschner
- ‖Department of Otolaryngology and Communication Sciences, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226; **Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226
| | - Sheryl S Justice
- From the ‡The Center for Microbial Pathogenesis, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio 43205; §The Center for Microbial Interface Biology and Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210
| | - J Will Thompson
- ‡‡Duke Proteomics and Metabolomics Core Facility, Duke Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University, Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710
| | - Kevin M Mason
- From the ‡The Center for Microbial Pathogenesis, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio 43205; §The Center for Microbial Interface Biology and Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210;
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58
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Lee JH, Wood TK, Lee J. Roles of Indole as an Interspecies and Interkingdom Signaling Molecule. Trends Microbiol 2015; 23:707-718. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2015.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 238] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2015] [Revised: 07/22/2015] [Accepted: 08/05/2015] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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59
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Roberts JL, Tavallai M, Nourbakhsh A, Fidanza A, Cruz-Luna T, Smith E, Siembida P, Plamondon P, Cycon KA, Doern CD, Booth L, Dent P. GRP78/Dna K Is a Target for Nexavar/Stivarga/Votrient in the Treatment of Human Malignancies, Viral Infections and Bacterial Diseases. J Cell Physiol 2015; 230:2552-78. [PMID: 25858032 PMCID: PMC4843173 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.25014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2015] [Accepted: 04/06/2015] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Prior tumor cell studies have shown that the drugs sorafenib (Nexavar) and regorafenib (Stivarga) reduce expression of the chaperone GRP78. Sorafenib/regorafenib and the multi‐kinase inhibitor pazopanib (Votrient) interacted with sildenafil (Viagra) to further rapidly reduce GRP78 levels in eukaryotes and as single agents to reduce Dna K levels in prokaryotes. Similar data were obtained in tumor cells in vitro and in drug‐treated mice for: HSP70, mitochondrial HSP70, HSP60, HSP56, HSP40, HSP10, and cyclophilin A. Prolonged ‘rafenib/sildenafil treatment killed tumor cells and also rapidly decreased the expression of: the drug efflux pumps ABCB1 and ABCG2; and NPC1 and NTCP, receptors for Ebola/Hepatitis A and B viruses, respectively. Pre‐treatment with the ‘Rafenib/sildenafil combination reduced expression of the Coxsackie and Adenovirus receptor in parallel with it also reducing the ability of a serotype 5 Adenovirus or Coxsackie virus B4 to infect and to reproduce. Sorafenib/pazopanib and sildenafil was much more potent than sorafenib/pazopanib as single agents at preventing Adenovirus, Mumps, Chikungunya, Dengue, Rabies, West Nile, Yellow Fever, and Enterovirus 71 infection and reproduction. ‘Rafenib drugs/pazopanib as single agents killed laboratory generated antibiotic resistant E. coli which was associated with reduced Dna K and Rec A expression. Marginally toxic doses of ‘Rafenib drugs/pazopanib restored antibiotic sensitivity in pan‐antibiotic resistant bacteria including multiple strains of blakpcKlebsiella pneumoniae. Thus, Dna K is an antibiotic target for sorafenib, and inhibition of GRP78/Dna K has therapeutic utility for cancer and for bacterial and viral infections. J. Cell. Physiol. 230: 2552–2578, 2015. © 2015 The Authors. Journal of Cellular Physiology published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane L Roberts
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Mehrad Tavallai
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Aida Nourbakhsh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Christopher D Doern
- Department of Pathology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Laurence Booth
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Paul Dent
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
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60
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Wood TK. Combatting bacterial persister cells. Biotechnol Bioeng 2015; 113:476-83. [DOI: 10.1002/bit.25721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2015] [Revised: 08/03/2015] [Accepted: 08/04/2015] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas K. Wood
- Department of Chemical EngineeringPennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPennsylvania
- Department Biochemistry, Molecular BiologyPennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPennsylvania16802‐4400
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61
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Booth L, Roberts JL, Cash DR, Tavallai S, Jean S, Fidanza A, Cruz-Luna T, Siembiba P, Cycon KA, Cornelissen CN, Dent P. GRP78/BiP/HSPA5/Dna K is a universal therapeutic target for human disease. J Cell Physiol 2015; 230:1661-76. [PMID: 25546329 PMCID: PMC4402027 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.24919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2014] [Accepted: 12/18/2014] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
The chaperone GRP78/Dna K is conserved throughout evolution down to prokaryotes. The GRP78 inhibitor OSU-03012 (AR-12) interacted with sildenafil (Viagra) or tadalafil (Cialis) to rapidly reduce GRP78 levels in eukaryotes and as a single agent reduce Dna K levels in prokaryotes. Similar data with the drug combination were obtained for: HSP70, HSP90, GRP94, GRP58, HSP27, HSP40 and HSP60. OSU-03012/sildenafil treatment killed brain cancer stem cells and decreased the expression of: NPC1 and TIM1; LAMP1; and NTCP1, receptors for Ebola/Marburg/Hepatitis A, Lassa fever, and Hepatitis B viruses, respectively. Pre-treatment with OSU-03012/sildenafil reduced expression of the coxsakie and adenovirus receptor in parallel with it also reducing the ability of a serotype 5 adenovirus or coxsakie virus B4 to infect and to reproduce. Similar data were obtained using Chikungunya, Mumps, Measles, Rubella, RSV, CMV, and Influenza viruses. OSU-03012 as a single agent at clinically relevant concentrations killed laboratory generated antibiotic resistant E. coli and clinical isolate multi-drug resistant N. gonorrhoeae and MRSE which was in bacteria associated with reduced Dna K and Rec A expression. The PDE5 inhibitors sildenafil or tadalafil enhanced OSU-03012 killing in N. gonorrhoeae and MRSE and low marginally toxic doses of OSU-03012 could restore bacterial sensitivity in N. gonorrhoeae to multiple antibiotics. Thus, Dna K and bacterial phosphodiesterases are novel antibiotic targets, and inhibition of GRP78 is of therapeutic utility for cancer and also for bacterial and viral infections. J. Cell. Physiol. 230: 1661–1676, 2015. © 2014 The Authors. Journal of Cellular Physiology Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurence Booth
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298
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62
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Kwan BW, Chowdhury N, Wood TK. Combatting bacterial infections by killing persister cells with mitomycin C. Environ Microbiol 2015; 17:4406-14. [PMID: 25858802 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.12873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2015] [Accepted: 04/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Persister cells are a multi-drug tolerant subpopulation of bacteria that contribute to chronic and recalcitrant clinical infections such as cystic fibrosis and tuberculosis. Persisters are metabolically dormant, so they are highly tolerant to all traditional antibiotics which are mainly effective against actively growing cells. Here, we show that the FDA-approved anti-cancer drug mitomycin C (MMC) eradicates persister cells through a growth-independent mechanism. MMC is passively transported and bioreductively activated, leading to spontaneous cross-linking of DNA, which we verify in both active and dormant cells. We find MMC effectively eradicates cells grown in numerous different growth states (e.g. planktonic cultures and highly robust biofilm cultures) in both rich and minimal media. Additionally, MMC is a potent bactericide for a broad range of bacterial persisters, including commensal Escherichia coli K-12 as well as pathogenic species of E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We also demonstrate the efficacy of MMC in an animal model and a wound model, substantiating the clinical applicability of MMC against bacterial infections. Therefore, MMC is the first broad-spectrum compound capable of eliminating persister cells, meriting investigation as a new approach for the treatment of recalcitrant infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian W Kwan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802-4400, USA
| | - Nityananda Chowdhury
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802-4400, USA
| | - Thomas K Wood
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802-4400, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802-4400, USA
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63
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Booth L, Roberts JL, Dent P. HSPA5/Dna K may be a useful target for human disease therapies. DNA Cell Biol 2015; 34:153-8. [PMID: 25689303 DOI: 10.1089/dna.2015.2808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The chaperone protein HSPA5/Dna K is conserved throughout evolution from higher eukaryotes down to prokaryotes. The celecoxib derivative OSU-03012 (also called AR-12) interacts with Viagra or Cialis in eukaryotic cells to rapidly reduce HSPA5 levels as well as blunt the functions of many other chaperone proteins. Because multiple chaperones are modulated in eukaryotes, the expression of cell surface virus receptors is reduced and because HSPA5 in blocked viruses cannot efficiently replicate. Because DnaK levels are reduced in prokaryotes by OSU-03012, the levels of DnaK chaperone proteins such as Rec A decline, which is associated with bacterial cell death and a resensitization of so-called drug-resistant superbugs to standard of care antibiotics. In Alzheimer's disease, HSPA5 has been shown to play a supportive role for the progression of tau phosphorylation and neurodegeneration. Thus, in eukaryotes, HSPA5 represents a target for anticancer, antiviral, and anti-Alzheimer's therapeutics and in prokaryotes, DnaK and bacterial phosphodiesterases represent novel antibiotic targets that should be exploited in the future by pharmaceutical companies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurence Booth
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University , Richmond, Virginia
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64
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Islam S, Benedik MJ, Wood TK. Orphan toxin OrtT (YdcX) of Escherichia coli reduces growth during the stringent response. Toxins (Basel) 2015; 7:299-321. [PMID: 25643179 PMCID: PMC4344625 DOI: 10.3390/toxins7020299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2014] [Accepted: 01/20/2015] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxin/antitoxin (TA) systems are nearly universal in prokaryotes; toxins are paired with antitoxins which inactivate them until the toxins are utilized. Here we explore whether toxins may function alone; i.e., whether a toxin which lacks a corresponding antitoxin (orphan toxin) is physiologically relevant. By focusing on a homologous protein of the membrane-damaging toxin GhoT of the Escherichia coli GhoT/GhoS type V TA system, we found that YdcX (renamed OrtT for orphan toxin related to tetrahydrofolate) is toxic but is not part of TA pair. OrtT is not inactivated by neighboring YdcY (which is demonstrated to be a protein), nor is it inactivated by antitoxin GhoS. Also, OrtT is not inactivated by small RNA upstream or downstream of ortT. Moreover, screening a genomic library did not identify an antitoxin partner for OrtT. OrtT is a protein and its toxicity stems from membrane damage as evidenced by transmission electron microscopy and cell lysis. Furthermore, OrtT reduces cell growth and metabolism in the presence of both antimicrobials trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole; these antimicrobials induce the stringent response by inhibiting tetrahydrofolate synthesis. Therefore, we demonstrate that OrtT acts as an independent toxin to reduce growth during stress related to amino acid and DNA synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabina Islam
- Department of Chemical Engineering, the Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802-4400, USA.
| | - Michael J Benedik
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-3258, USA.
| | - Thomas K Wood
- Department of Chemical Engineering, the Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802-4400, USA.
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