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Li H, Ding W, Zhang Q. Discovery and engineering of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptide (RiPP) natural products. RSC Chem Biol 2024; 5:90-108. [PMID: 38333193 PMCID: PMC10849128 DOI: 10.1039/d3cb00172e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) represent a diverse superfamily of natural products with immense potential for drug development. This review provides a concise overview of the recent advances in the discovery of RiPP natural products, focusing on rational strategies such as bioactivity guided screening, enzyme or precursor-based genome mining, and biosynthetic engineering. The challenges associated with activating silent biosynthetic gene clusters and the development of elaborate catalytic systems are also discussed. The logical frameworks emerging from these research studies offer valuable insights into RiPP biosynthesis and engineering, paving the way for broader pharmaceutic applications of these peptide natural products.
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Affiliation(s)
- He Li
- Department of Chemistry, Fudan University Shanghai 200433 China
| | - Wei Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai 200240 China
| | - Qi Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Fudan University Shanghai 200433 China
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Elfaky MA, Elbaramawi SS, Eissa AG, Ibrahim TS, Khafagy ES, Ali MAM, Hegazy WAH. Drug repositioning: doxazosin attenuates the virulence factors and biofilm formation in Gram-negative bacteria. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 107:3763-3778. [PMID: 37079062 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12522-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023]
Abstract
The resistance development is an increasing global health risk that needs innovative solutions. Repurposing drugs to serve as anti-virulence agents is suggested as an advantageous strategy to diminish bacterial resistance development. Bacterial virulence is controlled by quorum sensing (QS) system that orchestrates the expression of biofilm formation, motility, and virulence factors production as enzymes and virulent pigments. Interfering with QS could lead to bacterial virulence mitigation without affecting bacterial growth that does not result in bacterial resistance development. This study investigated the probable anti-virulence and anti-QS activities of α-adrenoreceptor blocker doxazosin against Proteus mirabilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Besides in silico study, in vitro and in vivo investigations were conducted to assess the doxazosin anti-virulence actions. Doxazosin significantly diminished the biofilm formation and release of QS-controlled Chromobacterium violaceum pigment and virulence factors in P. aeruginosa and P. mirabilis, and downregulated the QS encoding genes in P. aeruginosa. Virtually, doxazosin interfered with QS proteins, and in vivo protected mice against P. mirabilis and P. aeruginosa. The role of the membranal sensors as QseC and PmrA was recognized in enhancing the Gram-negative virulence. Doxazosin downregulated the membranal sensors PmR and QseC encoding genes and could in silico interfere with them. In conclusion, this study preliminary documents the probable anti-QS and anti-virulence activities of doxazosin, which indicate its possible application as an alternative or in addition to antibiotics. However, extended toxicological and pharmacological investigations are essential to approve the feasible clinical application of doxazosin as novel efficient anti-virulence agent. KEY POINTS: • Anti-hypertensive doxazosin acquires anti-quorum sensing activities • Doxazosin diminishes the virulence of Proteus mirabilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa • Doxazosin could dimmish the bacterial espionage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmoud A Elfaky
- Department of Natural Products, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia.
- Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Precision Medicines, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Samar S Elbaramawi
- Medicinal Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44519, Egypt
| | - Ahmed G Eissa
- Medicinal Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44519, Egypt
| | - Tarek S Ibrahim
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - El-Sayed Khafagy
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, 11942, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, 41522, Egypt
| | - Mohamed A M Ali
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, 11432, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Abbassia, 11566, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Wael A H Hegazy
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44519, Egypt.
- Pharmacy Program, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Oman College of Health Sciences, Muscat, 113, Oman.
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Subinhibitory Cefotaxime and Levofloxacin Concentrations Contribute to Selection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Coculture with Staphylococcus aureus. Appl Environ Microbiol 2022; 88:e0059222. [PMID: 35638844 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00592-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial species in the polymicrobial community evolve interspecific interaction relationships to adapt to the survival stresses imposed by neighbors or environmental cues. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus are two common bacterial pathogens frequently coisolated from patients with burns and respiratory disease. Whether the application of commonly used antibiotics influences the interaction dynamics of the two species still remains largely unexplored. By performing a series of on-plate competition assays and RNA sequencing-based transcriptional profiling, we showed that the presence of the cephalosporin antibiotic cefotaxime or the quinolone antibiotic levofloxacin at subinhibitory concentration contributes to selecting P. aeruginosa from the coculture with S. aureus by modulating the quorum-sensing (QS) system of P. aeruginosa. Specifically, a subinhibitory concentration of cefotaxime promotes the growth suppression of S. aureus by P. aeruginosa in coculture. This process may be related to the increased production of the antistaphylococcal molecule pyocyanin and the expression of lasR, which is the central regulatory gene of the P. aeruginosa QS hierarchy. On the other hand, subinhibitory concentrations of levofloxacin decrease the competitive advantage of P. aeruginosa over S. aureus by inhibiting the growth and the las QS system of P. aeruginosa. However, pqs signaling of P. aeruginosa can be activated instead to overcome S. aureus. Therefore, this study contributes to understanding the interaction dynamics of P. aeruginosa and S. aureus during antibiotic treatment and provides an important basis for studying the pathogenesis of polymicrobial infections. IMPORTANCE Increasing evidence has demonstrated the polymicrobial characteristics of most chronic infections, and the frequent communications among bacterial pathogens result in many difficulties for clinical therapy. Exploring bacterial interspecific interaction during antibiotic treatment is an emerging endeavor that may facilitate the understanding of polymicrobial infections and the optimization of clinical therapies. Here, we investigated the interaction of cocultured P. aeruginosa and S. aureus with the intervention of commonly used antibiotics in clinic. We found that the application of subinhibitory concentrations of cefotaxime and levofloxacin can select P. aeruginosa in coculture with S. aureus by modulating P. aeruginosa QS regulation to enhance the production of antistaphylococcal metabolites in different ways. This study emphasizes the role of the QS system in the interaction of P. aeruginosa with other bacterial species and provides an explanation for the persistence and enrichment of P. aeruginosa in patients after antibiotic treatment and a reference for further clinical therapy.
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Repurposing α-Adrenoreceptor Blockers as Promising Anti-Virulence Agents in Gram-Negative Bacteria. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:antibiotics11020178. [PMID: 35203781 PMCID: PMC8868568 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11020178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2021] [Revised: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance is among the world’s most urgent public health problems. Diminishing of the virulence of bacteria is a promising approach to decrease the development of bacterial resistance. Quorum sensing (QS) systems orchestrate the bacterial virulence in inducer–receptors manner. Bacteria can spy on the cells of the host by sensing adrenergic hormones and other neurotransmitters, and in turn, these neurotransmitters can induce bacterial pathogenesis. In this direction, α-adrenergic blockers were proposed as an anti-virulence agents through inhibiting the bacterial espionage. The current study aimed to explore the α-blockers’ anti-QS activities. Within comprehensive in silico investigation, the binding affinities of seven α-adrenoreceptor blockers were evaluated towards structurally different QS receptors. From the best docked α-blockers into QS receptors, terazosin was nominated to be subjected for further in vivo and in vitro anti-QS and anti-virulence activities against Chromobacterium violaceum and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Terazosin showed a significant ability to diminish the QS-controlled pigment production in C. violaceum. Moreover, Terazosin decreased the P. aeruginosa biofilm formation and down-regulated its QS-encoding genes. Terazosin protected mice from the P. aeruginosa pathogenesis. In conclusion, α-adrenergic blockers are proposed as promising anti-virulence agents as they hinder QS receptors and inhibit bacterial espionage.
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Li A, Okada BK, Rosen PC, Seyedsayamdost MR. Piperacillin triggers virulence factor biosynthesis via the oxidative stress response in Burkholderia thailandensis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2021483118. [PMID: 34172579 PMCID: PMC8256049 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2021483118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural products have been an important source of therapeutic agents and chemical tools. The recent realization that many natural product biosynthetic genes are silent or sparingly expressed during standard laboratory growth has prompted efforts to investigate their regulation and develop methods to induce their expression. Because it is difficult to intuit signals that induce a given biosynthetic locus, we recently implemented a forward chemical-genetic approach to identify such inducers. In the current work, we applied this approach to nine silent biosynthetic loci in the model bacterium Burkholderia thailandensis to systematically screen for elicitors from a library of Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs. We find that β-lactams, fluoroquinolones, antifungals, and, surprisingly, calcimimetics, phenothiazine antipsychotics, and polyaromatic antidepressants are the most effective global inducers of biosynthetic genes. Investigations into the mechanism of stimulation of the silent virulence factor malleicyprol by the β-lactam piperacillin allowed us to elucidate the underlying regulatory circuits. Low-dose piperacillin causes oxidative stress, thereby inducing redox-sensing transcriptional regulators, which activate malR, a pathway-specific positive regulator of the malleicyprol gene cluster. Malleicyprol is thus part of the OxyR and SoxR regulons in B. thailandensis, allowing the bacterium to initiate virulence in response to oxidative stress. Our work catalogs a diverse array of elicitors and a previously unknown regulatory input for secondary metabolism in B. thailandensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anran Li
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544
| | - Bethany K Okada
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544
| | - Paul C Rosen
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544
| | - Mohammad R Seyedsayamdost
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544;
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544
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Sintchenko V, Timms V, Sim E, Rockett R, Bachmann N, O'Sullivan M, Marais B. Microbial Genomics as a Catalyst for Targeted Antivirulence Therapeutics. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:641260. [PMID: 33928102 PMCID: PMC8076527 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.641260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Virulence arresting drugs (VAD) are an expanding class of antimicrobial treatment that act to “disarm” rather than kill bacteria. Despite an increasing number of VAD being registered for clinical use, uptake is hampered by the lack of methods that can identify patients who are most likely to benefit from these new agents. The application of pathogen genomics can facilitate the rational utilization of advanced therapeutics for infectious diseases. The development of genomic assessment of VAD targets is essential to support the early stages of VAD diffusion into infectious disease management. Genomic identification and characterization of VAD targets in clinical isolates can augment antimicrobial stewardship and pharmacovigilance. Personalized genomics guided use of VAD will provide crucial policy guidance to regulating agencies, assist hospitals to optimize the use of these expensive medicines and create market opportunities for biotech companies and diagnostic laboratories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vitali Sintchenko
- Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology-Public Health, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW, Australia.,Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Laboratory Services, NSW Health Pathology-Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - Verlaine Timms
- Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology-Public Health, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - Eby Sim
- Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Laboratory Services, NSW Health Pathology-Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - Rebecca Rockett
- Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology-Public Health, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - Nathan Bachmann
- Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology-Public Health, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - Matthew O'Sullivan
- Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology-Public Health, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW, Australia.,Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Laboratory Services, NSW Health Pathology-Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - Ben Marais
- Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW, Australia
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