1
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Deciphering the Association among Pathogenicity, Production and Polymorphisms of Capsule/Melanin in Clinical Isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii VNI. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8030245. [PMID: 35330247 PMCID: PMC8950468 DOI: 10.3390/jof8030245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that can cause meningitis in immunocompromised individuals. The objective of this work was to study the relationship between the phenotypes and genotypes of isolates of clinical origin from different cities in Colombia. Methods: Genome classification of 29 clinical isolates of C. neoformans var. grubii was performed using multilocus sequence typing (MLST), and genomic sequencing was used to genotype protein-coding genes. Pathogenicity was assessed in a larval model, and melanin production and capsule size were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Results: Eleven MLST sequence types (STs) were found, the most frequent being ST69 (n = 9), ST2, ST93, and ST377 (each with n = 4). In the 29 isolates, different levels of pigmentation, capsule size and pathogenicity were observed. Isolates classified as highly pathogenic showed a tendency to exhibit larger increases in capsule size. In the analysis of polymorphisms, 48 non-synonymous variants located in the predicted functional domains of 39 genes were found to be associated with capsule size change, melanin, or pathogenicity. Conclusions: No clear patterns were found in the analysis of the phenotype and genotype of Cryptococcus. However, the data suggest that the increase in capsule size is a key variable for the differentiation of pathogenic isolates, regardless of the method used for its induction.
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2
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Ayipo YO, Osunniran WA, Babamale HF, Ayinde MO, Mordi MN. Metalloenzyme mimicry and modulation strategies to conquer antimicrobial resistance: Metal-ligand coordination perspectives. Coord Chem Rev 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ccr.2021.214317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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3
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Scrivner O, Dao L, Newell-Rogers MK, Shahandeh B, Meyskens FL, Kozawa SK, Liu-Smith F, Plascencia-Villa G, José-Yacamán M, Jia S, Chang CJ, Farmer PJ. The ionophore thiomaltol induces rapid lysosomal accumulation of copper and apoptosis in melanoma. Metallomics 2022; 14:mfab074. [PMID: 34958363 PMCID: PMC8763036 DOI: 10.1093/mtomcs/mfab074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
In this report, we investigate the toxicity of the ionophore thiomaltol (Htma) and Cu salts to melanoma. Divalent metal complexes of thiomaltol display toxicity against A375 melanoma cell culture resulting in a distinct apoptotic response at submicromolar concentrations, with toxicity of Cu(tma)2 > Zn(tma)2 >> Ni(tma)2. In metal-chelated media, Htma treatment shows little toxicity, but the combination with supplemental CuCl2, termed Cu/Htma treatment, results in toxicity that increases with suprastoichiometric concentrations of CuCl2 and correlates with the accumulation of intracellular copper. Electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy of Cu/Htma treated cells shows a rapid accumulation of copper within lysosomes over the course of hours, concurrent with the onset of apoptosis. A buildup of ubiquitinated proteins due to proteasome inhibition is seen on the same timescale and correlates with increases of copper without additional Htma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ottis Scrivner
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76706, USA
| | - Long Dao
- Department of Medical Physiology, College of Medicine, Texas A&M Health Sciences Center, Bryan, TX 77807, USA
| | - M Karen Newell-Rogers
- Department of Medical Physiology, College of Medicine, Texas A&M Health Sciences Center, Bryan, TX 77807, USA
| | | | | | - Susan Kurumi Kozawa
- Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Feng Liu-Smith
- Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Germán Plascencia-Villa
- Department of Neuroscience, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA
| | - Miguel José-Yacamán
- Applied Physics and Materials Science Department and MIRA Center, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - Shang Jia
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Christopher J Chang
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Patrick J Farmer
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76706, USA
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4
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Vélez N, Monteoliva L, Sánchez-Quitian ZA, Amador-García A, García-Rodas R, Ceballos-Garzón A, Gil C, Escandón P, Zaragoza Ó, Parra-Giraldo CM. The Combination of Iron and Copper Increases Pathogenicity and Induces Proteins Related to the Main Virulence Factors in Clinical Isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8010057. [PMID: 35049997 PMCID: PMC8778102 DOI: 10.3390/jof8010057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
In fungi, metals are associated with the expression of virulence factors. However, it is unclear whether the uptake of metals affects their pathogenicity. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of iron/copper in modulating pathogenicity and proteomic response in two clinical isolates of C. neoformans with high and low pathogenicity. Methods: In both isolates, the effect of 50 µM iron and 500 µM copper on pathogenicity, capsule induction, and melanin production was evaluated. We then performed a quantitative proteomic analysis of cytoplasmic extracts exposed to that combination. Finally, the effect on pathogenicity by iron and copper was evaluated in eight additional isolates. Results: In both isolates, the combination of iron and copper increased pathogenicity, capsule size, and melanin production. Regarding proteomic data, proteins with increased levels after iron and copper exposure were related to biological processes such as cell stress, vesicular traffic (Ap1, Vps35), cell wall structure (Och1, Ccr4, Gsk3), melanin biosynthesis (Hem15, Mln2), DNA repair (Chk1), protein transport (Mms2), SUMOylation (Uba2), and mitochondrial transport (Atm1). Increased pathogenicity by exposure to metal combination was also confirmed in 90% of the eight isolates. Conclusions: The combination of these metals enhances pathogenicity and increases the abundance of proteins related to the main virulence factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nórida Vélez
- Unidad de Proteómica y Micosis Humanas, Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá 110231, Colombia; (N.V.); (Z.-A.S.-Q.); (A.C.-G.)
| | - Lucía Monteoliva
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (L.M.); (A.A.-G.); (C.G.)
| | - Zilpa-Adriana Sánchez-Quitian
- Unidad de Proteómica y Micosis Humanas, Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá 110231, Colombia; (N.V.); (Z.-A.S.-Q.); (A.C.-G.)
| | - Ahinara Amador-García
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (L.M.); (A.A.-G.); (C.G.)
| | - Rocío García-Rodas
- Mycology Reference Laboratory, National Centre for Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Carretera Majadahonda-Pozuelo, 28013 Madrid, Spain; (R.G.-R.); (Ó.Z.)
| | - Andrés Ceballos-Garzón
- Unidad de Proteómica y Micosis Humanas, Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá 110231, Colombia; (N.V.); (Z.-A.S.-Q.); (A.C.-G.)
- Department of Parasitology and Medical Mycology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Nantes, 44200 Nantes, France
| | - Concha Gil
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (L.M.); (A.A.-G.); (C.G.)
| | - Patricia Escandón
- Grupo de Microbiología, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Bogotá 111321, Colombia;
| | - Óscar Zaragoza
- Mycology Reference Laboratory, National Centre for Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Carretera Majadahonda-Pozuelo, 28013 Madrid, Spain; (R.G.-R.); (Ó.Z.)
| | - Claudia-Marcela Parra-Giraldo
- Unidad de Proteómica y Micosis Humanas, Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá 110231, Colombia; (N.V.); (Z.-A.S.-Q.); (A.C.-G.)
- Correspondence:
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5
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Brandolt TM, Klafke GB, Ramos DF, Halicki PCB, Vicenti JRDM, Pereira WA, Poester VR, Sanchotene KO, Xavier MO. In vitro susceptibility of Sporothrix spp. to complexes coordinated with Co(II) and cobalt chloride hexahydrate. BRAZ J PHARM SCI 2022. [DOI: 10.1590/s2175-97902022e20152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
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6
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Patteson JB, Putz AT, Tao L, Simke WC, Bryant LH, Britt RD, Li B. Biosynthesis of fluopsin C, a copper-containing antibiotic from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Science 2021; 374:1005-1009. [PMID: 34793213 PMCID: PMC8939262 DOI: 10.1126/science.abj6749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Metal-binding natural products contribute to metal acquisition and bacterial virulence, but their roles in metal stress response are underexplored. We show that a five-enzyme pathway in Pseudomonas aeruginosa synthesizes a small-molecule copper complex, fluopsin C, in response to elevated copper concentrations. Fluopsin C is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that contains a copper ion chelated by two minimal thiohydroxamates. Biosynthesis of the thiohydroxamate begins with cysteine and requires two lyases, two iron-dependent enzymes, and a methyltransferase. The iron-dependent enzymes remove the carboxyl group and the α carbon from cysteine through decarboxylation, N-hydroxylation, and methylene excision. Conservation of the pathway in P. aeruginosa and other bacteria suggests a common role for fluopsin C in the copper stress response, which involves fusing copper into an antibiotic against other microbes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon B. Patteson
- Department of Chemistry, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Andrew T. Putz
- Department of Chemistry, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Lizhi Tao
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - William C. Simke
- Department of Chemistry, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - L. Henry Bryant
- Department of Chemistry, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - R. David Britt
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Bo Li
- Department of Chemistry, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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7
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Awolade P, Cele N, Kerru N, Singh P. Synthesis, antimicrobial evaluation, and in silico studies of quinoline-1H-1,2,3-triazole molecular hybrids. Mol Divers 2021; 25:2201-2218. [PMID: 32507981 DOI: 10.1007/s11030-020-10112-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance has become a significant threat to global public health, thus precipitating an exigent need for new drugs with improved therapeutic efficacy. In this regard, molecular hybridization is deemed as a viable strategy to afford multi-target-based drug candidates. Herein, we report a library of quinoline-1H-1,2,3-triazole molecular hybrids synthesized via copper(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne [3 + 2] dipolar cycloaddition reaction (CuAAC). Antimicrobial evaluation identified compound 16 as the most active hybrid in the library with a broad-spectrum antibacterial activity at an MIC80 value of 75.39 μM against methicillin-resistant S. aureus, E. coli, A. baumannii, and multidrug-resistant K. pneumoniae. The compound also showed interesting antifungal profile against C. albicans and C. neoformans at an MIC80 value of 37.69 and 2.36 μM, respectively, superior to fluconazole. In vitro toxicity profiling revealed non-hemolytic activity against human red blood cells (hRBC) but partial cytotoxicity to human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293). Additionally, in silico studies predicted excellent drug-like properties and the importance of triazole ring in stabilizing the complexation with target proteins. Overall, these results present compound 16 as a promising scaffold on which other molecules can be modeled to deliver new antimicrobial agents with improved potency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Awolade
- School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P/Bag X54001, Westville, Durban, South Africa
| | - Nosipho Cele
- School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P/Bag X54001, Westville, Durban, South Africa
| | - Nagaraju Kerru
- School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P/Bag X54001, Westville, Durban, South Africa
| | - Parvesh Singh
- School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P/Bag X54001, Westville, Durban, South Africa.
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8
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Salcedo-Sora JE, Robison ATR, Zaengle-Barone J, Franz KJ, Kell DB. Membrane Transporters Involved in the Antimicrobial Activities of Pyrithione in Escherichia coli. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26195826. [PMID: 34641370 PMCID: PMC8510280 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26195826] [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: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pyrithione (2-mercaptopyridine-N-oxide) is a metal binding modified pyridine, the antibacterial activity of which was described over 60 years ago. The formulation of zinc-pyrithione is commonly used in the topical treatment of certain dermatological conditions. However, the characterisation of the cellular uptake of pyrithione has not been elucidated, although an unsubstantiated assumption has persisted that pyrithione and/or its metal complexes undergo a passive diffusion through cell membranes. Here, we have profiled specific membrane transporters from an unbiased interrogation of 532 E. coli strains of knockouts of genes encoding membrane proteins from the Keio collection. Two membrane transporters, FepC and MetQ, seemed involved in the uptake of pyrithione and its cognate metal complexes with copper, iron, and zinc. Additionally, the phenotypes displayed by CopA and ZntA knockouts suggested that these two metal effluxers drive the extrusion from the bacterial cell of potentially toxic levels of copper, and perhaps zinc, which hyperaccumulate as a function of pyrithione. The involvement of these distinct membrane transporters contributes to the understanding of the mechanisms of action of pyrithione specifically and highlights, more generally, the important role that membrane transporters play in facilitating the uptake of drugs, including metal-drug compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesus Enrique Salcedo-Sora
- Department of Biochemistry and Systems Biology, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Crown St., Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK
- Correspondence: (J.E.S.-S.); (K.J.F.); (D.B.K.)
| | - Amy T. R. Robison
- Department of Chemistry, Duke University, 124 Science Drive, Durham, NC 27708, USA; (A.T.R.R.); (J.Z.-B.)
| | - Jacqueline Zaengle-Barone
- Department of Chemistry, Duke University, 124 Science Drive, Durham, NC 27708, USA; (A.T.R.R.); (J.Z.-B.)
| | - Katherine J. Franz
- Department of Chemistry, Duke University, 124 Science Drive, Durham, NC 27708, USA; (A.T.R.R.); (J.Z.-B.)
- Correspondence: (J.E.S.-S.); (K.J.F.); (D.B.K.)
| | - Douglas B. Kell
- Department of Biochemistry and Systems Biology, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Crown St., Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Centre for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Building 220, Kemitorvet, 2800 Kgs Lyngby, Denmark
- Correspondence: (J.E.S.-S.); (K.J.F.); (D.B.K.)
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9
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10
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A copper(II)-binding triazole derivative with ionophore properties is active against Candida spp. J Biol Inorg Chem 2020; 25:1117-1128. [DOI: 10.1007/s00775-020-01828-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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11
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Grechnikova M, Ženíšková K, Malych R, Mach J, Sutak R. Copper detoxification machinery of the brain-eating amoeba Naegleria fowleri involves copper-translocating ATPase and the antioxidant system. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-DRUGS AND DRUG RESISTANCE 2020; 14:126-135. [PMID: 33096396 PMCID: PMC7578549 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2020.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Copper is a trace metal that is necessary for all organisms but toxic when present in excess. Different mechanisms to avoid copper toxicity have been reported to date in pathogenic organisms such as Cryptococcus neoformans and Candida albicans. However, little if anything is known about pathogenic protozoans despite their importance in human and veterinary medicine. Naegleria fowleri is a free-living amoeba that occurs naturally in warm fresh water and can cause a rapid and deadly brain infection called primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). Here, we describe the mechanisms employed by N. fowleri to tolerate high copper concentrations, which include various strategies such as copper efflux mediated by a copper-translocating ATPase and upregulation of the expression of antioxidant enzymes and obscure hemerythrin-like and protoglobin-like proteins. The combination of different mechanisms efficiently protects the cell and ensures its high copper tolerance, which can be advantageous both in the natural environment and in the host. Nevertheless, we demonstrate that copper ionophores are potent antiamoebic agents; thus, copper metabolism may be considered a therapeutic target. N. fowleri employs the combination of copper efflux and antioxidant system to ensure a high copper tolerance. Copper efflux in N. fowleri is mediated by a copper-translocating P-type ATPase. Copper ionophores have amoebicidal effect against N. fowleri and thus may be potentially used as antiamoebic agents. Iron-binding proteins hemerythrin and protoglobin are highly upregulated in N. fowleri under copper overload.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Grechnikova
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, BIOCEV, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Kateřina Ženíšková
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, BIOCEV, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Ronald Malych
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, BIOCEV, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Mach
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, BIOCEV, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Robert Sutak
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, BIOCEV, Vestec, Czech Republic.
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12
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Hunsaker EW, McAuliffe KJ, Franz KJ. Fluconazole analogues with metal-binding motifs impact metal-dependent processes and demonstrate antifungal activity in Candida albicans. J Biol Inorg Chem 2020; 25:729-745. [PMID: 32542530 PMCID: PMC7415656 DOI: 10.1007/s00775-020-01796-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Azole antifungals are an important class of antifungal drugs due to their low cost, ability to be administered orally, and broad-spectrum activity. However, their widespread and long-term use have given rise to adaptation mechanisms that render these compounds less effective against common fungal pathogens, including Candida albicans. New antifungals are desperately needed as drug-resistant strains become more prevalent. We recently showed that copper supplementation potentiates the activity of the azole antifungal fluconazole against the opportunistic fungal pathogen C. albicans. Here, we report eight new azole analogues derived from fluconazole in which one triazole group has been replaced with a metal-binding group, a strategy designed to enhance potentiation of azole antifungal activity by copper. The bioactivity of all eight compounds was tested and compared to that of fluconazole. Three of the analogues showed activity against C. albicans and two had lower levels of trailing growth. One compound, Flu-TSCZ, was found to impact the levels, speciation, and bioavailability of cellular metals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth W Hunsaker
- Department of Chemistry, French Family Science Center, Duke University, 124 Science Drive, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - Katherine J McAuliffe
- Department of Chemistry, French Family Science Center, Duke University, 124 Science Drive, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - Katherine J Franz
- Department of Chemistry, French Family Science Center, Duke University, 124 Science Drive, Durham, NC, 27708, USA.
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13
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Unveiling the Properties of Thai Stingless Bee Propolis via Diminishing Cell Wall-Associated Cryptococcal Melanin and Enhancing the Fungicidal Activity of Macrophages. Antibiotics (Basel) 2020; 9:antibiotics9070420. [PMID: 32709077 PMCID: PMC7400477 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics9070420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Revised: 07/05/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans, a life-threatening human yeast pathogen, has the ability to produce melanin, which is one of the common virulence factors contributing to cryptococcal pathogenesis. This virulence factor is closely associated with the cryptococcal cell wall, specifically chitin and chitosan polysaccharides, a complex structure that is essential for maintaining cellular structure and integrity. In this study, we aim to investigate the effects of two stingless bee (SLB) propolis from Tetragonula laeviceps and Tetrigona melanoleuca against cell wall-associated melanin in C. neoformans, and its immune response in RAW 264.7 macrophage. The ethanolic extract of SLB propolis (EEP) has strongly exhibited anti-cryptococcal activity. Moreover, EEP from both sources reduced chitin/chitosan and melanin production against C. neoformans in a dose-dependent manner. Likewise, the mRNA expression level of CDA1, IPC1-PKC1 and LAC1 genes involved in the cryptococcal melanization pathway was significantly decreased at 2 mg/mL in EEP treatment. Additionally, pretreatment with EEP prior to yeast infection dramatically reduced intracellular replication of C. neoformans in RAW 264.7 macrophages in a dose-dependent manner. This study might be a new insight to use a natural powerful source, not only acting to target cell wall-associated molecules, but also being capable to explore a novel strategy by which dysregulation of these molecules leads to promote immunomodulatory activity.
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14
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Crawford CL, Dalecki AG, Perez MD, Schaaf K, Wolschendorf F, Kutsch O. A copper-dependent compound restores ampicillin sensitivity in multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Sci Rep 2020; 10:8955. [PMID: 32488067 PMCID: PMC7265353 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-65978-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Multi-drug resistant Staphylococcus aureus, including methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), has become a worldwide, major health care problem. While initially restricted to clinical settings, drug resistant S. aureus is now one of the key causative agents of community-acquired infections. We have previously demonstrated that copper dependent inhibitors (CDIs), a class of antibiotics that are only active in the presence of copper ions, are effective bactericidal agents against MRSA. A second-generation CDI, APT-6K, exerted bactericidal activity at nanomolar concentrations. At sub-bactericidal concentrations, it effectively synergized with ampicillin to reverse drug resistance in multiple MRSA strains. APT-6K had a favorable therapeutic index when tested on eukaryotic cells (TI: > 30) and, unlike some previously reported CDIs, did not affect mitochondrial activity. These results further establish inhibitors that are activated by the binding of transition metal ions as a promising class of antibiotics, and for the first time, describe their ability to reverse existing drug resistance against clinically relevant antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cameron L Crawford
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Alex G Dalecki
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Mildred D Perez
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Kaitlyn Schaaf
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Frank Wolschendorf
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Olaf Kutsch
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
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15
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Starosta R, de Almeida RFM, Puchalska M, Białońska A, Panek JJ, Jezierska A, Szmigiel I, Suchodolski J, Krasowska A. New anticandidal Cu(i) complexes with neocuproine and ketoconazole derived diphenyl(aminomethyl)phosphane: luminescence properties for detection in fungal cells. Dalton Trans 2020; 49:8528-8539. [DOI: 10.1039/d0dt01162b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Anticandidal activity and a complex luminescence in water solutions of the new copper(i) complexes with a ketoconazole derived phosphane ligand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radosław Starosta
- Faculty of Chemistry
- University of Wroclaw
- 50-383 Wroclaw
- Poland
- Centro de Química Estrutural
| | - Rodrigo F. M. de Almeida
- Centro de Química Estrutural
- Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa
- 1749-016 Lisboa
- Portugal
| | | | - Agata Białońska
- Faculty of Chemistry
- University of Wroclaw
- 50-383 Wroclaw
- Poland
| | | | - Aneta Jezierska
- Faculty of Chemistry
- University of Wroclaw
- 50-383 Wroclaw
- Poland
| | - Ida Szmigiel
- Faculty of Biotechnology
- University of Wroclaw
- 50-383 Wroclaw
- Poland
| | | | - Anna Krasowska
- Faculty of Biotechnology
- University of Wroclaw
- 50-383 Wroclaw
- Poland
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16
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Hunsaker EW, Franz KJ. Copper potentiates azole antifungal activity in a way that does not involve complex formation. Dalton Trans 2019; 48:9654-9662. [PMID: 30888372 PMCID: PMC6613581 DOI: 10.1039/c9dt00642g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
To survive, fungal pathogens must acquire nutrient metals that are restricted by the host while also tolerating mechanisms of metal toxicity that are induced by the host. Given this dual vulnerability, we hypothesized that a pathogen's access to and control of essential yet potentially dangerous metal ions would affect fungal tolerance to antifungal drug stress. Here, we show that Candida albicans becomes sensitized to both Cu limitation and Cu elevation during exposure in liquid culture to the antifungal drug fluconazole, a widely prescribed antifungal agent. Spectroscopic data confirm that while fluconazole forms a complex with Cu(ii) in water, interactions of fluconazole with neither Cu(ii) nor Cu(i) are observed in the cell culture media used for the cellular assays. This result is further supported by growth assays in deletion strains that lack Cu import machinery. Overall, we establish that increases in Cu levels by as little as 40 nM over basal levels in the growth medium reduce tolerance of C. albicans to fluconazole in a way that does not require formation of a Cu-fluconazole complex. Rather, our data point to a more complex relationship between drug stress and Cu availability that gives rise to metal-mediated outcomes of drug treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth W Hunsaker
- Department of Chemistry, Duke University, French Family Science Center, 124 Science Drive, 27708, Durham, NC, USA.
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17
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Hunsaker EW, Franz KJ. Emerging Opportunities To Manipulate Metal Trafficking for Therapeutic Benefit. Inorg Chem 2019; 58:13528-13545. [PMID: 31247859 DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.9b01029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The indispensable requirement for metals in life processes has led to the evolution of sophisticated mechanisms that allow organisms to maintain dynamic equilibria of these ions. This dynamic control of the level, speciation, and availability of a variety of metal ions allows organisms to sustain biological processes while avoiding toxicity. When functioning properly, these mechanisms allow cells to return to their metal homeostatic set points following shifts in the metal availability or other stressors. These periods of transition, when cells are in a state of flux in which they work to regain homeostasis, present windows of opportunity to pharmacologically manipulate targets associated with metal-trafficking pathways in ways that could either facilitate a return to homeostasis and the recovery of cellular function or further push cells outside of homeostasis and into cellular distress. The purpose of this Viewpoint is to highlight emerging opportunities for chemists and chemical biologists to develop compounds to manipulate metal-trafficking processes for therapeutic benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth W Hunsaker
- Department of Chemistry , Duke University , French Family Science Center, 124 Science Drive , Durham , North Carolina 27708 , United States
| | - Katherine J Franz
- Department of Chemistry , Duke University , French Family Science Center, 124 Science Drive , Durham , North Carolina 27708 , United States
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18
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Crawford CL, Dalecki AG, Narmore WT, Hoff J, Hargett AA, Renfrow MB, Zhang M, Kalubowilage M, Bossmann SH, Queern SL, Lapi SE, Hunter RN, Bao D, Augelli-Szafran CE, Kutsch O, Wolschendorf F. Pyrazolopyrimidinones, a novel class of copper-dependent bactericidal antibiotics against multi-drug resistant S. aureus. Metallomics 2019; 11:784-798. [DOI: 10.1039/c8mt00316e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Pyrazolopyrimidinones traffic copper into S. aureus, depleting ATP and altering essential ion concentrations, resulting in the death of the bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alex G. Dalecki
- Department of Medicine
- University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Birmingham
- USA
| | | | - Jessica Hoff
- Department of Medicine
- University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Birmingham
- USA
| | - Audra A. Hargett
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics
- University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Birmingham
- USA
| | - Matthew B. Renfrow
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics
- University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Birmingham
- USA
| | - Man Zhang
- Department of Chemistry
- Kansas State University
- Manhattan
- USA
| | | | | | - Stacy L. Queern
- Department of Radiology
- University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Birmingham
- USA
- Department of Chemistry
| | - Suzanne E. Lapi
- Department of Radiology
- University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Birmingham
- USA
- Department of Chemistry
| | - Robert N. Hunter
- Department of Chemistry
- Drug Discovery Division
- Southern Research
- Birmingham
- USA
| | - Donghui Bao
- Department of Chemistry
- Drug Discovery Division
- Southern Research
- Birmingham
- USA
| | | | - Olaf Kutsch
- Department of Medicine
- University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Birmingham
- USA
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19
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Robinett NG, Culbertson EM, Peterson RL, Sanchez H, Andes DR, Nett JE, Culotta VC. Exploiting the vulnerable active site of a copper-only superoxide dismutase to disrupt fungal pathogenesis. J Biol Chem 2018; 294:2700-2713. [PMID: 30593499 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.007095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2018] [Revised: 12/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Copper-only superoxide dismutases (SODs) represent a new class of SOD enzymes that are exclusively extracellular and unique to fungi and oomycetes. These SODs are essential for virulence of fungal pathogens in pulmonary and disseminated infections, and we show here an additional role for copper-only SODs in promoting survival of fungal biofilms. The opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida albicans expresses three copper-only SODs, and deletion of one of them, SOD5, eradicated candidal biofilms on venous catheters in a rodent model. Fungal copper-only SODs harbor an irregular active site that, unlike their Cu,Zn-SOD counterparts, contains a copper co-factor unusually open to solvent and lacks zinc for stabilizing copper binding, making fungal copper-only SODs highly vulnerable to metal chelators. We found that unlike mammalian Cu,Zn-SOD1, C. albicans SOD5 indeed rapidly loses its copper to metal chelators such as EDTA, and binding constants for Cu(II) predict that copper-only SOD5 has a much lower affinity for copper than does Cu,Zn-SOD1. We screened compounds with a variety of indications and identified several metal-binding compounds, including the ionophore pyrithione zinc (PZ), that effectively inhibit C. albicans SOD5 but not mammalian Cu,Zn-SOD1. We observed that PZ both acts as an ionophore that promotes uptake of toxic metals and inhibits copper-only SODs. The pros and cons of a vulnerable active site for copper-only SODs and the possible exploitation of this vulnerability in antifungal drug design are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie G Robinett
- From the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21205 and
| | - Edward M Culbertson
- From the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21205 and
| | - Ryan L Peterson
- From the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21205 and
| | - Hiram Sanchez
- the Departments of Medicine and Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53726
| | - David R Andes
- the Departments of Medicine and Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53726
| | - Jeniel E Nett
- the Departments of Medicine and Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53726
| | - Valeria C Culotta
- From the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21205 and
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20
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Zaengle-Barone JM, Jackson AC, Besse DM, Becken B, Arshad M, Seed PC, Franz KJ. Copper Influences the Antibacterial Outcomes of a β-Lactamase-Activated Prochelator against Drug-Resistant Bacteria. ACS Infect Dis 2018; 4:1019-1029. [PMID: 29557647 PMCID: PMC6252259 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.8b00037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The unabated rise in bacterial resistance to conventional antibiotics, coupled with collateral damage to normal flora incurred by overuse of broad-spectrum antibiotics, necessitates the development of new antimicrobials targeted against pathogenic organisms. Here, we explore the antibacterial outcomes and mode of action of a prochelator that exploits the production of β-lactamase enzymes by drug-resistant bacteria to convert a nontoxic compound into a metal-binding antimicrobial agent directly within the microenvironment of pathogenic organisms. Compound PcephPT (phenylacetamido-cephem-pyrithione) contains a cephalosporin core linked to 2-mercaptopyridine N-oxide (pyrithione) via one of its metal-chelating atoms, which minimizes its preactivation interaction with metal ions and its cytotoxicity. Spectroscopic and chromatographic assays indicate that PcephPT releases pyrithione in the presence of β-lactamase-producing bacteria. The prochelator shows enhanced antibacterial activity against strains expressing β-lactamases, with bactericidal efficacy improved by the presence of low-micromolar copper in the growth medium. Metal analysis shows that cell-associated copper accumulation by the prochelator is significantly lower than that induced by pyrithione itself, suggesting that the location of pyrithione release influences biological outcomes. Low-micromolar (4-8 μg/mL) minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of PcephPT in ceftriaxone-resistant bacteria compared with median lethal dose (LD50) values greater than 250 μM in mammalian cells suggests favorable selectivity. Further investigation into the mechanisms of prochelators will provide insight for the design of new antibacterial agents that manipulate cellular metallobiology as a strategy against infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Abigail C. Jackson
- Department of Chemistry, Duke University, 124 Science Dr. Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - David M. Besse
- Department of Chemistry, Duke University, 124 Science Dr. Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Bradford Becken
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27710, United States
| | - Mehreen Arshad
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27710, United States
| | - Patrick C. Seed
- Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital and Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute, 225 E. Chicago Ave. Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Northwestern University, 300 E. Superior St. Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States
| | - Katherine J. Franz
- Department of Chemistry, Duke University, 124 Science Dr. Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
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21
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Kosman DJ. For Cryptococcus neoformans, responding to the copper status in a colonization niche is not just about copper. Mol Microbiol 2018; 108:463-466. [PMID: 29633394 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.13963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Most fungi express two transcription factors that regulate the expression of genes associated with copper uptake for nutritional needs, and with copper resistance when copper approaches a cytotoxic level. These factors are characterized by cysteine-rich motifs which are associated with copper-sensing, DNA-binding and release, and/or cytoplasmic retention. Cryptococcus neoformans differs from most in that it expresses a single such copper-sensing trans-factor, Cuf1, a protein that up-regulates copper uptake when copper is scarce, and up-regulates copper sequestration when cells become super-replete. For C. neoformans this is an essential task in as much as copper is relatively bioavailable in lung airways while the brain interstitium can be copper-limiting for growth. While fungal dependence on and sensitivity to copper have long been considered targets for anti-fungal chemistry, fungi have proven adept at finding 'work arounds' by using a chelated form of copper as nutrient or adapting to a copper-surfaced hospital bed by increased resistance. However, the cohort of Cuf1 targets identified in this report represent far more than just the uptake and sequestration machinery, but include additional loci that, perhaps, are less easily 'defended' by the fungus. Garcia-Santamarina et al. provide that list and thus lay the ground-work for developing novel anti-fungal reagents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Kosman
- Department of Biochemistry, The Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
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22
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Spiegel MT, Hoogerbrugge A, Truksa S, Smith AG, Shuford KL, Klausmeyer KK, Farmer PJ. Synthesis of first row transition metal selenomaltol complexes. Dalton Trans 2018; 47:9030-9037. [DOI: 10.1039/c8dt01170b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Complexation of selenomaltol to transition metal ions promotes a zwitterionic resonance form.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Shamus Truksa
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Baylor University
- Waco
- USA
| | - Andrew G. Smith
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Baylor University
- Waco
- USA
| | - Kevin L. Shuford
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Baylor University
- Waco
- USA
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23
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Abstract
The devastating infections that fungal pathogens cause in humans are underappreciated relative to viral, bacterial and parasitic diseases. In recent years, the contributions to virulence of reductive iron uptake, siderophore-mediated uptake and heme acquisition have been identified in the best studied and most life-threatening fungal pathogens: Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans and Aspergillus fumigatus. In particular, exciting new work illustrates the importance of iron acquisition from heme and hemoglobin in the virulence of pathogenic yeasts. However, the challenge of establishing how these fungi gain access to hemoglobin in blood and to other sources of heme remains to be fully addressed. Recent studies are also expanding our knowledge of iron uptake in less-well studied fungal pathogens, including dimorphic fungi where new information reveals an integration of iron acquisition with morphogenesis and cell-surface properties for adhesion to host cells. Overall, the accumulating information provides opportunities to exploit iron acquisition for antifungal therapy, and new work highlights the development of specific inhibitors of siderophore biosynthesis and metal chelators for therapeutic use alone or in conjunction with existing antifungal drugs. It is clear that iron-related therapies will need to be customized for specific diseases because the emerging view is that fungal pathogens use different combinations of strategies for iron acquisition in the varied niches of vertebrate hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaurav Bairwa
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada.
| | - Won Hee Jung
- Department of Systems Biotechnology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong, 456-756, Republic of Korea
| | - James W Kronstad
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada.
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24
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Dalecki AG, Crawford CL, Wolschendorf F. Copper and Antibiotics: Discovery, Modes of Action, and Opportunities for Medicinal Applications. Adv Microb Physiol 2017; 70:193-260. [PMID: 28528648 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ampbs.2017.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Copper is a ubiquitous element in the environment as well as living organisms, with its redox capabilities and complexation potential making it indispensable for many cellular functions. However, these same properties can be highly detrimental to prokaryotes and eukaryotes when not properly controlled, damaging many biomolecules including DNA, lipids, and proteins. To restrict free copper concentrations, all bacteria have developed mechanisms of resistance, sequestering and effluxing labile copper to minimize its deleterious effects. This weakness is actively exploited by phagocytes, which utilize a copper burst to destroy pathogens. Though administration of free copper is an unreasonable therapeutic antimicrobial itself, due to insufficient selectivity between host and pathogen, small-molecule ligands may provide an opportunity for therapeutic mimicry of the immune system. By modulating cellular entry, complex stability, resistance evasion, and target selectivity, ligand/metal coordination complexes can synergistically result in high levels of antibacterial activity. Several established therapeutic drugs, such as disulfiram and pyrithione, display remarkable copper-dependent inhibitory activity. These findings have led to development of new drug discovery techniques, using copper ions as the focal point. High-throughput screens for copper-dependent inhibitors against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Staphylococcus aureus uncovered several new compounds, including a new class of inhibitors, the NNSNs. In this review, we highlight the microbial biology of copper, its antibacterial activities, and mechanisms to discover new inhibitors that synergize with copper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex G Dalecki
- The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
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