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Barzkar N, Bunphueak P, Chamsodsai P, Muangrod P, Thumthanaruk B, Rungsardthong V, Tabtimmai L. Jellyfish protein hydrolysates: Multifunctional bioactivities unveiled in the battle against diabetes, inflammation, and bacterial pathogenesis. Microb Pathog 2024; 191:106648. [PMID: 38641070 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2024.106648] [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: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
This study investigates the multifunctional bioactivities of pepsin-hydrolyzed jellyfish by-products (Rhopilema hispidum and Lobonema smithii), focusing on their anti-α-glucosidase activity, anti-inflammatory effects, anti-bacterial properties, and ability to inhibit biofilm formation of Staphylococcus aureus. Our findings revealed that jellyfish protein hydrolysates, particularly from Rhopilema hispidum, exhibit significant anti-α-glucosidase activity, surpassing the well-known α-glucosidase inhibitor Acarbose. Furthermore, we demonstrated the anti-inflammatory capabilities of these hydrolysates in suppressing lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide production in murine macrophage cells. This effect was dose-dependent and non-cytotoxic, highlighting the hydrolysate potential in treating inflammation-related conditions. Regarding anti-bacterial activity, pepsin-hydrolyzed jellyfish selectively exhibited a potent effect against S. aureus, including Methicillin-susceptible and Methicillin-resistant strains. This activity was evident at minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 25 μg/mL for S. aureus ATCC10832, while a modest effect was observed against other Gram-positive strains. The hydrolysates effectively delayed bacterial growth dose-dependently, suggesting their use as alternative agents against bacterial infections. Most notably, pepsin-hydrolyzed jellyfish showed significant anti-biofilm activity against S. aureus. The umbrella section hydrolysate of Rhopilema hispidum was particularly effective, reducing biofilm formation through downregulating the icaA gene, crucial for biofilm development. Furthermore, the hydrolysates modulated the expression of the agrA gene, a key regulator in the pathogenesis of S. aureus. In conclusion, pepsin-hydrolyzed jellyfish protein hydrolysates exhibit promising multifunctional bioactivities, including anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and anti-biofilm properties. These findings suggest their potential application in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical fields, particularly in managing diabetic risks, inflammation, bacterial infections, and combating the biofilm-associated pathogenicity of S. aureus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noora Barzkar
- Department of Agro-Industrial, Food and Environmental Technology, Faculty of Applied Science King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok, 10800, Thailand; Food and Agro-Industrial Research Center, King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok, 10800, Thailand
| | - Pinchuta Bunphueak
- Food and Agro-Industrial Research Center, King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok, 10800, Thailand; Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Applied Science, King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok, 10800, Thailand
| | - Phumin Chamsodsai
- Interdisciplinary Program in Genetic Engineering and Bioinformatics, Graduate School, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10800, Thailand
| | - Pratchaya Muangrod
- Department of Agro-Industrial, Food and Environmental Technology, Faculty of Applied Science King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok, 10800, Thailand; Food and Agro-Industrial Research Center, King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok, 10800, Thailand
| | - Benjawan Thumthanaruk
- Department of Agro-Industrial, Food and Environmental Technology, Faculty of Applied Science King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok, 10800, Thailand; Food and Agro-Industrial Research Center, King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok, 10800, Thailand
| | - Vilai Rungsardthong
- Department of Agro-Industrial, Food and Environmental Technology, Faculty of Applied Science King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok, 10800, Thailand; Food and Agro-Industrial Research Center, King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok, 10800, Thailand
| | - Lueacha Tabtimmai
- Food and Agro-Industrial Research Center, King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok, 10800, Thailand; Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Applied Science, King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok, 10800, Thailand.
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Vadakkan K, Sathishkumar K, Kuttiyachan Urumbil S, Ponnenkunnathu Govindankutty S, Kumar Ngangbam A, Devi Nongmaithem B. A review of chemical signaling mechanisms underlying quorum sensing and its inhibition in Staphylococcus aureus. Bioorg Chem 2024; 148:107465. [PMID: 38761705 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2024.107465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2024] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is a significant bacterium responsible for multiple infections and is a primary cause of fatalities among patients in hospital environments. The advent of pathogenic bacteria such as methicillin-resistant S. aureus revealed the shortcomings of employing antibiotics to treat bacterial infectious diseases. Quorum sensing enhances S. aureus's survivability through signaling processes. Targeting the key components of quorum sensing has drawn much interest nowadays as a promising strategy for combating infections caused by bacteria. Concentrating on the accessory gene regulator quorum-sensing mechanism is the most commonly suggested anti-virulence approach for S.aureus. Quorum quenching is a common strategy for controlling illnesses triggered by microorganisms since it reduces the pathogenicity of bacteria and improves bacterial biofilm susceptibility to antibiotics, thus providing an intriguing prospect for drug discovery. Quorum sensing inhibition reduces selective stresses and constrains the emergence of antibiotic resistance while limiting bacterial pathogenicity. This review examines the quorum sensing mechanisms involved in S. aureus, quorum sensing targets and gene regulation, environmental factors affecting quorum sensing, quorum sensing inhibition, natural products as quorum sensing inhibitory agents and novel therapeutical strategies to target quorum sensing in S. aureus as drug developing technique to augment conventional antibiotic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayeen Vadakkan
- Department of Biotechnology, St. Mary's College (Autonomous), Thrissur, Kerala 680020, India; Manipur International University, Imphal, Manipur 795140, India.
| | - Kuppusamy Sathishkumar
- Center for Global Health Research, Saveetha Medical College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Saveetha University, Thandalam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 602105, India
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3
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Joy A, Seethi V F, Cyriac MC, Habeeb J, Sudhakaran S, Shah S. Modelling of AgrA inhibitors to combat anti-microbial resistance in Staphylococcus aureus. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2024; 42:551-558. [PMID: 37166373 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2203260] [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: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive bacterium found on human skin that causes skin and soft tissue infections, as well as pneumonia, osteomyelitis, and endocarditis. The prevalence of antibiotic resistant strains has made the treatments less effective. An efficient alternate method for battling these contagious diseases is anti-virulence strategy. The AgrA protein, a key activator of Accessory Gene Regulator system in S. aureus, is vital to the virulence of the organism and, consequently, its pathogenesis. Using a Machine Learning algorithm, the Support Vector Machine (SVM), and a ligand-based pharmacophore modelling method, prediction models of AgrA inhibitors were developed. The metrics of the SVM model were inadequate, hence it was not used for virtual screening. For ligand-based pharmacophore modelling, 14 of 29 compounds were removed from the active set due to a lack of shared pharmacophore properties, and 504 compounds were designated as decoys. A 3D pharmacophore model was created using LigandScout 4.4.5, with a fit score of 57.48, including a positive ionizable group, one hydrogen bond donor, and three hydrogen bond acceptors. The model after further validation was used to virtually screen an external database which resulted in six hits. These compounds were docked with the AgrA domain crystal structure to determine the inhibitor activity. Further, each docked complex was subjected to a 100 ns molecular dynamics simulation. CID238 and CID20510252 demonstrated potent inhibitory binding interactions and hence can be used to develop AgrA inhibitors in future after proper validation.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amitha Joy
- Department of Biotechnology, Sahrdaya College of Engineering and Technology, Thrissur, Kerala, India
| | | | - Marria C Cyriac
- Department of Biotechnology, Sahrdaya College of Engineering and Technology, Thrissur, Kerala, India
| | - Jasmin Habeeb
- Division of Crop Improvement, ICAR-Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasaragod, Kerala, India
| | | | - Shaheen Shah
- Genomics Central [MaGenomics], Thrissur, Kerala, India
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Iobbi V, Parisi V, Bernabè G, De Tommasi N, Bisio A, Brun P. Anti-Biofilm Activity of Carnosic Acid from Salvia rosmarinus against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:3679. [PMID: 37960038 PMCID: PMC10647425 DOI: 10.3390/plants12213679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
The Salvia rosmarinus "Eretto Liguria" ecotype was studied as a source of valuable bioactive compounds. LC-MS analysis of the methanolic extract underlined the presence of diterpenoids, triterpenoids, polyphenolic acids, and flavonoids. The anti-virulence activity of carnosic acid along with the other most abundant compounds against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was evaluated. Only carnosic acid induced a significant reduction in the expression of agrA and rnaIII genes, which encode the key components of quorum sensing (QS), an intracellular signaling mechanism controlling the virulence of MRSA. At a concentration of 0.05 mg/mL, carnosic acid inhibited biofilm formation by MRSA and the expression of genes involved in toxin production and made MRSA more susceptible to intracellular killing, with no toxic effects on eukaryotic cells. Carnosic acid did not affect biofilm formation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a human pathogen that often coexists with MRSA in complex infections. The selected ecotype showed a carnosic acid content of 94.3 ± 4.3 mg/g. In silico analysis highlighted that carnosic acid potentially interacts with the S. aureus AgrA response regulator. Our findings suggest that carnosic acid could be an anti-virulence agent against MRSA infections endowed with a species-specific activity useful in multi-microbial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Iobbi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Genova, Viale Cembrano 4, 16148 Genova, Italy;
| | - Valentina Parisi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084 Salerno, Italy; (V.P.); (N.D.T.)
| | - Giulia Bernabè
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Via Gabelli 63, 35121 Padova, Italy; (G.B.); (P.B.)
| | - Nunziatina De Tommasi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084 Salerno, Italy; (V.P.); (N.D.T.)
| | - Angela Bisio
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Genova, Viale Cembrano 4, 16148 Genova, Italy;
| | - Paola Brun
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Via Gabelli 63, 35121 Padova, Italy; (G.B.); (P.B.)
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5
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Saha S, Ghosh M. Computational exploration of natural compounds targeting Staphylococcus aureus: inhibiting AgrA promoter binding for antimicrobial intervention. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023:1-12. [PMID: 37578046 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2246566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is a highly virulent nosocomial pathogen that poses a significant threat to individuals exposed to healthcare settings. Due to its sophisticated machinery for producing virulence factors, S. aureus can cause severe and potentially fatal infections in humans. This study focuses on the response regulator AgrA, which plays a crucial role in regulating the production of virulence factors in S. aureus. The objective is to identify natural compounds that can inhibit the binding of AgrA to its promoter site, thus inhibiting the expression of virulence genes. To achieve this, a pharmacophore model was generated using known drugs and applied to screen the ZINC natural product database. The resulting compounds were subjected to molecular docking-based virtual screening against the C-terminal DNA binding domain of AgrA. Three compounds, namely ZINC000077269178, ZINC000051012304, and ZINC000004266026, were shortlisted based on their strong affinity for key residues involved in DNA binding and transcription initiation. Subsequently, the unbound and ligand-bound complexes were subjected to a 200 ns molecular dynamics simulation to assess their conformational stability. Various analyses, including RMSD, RMSF, Rg, SASA, Principal Component Analysis, and Gibbs free energy landscape, were conducted on the simulation trajectory. The RMSD profile indicated similar fluctuations in both bound and unbound structures, while the Rg profile demonstrated the compactness of the protein without any unfolding during the simulation. Furthermore, Principal component analysis revealed that ligand binding reduced the overall atomic motion of the protein whereas free energy landscape suggested the energy variations obtained in complexes.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subhadip Saha
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Technology Durgapur, Durgapur, India
| | - Monidipa Ghosh
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Technology Durgapur, Durgapur, India
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6
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Jiang X, Kang R, Yu T, Jiang X, Chen H, Zhang Y, Li Y, Wang H. Cinnamaldehyde Targets the LytTR DNA-Binding Domain of the Response Regulator AgrA to Attenuate Biofilm Formation of Listeria monocytogenes. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0030023. [PMID: 37140461 PMCID: PMC10269664 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00300-23] [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: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The Agr quorum sensing (QS) system is known to contribute to biofilm formation in Listeria monocytogenes. Cinnamaldehyde, a natural food preservative, is considered an inhibitor of Agr-mediated QS in L. monocytogenes. However, the exact mechanism by which cinnamaldehyde acts on Agr remains unclear. In this study, we assessed the effects of cinnamaldehyde on the histidine kinase AgrC and the response regulator AgrA in the Agr system. AgrC kinase activity was not influenced by cinnamaldehyde, and binding between AgrC and cinnamaldehyde was not observed when microscale thermophoresis (MST) was performed, indicating that AgrC was not the target of cinnamaldehyde. AgrA is specifically bound to the agr promoter (P2) to activate the transcription of the Agr system. However, AgrA-P2 binding was prevented by cinnamaldehyde. The interaction between cinnamaldehyde and AgrA was further confirmed with MST. Two conserved amino acids, Asn-178 and Arg-179, located in the LytTR DNA-binding domain of AgrA, were identified as the key sites for cinnamaldehyde-AgrA binding by alanine mutagenesis and MST. Coincidentally, Asn-178 was also involved in the AgrA-P2 interaction. Taken together, these results suggest that cinnamaldehyde acts as a competitive inhibitor of AgrA in AgrA-P2 binding, which leads to suppressed transcription of the Agr system and reduced biofilm formation in L. monocytogenes. IMPORTANCE Listeria monocytogenes can form biofilms on various food contact surfaces, posing a serious threat to food safety. Biofilm formation of L. monocytogenes is positively regulated by the Agr quorum sensing system. Thus, an alternative strategy for controlling L. monocytogenes biofilms is interfering with the Agr system. Cinnamaldehyde is considered an inhibitor of the L. monocytogenes Agr system; however, its exact mechanism of action is still unclear. Here, we found that AgrA (response regulator), rather than AgrC (histidine kinase), was the target of cinnamaldehyde. The conserved Asn-178 in the LytTR DNA-binding domain of AgrA was involved in cinnamaldehyde-AgrA and AgrA-P2 binding. Therefore, the occupation of Asn-178 by cinnamaldehyde suppressed transcription of the Agr system and reduced biofilm formation in L. monocytogenes. Our findings could provide a better understanding of the mechanism by which cinnamaldehyde inhibits L. monocytogenes biofilm formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaobing Jiang
- Henan Engineering Laboratory for Bioconversion Technology of Functional Microbes, College of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Rui Kang
- Henan Engineering Laboratory for Bioconversion Technology of Functional Microbes, College of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Tao Yu
- School of Life Sciences & Basic Medicine, Xinxiang University, Xinxiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Biomedicine and Health Risk Warning of Xinxiang City, Xinxiang, China
| | - Xiaojie Jiang
- School of Life Sciences & Basic Medicine, Xinxiang University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Hong Chen
- Henan Engineering Laboratory for Bioconversion Technology of Functional Microbes, College of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Yiping Zhang
- Henan Engineering Laboratory for Bioconversion Technology of Functional Microbes, College of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Yi Li
- Henan Engineering Laboratory for Bioconversion Technology of Functional Microbes, College of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Hailei Wang
- Henan Engineering Laboratory for Bioconversion Technology of Functional Microbes, College of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, China
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7
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Polaske TJ, West KHJ, Zhao K, Widner DL, York JT, Blackwell HE. Chemical and biomolecular insights into the Staphylococcus aureus agr quorum sensing system: Current progress and ongoing challenges. Isr J Chem 2023; 63:e202200096. [PMID: 38765792 PMCID: PMC11101167 DOI: 10.1002/ijch.202200096] [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: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 03/19/2023]
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is a ubiquitous bacterium that has become a major threat to human health due to its extensive toxin production and tremendous capacity for antibiotic resistance (e.g., MRSA "superbug" infections). Amid a worsening antibiotic resistance crisis, new strategies to combat this deadly microbe that remove the selective pressure of traditional approaches are in high demand. S. aureus utilizes an accessory gene regulator (agr) quorum sensing network to monitor its local cellular population and trigger a devastating communal attack, like an invading horde, once a threshold cell density has been reached. The role of the agr system in a range of disease types is still being unraveled. Herein, we discuss the present-day biochemical understanding of agr along with unresolved details, describe its connection to the progression of infection, and review how chemical strategies have been implemented to study and intercept this signaling pathway. This research is illuminating the potential of agr as an anti-virulence target in S. aureus and should inform the study of similar, yet less studied, agr systems in related bacterial pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J. Polaske
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1101 University Ave., Madison, WI 53706 USA
| | - Korbin H. J. West
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1101 University Ave., Madison, WI 53706 USA
| | - Ke Zhao
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1101 University Ave., Madison, WI 53706 USA
| | - Danielle L. Widner
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1101 University Ave., Madison, WI 53706 USA
| | - Jordan T. York
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1101 University Ave., Madison, WI 53706 USA
| | - Helen E. Blackwell
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 1101 University Ave., Madison, WI 53706 USA
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Grazul M, Balcerczak E, Sienkiewicz M. Analysis of the Presence of the Virulence and Regulation Genes from Staphylococcus aureus ( S. aureus) in Coagulase Negative Staphylococci and the Influence of the Staphylococcal Cross-Talk on Their Functions. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:5155. [PMID: 36982064 PMCID: PMC10049693 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20065155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) are increasingly becoming a public health issue worldwide due to their growing resistance to antibiotics and common involvement in complications related to invasive surgical procedures, and nosocomial and urinary tract infections. Their behavior either as a commensal or a pathogen is a result of strict regulation of colonization and virulence factors. Although functionality of virulence factors and processes involved in their regulation are quite well understood in S. aureus, little is known about them in CoNS species. Therefore, the aim of our studies was to check if clinical CoNS strains may contain virulence factors and genes involved in resistance to methicillin, that are homologous to S. aureus. Moreover, we checked the presence of elements responsible for regulation of genes that encode virulence factors typical for S. aureus in tested isolates. We also investigated whether the regulation factors produced by one CoNS isolate can affect virulence activity of other strains by co-incubation of tested isolates with supernatant from other isolates. Our studies confirmed the presence of virulence factor and regulatory genes attributed to S. aureus in CoNS isolates and indicated that one strain with an active agr gene is able to affect biofilm formation and δ-toxin activity of strains with inactive agr genes. The cognition of prevalence and regulation of virulence factors as well as antibiotic resistance of CoNS isolates is important for better control and treatment of CoNS infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Grazul
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Microbiological Diagnostics, Medical University of Lodz, Muszynskiego 1 Street, 90-151 Lodz, Poland
| | - Ewa Balcerczak
- Laboratory of Molecular Diagnostics and Pharmacogenomics, Department of Pharmaceutical Biochemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, Medical University of Lodz, Muszynskiego 1 Street, 90-151 Lodz, Poland
| | - Monika Sienkiewicz
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Microbiological Diagnostics, Medical University of Lodz, Muszynskiego 1 Street, 90-151 Lodz, Poland
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9
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Cangui-Panchi SP, Ñacato-Toapanta AL, Enríquez-Martínez LJ, Salinas-Delgado GA, Reyes J, Garzon-Chavez D, Machado A. Battle royale: Immune response on biofilms – host-pathogen interactions. CURRENT RESEARCH IN IMMUNOLOGY 2023; 4:100057. [PMID: 37025390 PMCID: PMC10070391 DOI: 10.1016/j.crimmu.2023.100057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The research interest of the scientific community in biofilm-forming microorganisms is growing due to the problems caused by their infections affecting humans and animals, mainly because of the difficulty of the host immune system in eradicating these microbial complex communities and the increasing antimicrobial resistance rates worldwide. This review describes the virulence factors and their interaction with the microbial communities of four well-known and highly biofilm-forming pathogens, more exactly, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus spp., and Candida spp. The innate and adaptive immune responses caused by the infection with these microorganisms and their evasion to the host immune system by biofilm formation are discussed in the present work. The relevance of the differences in the expression of certain virulence factors and the immune response in biofilm-associated infections when compared to planktonic infections is usually described as the biofilm architecture protects the pathogen and alters the host immune responses, here we extensively discussed these mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Pamela Cangui-Panchi
- Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales COCIBA, Instituto de Microbiología, Laboratorio de Bacteriología, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Anahí Lizbeth Ñacato-Toapanta
- Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales COCIBA, Instituto de Microbiología, Laboratorio de Bacteriología, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Leonardo Joshué Enríquez-Martínez
- Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales COCIBA, Instituto de Microbiología, Laboratorio de Bacteriología, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Gabriela Alexandra Salinas-Delgado
- Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales COCIBA, Instituto de Microbiología, Laboratorio de Bacteriología, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Jorge Reyes
- Hospital del Instituto Ecuatoriano de Seguridad Social (IESS) Quito-Sur, Quito, Ecuador
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Daniel Garzon-Chavez
- Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Colegio de Ciencias de la Salud, Quito, Ecuador
| | - António Machado
- Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales COCIBA, Instituto de Microbiología, Laboratorio de Bacteriología, Quito, Ecuador
- Corresponding author.
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Qi Y, Hou J, Zhao Y, Song W, Wang L, Chen H, Chen G. An inhibitory effect of schisandrone on α-hemolysin expression to combat methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus infections. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2022; 39:3. [PMID: 36344903 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-022-03442-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Due to increasing antibiotic resistance, targeting bacterial virulence factors is now gaining further interest as an alternative strategy to develop novel classes of anti-infective agents. The critical role of α-hemolysin (Hla), an indispensable virulence determinant, in the pathogenicity of Staphylococcus aureus renders this virulence factor an appealing target for effective therapeutic applications. Herein, we identified a natural compound schisandraone, as an effective Hla inhibitor, which could inhibit Hla production and thus hemolytic activity in a dose-dependent manner without affecting the growth of S. aureus. We also found that the addition of schisandrone could down-regulate the transcriptional levels of the hla, agrA and RNAIII and significantly alleviated Hla-mediated injury of A549 cells co-cultured with S. aureus. In vivo studies further suggested that schisandrone combined with antibiotic ceftiofur exhibited a significant therapeutic effect on S. aureus infection. These findings revealed the role of schisandrone in inhibiting the activity of Hla and we believe that it is a promising anti-virulence candidate to combat MRSA pneumonia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingxin Qi
- College of Life Science, Key Laboratory of Straw Biology and Utilization of the Ministry of Education Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China.,School of Biological and Food Engineering, Jilin Engineering Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Juan Hou
- College of Clinical Medicine, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China
| | - Yicheng Zhao
- College of Clinical Medicine, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China.,Center for Pathogen Biology and Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of the Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Wu Song
- College of Clinical Medicine, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China
| | - Li Wang
- College of Clinical Medicine, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China
| | - Huan Chen
- Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Guang Chen
- College of Life Science, Key Laboratory of Straw Biology and Utilization of the Ministry of Education Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China. .,School of Biological and Food Engineering, Jilin Engineering Normal University, Changchun, China.
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11
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Antibiofilm, AntiAdhesive and Anti-Invasive Activities of Bacterial Lysates Extracted from Pediococcus acidilactici against Listeria monocytogenes. Foods 2022; 11:foods11192948. [PMID: 36230024 PMCID: PMC9562709 DOI: 10.3390/foods11192948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate whether bacterial lysates (BLs) extracted from Pediococcus acidilactici reduce Listeria monocytogenes biofilm formation, as well as adhesion to and invasion of human intestinal epithelial cells. Pretreatment with P. acidilactici BLs (20, 40, and 80 μg/mL) significantly inhibited L. monocytogenes biofilm formation on the surface of polystyrene (p < 0.05). Fluorescence and scanning-electron-microscopic analyses indicated that L. monocytogenes biofilm comprised a much less dense layer of more-dispersed cells in the presence of P. acidilactici BLs. Moreover, biofilm-associated genes, such as flaA, fliG, flgE, motB, degU, agrA, and prfA, were significantly downregulated in the presence of P. acidilactici BLs (p < 0.05), suggesting that P. acidilactici BLs prevent L. monocytogenes biofilm development by suppressing biofilm-associated genes. Although P. acidilactici BLs did not dose-dependently inhibit L. monocytogenes adhesion to and invasion of intestinal epithelial cells, the BLs effectively inhibited adhesion and invasion at 40 and 80 μg/mL (p < 0.05). Supporting these findings, P. acidilactici BLs significantly downregulated L. monocytogenes transcription of genes related to adhesion and invasion, specifically fbpA, ctaP, actA, lapB, ami, and inlA. Collectively, these results suggest that P. acidilactici BLs have the potential to reduce health risks from L. monocytogenes.
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Thymol Reduces agr-Mediated Virulence Factor Phenol-Soluble Modulin Production in Staphylococcus aureus. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 2022:8221622. [PMID: 35586806 PMCID: PMC9110180 DOI: 10.1155/2022/8221622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is a major human bacterial pathogen that carries a large number of virulence factors. Many virulence factors of S. aureus are regulated by the accessory gene regulator (agr) quorum-sensing system. Phenol-soluble modulins (PSMs) are one of the agr-mediated virulence determinants known to play a significant role in S. aureus pathogenesis. In the present study, the efficacy of thymol to inhibit PSM production including δ-toxin in S. aureus was explored. We employed liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) to quantify the PSMsα1-PSMα4, PSMβ1 and PSMβ2, and δ-toxin production from culture supernatants. We found that thymol at 0.5 MIC (128 μg/mL) significantly reduced the PSMα and δ-toxin production in S. aureus WKZ-1, WKZ-2, LAC USA300, and ATCC29213. Downregulation in transcription by quantitative real-time (qRT) PCR analysis of response regulator agrA and receptor histidine kinase agrC upon 0.5 MIC thymol treatment affirmed the results of LC-MS quantification of PSMs. In silico molecular docking analysis demonstrated the binding affinity of thymol with receptors AgrA and AgrC. Transmission electron microscopy images revealed no ultrastructural alterations (cell wall and membrane) in thymol-treated WKZ-1 and WKZ-2 S. aureus strains. Here, we demonstrated that thymol reduces various PSM production in S. aureus clinical isolates and reference strains with mass spectrometry.
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Anti-Quorum Sensing Activities of Gliptins against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10051169. [PMID: 35625906 PMCID: PMC9138634 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10051169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of bacterial resistance to traditional antibiotics constitutes an emerging public health issue. Promising approaches have been innovated to conquer bacterial resistance, and targeting bacterial virulence is one of these approaches. Bacterial virulence mitigation offers several merits, as antivirulence agents do not affect the growth of bacteria and hence do not induce bacteria to develop resistance. In this direction, numerous drugs have been repurposed as antivirulence agents prior to their clinical use alone or in combination with traditional antibiotics. Quorum sensing (QS) plays a key role in controlling bacterial virulence. In the current study, dipeptidase inhibitor-4 (DPI-4) antidiabetic gliptins were screened for their antivirulence and anti-quorum sensing (anti-QS) activities against Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus. Upon assessing their antibiofilm activities, the ten tested gliptins significantly diminished biofilm formation. In particular, sitagliptin exhibited the most efficient antibiofilm activity, so it was chosen as a representative of all gliptins to further investigate its antivirulence activity. Sitagliptin significantly protected mice from P. aeruginosa and S. aureus pathogenesis. Furthermore, sitagliptin downregulated QS-encoding genes in P. aeruginosa and S. aureus. To test the anti-QS activities of gliptins, a detailed molecular docking study was conducted to evaluate the gliptins’ binding affinities to P. aeruginosa and S. aureus QS receptors, which helped explain the anti-QS activities of gliptins, particularly sitagliptin and omarigliptin. In conclusion, this study evaluates the possible antivirulence and anti-QS activities of gliptins that could be promising novel candidates for the treatment of aggressive Gram-negative or -positive bacterial infections either alone or as adjuvants to other antibiotics.
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Khayat MT, Abbas HA, Ibrahim TS, Khayyat AN, Alharbi M, Darwish KM, Elhady SS, Khafagy ES, Safo MK, Hegazy WAH. Anti-Quorum Sensing Activities of Gliptins against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. Biomedicines 2022; 10:1169. [PMID: 35625906 PMCID: PMC9138634 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1203672activities 10.3390/biomedicines10051169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 07/07/2024] Open
Abstract
The development of bacterial resistance to traditional antibiotics constitutes an emerging public health issue. Promising approaches have been innovated to conquer bacterial resistance, and targeting bacterial virulence is one of these approaches. Bacterial virulence mitigation offers several merits, as antivirulence agents do not affect the growth of bacteria and hence do not induce bacteria to develop resistance. In this direction, numerous drugs have been repurposed as antivirulence agents prior to their clinical use alone or in combination with traditional antibiotics. Quorum sensing (QS) plays a key role in controlling bacterial virulence. In the current study, dipeptidase inhibitor-4 (DPI-4) antidiabetic gliptins were screened for their antivirulence and anti-quorum sensing (anti-QS) activities against Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus. Upon assessing their antibiofilm activities, the ten tested gliptins significantly diminished biofilm formation. In particular, sitagliptin exhibited the most efficient antibiofilm activity, so it was chosen as a representative of all gliptins to further investigate its antivirulence activity. Sitagliptin significantly protected mice from P. aeruginosa and S. aureus pathogenesis. Furthermore, sitagliptin downregulated QS-encoding genes in P. aeruginosa and S. aureus. To test the anti-QS activities of gliptins, a detailed molecular docking study was conducted to evaluate the gliptins' binding affinities to P. aeruginosa and S. aureus QS receptors, which helped explain the anti-QS activities of gliptins, particularly sitagliptin and omarigliptin. In conclusion, this study evaluates the possible antivirulence and anti-QS activities of gliptins that could be promising novel candidates for the treatment of aggressive Gram-negative or -positive bacterial infections either alone or as adjuvants to other antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maan T. Khayat
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; (T.S.I.); (A.N.K.); (M.A.)
| | - Hisham A. Abbas
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt;
| | - Tarek S. Ibrahim
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; (T.S.I.); (A.N.K.); (M.A.)
| | - Ahdab N. Khayyat
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; (T.S.I.); (A.N.K.); (M.A.)
| | - Majed Alharbi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; (T.S.I.); (A.N.K.); (M.A.)
| | - Khaled M. Darwish
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt;
| | - Sameh S. Elhady
- Department of Natural Products, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia;
| | - El-Sayed Khafagy
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia;
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41552, Egypt
| | - Martin K. Safo
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23219, USA;
| | - Wael A. H. Hegazy
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt;
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacy Program, Oman College of Health Sciences, Muscat 113, Oman
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Discovery of Anti-MRSA Secondary Metabolites from a Marine-Derived Fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. Mar Drugs 2022; 20:md20050302. [PMID: 35621953 PMCID: PMC9146929 DOI: 10.3390/md20050302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 04/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a WHO high-priority pathogen that can cause great harm to living beings, is a primary cause of death from antibiotic-resistant infections. In the present study, six new compounds, including fumindoline A–C (1–3), 12β, 13β-hydroxy-asperfumigatin (4), 2-epi-tryptoquivaline F (17) and penibenzophenone E (37), and thirty-nine known ones were isolated from the marine-derived fungus Aspergillus fumigatus H22. The structures and the absolute configurations of the new compounds were unambiguously assigned by spectroscopic data, mass spectrometry (MS), electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectroscopic analyses, quantum NMR and ECD calculations, and chemical derivatizations. Bioactivity screening indicated that nearly half of the compounds exhibit antibacterial activity, especially compounds 8 and 11, and 33–38 showed excellent antimicrobial activities against MRSA, with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 1.25 to 2.5 μM. In addition, compound 8 showed moderate inhibitory activity against Mycobacterium bovis (MIC: 25 μM), compound 10 showed moderate inhibitory activity against Candida albicans (MIC: 50 μM), and compound 13 showed strong inhibitory activity against the hatching of a Caenorhabditis elegans egg (IC50: 2.5 μM).
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16
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Rom JS, Beenken KE, Ramirez AM, Walker CM, Echols EJ, Smeltzer MS. Limiting protease production plays a key role in the pathogenesis of the divergent clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus LAC and UAMS-1. Virulence 2021; 12:584-600. [PMID: 33538230 PMCID: PMC7872036 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2021.1879550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Revised: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Using the USA300, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strain LAC, we previously examined the impact of regulatory mutations implicated in biofilm formation on protease production and virulence in a murine sepsis model. Here we examined the impact of these mutations in the USA200, methicillin-sensitive strain UAMS-1. Mutation of agr, mgrA, rot, sarA and sigB attenuated the virulence of UAMS-1. A common characteristic of codY, rot, sigB, and sarA mutants was increased protease production, with mutation of rot having the least impact followed by mutation of codY, sigB and sarA, respectively. Protein A was undetectable in conditioned medium from all four mutants, while extracellular nuclease was only present in the proteolytically cleaved NucA form. The abundance of high molecular weight proteins was reduced in all four mutants. Biofilm formation was reduced in codY, sarA and sigB mutants, but not in the rot mutant. Eliminating protease production partially reversed these phenotypes and enhanced biofilm formation. This was also true in LAC codY, rot, sarA and sigB mutants. Eliminating protease production enhanced the virulence of LAC and UAMS-1 sarA, sigB and rot mutants in a murine sepsis model but did not significantly impact the virulence of the codY mutant in either strain. Nevertheless, these results demonstrate that repressing protease production plays an important role in defining critical phenotypes in diverse clinical isolates of S. aureus and that Rot, SigB and SarA play critical roles in this regard.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph S. Rom
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
| | - Karen E. Beenken
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
| | - Aura M. Ramirez
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
| | - Christopher M. Walker
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
| | - Ethan J. Echols
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
| | - Mark S. Smeltzer
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
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Iobbi V, Brun P, Bernabé G, Dougué Kentsop RA, Donadio G, Ruffoni B, Fossa P, Bisio A, De Tommasi N. Labdane Diterpenoids from Salvia tingitana Etl. Synergize with Clindamycin against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Molecules 2021; 26:6681. [PMID: 34771089 PMCID: PMC8587691 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26216681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Quorum-sensing (QS) is a regulatory mechanism in bacterial communication, important for pathogenesis control. The search for small molecules active as quorum-sensing inhibitors (QSI) that can synergize with antibiotics is considered a good strategy to counteract the problem of antibiotic resistance. Here the antimicrobial labdane diterpenoids sclareol (1) and manool (2) extracted from Salvia tingitana were considered as potential QSI against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Only sclareol showed synergistic activity with clindamycin. The quantification of these compounds by LC-MS analysis in the organs and in the calli of S. tingitana showed that sclareol is most abundant in the flower spikes and is produced by calli, while manool is the major labdane of the roots, and is abundant also in the leaves. Other metabolites of the roots were abietane diterpenoids, common in Salvia species, and pentacyclic triterpenoids, bearing a γ-lactone moiety, previously undescribed in Salvia. Docking simulations suggested that 1 and 2 bind to key residues, involved in direct interactions with DNA. They may prevent accessory gene regulator A (AgrA) binding to DNA or AgrA activation upon phosphorylation, to suppress virulence factor expression. The antimicrobial activity of these two compounds probably achieves preventing upregulation of the accessory gene regulator (agr)-regulated genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Iobbi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Genova, Viale Cembrano 4, 16148 Genova, Italy; (V.I.); (R.A.D.K.); (P.F.)
| | - Paola Brun
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Via Gabelli 63, 35121 Padova, Italy; (P.B.); (G.B.)
| | - Giulia Bernabé
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Via Gabelli 63, 35121 Padova, Italy; (P.B.); (G.B.)
| | - Roméo Arago Dougué Kentsop
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Genova, Viale Cembrano 4, 16148 Genova, Italy; (V.I.); (R.A.D.K.); (P.F.)
- Consiglio per la Ricerca e la Sperimentazione in Agricoltura–CREA Centro di ricerca Orticoltura e Florovivaismo, 18038 San Remo, Italy;
| | - Giuliana Donadio
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084 Salerno, Italy; (G.D.); (N.D.T.)
| | - Barbara Ruffoni
- Consiglio per la Ricerca e la Sperimentazione in Agricoltura–CREA Centro di ricerca Orticoltura e Florovivaismo, 18038 San Remo, Italy;
| | - Paola Fossa
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Genova, Viale Cembrano 4, 16148 Genova, Italy; (V.I.); (R.A.D.K.); (P.F.)
| | - Angela Bisio
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Genova, Viale Cembrano 4, 16148 Genova, Italy; (V.I.); (R.A.D.K.); (P.F.)
| | - Nunziatina De Tommasi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084 Salerno, Italy; (G.D.); (N.D.T.)
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Lee HS, Song HS, Lee HJ, Kim SH, Suh MJ, Cho JY, Ham S, Kim YG, Joo HS, Kim W, Lee SH, Yoo D, Bhatia SK, Yang YH. Comparative Study of the Difference in Behavior of the Accessory Gene Regulator (Agr) in USA300 and USA400 Community-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA). J Microbiol Biotechnol 2021; 31:1060-1068. [PMID: 34226408 PMCID: PMC9705881 DOI: 10.4014/jmb.2104.04032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Community-associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) is notorious as a leading cause of soft tissue infections. Despite several studies on the Agr regulator, the mechanisms of action of Agr on the virulence factors in different strains are still unknown. To reveal the role of Agr in different CA-MRSA, we investigated the LACΔagr mutant and the MW2Δagr mutant by comparing LAC (USA300), MW2 (USA400), and Δagr mutants. The changes of Δagr mutants in sensitivity to oxacillin and several virulence factors such as biofilm formation, pigmentation, motility, and membrane properties were monitored. LACΔagr and MW2Δagr mutants showed different oxacillin sensitivity and biofilm formation compared to the LAC and MW2 strains. Regardless of the strain, the motility was reduced in Δagr mutants. And there was an increase in the long chain fatty acid in phospholipid fatty acid composition of Δagr mutants. Other properties such as biofilm formation, pigmentation, motility, and membrane properties were different in both Δagr mutants. The Agr regulator may have a common role like the control of motility and straindependent roles such as antibiotic resistance, biofilm formation, change of membrane, and pigment production. It does not seem easy to control all MRSA by targeting the Agr regulator only as it showed strain-dependent behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye Soo Lee
- Department of Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Hun-Suk Song
- Department of Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Hong-Ju Lee
- Department of Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Hyun Kim
- Department of Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Ju Suh
- Department of Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Jang Yeon Cho
- Department of Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Sion Ham
- Department of Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Yun-Gon Kim
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Soongsil University, Seoul 07040, Republic of Korea
| | - Hwang-Soo Joo
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Engineering, Duksung Women’s University, Seoul 01369, Republic of Korea
| | - Wooseong Kim
- College of Pharmacy and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Ho Lee
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Jeju National University, Jeju 63243, Republic of Korea
| | - Dongwon Yoo
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Shashi Kant Bhatia
- Department of Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea,Corresponding authors S.K. Bhatia Phone: +82-2-450-3936 Fax: + 82-2-3437-8360 E-mail:
| | - Yung-Hun Yang
- Department of Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea,
Y.-H. Yang E-mail:
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Long DR, Wolter DJ, Lee M, Precit M, McLean K, Holmes E, Penewit K, Waalkes A, Hoffman LR, Salipante SJ. Polyclonality, Shared Strains, and Convergent Evolution in Chronic Cystic Fibrosis Staphylococcus aureus Airway Infection. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2021; 203:1127-1137. [PMID: 33296290 DOI: 10.1164/rccm.202003-0735oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Rationale: Staphylococcus aureus is the most common respiratory pathogen isolated from patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) in the United States. Although modes of acquisition and genetic adaptation have been described for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, resulting in improved diagnosis and treatment, these features remain more poorly defined for S. aureus.Objectives: To characterize the molecular epidemiology and genetic adaptation of S. aureus during chronic CF airway infection and in response to antibiotic therapy.Methods: We performed whole-genome sequencing of 1,382 S. aureus isolates collected longitudinally over a mean 2.2 years from 246 children with CF at five U.S. centers between 2008 and 2017. Results were integrated with clinical and demographic data to characterize bacterial population dynamics and identify common genetic targets of in vivo adaptation.Measurements and Main Results: Results showed that 45.5% of patients carried multiple, coexisting S. aureus lineages, often having different antibiotic susceptibility profiles. Adaptation during the course of infection commonly occurred in a set of genes related to persistence and antimicrobial resistance. Individual sequence types demonstrated wide geographic distribution, and we identified limited strain-sharing among children linked by common household or clinical exposures. Unlike P. aeruginosa, S. aureus genetic diversity was unconstrained, with an ongoing flow of new genetic elements into the population of isolates from children with CF.Conclusions: CF airways are frequently coinfected by multiple, genetically distinct S. aureus lineages, indicating that current clinical procedures for sampling isolates and selecting antibiotics are likely inadequate. Strains can be shared by patients in close domestic or clinical contact and can undergo convergent evolution in key persistence and antimicrobial-resistance genes, suggesting novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for future study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dustin R Long
- Division of Critical Care Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine
| | - Daniel J Wolter
- Department of Pediatrics.,Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, Washington
| | | | | | - Kathryn McLean
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; and
| | - Elizabeth Holmes
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; and
| | - Kelsi Penewit
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; and
| | - Adam Waalkes
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; and
| | - Lucas R Hoffman
- Department of Pediatrics.,Department of Microbiology, and.,Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, Washington
| | - Stephen J Salipante
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; and
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20
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Eickhoff MJ, Fei C, Huang X, Bassler BL. LuxT controls specific quorum-sensing-regulated behaviors in Vibrionaceae spp. via repression of qrr1, encoding a small regulatory RNA. PLoS Genet 2021; 17:e1009336. [PMID: 33793568 PMCID: PMC8043402 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Quorum sensing (QS) is a process of chemical communication bacteria use to transition between individual and collective behaviors. QS depends on the production, release, and synchronous response to signaling molecules called autoinducers (AIs). The marine bacterium Vibrio harveyi monitors AIs using a signal transduction pathway that relies on five small regulatory RNAs (called Qrr1-5) that post-transcriptionally control target genes. Curiously, the small RNAs largely function redundantly making it difficult to understand the necessity for five of them. Here, we identify LuxT as a transcriptional repressor of qrr1. LuxT does not regulate qrr2-5, demonstrating that qrr genes can be independently controlled to drive unique downstream QS gene expression patterns. LuxT reinforces its control over the same genes it regulates indirectly via repression of qrr1, through a second transcriptional control mechanism. Genes dually regulated by LuxT specify public goods including an aerolysin-type pore-forming toxin. Phylogenetic analyses reveal that LuxT is conserved among Vibrionaceae and sequence comparisons predict that LuxT represses qrr1 in additional species. The present findings reveal that the QS regulatory RNAs can carry out both shared and unique functions to endow bacteria with plasticity in their output behaviors. Bacteria communicate and count their cell numbers using a process called quorum sensing (QS). In response to changes in cell density, QS bacteria alternate between acting as individuals and participating in collective behaviors. Vibrio harveyi is used as a model organism to understand QS-mediated communication. Five small RNAs lie at the heart of the V. harveyi QS system, and they regulate the target genes that underlie the QS response. The small RNAs largely function redundantly making it difficult to understand why V. harveyi requires five of them. Here, we discover a regulator, called LuxT, that exclusively represses the gene encoding one of the QS small RNAs. LuxT regulation of one QS small RNA enables unique control of a specific subset of QS target genes. LuxT is broadly conserved among Vibrionaceae. Our findings show how redundant regulatory components can possess both common and unique roles that provide bacteria with plasticity in their behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaela J. Eickhoff
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Chenyi Fei
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, United States of America
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Xiuliang Huang
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, United States of America
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Bonnie L. Bassler
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, United States of America
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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21
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Palaniappan B, Solomon AP, C DR. Targeting AgrA quorum sensing regulator by bumetanide attenuates virulence in Staphylococcus aureus - A drug repurposing approach. Life Sci 2021; 273:119306. [PMID: 33662434 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
AIMS The present study aims to target the quorum sensing (QS) accessory gene regulator A (AgrA) of Staphylococcus aureus to curtail bacterial virulence through drug repurposing approach. MAIN METHODS In silico screening of chemical ligands that bind specifically to the S. aureus C-LytTR domain of AgrA (AgrAC) was carried out. AgrA inhibition and downregulation of virulence genes linked to QS system of S. aureus were determined. Efficacy, dermal toxicity and drug tolerance induction were tested in Balb/C mice dermonecrosis model. KEY FINDINGS Bumetanide bound to the conserved amino acid Tyr-229 of AgrA and showed 70% AgrA inhibition at 0.1 μM. Highly significant reduction in the expression of representative virulence genes such as alpha-hemolysin (~5 log2-fold), phenol-soluble modulins (~4 log2-fold) and panton-valentine leukocidin (~3 log2-fold) was noted in vitro. In vivo studies signified bumetanide to be highly effective in controlling the ulcer development and promoted wound healing. Also, the tested substance did not have dermal toxicity and no tolerance induction as well. SIGNIFICANCE Targeting the QS regulators could be a possible alternative approach to curtail virulence in S. aureus. In addition, if the QS inhibitors are repurposed it could accelerate the drug development process and reduce the cost. The identified drug bumetanide inhibited AgrA and the results were in comparable to that of a known virulence inhibitor, diflunisal. The newly reported results of bumetanide in this study are expected to mark the drug's visibility for antibiotic adjunctive therapy and topical drug formulations for skin infections research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balamurugan Palaniappan
- Quorum Sensing Laboratory, School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed University, Thanjavur 613401, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - Adline Princy Solomon
- Quorum Sensing Laboratory, School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed University, Thanjavur 613401, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - David Raj C
- Central Animal Facility, School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed University, Thanjavur 613401, Tamil Nadu, India
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22
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Marchetti M, De Bei O, Bettati S, Campanini B, Kovachka S, Gianquinto E, Spyrakis F, Ronda L. Iron Metabolism at the Interface between Host and Pathogen: From Nutritional Immunity to Antibacterial Development. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E2145. [PMID: 32245010 PMCID: PMC7139808 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21062145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Revised: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Nutritional immunity is a form of innate immunity widespread in both vertebrates and invertebrates. The term refers to a rich repertoire of mechanisms set up by the host to inhibit bacterial proliferation by sequestering trace minerals (mainly iron, but also zinc and manganese). This strategy, selected by evolution, represents an effective front-line defense against pathogens and has thus inspired the exploitation of iron restriction in the development of innovative antimicrobials or enhancers of antimicrobial therapy. This review focuses on the mechanisms of nutritional immunity, the strategies adopted by opportunistic human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus to circumvent it, and the impact of deletion mutants on the fitness, infectivity, and persistence inside the host. This information finally converges in an overview of the current development of inhibitors targeting the different stages of iron uptake, an as-yet unexploited target in the field of antistaphylococcal drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marialaura Marchetti
- Interdepartmental Center Biopharmanet-TEC, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy; (M.M.); (S.B.)
| | - Omar De Bei
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy; (O.D.B.); (B.C.)
| | - Stefano Bettati
- Interdepartmental Center Biopharmanet-TEC, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy; (M.M.); (S.B.)
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
- Institute of Biophysics, National Research Council, 56124 Pisa, Italy
- National Institute of Biostructures and Biosystems, 00136 Rome, Italy
| | - Barbara Campanini
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy; (O.D.B.); (B.C.)
| | - Sandra Kovachka
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, 10125 Turin, Italy; (S.K.); (E.G.); (F.S.)
| | - Eleonora Gianquinto
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, 10125 Turin, Italy; (S.K.); (E.G.); (F.S.)
| | - Francesca Spyrakis
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, 10125 Turin, Italy; (S.K.); (E.G.); (F.S.)
| | - Luca Ronda
- Interdepartmental Center Biopharmanet-TEC, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy; (M.M.); (S.B.)
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
- Institute of Biophysics, National Research Council, 56124 Pisa, Italy
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