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Wang H, Ishchenko A, Skudlarek J, Shen P, Dzhekieva L, Painter RE, Chen YT, Bukhtiyarova M, Leithead A, Tracy R, Babaoglu K, Bahnck-Teets C, Buevich A, Cabalu TD, Labroli M, Lange H, Lei Y, Li W, Liu J, Mann PA, Meng T, Mitchell HJ, Mulhearn J, Scapin G, Sha D, Shaw AW, Si Q, Tong L, Wu C, Wu Z, Xiao JC, Xu M, Zhang LK, McKenney D, Miller RR, Black TA, Cooke A, Balibar CJ, Klein DJ, Raheem I, Walker SS. Cerastecins inhibit membrane lipooligosaccharide transport in drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. Nat Microbiol 2024; 9:1244-1255. [PMID: 38649414 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-024-01667-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infections have limited treatment options. Synthesis, transport and placement of lipopolysaccharide or lipooligosaccharide (LOS) in the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria are important for bacterial virulence and survival. Here we describe the cerastecins, inhibitors of the A. baumannii transporter MsbA, an LOS flippase. These molecules are potent and bactericidal against A. baumannii, including clinical carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolates. Using cryo-electron microscopy and biochemical analysis, we show that the cerastecins adopt a serpentine configuration in the central vault of the MsbA dimer, stalling the enzyme and uncoupling ATP hydrolysis from substrate flipping. A derivative with optimized potency and pharmacokinetic properties showed efficacy in murine models of bloodstream or pulmonary A. baumannii infection. While resistance development is inevitable, targeting a clinically unexploited mechanism avoids existing antibiotic resistance mechanisms. Although clinical validation of LOS transport remains undetermined, the cerastecins may open a path to narrow-spectrum treatment modalities for important nosocomial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Wang
- Merck & Co., Inc., West Point, PA, USA
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- Merck & Co., Inc., West Point, PA, USA
| | - Wei Li
- Merck & Co., Inc., West Point, PA, USA
| | - Jian Liu
- Merck & Co., Inc., West Point, PA, USA
| | | | - Tao Meng
- Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA
| | | | | | | | - Deyou Sha
- Merck & Co., Inc., West Point, PA, USA
| | | | - Qian Si
- Merck & Co., Inc., West Point, PA, USA
| | - Ling Tong
- Merck & Co., Inc., West Point, PA, USA
| | | | - Zhe Wu
- Merck & Co., Inc., West Point, PA, USA
| | | | - Min Xu
- Merck & Co., Inc., West Point, PA, USA
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Yoshida I, Takata I, Fujita K, Takashima H, Sugiyama H. TP0586532, a Novel Non-Hydroxamate LpxC Inhibitor: Potentiating Effect on In Vitro Activity of Meropenem against Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0082822. [PMID: 35647694 PMCID: PMC9241751 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00828-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) are an urgent threat to public health requiring the development of novel therapies. TP0586532 is a novel non-hydroxamate LpxC inhibitor that inhibits the synthesis of lipopolysaccharides, which are components of the outer membranes of Gram-negative bacteria. Based on the mechanism of action of TP0586532, we hypothesized that it might enhance the antibacterial activity of other antibiotics by increasing the permeability of the outer bacterial membrane. The combination of TP0586532 with meropenem, amikacin, cefepime, piperacillin, and tigecycline showed synergistic and additive effects against carbapenem-susceptible Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli. Checkerboard experiments against 21 carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae and E. coli strains (13 blaKPC+, 5 blaNDM-1+, 2 blaVIM+, and 1 blaIMP+) showed that the combination of TP0586532 with meropenem yielded synergistic and additive effects against 9 and 12 strains, respectively. In a time-kill assay examining 12 CRE strains, synergistic effects were observed when TP0586532 was combined with meropenem against many of the strains. A membrane permeability assay using ethidium bromide (EtBr) was performed to investigate the mechanism of the potentiating effect. TP0586532 increased the influx of EtBr into a CRE strain, suggesting that TP0586532 increased membrane permeability and facilitated intracellular access for the antibiotics. Our study demonstrates that TP0586532 potentiates the in vitro antibacterial activity of meropenem against CRE. Combination therapy consisting of TP0586532 and meropenem has potential as a treatment for CRE infections. IMPORTANCE Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) are an urgent public health threat, as therapeutic options are limited. TP0586532 is a novel LpxC inhibitor that inhibits the synthesis of lipopolysaccharides in the outer membranes of Gram-negative bacteria. Here, we demonstrated the potentiating effects of TP0586532 on the antibacterial activity of meropenem against CRE harboring various types of carbapenemase genes (blaKPC+, blaNDM-1+ blaVIM+, and blaIMP+). TP0586532 also augmented the bactericidal effects of meropenem against CRE strains, even against those with a high level of resistance to meropenem. The potentiating effects were suggested to be mediated by an increase in bacterial membrane permeability. Our study revealed that a combination therapy consisting of TP0586532 and meropenem has the potential to be a novel therapeutic option for CRE infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ippei Yoshida
- Pharmacology Laboratories, Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Saitama, Japan
| | - Iichiro Takata
- Pharmacology Laboratories, Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Saitama, Japan
| | - Kiyoko Fujita
- Pharmacology Laboratories, Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Saitama, Japan
| | - Hajime Takashima
- Chemistry Laboratories, Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Saitama, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Sugiyama
- Pharmacology Laboratories, Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Saitama, Japan
- Medical Information, Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan
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