1
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Parkhill SL, Johnson EO. Integrating bacterial molecular genetics with chemical biology for renewed antibacterial drug discovery. Biochem J 2024; 481:839-864. [PMID: 38958473 PMCID: PMC11346456 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20220062] [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: 05/07/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
The application of dyes to understanding the aetiology of infection inspired antimicrobial chemotherapy and the first wave of antibacterial drugs. The second wave of antibacterial drug discovery was driven by rapid discovery of natural products, now making up 69% of current antibacterial drugs. But now with the most prevalent natural products already discovered, ∼107 new soil-dwelling bacterial species must be screened to discover one new class of natural product. Therefore, instead of a third wave of antibacterial drug discovery, there is now a discovery bottleneck. Unlike natural products which are curated by billions of years of microbial antagonism, the vast synthetic chemical space still requires artificial curation through the therapeutics science of antibacterial drugs - a systematic understanding of how small molecules interact with bacterial physiology, effect desired phenotypes, and benefit the host. Bacterial molecular genetics can elucidate pathogen biology relevant to therapeutics development, but it can also be applied directly to understanding mechanisms and liabilities of new chemical agents with new mechanisms of action. Therefore, the next phase of antibacterial drug discovery could be enabled by integrating chemical expertise with systematic dissection of bacterial infection biology. Facing the ambitious endeavour to find new molecules from nature or new-to-nature which cure bacterial infections, the capabilities furnished by modern chemical biology and molecular genetics can be applied to prospecting for chemical modulators of new targets which circumvent prevalent resistance mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susannah L. Parkhill
- Systems Chemical Biology of Infection and Resistance Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, U.K
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University College London, London, U.K
| | - Eachan O. Johnson
- Systems Chemical Biology of Infection and Resistance Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, U.K
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University College London, London, U.K
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College, London, U.K
- Department of Chemistry, King's College London, London, U.K
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2
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Sengupta S, Pabbaraja S, Mehta G. Natural products from the human microbiome: an emergent frontier in organic synthesis and drug discovery. Org Biomol Chem 2024; 22:4006-4030. [PMID: 38669195 DOI: 10.1039/d4ob00236a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Often referred to as the "second genome", the human microbiome is at the epicenter of complex inter-habitat biochemical networks like the "gut-brain axis", which has emerged as a significant determinant of cognition, overall health and well-being, as well as resistance to antibiotics and susceptibility to diseases. As part of a broader understanding of the nexus between the human microbiome, diseases and microbial interactions, whether encoded secondary metabolites (natural products) play crucial signalling roles has been the subject of intense scrutiny in the recent past. A major focus of these activities involves harvesting the genomic potential of the human microbiome via bioinformatics guided genome mining and culturomics. Through these efforts, an impressive number of structurally intriguing antibiotics, with enhanced chemical diversity vis-à-vis conventional antibiotics have been isolated from human commensal bacteria, thereby generating considerable interest in their total synthesis and expanding their therapeutic space for drug discovery. These developments augur well for the discovery of new drugs and antibiotics, particularly in the context of challenges posed by mycobacterial resistance and emerging new diseases. The current landscape of various synthetic campaigns and drug discovery initiatives on antibacterial natural products from the human microbiome is captured in this review with an intent to stimulate further activities in this interdisciplinary arena among the new generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saumitra Sengupta
- School of Chemistry, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad-500046, India.
- Department of Organic Synthesis and Process Chemistry, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad-500007, India
| | - Srihari Pabbaraja
- Department of Organic Synthesis and Process Chemistry, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad-500007, India
- Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Goverdhan Mehta
- School of Chemistry, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad-500046, India.
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3
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Mir Drikvand R, Sohrabi SM, Sohrabi SS, Samiei K. Molecular Identification and Characterization of Hevein Antimicrobial Peptide Genes in Two-Row and Six-Row Cultivars of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Biochem Genet 2024:10.1007/s10528-024-10695-8. [PMID: 38386212 DOI: 10.1007/s10528-024-10695-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Heveins are one of the most important groups of plant antimicrobial peptides. So far, various roles in plant growth and development and in response to biotic and abiotic stresses have reported for heveins. The present study aimed to identify and characterize the hevein genes in two-row and six-row cultivars of barley. In total, thirteen hevein genes were identified in the genome of two-row and six-row cultivars of barley. The identified heveins were identical in two-row and six-row cultivars of barley and showed a high similarity with heveins from other plant species. The hevein coding sequences produced open reading frames (ORFs) ranged from 342 to 1002 bp. Most of the identified hevein genes were intronless, and the others had only one intron. The hevein ORFs produced proteins ranged from 113 to 333 amino acids. Search for conserved functional domains showed CBD and LYZ domains in barley heveins. All barley heveins comprised extracellular signal peptides ranged from 19 to 35 amino acids. The phylogenetic analysis divided barley heveins into two groups. The promoter analysis showed regulatory elements with different frequencies between two-row and six-row cultivars. These cis-acting elements included elements related to growth and development, hormone response, and environmental stresses. The expression analysis showed high expression level of heveins in root and reproductive organs of both two-row and six-row cultivars. The expression analysis also showed that barley heveins is induced by both biotic and abiotic stresses. The results of antimicrobial activity prediction showed the highest antimicrobial activity in CBD domain of barley heveins. The findings of the current study can improve our knowledge about the role of hevein genes in plant and can be used for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reza Mir Drikvand
- Department of Plant Genetics and Breeding, Islamic Azad University, Khorramabad Branch, Khorramabad, Iran.
| | - Seyyed Mohsen Sohrabi
- Department of Production Engineering and Plant Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Chamran University, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Seyed Sajad Sohrabi
- Department of Production Engineering and Plant Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran
| | - Kamran Samiei
- Department of Plant Genetics and Breeding, Islamic Azad University, Khorramabad Branch, Khorramabad, Iran
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4
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Shen Y, Liu N, Wang Z. Recent advances in the culture-independent discovery of natural products using metagenomic approaches. Chin J Nat Med 2024; 22:100-111. [PMID: 38342563 DOI: 10.1016/s1875-5364(24)60585-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/13/2024]
Abstract
Natural products derived from bacterial sources have long been pivotal in the discovery of drug leads. However, the cultivation of only about 1% of bacteria in laboratory settings has left a significant portion of biosynthetic diversity hidden within the genomes of uncultured bacteria. Advances in sequencing technologies now enable the exploration of genetic material from these metagenomes through culture-independent methods. This approach involves extracting genetic sequences from environmental DNA and applying a hybrid methodology that combines functional screening, sequence tag-based homology screening, and bioinformatic-assisted chemical synthesis. Through this process, numerous valuable natural products have been identified and synthesized from previously uncharted metagenomic territories. This paper provides an overview of the recent advancements in the utilization of culture-independent techniques for the discovery of novel biosynthetic gene clusters and bioactive small molecules within metagenomic libraries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiping Shen
- Laboratory of Microbial Drug Discovery, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Nan Liu
- Laboratory of Microbial Drug Discovery, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Zongqiang Wang
- Laboratory of Microbial Drug Discovery, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China.
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5
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Yang Y, Kessler MGC, Marchán-Rivadeneira MR, Han Y. Combating Antimicrobial Resistance in the Post-Genomic Era: Rapid Antibiotic Discovery. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28104183. [PMID: 37241928 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28104183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Constantly evolving drug-resistant "superbugs" have caused an urgent demand for novel antimicrobial agents. Natural products and their analogs have been a prolific source of antimicrobial agents, even though a high rediscovery rate and less targeted research has made the field challenging in the pre-genomic era. With recent advancements in technology, natural product research is gaining new life. Genome mining has allowed for more targeted excavation of biosynthetic potential from natural sources that was previously overlooked. Researchers use bioinformatic algorithms to rapidly identify and predict antimicrobial candidates by studying the genome before even entering the lab. In addition, synthetic biology and advanced analytical instruments enable the accelerated identification of novel antibiotics with distinct structures. Here, we reviewed the literature for noteworthy examples of novel antimicrobial agents discovered through various methodologies, highlighting the candidates with potent effectiveness against antimicrobial-resistant pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuehan Yang
- Translational Biomedical Sciences Program, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA
- Edison Biotechnology Institute, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA
| | - Mara Grace C Kessler
- Edison Biotechnology Institute, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA
- Honors Tutorial College, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA
| | - Maria Raquel Marchán-Rivadeneira
- Translational Biomedical Sciences Program, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA
- Edison Biotechnology Institute, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA
- Center for Research on Health in Latinamerica (CISeAL)-Biological Science Department, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador (PUCE), Quito 170143, Ecuador
| | - Yong Han
- Translational Biomedical Sciences Program, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA
- Edison Biotechnology Institute, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA
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6
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Jian BS, Chiou SL, Hsu CC, Ho J, Wu YW, Chu J. Bioinformatic Analysis Reveals both Oversampled and Underexplored Biosynthetic Diversity in Nonribosomal Peptides. ACS Chem Biol 2023; 18:476-483. [PMID: 36820820 PMCID: PMC10028606 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.2c00761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
The traditional natural product discovery approach has accessed only a fraction of the chemical diversity in nature. The use of bioinformatic tools to interpret the instructions encoded in microbial biosynthetic genes has the potential to circumvent the existing methodological bottlenecks and greatly expand the scope of discovery. Structural prediction algorithms for nonribosomal peptides (NRPs), the largest family of microbial natural products, lie at the heart of this new approach. To understand the scope and limitation of the existing prediction algorithms, we evaluated their performances on NRP synthetase biosynthetic gene clusters. Our systematic analysis shows that the NRP biosynthetic landscape is uneven. Phenylglycine and its derivatives as a group of NRP building blocks (BBs), for example, have been oversampled, reflecting an extensive historical interest in the glycopeptide antibiotics family. In contrast, the benzoyl BB, including 2,3-dihydroxybenzoate (DHB), has been the most underexplored, hinting at the possibility of a reservoir of as yet unknown DHB containing NRPs with functional roles other than a siderophore. Our results also suggest that there is still vast unexplored biosynthetic diversity in nature, and the analysis presented herein shall help guide and strategize future natural product discovery campaigns. We also discuss possible ways bioinformaticians and biochemists could work together to improve the existing prediction algorithms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo-Siyuan Jian
- Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Shao-Lun Chiou
- Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Chia Hsu
- Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Josh Ho
- Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Wei Wu
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Informatics, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 10675, Taiwan
- Clinical Big Data Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei 10675, Taiwan
- TMU Research Center for Digestive Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 10675, Taiwan
| | - John Chu
- Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
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7
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Malit JJL, Leung HYC, Qian PY. Targeted Large-Scale Genome Mining and Candidate Prioritization for Natural Product Discovery. Mar Drugs 2022; 20:398. [PMID: 35736201 PMCID: PMC9231227 DOI: 10.3390/md20060398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Large-scale genome-mining analyses have identified an enormous number of cryptic biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) as a great source of novel bioactive natural products. Given the sheer number of natural product (NP) candidates, effective strategies and computational methods are keys to choosing appropriate BGCs for further NP characterization and production. This review discusses genomics-based approaches for prioritizing candidate BGCs extracted from large-scale genomic data, by highlighting studies that have successfully produced compounds with high chemical novelty, novel biosynthesis pathway, and potent bioactivities. We group these studies based on their BGC-prioritization logics: detecting presence of resistance genes, use of phylogenomics analysis as a guide, and targeting for specific chemical structures. We also briefly comment on the different bioinformatics tools used in the field and examine practical considerations when employing a large-scale genome mining study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessie James Limlingan Malit
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou 511458, China; (J.J.L.M.); (H.Y.C.L.)
- Department of Ocean Science and Hong Kong Branch of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hiu Yu Cherie Leung
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou 511458, China; (J.J.L.M.); (H.Y.C.L.)
- Department of Ocean Science and Hong Kong Branch of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
| | - Pei-Yuan Qian
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou 511458, China; (J.J.L.M.); (H.Y.C.L.)
- Department of Ocean Science and Hong Kong Branch of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
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8
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Hemmerling F, Piel J. Strategies to access biosynthetic novelty in bacterial genomes for drug discovery. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2022; 21:359-378. [PMID: 35296832 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-022-00414-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Bacteria provide a rich source of natural products with potential therapeutic applications, such as novel antibiotic classes or anticancer drugs. Bioactivity-guided screening of bacterial extracts and characterization of biosynthetic pathways for drug discovery is now complemented by the availability of large (meta)genomic collections, placing researchers into the postgenomic, big-data era. The progress in next-generation sequencing and the rise of powerful computational tools provide unprecedented insights into unexplored taxa, ecological niches and 'biosynthetic dark matter', revealing diverse and chemically distinct natural products in previously unstudied bacteria. In this Review, we discuss such sources of new chemical entities and the implications for drug discovery with a particular focus on the strategies that have emerged in recent years to identify and access novelty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Hemmerling
- Institute of Microbiology, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Jörn Piel
- Institute of Microbiology, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
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9
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Hostetler MA, Smith C, Nelson S, Budimir Z, Modi R, Woolsey I, Frerk A, Baker B, Gantt J, Parkinson EI. Synthetic Natural Product Inspired Cyclic Peptides. ACS Chem Biol 2021; 16:2604-2611. [PMID: 34699170 PMCID: PMC8610019 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.1c00641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Natural products
are a bountiful source of bioactive molecules.
Unfortunately, discovery of novel bioactive natural products is challenging
due to cryptic biosynthetic gene clusters, low titers, and arduous
purifications. Herein, we describe SNaPP (Synthetic Natural Product
Inspired Cyclic Peptides), a method for identifying
NP-inspired bioactive peptides. SNaPP expedites bioactive molecule
discovery by combining bioinformatics predictions of nonribosomal
peptide synthetases with chemical synthesis of the predicted natural
products (pNPs). SNaPP utilizes a recently discovered cyclase, the
penicillin binding protein-like cyclase, as the lynchpin for the development
of a library of head-to-tail cyclic peptide pNPs. Analysis of 500
biosynthetic gene clusters allowed for identification of 131 novel
pNPs. Fifty-one diverse pNPs were synthesized using solid phase peptide
synthesis and solution-phase cyclization. Antibacterial testing revealed
14 pNPs with antibiotic activity, including activity against multidrug-resistant
Gram-negative bacteria. Overall, SNaPP demonstrates the power of combining
bioinformatics predictions with chemical synthesis to accelerate the
discovery of bioactive molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew A. Hostetler
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Chloe Smith
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Samantha Nelson
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Zachary Budimir
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Ramya Modi
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Ian Woolsey
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Autumn Frerk
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Braden Baker
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Jessica Gantt
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Elizabeth I. Parkinson
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
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10
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Synthetic Biology Advanced Natural Product Discovery. Metabolites 2021; 11:metabo11110785. [PMID: 34822443 PMCID: PMC8617713 DOI: 10.3390/metabo11110785] [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: 11/04/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
A wide variety of bacteria, fungi and plants can produce bioactive secondary metabolites, which are often referred to as natural products. With the rapid development of DNA sequencing technology and bioinformatics, a large number of putative biosynthetic gene clusters have been reported. However, only a limited number of natural products have been discovered, as most biosynthetic gene clusters are not expressed or are expressed at extremely low levels under conventional laboratory conditions. With the rapid development of synthetic biology, advanced genome mining and engineering strategies have been reported and they provide new opportunities for discovery of natural products. This review discusses advances in recent years that can accelerate the design, build, test, and learn (DBTL) cycle of natural product discovery, and prospects trends and key challenges for future research directions.
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11
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In Silico/In Vitro Strategies Leading to the Discovery of New Nonribosomal Peptide and Polyketide Antibiotics Active against Human Pathogens. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9112297. [PMID: 34835423 PMCID: PMC8625390 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9112297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibiotics are majorly important molecules for human health. Following the golden age of antibiotic discovery, a period of decline ensued, characterised by the rediscovery of the same molecules. At the same time, new culture techniques and high-throughput sequencing enabled the discovery of new microorganisms that represent a potential source of interesting new antimicrobial substances to explore. The aim of this review is to present recently discovered nonribosomal peptide (NRP) and polyketide (PK) molecules with antimicrobial activity against human pathogens. We highlight the different in silico/in vitro strategies and approaches that led to their discovery. As a result of technological progress and a better understanding of the NRP and PK synthesis mechanisms, these new antibiotic compounds provide an additional option in human medical treatment and a potential way out of the impasse of antibiotic resistance.
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12
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Bishai JD, Palm NW. Small Molecule Metabolites at the Host-Microbiota Interface. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2021; 207:1725-1733. [PMID: 34544815 PMCID: PMC8500551 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2100528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
The trillions of bacteria that constitutively colonize the human gut collectively generate thousands of unique small molecules. These microbial metabolites can accumulate both locally and systemically and potentially influence nearly all aspects of mammalian biology, including immunity, metabolism, and even mood and behavior. In this review, we briefly summarize recent work identifying bioactive microbiota metabolites, the means through which they are synthesized, and their effects on host physiology. Rather than offering an exhaustive list of all known bioactive microbial small molecules, we select a few examples from each key class of metabolites to illustrate the diverse impacts of microbiota-derived compounds on the host. In addition, we attempt to address the microbial logic behind specific biotransformations. Finally, we outline current and emerging strategies for identifying previously undiscovered bioactive microbiota metabolites that may shape human health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason D Bishai
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT; and
| | - Noah W Palm
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT
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13
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Scherlach K, Hertweck C. Mining and unearthing hidden biosynthetic potential. Nat Commun 2021; 12:3864. [PMID: 34162873 PMCID: PMC8222398 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24133-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetically encoded small molecules (secondary metabolites) play eminent roles in ecological interactions, as pathogenicity factors and as drug leads. Yet, these chemical mediators often evade detection, and the discovery of novel entities is hampered by low production and high rediscovery rates. These limitations may be addressed by genome mining for biosynthetic gene clusters, thereby unveiling cryptic metabolic potential. The development of sophisticated data mining methods and genetic and analytical tools has enabled the discovery of an impressive array of previously overlooked natural products. This review shows the newest developments in the field, highlighting compound discovery from unconventional sources and microbiomes. Natural products are an important source of bioactive compounds and have versatile applications in different fields, but their discovery is challenging. Here, the authors review the recent developments in genome mining for discovery of natural products, focusing on compounds from unconventional microorganisms and microbiomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirstin Scherlach
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, HKI, Jena, Germany
| | - Christian Hertweck
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, HKI, Jena, Germany. .,Faculty of Biological Sciences, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany.
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14
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Liu D, Rubin GM, Dhakal D, Chen M, Ding Y. Biocatalytic synthesis of peptidic natural products and related analogues. iScience 2021; 24:102512. [PMID: 34041453 PMCID: PMC8141463 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Peptidic natural products (PNPs) represent a rich source of lead compounds for the discovery and development of therapeutic agents for the treatment of a variety of diseases. However, the chemical synthesis of PNPs with diverse modifications for drug research is often faced with significant challenges, including the unavailability of constituent nonproteinogenic amino acids, inefficient cyclization protocols, and poor compatibility with other functional groups. Advances in the understanding of PNP biosynthesis and biocatalysis provide a promising, sustainable alternative for the synthesis of these compounds and their analogues. Here we discuss current progress in using native and engineered biosynthetic enzymes for the production of both ribosomally and nonribosomally synthesized peptides. In addition, we highlight new in vitro and in vivo approaches for the generation and screening of PNP libraries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dake Liu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Center for Natural Products, Drug Discovery and Development (CNPD3), University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Garret M. Rubin
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Center for Natural Products, Drug Discovery and Development (CNPD3), University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Dipesh Dhakal
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Center for Natural Products, Drug Discovery and Development (CNPD3), University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Manyun Chen
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Center for Natural Products, Drug Discovery and Development (CNPD3), University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Yousong Ding
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Center for Natural Products, Drug Discovery and Development (CNPD3), University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
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15
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Bann SJ, Ballantine RD, Cochrane SA. The tridecaptins: non-ribosomal peptides that selectively target Gram-negative bacteria. RSC Med Chem 2021; 12:538-551. [PMID: 34041489 PMCID: PMC8127968 DOI: 10.1039/d0md00413h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Tridecaptins are a re-emerging class of non-ribosomal antibacterial peptides (NRAPs) with potent activity against highly problematic strains of Gram-negative bacteria. An intricate mode of action has been reported to explain the bactericidal activity of these NRAPs, wherein they bind selectivity to the Gram-negative version of the peptidoglycan precursor lipid II on the outer leaflet of the inner membrane and disrupt the proton-motive force. Tridecaptins are highly amenable to synthetic modification owing to their linear structure, therefore, various synthetic analogues have been reported, several of which have enhanced antimicrobial activity, reduced cost of synthesis and/or improved stability towards d-peptidase mediated hydrolysis. It has also been demonstrated that unacylated tridecaptins can act synergistically with clinically relevant antibiotics by sensitizing the outer membrane. This review will summarize past literature on the development/discovery of novel tridecaptin analogues (up until the end of 2020), some of which may be useful therapeutic agents to treat insidious Gram-negative bacterial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha J Bann
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Queens University Belfast David Keir Building, Stranmillis Road Belfast BT9 5AG UK
| | - Ross D Ballantine
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Queens University Belfast David Keir Building, Stranmillis Road Belfast BT9 5AG UK
| | - Stephen A Cochrane
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Queens University Belfast David Keir Building, Stranmillis Road Belfast BT9 5AG UK
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16
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17
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Kenshole E, Herisse M, Michael M, Pidot SJ. Natural product discovery through microbial genome mining. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2020; 60:47-54. [PMID: 32853968 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2020.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The advent of the genomic era has opened up enormous possibilities for the discovery of new natural products. Also known as specialized metabolites, these compounds produced by bacteria, fungi, and plants have long been sought for their bioactive properties. Innovations in both DNA sequencing technologies and bioinformatics now allow the wealth of sequence data to be mined at both the genome and metagenome levels for new specialized metabolites. However, a key problem that remains is rapidly and efficiently linking these identified genes to their corresponding compounds. Within this review, we provide specific examples of studies that have used the power of genomic or metagenomic data to overcome these problems and identify new small molecules and their biosynthetic pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Kenshole
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Doherty Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia, 3000
| | - Marion Herisse
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Doherty Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia, 3000
| | - Michael Michael
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Doherty Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia, 3000
| | - Sacha J Pidot
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Doherty Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia, 3000.
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18
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Chu J, Koirala B, Forelli N, Vila-Farres X, Ternei MA, Ali T, Colosimo DA, Brady SF. Synthetic-Bioinformatic Natural Product Antibiotics with Diverse Modes of Action. J Am Chem Soc 2020; 142:14158-14168. [PMID: 32697091 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.0c04376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Bacterial natural products have inspired the development of numerous antibiotics in use today. As resistance to existing antibiotics has become more prevalent, new antibiotic lead structures and activities are desperately needed. An increasing number of natural product biosynthetic gene clusters, to which no known molecules can be assigned, are found in genome and metagenome sequencing data. Here we access structural information encoded in this underexploited resource using a synthetic-bioinformatic natural product (syn-BNP) approach, which relies on bioinformatic algorithms followed by chemical synthesis to predict and then produce small molecules inspired by biosynthetic gene clusters. In total, 157 syn-BNP cyclic peptides inspired by 96 nonribosomal peptide synthetase gene clusters were synthesized and screened for antibacterial activity. This yielded nine antibiotics with activities against ESKAPE pathogens as well as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Not only are antibiotic-resistant pathogens susceptible to many of these syn-BNP antibiotics, but they were also unable to develop resistance to these antibiotics in laboratory experiments. Characterized modes of action for these antibiotics include cell lysis, membrane depolarization, inhibition of cell wall biosynthesis, and ClpP protease dysregulation. Increasingly refined syn-BNP-based explorations of biosynthetic gene clusters should allow for more rapid identification of evolutionarily inspired bioactive small molecules, in particular antibiotics with diverse mechanism of actions that could help confront the imminent crisis of antimicrobial resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Chu
- Laboratory of Genetically Encoded Small Molecules, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Bimal Koirala
- Laboratory of Genetically Encoded Small Molecules, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Nicholas Forelli
- Laboratory of Genetically Encoded Small Molecules, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Xavier Vila-Farres
- Laboratory of Genetically Encoded Small Molecules, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Melinda A Ternei
- Laboratory of Genetically Encoded Small Molecules, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Thahmina Ali
- Laboratory of Genetically Encoded Small Molecules, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Dominic A Colosimo
- Laboratory of Genetically Encoded Small Molecules, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Sean F Brady
- Laboratory of Genetically Encoded Small Molecules, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, New York 10065, United States
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19
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Stevenson LJ, Owen JG, Ackerley DF. Metagenome Driven Discovery of Nonribosomal Peptides. ACS Chem Biol 2019; 14:2115-2126. [PMID: 31508935 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.9b00618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Declining rates of novel natural product discovery and exponential rates of rediscovery heralded the end of the 1940s to 1960s "golden era" of antibiotic discovery. Fifty years later, the implementation of molecular screening methodologies revealed that standard culture-based screening approaches had failed to capture the vast majority of environmental bacteria and that even for the cultivable isolates only a small fraction of the biosynthetic potential had been tapped. A diversity of metagenomic screening and synthetic biology approaches have been developed to address these issues. The nonribosomal peptides have received particular focus, owing to their high levels of bioactivity and the predictability of the biosynthetic logic of the genetically encoded assembly lines that produce them. By uniting advances in next-generation sequencing and bioinformatic analysis with a diversity of traditional disciplines, several pioneering teams have proven that this previously inaccessible resource is no longer out of reach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke J. Stevenson
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand
- Centre for Biodiscovery, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand
- Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Jeremy G. Owen
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand
- Centre for Biodiscovery, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand
- Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - David F. Ackerley
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand
- Centre for Biodiscovery, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand
- Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, Auckland, New Zealand
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20
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Chu J, Vila-Farres X, Brady SF. Bioactive Synthetic-Bioinformatic Natural Product Cyclic Peptides Inspired by Nonribosomal Peptide Synthetase Gene Clusters from the Human Microbiome. J Am Chem Soc 2019; 141:15737-15741. [PMID: 31545899 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.9b07317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Bioinformatic analysis of sequenced bacterial genomes has uncovered an increasing number of natural product biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) to which no known bacterial metabolite can be ascribed. One emerging method we have investigated for studying these BGCs is the synthetic-Bioinformatic Natural Product (syn-BNP) approach. The syn-BNP approach replaces transcription, translation, and in vivo enzymatic biosynthesis of natural products with bioinformatic algorithms to predict the output of a BGC and in vitro chemical synthesis to produce the predicted structure. Here we report on expanding the syn-BNP approach to the design and synthesis of cyclic peptides inspired by nonribosomal peptide synthetase BGCs associated with the human microbiota. While no syn-BNPs we tested inhibited the growth of bacteria or yeast, five were found to be active in the human cell-based MTT metabolic activity assay. Interestingly, active peptides were mostly inspired by BGCs found in the genomes of opportunistic pathogens that are often more commonly associated with environments outside the human microbiome. The cyclic syn-BNP studies presented here provide further evidence of its potential for identifying bioactive small molecules directly from the instructions encoded in the primary sequences of natural product BGCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Chu
- Laboratory of Genetically Encoded Small Molecules , The Rockefeller University , New York , New York 10065 , United States
| | - Xavier Vila-Farres
- Laboratory of Genetically Encoded Small Molecules , The Rockefeller University , New York , New York 10065 , United States
| | - Sean F Brady
- Laboratory of Genetically Encoded Small Molecules , The Rockefeller University , New York , New York 10065 , United States
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21
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Niu G, Li W. Next-Generation Drug Discovery to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance. Trends Biochem Sci 2019; 44:961-972. [PMID: 31256981 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2019.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2019] [Revised: 05/30/2019] [Accepted: 05/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The widespread emergence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens poses a severe threat to public health. This problem becomes even worse with a coincident decline in the supply of new antibiotics. Conventional bioactivity-guided natural product discovery has failed to meet the urgent need for new antibiotics, largely due to limited resources and high rediscovery rates. Recent advances in cultivation techniques, analytical technologies, and genomics-based approaches have greatly expanded our access to previously underexploited microbial sources. These strategies will enable us to access new reservoirs of microorganisms and unleash their chemical potentials, thus opening new opportunities for the discovery of next-generation drugs to address the growing concerns of antimicrobial resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoqing Niu
- Biotechnology Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Plant Resource Conservation and Germplasm Innovation, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; State Cultivation Base of Crop Stress Biology for Southern Mountainous Land, Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
| | - Wenli Li
- Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, Ministry of Education of China, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China; Laboratory for Marine Drugs and Bioproducts, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China.
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22
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Tridecaptin M, a New Variant Discovered in Mud Bacterium, Shows Activity against Colistin- and Extremely Drug-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2019; 63:AAC.00338-19. [PMID: 30936101 PMCID: PMC6535564 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00338-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The World Health Organization has categorized the Gram-negative superbugs, which are inherently impervious to many antibiotics, as critical priority pathogens due to the lack of effective treatments. The breach in our last-resort antibiotic (i.e., colistin) by extensively drug-resistant and pan-drug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae strains demands the immediate development of new therapies. The World Health Organization has categorized the Gram-negative superbugs, which are inherently impervious to many antibiotics, as critical priority pathogens due to the lack of effective treatments. The breach in our last-resort antibiotic (i.e., colistin) by extensively drug-resistant and pan-drug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae strains demands the immediate development of new therapies. In the present study, we report the discovery of tridecaptin M, a new addition to the family, and its potential against colistin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in vitro and in vivo. Also, we performed mode-of-action studies using various fluorescent probes and studied the hemolytic activity and mammalian cytotoxicity in two cell lines. Tridecaptin M displayed strong antibacterial activity (MICs of 2 to 8 μg ml−1) against clinical strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae (which were resistant to colistin, carbapenems, third- and fourth-generation cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, fosfomycin, and other antibiotics) and mcr-1-positive Escherichia coli strains. Unlike polymyxins, tridecaptin M did not permeabilize the outer membrane or cytoplasmic membrane. It blocked ATP synthesis in bacteria by dissipating the proton motive force. The compound exhibited negligible acquired resistance, low in vitro cytotoxicity and hemolytic activity, and no significant acute toxicity in mice. It also showed promising efficacy in a thigh infection model of colistin-resistant K. pneumoniae. Altogether, these results demonstrate the future prospects of this class of antibiotics to address the unmet medical need to circumvent colistin resistance in extensively drug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae infections. The work also emphasizes the importance of natural products in our shrunken drug discovery pipeline.
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23
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Zheng Y, Saitou A, Wang CM, Toyoda A, Minakuchi Y, Sekiguchi Y, Ueda K, Takano H, Sakai Y, Abe K, Yokota A, Yabe S. Genome Features and Secondary Metabolites Biosynthetic Potential of the Class Ktedonobacteria. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:893. [PMID: 31080444 PMCID: PMC6497799 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The prevalence of antibiotic resistance and the decrease in novel antibiotic discovery in recent years necessitates the identification of potentially novel microbial resources to produce natural products. Ktedonobacteria, a class of deeply branched bacterial lineage in the ancient phylum Chloroflexi, are ubiquitous in terrestrial environments and characterized by their large genome size and complex life cycle. These characteristics indicate Ktedonobacteria as a potential active producer of bioactive compounds. In this study, we observed the existence of a putative "megaplasmid," multiple copies of ribosomal RNA operons, and high ratio of hypothetical proteins with unknown functions in the class Ktedonobacteria. Furthermore, a total of 104 antiSMASH-predicted putative biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) for secondary metabolites with high novelty and diversity were identified in nine Ktedonobacteria genomes. Our investigation of domain composition and organization of the non-ribosomal peptide synthetase and polyketide synthase BGCs further supports the concept that class Ktedonobacteria may produce compounds structurally different from known natural products. Furthermore, screening of bioactive compounds from representative Ktedonobacteria strains resulted in the identification of broad antimicrobial activities against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative tested bacterial strains. Based on these findings, we propose the ancient, ubiquitous, and spore-forming Ktedonobacteria as a versatile and promising microbial resource for natural product discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zheng
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Ayana Saitou
- Faculty of Agriculture, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Chiung-Mei Wang
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Atsushi Toyoda
- Comparative Genomics Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Japan
| | - Yohei Minakuchi
- Comparative Genomics Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Japan
| | - Yuji Sekiguchi
- Biomedical Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Kenji Ueda
- Life Science Research Center, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, Fujisawa, Japan
| | - Hideaki Takano
- Life Science Research Center, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, Fujisawa, Japan
| | - Yasuteru Sakai
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Keietsu Abe
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Akira Yokota
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Shuhei Yabe
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
- Hazaka Plant Research Center, Kennan Eisei Kogyo Co., Ltd., Miyagi, Japan
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24
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Yñigez-Gutierrez AE, Bachmann BO. Fixing the Unfixable: The Art of Optimizing Natural Products for Human Medicine. J Med Chem 2019; 62:8412-8428. [PMID: 31026161 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b00246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Molecules isolated from natural sources including bacteria, fungi, and plants are a long-standing source of therapeutics that continue to add to our medicinal arsenal today. Despite their potency and prominence in the clinic, complex natural products often exhibit a number of liabilities that hinder their development as therapeutics, which may be partially responsible for the current trend away from natural product discovery, research, and development. However, advances in synthetic biology and organic synthesis have inspired a new generation of natural product chemists to tackle powerful undeveloped scaffolds. In this Perspective, we will present case studies demonstrating the historical and current focus on making targeted, but significant, changes to natural product scaffolds via biosynthetic gene cluster manipulation, total synthesis, semisynthesis, or a combination of these methods, with a focus on increasing activity, decreasing toxicity, or improving chemical and pharmacological properties.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Brian O Bachmann
- Department of Chemistry , Vanderbilt University , Nashville , Tennessee 37235 , United States
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25
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Liu Y, Ding S, Shen J, Zhu K. Nonribosomal antibacterial peptides that target multidrug-resistant bacteria. Nat Prod Rep 2019; 36:573-592. [DOI: 10.1039/c8np00031j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
This review summarizes the development of nonribosomal antibacterial peptides from untapped sources that target multidrug-resistant bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Liu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health
- College of Veterinary Medicine
- China Agricultural University
- Beijing 100193
- China
| | - Shuangyang Ding
- National Center for Veterinary Drug Safety Evaluation
- College of Veterinary Medicine
- China Agricultural University
- China
| | - Jianzhong Shen
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health
- College of Veterinary Medicine
- China Agricultural University
- Beijing 100193
- China
| | - Kui Zhu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health
- College of Veterinary Medicine
- China Agricultural University
- Beijing 100193
- China
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26
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Lupoli TJ, Vaubourgeix J, Burns-Huang K, Gold B. Targeting the Proteostasis Network for Mycobacterial Drug Discovery. ACS Infect Dis 2018; 4:478-498. [PMID: 29465983 PMCID: PMC5902792 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.7b00231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), remains one of the world's deadliest infectious diseases and urgently requires new antibiotics to treat drug-resistant strains and to decrease the duration of therapy. During infection, Mtb encounters numerous stresses associated with host immunity, including hypoxia, reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, mild acidity, nutrient starvation, and metal sequestration and intoxication. The Mtb proteostasis network, composed of chaperones, proteases, and a eukaryotic-like proteasome, provides protection from stresses and chemistries of host immunity by maintaining the integrity of the mycobacterial proteome. In this Review, we explore the proteostasis network as a noncanonical target for antibacterial drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tania J. Lupoli
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, 413 East 69th Street, New York, New York 10021, United States
| | - Julien Vaubourgeix
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, 413 East 69th Street, New York, New York 10021, United States
| | - Kristin Burns-Huang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, 413 East 69th Street, New York, New York 10021, United States
| | - Ben Gold
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, 413 East 69th Street, New York, New York 10021, United States
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27
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The Road from Host-Defense Peptides to a New Generation of Antimicrobial Drugs. Molecules 2018; 23:molecules23020311. [PMID: 29389911 PMCID: PMC6017364 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23020311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2017] [Revised: 01/23/2018] [Accepted: 01/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Host-defense peptides, also called antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), whose protective action has been used by animals for millions of years, fulfill many requirements of the pharmaceutical industry, such as: (1) broad spectrum of activity; (2) unlike classic antibiotics, they induce very little resistance; (3) they act synergically with conventional antibiotics; (4) they neutralize endotoxins and are active in animal models. However, it is considered that many natural peptides are not suitable for drug development due to stability and biodisponibility problems, or high production costs. This review describes the efforts to overcome these problems and develop new antimicrobial drugs from these peptides or inspired by them. The discovery process of natural AMPs is discussed, as well as the development of synthetic analogs with improved pharmacological properties. The production of these compounds at acceptable costs, using different chemical and biotechnological methods, is also commented. Once these challenges are overcome, a new generation of versatile, potent and long-lasting antimicrobial drugs is expected.
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28
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An Optimized Synthetic-Bioinformatic Natural Product Antibiotic Sterilizes Multidrug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii-Infected Wounds. mSphere 2018; 3:mSphere00528-17. [PMID: 29404414 PMCID: PMC5784245 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00528-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2017] [Accepted: 12/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The antibiotic paenimucillin A was originally identified using a culture-independent synthetic-bioinformatic natural product (syn-BNP) discovery approach. Here we report on a bioinformatics-guided survey of paenimucillin A analogs that led to the discovery of paenimucillin C. Paenimucillin C inhibits the growth of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii clinical isolates, as well as other Gram-negative bacterial pathogens. In a rat cutaneous wound model, it completely sterilized MDR A. baumannii wound infections with no sign of rebound. Mechanistic studies point to a membrane-associated mode of action that results in leakage of intracellular contents. IMPORTANCE Natural product-inspired antibiotics have saved millions of lives and played a critical role in modern medicine. However, the emergence of drug-resistant pathogens is outpacing the rate at which new clinically useful antibiotics are being discovered. The lack of a means to combat infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii is of particular concern. The sharp increase in cases of MDR A. baumannii infections in recent years prompted the CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/biggest_threats.html) and WHO (http://www.who.int/medicines/publications/global-priority-list-antibiotic-resistant-bacteria/en/) to list this pathogen as a "serious threat" and "critical pathogen," respectively. Here we report a new antibiotic, paenimucillin C, active against Gram-negative bacterial pathogens, including many clinical isolates of MDR A. baumannii strains. Mechanistic studies point to membrane disruption leading to leakage of intracellular contents as its antibacterial mode of action. Paenimucillin C sterilizes MDR A. baumannii infections in a rat cutaneous wound model with no sign of rebound infection, providing a potential new therapeutic regimen.
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29
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Chu J, Vila-Farres X, Inoyama D, Gallardo-Macias R, Jaskowski M, Satish S, Freundlich JS, Brady SF. Human Microbiome Inspired Antibiotics with Improved β-Lactam Synergy against MDR Staphylococcus aureus. ACS Infect Dis 2018; 4:33-38. [PMID: 28845973 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.7b00056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The flippase MurJ is responsible for transporting the cell wall intermediate lipid II from the cytoplasm to the outside of the cell. While essential for the survival of bacteria, it remains an underexploited target for antibacterial therapy. The humimycin antibiotics are lipid II flippase (MurJ) inhibitors that were synthesized on the basis of bioinformatic predictions derived from secondary metabolite gene clusters found in the human microbiome. Here, we describe an SAR campaign around humimycin A that produced humimycin 17S. Compared to humimycin A, 17S is a more potent β-lactam potentiator, has a broader spectrum of activity, which now includes both methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin resistant Enterococcus faecalis (VRE), and did not lead to any detectable resistance when used in combination with a β-lactam. Combinations of β-lactam and humimycin 17S provide a potentially useful long-term MRSA regimen.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Chu
- Laboratory of Genetically Encoded Small Molecules, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Xavier Vila-Farres
- Laboratory of Genetically Encoded Small Molecules, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Daigo Inoyama
- Department
of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, Rutgers University−New Jersey Medical School, 185 South Orange Avenue, Newark, New Jersey 07103, United States
| | - Ricardo Gallardo-Macias
- Department
of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, Rutgers University−New Jersey Medical School, 185 South Orange Avenue, Newark, New Jersey 07103, United States
| | - Mark Jaskowski
- Department
of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, Rutgers University−New Jersey Medical School, 185 South Orange Avenue, Newark, New Jersey 07103, United States
| | - Shruthi Satish
- Department
of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, Rutgers University−New Jersey Medical School, 185 South Orange Avenue, Newark, New Jersey 07103, United States
| | - Joel S. Freundlich
- Department
of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, Rutgers University−New Jersey Medical School, 185 South Orange Avenue, Newark, New Jersey 07103, United States
| | - Sean F. Brady
- Laboratory of Genetically Encoded Small Molecules, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, New York 10065, United States
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30
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Healy AR, Herzon SB. Molecular Basis of Gut Microbiome-Associated Colorectal Cancer: A Synthetic Perspective. J Am Chem Soc 2017; 139:14817-14824. [PMID: 28949546 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.7b07807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
A significant challenge toward studies of the human microbiota involves establishing causal links between bacterial metabolites and human health and disease states. Certain strains of commensal Escherichia coli harbor the 54-kb clb gene cluster which codes for small molecules named precolibactins and colibactins. Several studies suggest colibactins are genotoxins and support a role for clb metabolites in colorectal cancer formation. Significant advances toward elucidating the structures and biosynthesis of the precolibactins and colibactins have been made using genetic approaches, but their full structures remain unknown. In this Perspective we describe recent synthetic efforts that have leveraged biosynthetic advances and shed light on the mechanism of action of clb metabolites. These studies indicate that deletion of the colibactin peptidase ClbP, a modification introduced to promote accumulation of precolibactins, leads to the production of non-genotoxic pyridone-based isolates derived from the diversion of linear biosynthetic intermediates toward alternative cyclization pathways. Furthermore, these studies suggest the active genotoxins (colibactins) are unsaturated imines that are potent DNA damaging agents, thereby confirming an earlier mechanism of action hypothesis. Although these imines have very recently been detected in bacterial extracts, they have to date confounded isolation. As the power of "meta-omics" approaches to natural products discovery further advance, we anticipate that chemical synthetic and biosynthetic studies will become increasingly interdependent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan R Healy
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University , New Haven, Connecticut 06520, United States.,Chemical Biology Institute, Yale University , West Haven, Connecticut 06516, United States
| | - Seth B Herzon
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University , New Haven, Connecticut 06520, United States.,Department of Pharmacology, Yale School of Medicine , New Haven, Connecticut 06520, United States
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31
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Davis AM, Plowright AT, Valeur E. Directing evolution: the next revolution in drug discovery? Nat Rev Drug Discov 2017; 16:681-698. [PMID: 28935911 DOI: 10.1038/nrd.2017.146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The strong biological rationale to pursue challenging drug targets such as protein-protein interactions has stimulated the development of novel screening strategies, such as DNA-encoded libraries, to allow broader areas of chemical space to be searched. There has also been renewed interest in screening natural products, which are the result of evolutionary selection for a function, such as interference with a key signalling pathway of a competing organism. However, recent advances in several areas, such as understanding of the biosynthetic pathways for natural products, synthetic biology and the development of biosensors to detect target molecules, are now providing new opportunities to directly harness evolutionary pressure to identify and optimize compounds with desired bioactivities. Here, we describe innovations in the key components of such strategies and highlight pioneering examples that indicate the potential of the directed-evolution concept. We also discuss the scientific gaps and challenges that remain to be addressed to realize this potential more broadly in drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M Davis
- AstraZeneca R&D Gothenburg, Pepparedsleden 1, Mölndal, 43150, Sweden
| | - Alleyn T Plowright
- Integrated Drug Discovery, Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH, Industriepark Höchst, 65926 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Eric Valeur
- AstraZeneca R&D Gothenburg, Pepparedsleden 1, Mölndal, 43150, Sweden
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Interpreting Microbial Biosynthesis in the Genomic Age: Biological and Practical Considerations. Mar Drugs 2017; 15:md15060165. [PMID: 28587290 PMCID: PMC5484115 DOI: 10.3390/md15060165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2017] [Revised: 05/22/2017] [Accepted: 05/31/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Genome mining has become an increasingly powerful, scalable, and economically accessible tool for the study of natural product biosynthesis and drug discovery. However, there remain important biological and practical problems that can complicate or obscure biosynthetic analysis in genomic and metagenomic sequencing projects. Here, we focus on limitations of available technology as well as computational and experimental strategies to overcome them. We review the unique challenges and approaches in the study of symbiotic and uncultured systems, as well as those associated with biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC) assembly and product prediction. Finally, to explore sequencing parameters that affect the recovery and contiguity of large and repetitive BGCs assembled de novo, we simulate Illumina and PacBio sequencing of the Salinispora tropica genome focusing on assembly of the salinilactam (slm) BGC.
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Culligan EP, Sleator RD. Antibiotics v2.0: computational and synthetic biology approaches to combat antibiotic resistance. Future Microbiol 2017; 12:267-269. [PMID: 28287301 DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2017-0005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Eamonn P Culligan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Cork Institute of Technology, Bishopstown, Cork, Ireland
| | - Roy D Sleator
- Department of Biological Sciences, Cork Institute of Technology, Bishopstown, Cork, Ireland
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Davey SG. Antimicrobials: Computational culture. Nat Rev Chem 2017. [DOI: 10.1038/s41570-017-0022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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