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Aziz UBA, Saoud A, Bermudez M, Mieth M, Atef A, Rudolf T, Arkona C, Trenkner T, Böttcher C, Ludwig K, Hoelzemer A, Hocke AC, Wolber G, Rademann J. Targeted small molecule inhibitors blocking the cytolytic effects of pneumolysin and homologous toxins. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3537. [PMID: 38670939 PMCID: PMC11053136 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47741-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Pneumolysin (PLY) is a cholesterol-dependent cytolysin (CDC) from Streptococcus pneumoniae, the main cause for bacterial pneumonia. Liberation of PLY during infection leads to compromised immune system and cytolytic cell death. Here, we report discovery, development, and validation of targeted small molecule inhibitors of PLY (pore-blockers, PB). PB-1 is a virtual screening hit inhibiting PLY-mediated hemolysis. Structural optimization provides PB-2 with improved efficacy. Cryo-electron tomography reveals that PB-2 blocks PLY-binding to cholesterol-containing membranes and subsequent pore formation. Scaffold-hopping delivers PB-3 with superior chemical stability and solubility. PB-3, formed in a protein-templated reaction, binds to Cys428 adjacent to the cholesterol recognition domain of PLY with a KD of 256 nM and a residence time of 2000 s. It acts as anti-virulence factor preventing human lung epithelial cells from PLY-mediated cytolysis and cell death during infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae and is active against the homologous Cys-containing CDC perfringolysin (PFO) as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umer Bin Abdul Aziz
- Institute of Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Str. 2+4, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ali Saoud
- Institute of Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Str. 2+4, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marcel Bermudez
- Institute of Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Str. 2+4, 14195, Berlin, Germany
- Institute for Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, University of Münster, Corrensstr. 48, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Maren Mieth
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Respiratory Medicine, and Critical Care, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Amira Atef
- Institute of Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Str. 2+4, 14195, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Assuit University, Assiut, 71526, Egypt
| | - Thomas Rudolf
- Institute of Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Str. 2+4, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christoph Arkona
- Institute of Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Str. 2+4, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Timo Trenkner
- Leibniz Institute of Virology, Hamburg, 20251, Germany
| | - Christoph Böttcher
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Research Center of Electron Microscopy (FZEM), Freie Universität Berlin, Fabeckstraße 36A, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kai Ludwig
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Research Center of Electron Microscopy (FZEM), Freie Universität Berlin, Fabeckstraße 36A, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Angelique Hoelzemer
- Leibniz Institute of Virology, Hamburg, 20251, Germany
- First Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), 20251, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Andreas C Hocke
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Respiratory Medicine, and Critical Care, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gerhard Wolber
- Institute of Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Str. 2+4, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jörg Rademann
- Institute of Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Str. 2+4, 14195, Berlin, Germany.
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Nomura R, Suehiro Y, Tojo F, Matayoshi S, Okawa R, Hamada M, Naka S, Matsumoto-Nakano M, Unesaki R, Koumoto K, Kawauchi K, Nishikata T, Akitomo T, Mitsuhata C, Yagi M, Mizoguchi T, Fujikawa K, Taniguchi T, Nakano K. Inhibitory Effects of Shikonin Dispersion, an Extract of Lithospermum erythrorhizon Encapsulated in β-1,3-1,6 Glucan, on Streptococcus mutans and Non-Mutans Streptococci. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1075. [PMID: 38256148 PMCID: PMC10816867 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25021075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Shikonin is extracted from the roots of Lithospermum erythrorhizon, and shikonin extracts have been shown to have inhibitory effects on several bacteria. However, shikonin extracts are difficult to formulate because of their poor water solubility. In the present study, we prepared a shikonin dispersion, which was solubilized by the inclusion of β-1,3-1,6 glucan, and analysed the inhibitory effects of this dispersion on Streptococcus mutans and non-mutans streptococci. The shikonin dispersion showed pronounced anti-S. mutans activity, and inhibited growth of and biofilm formation by this bacterium. The shikonin dispersion also showed antimicrobial and antiproliferative effects against non-mutans streptococci. In addition, a clinical trial was conducted in which 20 subjects were asked to brush their teeth for 1 week using either shikonin dispersion-containing or non-containing toothpaste, respectively. The shikonin-containing toothpaste decreased the number of S. mutans in the oral cavity, while no such effect was observed after the use of the shikonin-free toothpaste. These results suggest that shikonin dispersion has an inhibitory effect on S. mutans and non-mutans streptococci, and toothpaste containing shikonin dispersion may be effective in preventing dental caries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryota Nomura
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita 565-0871, Osaka, Japan; (Y.S.); (F.T.); (S.M.); (R.O.); (K.N.)
- Joint Research Laboratory of Next-Generation Science for Oral Infection Control, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita 565-0871, Osaka, Japan; (M.Y.); (T.M.); (K.F.); (T.T.)
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 734-8553, Hiroshima, Japan; (T.A.); (C.M.)
| | - Yuto Suehiro
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita 565-0871, Osaka, Japan; (Y.S.); (F.T.); (S.M.); (R.O.); (K.N.)
| | - Fumikazu Tojo
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita 565-0871, Osaka, Japan; (Y.S.); (F.T.); (S.M.); (R.O.); (K.N.)
| | - Saaya Matayoshi
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita 565-0871, Osaka, Japan; (Y.S.); (F.T.); (S.M.); (R.O.); (K.N.)
| | - Rena Okawa
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita 565-0871, Osaka, Japan; (Y.S.); (F.T.); (S.M.); (R.O.); (K.N.)
- Joint Research Laboratory of Next-Generation Science for Oral Infection Control, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita 565-0871, Osaka, Japan; (M.Y.); (T.M.); (K.F.); (T.T.)
| | - Masakazu Hamada
- Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Oncology and Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita 565-0871, Osaka, Japan;
| | - Shuhei Naka
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama 700-8558, Okayama, Japan; (S.N.); (M.M.-N.)
| | - Michiyo Matsumoto-Nakano
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama 700-8558, Okayama, Japan; (S.N.); (M.M.-N.)
| | - Rika Unesaki
- Faculty of Frontiers of Innovative Research in Science and Technology (FIRST), Konan University, Kobe 650-0047, Hyogo, Japan; (R.U.); (K.K.); (K.K.); (T.N.)
| | - Kazuya Koumoto
- Faculty of Frontiers of Innovative Research in Science and Technology (FIRST), Konan University, Kobe 650-0047, Hyogo, Japan; (R.U.); (K.K.); (K.K.); (T.N.)
| | - Keiko Kawauchi
- Faculty of Frontiers of Innovative Research in Science and Technology (FIRST), Konan University, Kobe 650-0047, Hyogo, Japan; (R.U.); (K.K.); (K.K.); (T.N.)
| | - Takahito Nishikata
- Faculty of Frontiers of Innovative Research in Science and Technology (FIRST), Konan University, Kobe 650-0047, Hyogo, Japan; (R.U.); (K.K.); (K.K.); (T.N.)
| | - Tatsuya Akitomo
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 734-8553, Hiroshima, Japan; (T.A.); (C.M.)
| | - Chieko Mitsuhata
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 734-8553, Hiroshima, Japan; (T.A.); (C.M.)
| | - Masatoshi Yagi
- Joint Research Laboratory of Next-Generation Science for Oral Infection Control, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita 565-0871, Osaka, Japan; (M.Y.); (T.M.); (K.F.); (T.T.)
- Pharmacrea Kobe Co., Ltd., Kobe 651-0085, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Toshiro Mizoguchi
- Joint Research Laboratory of Next-Generation Science for Oral Infection Control, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita 565-0871, Osaka, Japan; (M.Y.); (T.M.); (K.F.); (T.T.)
- TSET Co., Ltd., Kariya 448-0022, Aichi, Japan
| | - Koki Fujikawa
- Joint Research Laboratory of Next-Generation Science for Oral Infection Control, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita 565-0871, Osaka, Japan; (M.Y.); (T.M.); (K.F.); (T.T.)
- TSET Co., Ltd., Kariya 448-0022, Aichi, Japan
| | - Taizo Taniguchi
- Joint Research Laboratory of Next-Generation Science for Oral Infection Control, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita 565-0871, Osaka, Japan; (M.Y.); (T.M.); (K.F.); (T.T.)
- Pharmacrea Kobe Co., Ltd., Kobe 651-0085, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Nakano
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita 565-0871, Osaka, Japan; (Y.S.); (F.T.); (S.M.); (R.O.); (K.N.)
- Joint Research Laboratory of Next-Generation Science for Oral Infection Control, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita 565-0871, Osaka, Japan; (M.Y.); (T.M.); (K.F.); (T.T.)
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Rat A, Koletti AE, Rodić N, Papageorgiou VP, Willems A, Assimopoulou AN. Bacterial responses to plant antimicrobials: the case of alkannin and shikonin derivatives. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1244270. [PMID: 37608899 PMCID: PMC10440953 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1244270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Alkannin, shikonin and their derivatives (A/S) are secondary metabolites produced in the roots of certain plants of the Boraginaceae family such as Lithospermum erythrorhizon Siebold & Zucc. and Alkanna tinctoria (L.) Tausch. These naphthoquinones express anti-cancer, wound healing, and antimicrobial activities. To study the interactions between endophytic bacteria isolated from A. tinctoria and the antimicrobials A/S, endophytic bacteria known to be resistant to the compounds were screened for their effect on A/S in liquid medium. Thereafter, the strain Pseudomonas sp. R-72008, was selected and tested for its ability to modify A/S in nutrient medium and minimal medium with A/S as sole carbon source. Bacterial growth was recorded, and high performance liquid chromatography-diode array and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry analyses were performed to detect and quantify metabolites. In nutrient medium inoculated with R-72008, a decrease in the amount of A/S monomers initially present was observed and correlated with an increase of A/S oligomers. Moreover, a significant decrease of initial A/S monomers in minimal medium was correlated with bacterial growth, showing for the first time that a bacterial strain, Pseudomonas sp. R-72008, was able to use the naphthoquinones A/S as sole carbon source. This study opens new perspectives on the interactions between bacteria and plant antimicrobials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angélique Rat
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department Biochemistry and Microbiology, Fac. Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Antigoni E. Koletti
- Organic Chemistry Laboratory, School of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
- Natural Products Research Centre of Excellence (NatPro-AUTH), Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation of AUTh, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Nebojša Rodić
- Organic Chemistry Laboratory, School of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
- Natural Products Research Centre of Excellence (NatPro-AUTH), Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation of AUTh, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Vassilios P. Papageorgiou
- Organic Chemistry Laboratory, School of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
- Natural Products Research Centre of Excellence (NatPro-AUTH), Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation of AUTh, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Anne Willems
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department Biochemistry and Microbiology, Fac. Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Andreana N. Assimopoulou
- Organic Chemistry Laboratory, School of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
- Natural Products Research Centre of Excellence (NatPro-AUTH), Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation of AUTh, Thessaloniki, Greece
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Gu K, Ding L, Wang Z, Sun Y, Sun X, Yang W, Sun H, Tian Y, Wang Z, Sun L. Wogonin attenuates the pathogenicity of Streptococcus pneumoniae by double-target inhibition of Pneumolysin and Sortase A. J Cell Mol Med 2023; 27:563-575. [PMID: 36747468 PMCID: PMC9930429 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.17684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) is a major causative agent of respiratory disease in patients and can cause respiratory distress and other symptoms in severe cases. Pneumolysin (PLY) is a pore-forming toxin that induces host tissue injury and inflammatory responses. Sortase A (SrtA), a catalytic enzyme that anchors surface-associated virulence factors, is critical for S. pneumoniae virulence. Here, we found that the active ingredient of the Chinese herb Scutellaria baicalensis, wogonin, simultaneously inhibited the haemolytic activity of PLY and SrtA activity. Consequently, wogonin decreased PLY-mediated cell damage and reduced SrtA-mediated biofilm formation by S. pneumoniae. Furthermore, our data indicated that wogonin did not affect PLY expression but directly altered its oligomerization, leading to reduced activity. Furthermore, the analysis of a mouse pneumonia model further revealed that wogonin reduced mortality in mice infected with S. pneumoniae laboratory strain D39 and S. pneumoniae clinical isolate E1, reduced the number of colony-forming units in infected mice and decreased the W/D ratio and levels of the inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β in the lungs of infected mice. Thus, wogonin reduces S. pneumoniae pathogenicity by inhibiting the dual targets PLY and SrtA, providing a treatment option for S. pneumoniae infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuan Gu
- Changchun University of Chinese MedicineChangchunChina
| | - Lizhong Ding
- Affiliated Hospital to Changchun University of Chinese MedicineJilinChina
| | | | - Yingying Sun
- Affiliated Hospital to Changchun University of Chinese MedicineJilinChina
| | - Xiaozhou Sun
- Changchun University of Chinese MedicineChangchunChina
| | - Wenbo Yang
- Changchun University of Chinese MedicineChangchunChina
| | - Haihang Sun
- Changchun University of Chinese MedicineChangchunChina
| | - Ye Tian
- Changchun University of Chinese MedicineChangchunChina
| | - Zeyu Wang
- Changchun University of Chinese MedicineChangchunChina
| | - Liping Sun
- Changchun University of Chinese MedicineChangchunChina,Affiliated Hospital to Changchun University of Chinese MedicineJilinChina
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Cima Cabal MD, Molina F, López-Sánchez JI, Pérez-Santín E, Del Mar García-Suárez M. Pneumolysin as a target for new therapies against pneumococcal infections: A systematic review. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0282970. [PMID: 36947540 PMCID: PMC10032530 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This systematic review evaluates pneumolysin (PLY) as a target for new treatments against pneumococcal infections. Pneumolysin is one of the main virulence factors produced by all types of pneumococci. This toxin (53 kDa) is a highly conserved protein that binds to cholesterol in eukaryotic cells, forming pores that lead to cell destruction. METHODS The databases consulted were MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Scopus. Articles were independently screened by title, abstract, and full text by two researchers, and using consensus to resolve any disagreements that occurred. Articles in other languages different from English, patents, cases report, notes, chapter books and reviews were excluded. Searches were restricted to the years 2000 to 2021. Methodological quality was evaluated using OHAT framework. RESULTS Forty-one articles describing the effects of different molecules that inhibit PLY were reviewed. Briefly, the inhibitory molecules found were classified into three main groups: those exerting a direct effect by binding and/or blocking PLY, those acting indirectly by preventing its effects on host cells, and those whose mechanisms are unknown. Although many molecules are proposed as toxin blockers, only some of them, such as antibiotics, peptides, sterols, and statins, have the probability of being implemented as clinical treatment. In contrast, for other molecules, there are limited studies that demonstrate efficacy in animal models with sufficient reliability. DISCUSSION Most of the studies reviewed has a good level of confidence. However, one of the limitations of this systematic review is the lack of homogeneity of the studies, what prevented to carry out a statistical comparison of the results or meta-analysis. CONCLUSION A panel of molecules blocking PLY activity are associated with the improvement of the inflammatory process triggered by the pneumococcal infection. Some molecules have already been used in humans for other purposes, so they could be safe for use in patients with pneumococcal infections. These patients might benefit from a second line treatment during the initial stages of the infection preventing acute respiratory distress syndrome and invasive pneumococcal diseases. Additional research using the presented set of compounds might further improve the clinical management of these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Dolores Cima Cabal
- Escuela Superior de Ingeniería y Tecnología (ESIT), Universidad Internacional de La Rioja, UNIR, Logroño, La Rioja, Spain
| | - Felipe Molina
- Genética, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain
| | - José Ignacio López-Sánchez
- Escuela Superior de Ingeniería y Tecnología (ESIT), Universidad Internacional de La Rioja, UNIR, Logroño, La Rioja, Spain
| | - Efrén Pérez-Santín
- Escuela Superior de Ingeniería y Tecnología (ESIT), Universidad Internacional de La Rioja, UNIR, Logroño, La Rioja, Spain
| | - María Del Mar García-Suárez
- Escuela Superior de Ingeniería y Tecnología (ESIT), Universidad Internacional de La Rioja, UNIR, Logroño, La Rioja, Spain
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Pharmacological and analytical aspects of alkannin/shikonin and their derivatives: An update from 2008 to 2022. CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINES 2022; 14:511-527. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chmed.2022.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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Zhang C, Deng Y, Wang X, Shi L, Zhan B, Hou N, Liu S, Bao M, Chi G, Fang T. Alnustone inhibits Streptococcus pneumoniae virulence by targeting pneumolysin and sortase A. Fitoterapia 2022; 162:105261. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fitote.2022.105261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2022] [Revised: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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Zhao N, Li Z, Li Y, Liu G, Deng X, Ma Q, Hong C, Sun S. Rapid Qualitative and Quantitative Characterization of Arnebiae Radix by Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) with Partial Least Squares—Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA). ANAL LETT 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/00032719.2022.2096627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Na Zhao
- College of Pharmacy/Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Phytomedicine Resource and Utilization, Ministry of Education, Shihezi University College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Zhaoyang Li
- College of Pharmacy/Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Phytomedicine Resource and Utilization, Ministry of Education, Shihezi University College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Youping Li
- College of Pharmacy/Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Phytomedicine Resource and Utilization, Ministry of Education, Shihezi University College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Gaixia Liu
- College of Pharmacy/Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Phytomedicine Resource and Utilization, Ministry of Education, Shihezi University College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Xiling Deng
- College of Pharmacy/Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Phytomedicine Resource and Utilization, Ministry of Education, Shihezi University College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Qian Ma
- College of Pharmacy/Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Phytomedicine Resource and Utilization, Ministry of Education, Shihezi University College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Chenglin Hong
- College of Pharmacy/Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Phytomedicine Resource and Utilization, Ministry of Education, Shihezi University College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Shiguo Sun
- College of Pharmacy/Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Phytomedicine Resource and Utilization, Ministry of Education, Shihezi University College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
- College of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Hebei University of Science and Technology, Shijiazhuang, China
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Shu G, Xu D, Zhang W, Zhao X, Li H, Xu F, Yin L, Peng X, Fu H, Chang LJ, Yan XR, Lin J. Preparation of shikonin liposome and evaluation of its in vitro antibacterial and in vivo infected wound healing activity. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2022; 99:154035. [PMID: 35286935 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2022.154035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The emergence of antibiotic resistance over the past decade has made the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus infection difficult. Burn wounds infected with methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) can cause mortality in animals. Shikonin (SH) has been reported to possess antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, and is also responsible for the process of wound healing. However, the pharmacological mechanism of its wound healing process remains poorly comprehended, hence the probable mechanism deserves further investigation. PURPOSE The current study was designed to develop a novel SH-liposome with improved anti-MRSA effect and to detect its beneficial wound healing effects. STUDY DESIGN In vitro antibacterial tests and in vivo infected wound healing test were conducted. METHODS SH-liposome was produced by the film formation method, and the characteristics were measured using a laser particle size analyzer, transmission electron microscopy, and the dialysis method. Additionally, in vitro antibacterial tests were conducted to investigate the antibacterial effects and the relative mechanism of SH-liposome. Furthermore, the therapeutic effects and bioactivity of SH-liposome in MRSA infected burn wounds were investigated in rats. Sixty-four male Sprague Dawley rats (250 ± 10 g) were randomly divided into four groups, including Group I (control group); Group II (model group); Group III (SH-liposome group) and Group IV (Arnebia oil® group), and the drug treatments were applied topically twice daily for 21 days. Further, full thickness skin biopsies at different periods were collected aseptically to evaluate tissue cytokines, recognize flora, observe histopathological changes, and determine the mechanism underlying the wound healing effects of SH-liposome. The data were analyzed via one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Duncan's multiple range test. RESULTS The results showed that SH-liposome was successful with a drug load of 4.6 ± 0.17%. Moreover, SH-liposome showed a sustained-release behavior and improved antibacterial ability in a dose-dependent manner. For the possible antibacterial mechanism, we observed that SH-liposome achieved antibacterial activity by damaging the integrity of bacterial cell wall and membrane to further disturb the physiological activities of S. aureus. In addition, SH-liposome facilitated wound healing by inhibiting bacterial activities to control infection, regulating the I-κBα/NFκB-p65 pathway to alleviate inflammation, and directly promoting repair in burn wounds. CONCLUSION In conclusion, SH-liposome showed an antibacterial effect against S. aureus, promoted effective healing of infected burn wounds; hence, it could be used as an alternative therapy for drug-resistant infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Shu
- Department of Basic Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Dan Xu
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Basic Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiaoling Zhao
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, China
| | - Haohuan Li
- Department of Basic Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Funeng Xu
- Department of Basic Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Lizi Yin
- Department of Basic Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xi Peng
- Sichuan Industrial Institute of Antibiotics, Chengdu University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Hualin Fu
- Department of Basic Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Li-Jen Chang
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University
| | | | - Juchun Lin
- Department of Basic Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
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10
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Sun Q, Gong T, Liu M, Ren S, Yang H, Zeng S, Zhao H, Chen L, Ming T, Meng X, Xu H. Shikonin, a naphthalene ingredient: Therapeutic actions, pharmacokinetics, toxicology, clinical trials and pharmaceutical researches. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2022; 94:153805. [PMID: 34749177 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2021.153805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Shikonin is one of the major phytochemical components of Lithospermum erythrorhizon (Purple Cromwell), which is a type of medicinal herb broadly utilized in traditional Chinese medicine. It is well established that shikonin possesses remarkable therapeutic actions on various diseases, with the underlying mechanisms, pharmacokinetics and toxicological effects elusive. Also, the clinical trial and pharmaceutical study of shikonin remain to be comprehensively delineated. PURPOSE The present review aimed to systematically summarize the updated knowledge regarding the therapeutic actions, pharmacokinetics, toxicological effects, clinical trial and pharmaceutical study of shikonin. METHODS The information contained in this review article were retrieved from some authoritative databases including Web of Science, PubMed, Google scholar, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Database and so on, till August 2021. RESULTS Shikonin exerts multiple therapeutic efficacies, such as anti-inflammation, anti-cancer, cardiovascular protection, anti-microbiomes, analgesia, anti-obesity, brain protection, and so on, mainly by regulating the NF-κB, PI3K/Akt/MAPKs, Akt/mTOR, TGF-β, GSK3β, TLR4/Akt signaling pathways, NLRP3 inflammasome, reactive oxygen stress, Bax/Bcl-2, etc. In terms of pharmacokinetics, shikonin has an unfavorable oral bioavailability, 64.6% of the binding rate of plasma protein, and enhances some metabolic enzymes, particularly including cytochrome P450. In regard to the toxicological effects, shikonin may potentially cause nephrotoxicity and skin allergy. The above pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of shikonin have been validated by few clinical trials. In addition, pharmaceutical innovation of shikonin with novel drug delivery system such as nanoparticles, liposomes, microemulsions, nanogel, cyclodextrin complexes, micelles and polymers are beneficial to the development of shikonin-based drugs. CONCLUSIONS Shikonin is a promising phytochemical for drug candidates. Extensive and intensive explorations on shikonin are warranted to expedite the utilization of shikonin-based drugs in the clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Department of Pharmacology, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Ting Gong
- Department of Ultrasound, Chengdu Women's and Children's Central Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, Sichuan, China
| | - Maolun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Department of Pharmacology, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Shan Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Department of Pharmacology, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Han Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Department of Pharmacology, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Sha Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Department of Pharmacology, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Hui Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Department of Pharmacology, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Li Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Department of Pharmacology, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Tianqi Ming
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Department of Pharmacology, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Xianli Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Innovative Institute of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Haibo Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Department of Pharmacology, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
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11
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Du R, Lv Q, Hu W, Hou X, Zhou Y, Deng X, Sun L, Li L, Deng Y, Wang J. Phloretin potentiates polymyxin E activity against gram-negative bacteria. Life Sci 2021; 287:120085. [PMID: 34699905 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.120085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
AIMS The spread of plasmid-mediated polymyxin resistance has jeopardized the use of polymyxin, the last defender that combats infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) gram-negative pathogens. MAIN METHODS In this study, phloretin, as a monomeric compound extracted from natural plants, showed a good synergistic effect with polymyxin E against gram-negative bacteria, as evaluated by minimal inhibit concentration (MIC) assay and a series of assays, including growth curve, time-killing, and Western blot assays. A model of mice infected by Salmonella sp. stain HYM2 was established to further identify the synergistic effect of phloretin with polymyxin E. KEY FINDINGS The results suggested that phloretin had the potential ability to recover the antibacterial sensitivity of polymyxin E from 64 μg/mL to no more than 2 μg/mL in E. coli ZJ478 or in Salmonella sp. stain HYM2 with a 32-fold decrease. A series of strains, including mcr-1-positive and mcr-1-negative strains, were treated with a combination of phloretin and polymyxin E, and the fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) values were all found to be below 0.5. However, the combination of phloretin and polymyxin E did not lead to bacterial resistance. In vivo, the survival rate of infected mice reached nearly 80% with the combination treatment, and the cecal colony value also decreased significantly. SIGNIFICANCE All the above results indicated that phloretin is a potential polymyxin potentiator to combat gram-negative stains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Runbao Du
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Qianghua Lv
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Wei Hu
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xiaoning Hou
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yonglin Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xuming Deng
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Liping Sun
- Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin 130117, China
| | - Li Li
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yanhong Deng
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China..
| | - Jianfeng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China..
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12
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Xu H, Li P, Ren G, Wang Y, Jiang D, Liu C. Authentication of Three Source Spices of Arnebiae Radix Using DNA Barcoding and HPLC. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:677014. [PMID: 34276367 PMCID: PMC8281675 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.677014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Arnebia decumbens (Vent.) Coss. et Kralik, A. euchroma (Royle) Johnst and A. guttata Bunge, three commonly used traditional Chinese medicinal plants have been widely used for the clinical treatment of inflammatory diseases caused by fungal, bacterial, oxidation, and other related pathogens. However, precise identification at the similar species level is usually challenging due to the influence of the source of medicinal materials, traditional ethnic medicine and medicinal habits. Here we developed a comprehensive and efficient identification system for three source spices of Arnebiae Radix based on DNA barcoding and HPLC fingerprinting. A total of 599 samples from thirty-five wild populations were collected and identified by using DNA barcodes of ITS2 regions, and the chemotypes of seven naphthoquinoneswere revealed by HPLC quantitative analysis including principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering analysis. Our results showed that the ITS2 sequences can distinguish three source spices of Arnebiae Radix from adulterants. However, it was difficult to identify them by HPLC-specific chromatograms combined with chemometric analysis. These results indicated that DNA barcoding was a more powerful method than HPLC fingerprinting for the identification of related species that were genetically similar. DNA barcoding analysis could be a promising and reliable tool to accurately confirm the identities of medicinal materials, especially for those whose sources are multiple and difficult to be identified by conventional chromatography.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyan Xu
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.,College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xinjiang Medical University, Xinjiang, China
| | - Ping Li
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Guangxi Ren
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yanjiao Wang
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinjiang Medical University, Xinjiang, China
| | - Dan Jiang
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Chunsheng Liu
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
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13
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Cools F, Delputte P, Cos P. The search for novel treatment strategies for Streptococcus pneumoniae infections. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2021; 45:6064299. [PMID: 33399826 PMCID: PMC8371276 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuaa072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This review provides an overview of the most important novel treatment strategies against Streptococcus pneumoniae infections published over the past 10 years. The pneumococcus causes the majority of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia cases, and it is one of the prime pathogens in bacterial meningitis. Over the last 10 years, extensive research has been conducted to prevent severe pneumococcal infections, with a major focus on (i) boosting the host immune system and (ii) discovering novel antibacterials. Boosting the immune system can be done in two ways, either by actively modulating host immunity, mostly through administration of selective antibodies, or by interfering with pneumococcal virulence factors, thereby supporting the host immune system to effectively overcome an infection. While several of such experimental therapies are promising, few have evolved to clinical trials. The discovery of novel antibacterials is hampered by the high research and development costs versus the relatively low revenues for the pharmaceutical industry. Nevertheless, novel enzymatic assays and target-based drug design, allow the identification of targets and the development of novel molecules to effectively treat this life-threatening pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Cools
- Laboratory for Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - P Delputte
- Laboratory for Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - P Cos
- Laboratory for Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
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14
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Qi Z, Guo Y, Zhang H, Yu Q, Zhang P. Betulin attenuates pneumolysin-induced cell injury and DNA damage. J Appl Microbiol 2020; 130:843-851. [PMID: 32621771 DOI: 10.1111/jam.14769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Revised: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Pneumolysin, a pore-forming toxin, is an important virulence factor of Streptococcus pneumoniae with multiple biological activity, such as cell lysis and DNA damage. Thus, targeting this toxin is alternative strategy for the treatment of S. pneumoniae infection. METHODS AND RESULTS Haemolysin assay was performed to identify the potential PLY inhibitor. The mechanism by which betulin, a natural compound from birch bark, against PLY was determined via MICs determination, western blot analysis and oligomerization analysis. Cytotoxicity and Immunofluorescence assays were further used to evaluate the protection of betulin against PLY-induced cell injury and DNA damage. Here, betulin, a natural compound from birch bark, was indentified as an effective inhibitor of PLY. Importantly, at the concentrations required for such inhibition, betulin has no influence on S. pneumoniae viability or PLY production. The interaction of betulin with PLY restrict the olgomerizaiton of this toxin and, thus, directly neutralizing the activity of PLY. Additionally, betulin treatment alleviate PLY induced cells injury and DNA damage in the co-culture system of PLY and A549 cells. CONCLUSIONS Betulin could be used as a promising leading compound against S. pneumoniae virulence by directly targeting PLY without antibacterial activity. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY The results presented in this work provided a novel strategy and candidate for S. pneumoniae infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z Qi
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China.,Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Y Guo
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China.,Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - H Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China.,Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Q Yu
- Jilin Provincial Animal Disease Control Center, Changchun, China
| | - P Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
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15
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Cools F, Triki D, Geerts N, Delputte P, Fourches D, Cos P. In vitro and in vivo Evaluation of in silico Predicted Pneumococcal UDPG:PP Inhibitors. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:1596. [PMID: 32760374 PMCID: PMC7373766 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.01596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Pneumonia, of which Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common causative agent, is considered one of the three top leading causes of death worldwide. As seen in other bacterial species, antimicrobial resistance is on the rise for this pathogen. Therefore, there is a pressing need for novel antimicrobial strategies to combat these infections. Recently, uridine diphosphate glucose pyrophosphorylase (UDPG:PP) has been put forward as a potential drug target worth investigating. Moreover, earlier research demonstrated that streptococci lacking a functional galU gene (encoding for UDPG:PP) were characterized by significantly reduced in vitro and in vivo virulence. Therefore, in this study we evaluated the anti-virulence activity of potential UDPG:PP inhibitors. They were selected in silico using a tailor-made streptococcal homology model, based on earlier listerial research. While the compounds didn’t affect bacterial growth, nor affected in vitro adhesion to and phagocytosis in macrophages, the amount of polysaccharide capsule was significantly reduced after co-incubation with these inhibitors. Moreover, co-incubation proved to have a positive effect on survival in an in vivo Galleria mellonella larval infection model. Therefore, rather than targeting bacterial survival directly, these compounds proved to have an effect on streptococcal virulence by lowering the amount of polysaccharide and thereby probably boosting recognition of this pathogen by the innate immune system. While the compounds need adaptation to broaden their activity to more streptococcal strains rather than being strain-specific, this study consolidates UDPG:PP as a potential novel drug target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Freya Cools
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Laboratory for Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Dhoha Triki
- Department of Chemistry, Bioinformatics Research Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Nele Geerts
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Laboratory for Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Peter Delputte
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Laboratory for Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Denis Fourches
- Department of Chemistry, Bioinformatics Research Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Paul Cos
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Laboratory for Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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16
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Liu S, Wang J, Zhang J, Wang T, Zhou Y, Lv Q, Hu N, Shen X, Deng X. Tectorigenin reduces type IV pilus-dependent cell adherence in Clostridium perfringens. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2020; 366:5498297. [PMID: 31125043 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnz112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2019] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridium perfringens is an anaerobic, Gram-positive bacterium that causes a range of diseases in humans and animals around the globe. The type IV pilus (TFP) system plays a key role in the colonization and invasion of host cells, biofilm formation and gliding motility, which is vital for C. perfringens infection. Therefore, targeting TFP function may be a promising strategy for the treatment of C. perfringens infection. Here, we investigated the potential inhibitory effects of tectorigenin (TE), an isoflavone extracted from the rhizome of the Chinese herb Belamcanda chinensis (L.) DC, on gliding motility, biofilm formation, adherence to cells and antibacterial activity of C. perfringens. Tectorigenin significantly inhibited gliding motility, biofilm formation and adherence to Caco-2 cells without observable antibacterial activity against C. perfringens. In addition, we also demonstrated that the inhibitory effect of TE on TFP function appears to be partially achieved by the suppression of TFP-associated genes. These findings demonstrate that TE may have the potential to be developed as a new anti-virulence drug for C. perfringens infection, particularly for the targeting of TFP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shui Liu
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China.,Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130062, China
| | - Jianfeng Wang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China.,Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130062, China
| | - Jian Zhang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China
| | - Tingting Wang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China
| | - Yonglin Zhou
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China
| | - Qianghua Lv
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China
| | - Naiyu Hu
- College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130062, China
| | - Xue Shen
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China
| | - Xuming Deng
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China.,Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130062, China
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17
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Li S, Lv Q, Sun X, Tang T, Deng X, Yin Y, Li L. Acacetin inhibits Streptococcus pneumoniae virulence by targeting pneumolysin. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 72:1092-1100. [PMID: 32390150 DOI: 10.1111/jphp.13279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2019] [Accepted: 04/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) is an important commensal and pathogenic bacterium responsible for pneumonia, meningitis and other invasive diseases. Pneumolysin (PLY) is the major virulence factor that contributes significantly to the interaction between S. pneumoniae and the host. KEY FINDINGS In this study, the results of antibacterial analysis, the haemolysis test and the Western blotting assay showed that acacetin inhibited PLY-mediated pore-forming activity caused by S. pneumoniae culture precipitates and purified PLY without anti-S. pneumoniae activity. In addition, acacetin treatment inhibited PLY oligomerization without affecting the expression of PLY in S. pneumoniae culture supernatants. Live/dead cells and cytotoxicity assays suggested that acacetin significantly enhanced the survival rate of injured cells by inhibiting the biological toxicity of PLY without cytotoxicity in the coculture system. The in vivo mouse model of S. pneumoniae infection further demonstrated that acacetin treatment could significantly reduce the levels of inflammatory factors (INF-γ and IL-β) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and alleviate the pathological damage of lung injury. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, the results presented in this study indicated that acacetin inhibited the pore-forming activity of PLY and reduced the virulence of S. pneumoniae in vivo and in vitro, which may provide a leading compound for the treatment of S. pneumoniae infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shufang Li
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Qianghua Lv
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xiaodi Sun
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Tianzhong Tang
- Hubei Wudang Animal Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Shiyan, Hubei, China
| | - Xuming Deng
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yunhou Yin
- School of Communication, GuizhouMinzu University, Guiyang, China
| | - Li Li
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
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18
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Ng JJD, Upton Z, Leavesley D, Fan C. Investigating the Effects of Shikonin, Deoxyshikonin, and (β,β-Dimethylacryl)Shikonin on Melanoma Cell Lines. Nat Prod Commun 2020. [DOI: 10.1177/1934578x20922328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is the most lethal form of various skin cancers and contributes to more than 79% of all skin cancer deaths. Although there are numerous therapies available for melanoma, the high rate of recurrence in melanoma post-therapy remains a challenging issue for both patients and clinicians. Apoptosis is one of the foundations for cancer treatment as deficient apoptosis is one of the most essential reasons for the formation of tumour tissues. Shikonin (SHI), an active component extracted from Lithospermum erythrorhizon, has been broadly demonstrated to possess antitumorigenic property due to its apoptosis-inducing ability in various cancer cell lines. The analogs of SHI, such as deoxyshikonin (DO-SHI) and (β,β-dimethylacryl)shikonin (β,β-SHI), have also been found to possess similar bioactivities. The apoptosis-inducing ability of SHI and its analogs enable them to be potential anticancer therapies. In this study reported herein, we investigated the effects of SHI, DO-SHI, and β,β-SHI on both human (A375) and mouse (B16-F0 and B16-F10) melanoma cell lines. Cell viability was measured using Alamar blue assay, while cell migration was detected using scratch assay. Cell apoptosis was captured using terminal deoxynucleotidyl dUTP nick end labeling and fluorescence activated cell sorting. Signaling pathway activation was detected using Western blotting. Our results revealed that SHI, DO-SHI, and β,β-SHI reduce cell viability, inhibit cell migration, and induce apoptosis in melanoma cell lines. These 3 molecules-induced apoptosis in A375 is regulated via mitogen-activated protein kinase/caspase 3 signaling pathway. In particular, DO-SHI and β,β-SHI induce higher apoptosis rate in A375 and B16-F0 compared to SHI. The data from this study demonstrate that DO-SHI and β,β-SHI offer potential new reagents for managing melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Jie Dillon Ng
- Skin Research Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
- School of Chemical and Life Sciences, Singapore Polytechnic, Singapore
| | - Zee Upton
- Skin Research Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
- Institute of Medical Biology, A*STAR, Singapore
| | - David Leavesley
- Skin Research Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
| | - Chen Fan
- Skin Research Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
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19
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Zhu Y, Zhong Y, Long X, Zhu Z, Zhou Y, Ye H, Zeng X, Zheng X. Deoxyshikonin isolated from Arnebia euchroma inhibits colorectal cancer by down-regulating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. PHARMACEUTICAL BIOLOGY 2019; 57:412-423. [PMID: 31230505 PMCID: PMC6600065 DOI: 10.1080/13880209.2019.1626447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Context: Shikonins, a series of natural occurring naphthoquinones extracted from Arnebia euchroma (Royle) Jonst. (Boraginaceae), have antitumor activities and low toxicity. Objective: To illuminate potential activity and mechanism of shikonins against colorectal cancer (CRC). Materials and methods: Five shikonins were isolated from A. euchroma, and elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis. Anti-proliferative activities of shikonins (0-100 μg/mL) on human colorectal cells were evaluated by MTT and CCK-8 for 24 or 48 h. Cell apoptosis and cycle distribution were examined by FCM analysis. The expression of PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway mRNAs and proteins was analysed by RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. Cell viability, cell apoptosis, cell cycle and protein expression were measured, when co-treated with PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway inhibitors. The in vivo activity of deoxyshikonin was evaluated using xenograft tumour model. Results: Deoxyshikonin and another four shikonins were isolated and identified. Deoxyshikonin exhibited anti-proliferative activity with IC50 of 10.97 μM against HT29 cells. Moreover, the percentage of early apoptotic cells and G0/G1 cells increased from 1 to 29% and 44 to 67% with 0-50 μg/mL deoxyshikonin, respectively. Deoxyshikonin also down-regulated the expression of PI3K, p-PI3K, Akt, p-Akt308 and mTOR proteins in HT29 and DLD-1 cells. Moreover, LY294002, NVP-BEZ235 and MK-2206 can make deoxyshikonin more cell proliferation inhibited, cell cycle arrested at G0/G1 and apoptosis promoted. In vivo study, the weight of tumour tissues at deoxyshikonin groups was significantly reduced compared with the control group, and PI3K, p-PI3K, Akt, p-Akt308 and mTOR expression was decreased. Discussion and conclusions: We can conclude that deoxyshikonin isolated from Arnebia euchroma inhibited CRC through the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuzhen Zhu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Research and Development of Natural Drugs, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Yu Zhong
- Analysis Center of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Xun Long
- The Third People’s Hospital of Bijie, Bijie, China
| | - Zhu Zhu
- Sino-American Cancer Research Institute, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China
| | - Yu Zhou
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Hua Ye
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Research and Development of Natural Drugs, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Xiaobin Zeng
- Center Lab of Longhua Branch, Shenzhen People’s Hospital, 2nd Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Infectious disease, Shenzhen People’s Hospital, 2nd Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Shenzhen, China
- Xiaobin Zeng Center Lab of Longhua Branch, Shenzhen People’s Hospital, 2nd Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province518120, China
| | - Xuebao Zheng
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Research and Development of Natural Drugs, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
- Mathematical Engineering Academy of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- CONTACT Xuebao Zheng Guangdong Key Laboratory for Research and Development of Natural Drugs, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province524023, China
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Fan C, Zhang X, Upton Z. Anti-inflammatory effects of shikonin in human periodontal ligament cells. PHARMACEUTICAL BIOLOGY 2018; 56:415-421. [PMID: 30392422 PMCID: PMC7011859 DOI: 10.1080/13880209.2018.1506482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2018] [Revised: 07/12/2018] [Accepted: 07/26/2018] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Shikonin (SHI), an active component extracted from Radix Arnebiae, has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory properties in various cells. However, its effect on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated human periodontal ligament cells (hPDLCs) is unknown. OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of SHI on the expression of inflammatory related cytokines in LPS-stimulated hPDLCs. MATERIALS AND METHODS The effects of SHI (0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1, and 2 μg/mL) on hPDLCs proliferation for 1, 3 and 7 days were measured using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The expression of interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), MMP-9 and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were detected in hPDLCs following SHI treatment (0.25 and 0.5 μg/mL) using Quantitative Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). The signaling pathways triggered by SHI in hPDLC were evaluated using western blotting. RESULTS LD50 of SHI is 1.7 μg/mL (day 1) and 1.1 μg/mL (day 3 and 7) in hPDLCs. No morphological changes were observed when hPDLCs were treated with LPS only (1 μg/mL) or LPS with SHI (0.25 and 0.5 μg/mL). Data from qRT-PCR suggests that SHI attenuates LPS-induced increases of IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α, MMP-2, MMP-9 and COX-2 in hPDLCs. Down-regulation of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), and up-regulation of I-κB, were observed in LPS-stimulated hPDLCs after exposed to SHI at 0.25 or 0.5 μg/mL. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS SHI possesses anti-inflammatory effects in LPS-stimulated hPDLCs via phospho-ERK and NF-κB/I-κB signaling pathways; this suggests that SHI may hold potential as an anti-inflammatory agent against periodontitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Fan
- Tissue Repair and Regeneration Program, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
- Institute of Medical Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
- Skin Research Institute of Singapore, A*STAR, Singapore
| | - Xufang Zhang
- Tissue Repair and Regeneration Program, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Zee Upton
- Tissue Repair and Regeneration Program, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
- Institute of Medical Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
- Skin Research Institute of Singapore, A*STAR, Singapore
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Anderson R, Nel JG, Feldman C. Multifaceted Role of Pneumolysin in the Pathogenesis of Myocardial Injury in Community-Acquired Pneumonia. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:E1147. [PMID: 29641429 PMCID: PMC5979279 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19041147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2018] [Revised: 03/14/2018] [Accepted: 03/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Pneumolysin (PLY), a member of the family of Gram-positive bacterial, cholesterol-dependent, β-barrel pore-forming cytolysins, is the major protein virulence factor of the dangerous respiratory pathogen, Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus). PLY plays a major role in the pathogenesis of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), promoting colonization and invasion of the upper and lower respiratory tracts respectively, as well as extra-pulmonary dissemination of the pneumococcus. Notwithstanding its role in causing acute lung injury in severe CAP, PLY has also been implicated in the development of potentially fatal acute and delayed-onset cardiovascular events, which are now recognized as being fairly common complications of this condition. This review is focused firstly on updating mechanisms involved in the immunopathogenesis of PLY-mediated myocardial damage, specifically the direct cardiotoxic and immunosuppressive activities, as well as the indirect pro-inflammatory/pro-thrombotic activities of the toxin. Secondly, on PLY-targeted therapeutic strategies including, among others, macrolide antibiotics, natural product antagonists, cholesterol-containing liposomes, and fully humanized monoclonal antibodies, as well as on vaccine-based preventive strategies. These sections are preceded by overviews of CAP in general, the role of the pneumococcus as the causative pathogen, the occurrence and types of CAP-associated cardiac complication, and the structure and biological activities of PLY.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronald Anderson
- Department of Immunology and Institute for Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0001, South Africa.
| | - Jan G Nel
- Department of Haematology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria and Tshwane Academic Division of the National Health Laboratory Service, Pretoria 0001, South Africa.
| | - Charles Feldman
- Division of Pulmonology, Department of Internal Medicine, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital and Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 0002, South Africa.
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