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Boulaamane Y, Molina Panadero I, Hmadcha A, Atalaya Rey C, Baammi S, El Allali A, Maurady A, Smani Y. Antibiotic discovery with artificial intelligence for the treatment of Acinetobacter baumannii infections. mSystems 2024; 9:e0032524. [PMID: 38700330 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00325-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Global challenges presented by multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infections have stimulated the development of new treatment strategies. We reported that outer membrane protein W (OmpW) is a potential therapeutic target in A. baumannii. Here, a library of 11,648 natural compounds was subjected to a primary screening using quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models generated from a ChEMBL data set with >7,000 compounds with their reported minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values against A. baumannii followed by a structure-based virtual screening against OmpW. In silico pharmacokinetic evaluation was conducted to assess the drug-likeness of these compounds. The ten highest-ranking compounds were found to bind with an energy score ranging from -7.8 to -7.0 kcal/mol where most of them belonged to curcuminoids. To validate these findings, one lead compound exhibiting promising binding stability as well as favorable pharmacokinetics properties, namely demethoxycurcumin, was tested against a panel of A. baumannii strains to determine its antibacterial activity using microdilution and time-kill curve assays. To validate whether the compound binds to the selected target, an OmpW-deficient mutant was studied and compared with the wild type. Our results demonstrate that demethoxycurcumin in monotherapy and in combination with colistin is active against all A. baumannii strains. Finally, the compound was found to significantly reduce the A. baumannii interaction with host cells, suggesting its anti-virulence properties. Collectively, this study demonstrates machine learning as a promising strategy for the discovery of curcuminoids as antimicrobial agents for combating A. baumannii infections. IMPORTANCE Acinetobacter baumannii presents a severe global health threat, with alarming levels of antimicrobial resistance rates resulting in significant morbidity and mortality in the USA, ranging from 26% to 68%, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). To address this threat, novel strategies beyond traditional antibiotics are imperative. Computational approaches, such as QSAR models leverage molecular structures to predict biological effects, expediting drug discovery. We identified OmpW as a potential therapeutic target in A. baumannii and screened 11,648 natural compounds. We employed QSAR models from a ChEMBL bioactivity data set and conducted structure-based virtual screening against OmpW. Demethoxycurcumin, a lead compound, exhibited promising antibacterial activity against A. baumannii, including multidrug-resistant strains. Additionally, demethoxycurcumin demonstrated anti-virulence properties by reducing A. baumannii interaction with host cells. The findings highlight the potential of artificial intelligence in discovering curcuminoids as effective antimicrobial agents against A. baumannii infections, offering a promising strategy to address antibiotic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yassir Boulaamane
- Laboratory of Innovative Technologies, National School of Applied Sciences of Tangier, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tetouan, Morocco
| | - Irene Molina Panadero
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Universidad Pablo de Olavide/CSIC/Junta de Andalucía, Seville, Spain
| | - Abdelkrim Hmadcha
- Departamento de Biología Molecular e Ingeniería Bioquímica, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain
- Biosanitary Research Institute (IIB-VIU), Valencian International University (VIU), Valencia, Spain
| | - Celia Atalaya Rey
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Universidad Pablo de Olavide/CSIC/Junta de Andalucía, Seville, Spain
| | - Soukayna Baammi
- Bioinformatics Laboratory, College of Computing, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Benguerir, Morocco
| | - Achraf El Allali
- Bioinformatics Laboratory, College of Computing, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Benguerir, Morocco
| | - Amal Maurady
- Laboratory of Innovative Technologies, National School of Applied Sciences of Tangier, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tetouan, Morocco
- Faculty of Sciences and Techniques of Tangier, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tetouan, Morocco
| | - Younes Smani
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Universidad Pablo de Olavide/CSIC/Junta de Andalucía, Seville, Spain
- Departamento de Biología Molecular e Ingeniería Bioquímica, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain
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Wang C, Ji Y, Huo X, Li X, Lu W, Zhang Z, Dong W, Wang X, Chen H, Tan C. Discovery of Salifungin as a Repurposed Antibiotic against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus with Limited Resistance Development. ACS Infect Dis 2024; 10:1576-1589. [PMID: 38581387 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.3c00611] [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] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Exploring novel antimicrobial drugs and strategies has become essential to the fight MRSA-associated infections. Herein, we found that membrane-disrupted repurposed antibiotic salifungin had excellent bactericidal activity against MRSA, with limited development of drug resistance. Furthermore, adding salifungin effectively decreased the minimum inhibitory concentrations of clinical antibiotics against Staphylococcus aureus. Evaluations of the mechanism demonstrated that salifungin disrupted the level of H+ and K+ ions using hydrophilic and lipophilic groups to interact with bacterial membranes, causing the disruption of bacterial proton motive force followed by impacting on bacterial the function of the respiratory chain and adenosine 5'-triphosphate, thereby inhibiting phosphatidic acid biosynthesis. Moreover, salifungin also significantly inhibited the formation of bacterial biofilms and eliminated established bacterial biofilms by interfering with bacterial membrane potential and inhibiting biofilm-associated gene expression, which was even better than clinical antibiotics. Finally, salifungin exhibited efficacy comparable to or even better than that of vancomycin in the MRSA-infected animal models. In conclusion, these results indicate that salifungin can be a potential drug for treating MRSA-associated infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenchen Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430000, Hubei, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan 430000, Hubei, China
| | - Yueyue Ji
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430000, Hubei, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan 430000, Hubei, China
| | - Xingyu Huo
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430000, Hubei, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan 430000, Hubei, China
| | - Xiaodan Li
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430000, Hubei, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan 430000, Hubei, China
| | - Wenjia Lu
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430000, Hubei, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan 430000, Hubei, China
| | - Zhaoran Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430000, Hubei, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan 430000, Hubei, China
| | - Wenqi Dong
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430000, Hubei, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan 430000, Hubei, China
| | - Xiangru Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430000, Hubei, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan 430000, Hubei, China
- Frontiers Science Center for Animal Breeding and Sustainable Production, Wuhan 430000, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan 430000, Hubei, China
- The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan 430000, Hubei, China
| | - Huanchun Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430000, Hubei, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan 430000, Hubei, China
- Frontiers Science Center for Animal Breeding and Sustainable Production, Wuhan 430000, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan 430000, Hubei, China
- The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan 430000, Hubei, China
| | - Chen Tan
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430000, Hubei, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan 430000, Hubei, China
- Frontiers Science Center for Animal Breeding and Sustainable Production, Wuhan 430000, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan 430000, Hubei, China
- The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan 430000, Hubei, China
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3
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Domínguez AV, Panadero IM, Smani Y. In vitro and in vivo evaluation of two combined β-lactamase inhibitors against carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2023; 42:1317-1325. [PMID: 37709968 PMCID: PMC10587209 DOI: 10.1007/s10096-023-04664-z] [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: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of clavulanic acid (C/A) in combination with tazobactam against clinical strains of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. The MIC of 24 clinical strains of A. baumannii was determined, and a checkerboard assay and time-kill curve analysis were performed in selected strains to determine the synergy between C/A and tazobactam. The efficacy of C/A in monotherapy and in combination with tazobactam was evaluated in vitro in cell culture experiments and in a murine peritoneal sepsis model. The C/A and C/A plus tazobactam MIC50 were 128 and <1 mg/L, respectively. The checkerboard assay showed that tazobactam (4 and 8 mg/L) demonstrated synergy with C/A against A. baumannii Ab40, an OXA-24 producer strain, and Ab293, a lacking OXA β-lactamase strain. The time-kill curve assay showed both bactericidal and synergistic effects against Ab40 and Ab293, with C/A 1xMIC and tazobactam (4 and 8 mg/L) at 24 h. In the murine peritoneal sepsis model with Ab293 strain, the combination of C/A and tazobactam reduced bacterial loads in tissues and blood by 2 and 4 log10 CFU/g or mL compared with C/A alone. Combining C/A with tazobactam could be considered as a potential alternative strategy to treat A. baumannii in some cases, and future work with more strains is needed to confirm this possibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Vila Domínguez
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC, Universidad de Seville, Seville, Spain
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Universidad Pablo de Olavide/Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas/Junta de Andalucía, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Irene Molina Panadero
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Universidad Pablo de Olavide/Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas/Junta de Andalucía, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Younes Smani
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC, Universidad de Seville, Seville, Spain.
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Universidad Pablo de Olavide/Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas/Junta de Andalucía, Sevilla, Spain.
- Departamento de Biología Molecular e Ingeniería Bioquímica, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain.
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Han R, Xing J, Sun H, Guo Z, Yi K, Hu G, Zhai Y, Velkov T, Wu H. The antihelminth drug rafoxanide reverses chromosomal-mediated colistin-resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae. mSphere 2023; 8:e0023423. [PMID: 37747188 PMCID: PMC10597454 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00234-23] [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: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence and rapid spread of multi-drug-resistant (MDR) bacteria pose a serious threat to global healthcare. Although the synergistic effect of rafoxanide and colistin was reported, little is known regarding the potential mechanism of this synergy, particularly against chromosomal-mediated colistin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae. In the present study, we elucidated the synergistic effect of rafoxanide and colistin against chromosomal-mediated colistin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from human (KP-9) and swine (KP-1) infections. Treatment with 1 mg/L rafoxanide overtly reversed the MIC max to 512-fold. Time-kill assays indicated that rafoxanide acted synergistically with colistin against the growth of KP-1 and KP-9. Mechanistically, we unexpectedly found that the combination destroys the inner-membrane integrity, and ATP synthesis was also quenched, albeit, not via F1F0-ATPase; thereby also inhibiting the activity of efflux pumps. Excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was also an underlying factor contributing to the bacterial-killing effect of the combination. Transcriptomic analysis unraveled overt heterogeneous expression as treated with both administrations compared with monotherapy. Functional analysis of these differentially expressed genes (DEGs) targeted to the plasma membrane and ATP-binding corroborated phenotypic screening results. These novel findings highlight the synergistic mechanism of rafoxanide in combination with colistin which effectively eradicates chromosomal-mediated colistin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae. IMPORTANCE The antimicrobial resistance of Klebsiella pneumoniae caused by the abuse of colistin has increased the difficulty of clinical treatment. A promising combination (i.e., rafoxanide+ colistin) has successfully rescued the antibacterial effect of colistin. However, we still failed to know the potential effect of this combination on chromosome-mediated Klebsiella pneumoniae. Through a series of in vitro experiments, as well as transcriptomic profiling, we confirmed that the MIC of colistin was reduced by rafoxanide by destroying the inner-membrane integrity, quenching ATP synthesis, inhibiting the activity of the efflux pump, and increasing the production of reactive oxygen species. In turn, the expression of relevant colistin resistance genes was down-regulated. Collectively, our study revealed rafoxanide as a promising colistin adjuvant against chromosome-mediated Klebsiella pneumoniae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rongjia Han
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jiabao Xing
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control of Guangdong Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huarun Sun
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, China
| | - Zeyu Guo
- National Reference Laboratory of Veterinary Drug Residues (SCAU), College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Kaifang Yi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Gongzheng Hu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yajun Zhai
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Tony Velkov
- Department of Pharmacology, Biodiscovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Hua Wu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
- Department of Pharmacology, Biodiscovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
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5
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Bendary MM, Abd El-Hamid MI, Abousaty AI, Elmanakhly AR, Alshareef WA, Mosbah RA, Alhomrani M, Ghoneim MM, Elkelish A, Hashim N, Alamri AS, Al-Harthi HF, Safwat NA. Therapeutic Switching of Rafoxanide: a New Approach To Fighting Drug-Resistant Bacteria and Fungi. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0267922. [PMID: 37458598 PMCID: PMC10433953 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02679-22] [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: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Control and management of life-threatening bacterial and fungal infections are a global health challenge. Despite advances in antimicrobial therapies, treatment failures for resistant bacterial and fungal infections continue to increase. We aimed to repurpose the anthelmintic drug rafoxanide for use with existing therapeutic drugs to increase the possibility of better managing infection and decrease treatment failures. For this purpose, we evaluated the antibacterial and antifungal potential of rafoxanide. Notably, 70% (70/100) of bacterial isolates showed multidrug resistance (MDR) patterns, with higher prevalence among human isolates (73.5% [50/68]) than animal ones (62.5% [20/32]). Moreover, 22 fungal isolates (88%) were MDR and were more prevalent among animal (88.9%) than human (87.5%) sources. We observed alarming MDR patterns among bacterial isolates, i.e., Klebsiella pneumoniae (75% [30/40; 8 animal and 22 human]) and Escherichia coli (66% [40/60; 12 animal and 28 human]), and fungal isolates, i.e., Candida albicans (86.7% [13/15; 4 animal and 9 human]) and Aspergillus fumigatus (90% [9/10; 4 animal and 5 human]), that were resistant to at least one agent in three or more different antimicrobial classes. Rafoxanide had antibacterial and antifungal activities, with minimal inhibitory concentration (MICs) ranging from 2 to 128 μg/mL. Rafoxanide at sub-MICs downregulated the mRNA expression of resistance genes, including E. coli and K. pneumoniae blaCTX-M-1, blaTEM-1, blaSHV, MOX, and DHA, C. albicans ERG11, and A. fumigatus cyp51A. We noted the improvement in the activity of β-lactam and antifungal drugs upon combination with rafoxanide. This was apparent in the reduction in the MICs of cefotaxime and fluconazole when these drugs were combined with sub-MIC levels of rafoxanide. There was obvious synergism between rafoxanide and cefotaxime against all E. coli and K. pneumoniae isolates (fractional inhibitory concentration index [FICI] values ≤ 0.5). Accordingly, there was a shift in the patterns of resistance of 16.7% of E. coli and 22.5% of K. pneumoniae isolates to cefotaxime and those of 63.2% of C. albicans and A. fumigatus isolates to fluconazole when the isolates were treated with sub-MICs of rafoxanide. These results were confirmed by in silico and mouse protection assays. Based on the in silico study, one possible explanation for how rafoxanide reduced bacterial resistance is through its inhibitory effects on bacterial and fungal histidine kinase enzymes. In short, rafoxanide exhibited promising results in overcoming bacterial and fungal drug resistance. IMPORTANCE The drug repurposing strategy is an alternative approach to reducing drug development timelines with low cost, especially during outbreaks of disease caused by drug-resistant pathogens. Rafoxanide can disrupt the abilities of bacterial and fungal cells to adapt to stress conditions. The coadministration of antibiotics with rafoxanide can prevent the failure of treatment of both resistant bacteria and fungi, as the resistant pathogens could be made sensitive upon treatment with rafoxanide. From our findings, we anticipate that pharmaceutical companies will be able to utilize new combinations against resistant pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmoud M. Bendary
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Port Said University, Port Said, Egypt
| | - Marwa I. Abd El-Hamid
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Amira I. Abousaty
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Arwa R. Elmanakhly
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Modern University for Technology and Information, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Walaa A. Alshareef
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, October 6 University, 6th of October, Egypt
| | - Rasha A. Mosbah
- Infection Control Unit, Zagazig University Hospital, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Majid Alhomrani
- Department of Clinical Laboratories Sciences, The Faculty of Applied Medical Science, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
- Centre of Biomedical Science Research, Deanship of Scientific Research, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed M. Ghoneim
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, Al Maarefa University, Ad Diriyah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Amr Elkelish
- Biology Department, College of Science, Imam Mohammad ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
| | - Nada Hashim
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Gezira, Wad Medani, Sudan
| | - Abdulhakeem S. Alamri
- Department of Clinical Laboratories Sciences, The Faculty of Applied Medical Science, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
- Centre of Biomedical Science Research, Deanship of Scientific Research, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Helal F. Al-Harthi
- Biology Department, Turabah University College, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nesreen A. Safwat
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Modern University for Technology and Information, Cairo, Egypt
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Krátký M, Konečná K, Janďourek O, Diepoltová A, Vávrová P, Voxová B, Vejsová M, Bárta P, Bősze S. Insight into the Antibacterial Action of Iodinated Imine, an Analogue of Rafoxanide: a Comprehensive Study of Its Antistaphylococcal Activity. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0306422. [PMID: 37098945 PMCID: PMC10269765 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03064-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/27/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, we have focused on a multiparametric microbiological analysis of the antistaphylococcal action of the iodinated imine BH77, designed as an analogue of rafoxanide. Its antibacterial activity against five reference strains and eight clinical isolates of Gram-positive cocci of the genera Staphylococcus and Enterococcus was evaluated. The most clinically significant multidrug-resistant strains, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA), and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium, were also included. The bactericidal and bacteriostatic actions, the dynamics leading to a loss of bacterial viability, antibiofilm activity, BH77 activity in combination with selected conventional antibiotics, the mechanism of action, in vitro cytotoxicity, and in vivo toxicity in an alternative animal model, Galleria mellonella, were analyzed. The antistaphylococcal activity (MIC) ranged from 15.625 to 62.5 μM, and the antienterococcal activity ranged from 62.5 to 125 μM. Its bactericidal action; promising antibiofilm activity; interference with nucleic acid, protein, and peptidoglycan synthesis pathways; and nontoxicity/low toxicity in vitro and in vivo in the Galleria mellonella model were found to be activity attributes of this newly synthesized compound. In conclusion, BH77 could be rightfully minimally considered at least as the structural pattern for future adjuvants for selected antibiotic drugs. IMPORTANCE Antibiotic resistance is among the largest threats to global health, with a potentially serious socioeconomic impact. One of the strategies to deal with the predicted catastrophic future scenarios associated with the rapid emergence of resistant infectious agents lies in the discovery and research of new anti-infectives. In our study, we have introduced a rafoxanide analogue, a newly synthesized and described polyhalogenated 3,5-diiodosalicylaldehyde-based imine, that effectively acts against Gram-positive cocci of the genera Staphylococcus and Enterococcus. The inclusion of an extensive and comprehensive analysis for providing a detailed description of candidate compound-microbe interactions allows the valorization of the beneficial attributes linked to anti-infective action conclusively. In addition, this study can help with making rational decisions about the possible involvement of this molecule in advanced studies or may merit the support of studies focused on related or derived chemical structures to discover more effective new anti-infective drug candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Krátký
- Charles University, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Department of Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Klára Konečná
- Charles University, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Ondřej Janďourek
- Charles University, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Adéla Diepoltová
- Charles University, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Pavlína Vávrová
- Charles University, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Barbora Voxová
- Charles University, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Marcela Vejsová
- Charles University, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Bárta
- Charles University, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Department of Biophysics and Physical Chemistry, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Szilvia Bősze
- ELKH-ELTE Research Group of Peptide Chemistry, Budapest, Hungary
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7
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Kesternich V, Pérez-Fehrmann M, Quezada V, Castroagudín M, Nelson R, Martínez R. A simple and efficient synthesis of N-[3-chloro-4-(4-chlorophenoxy)-phenyl]-2-hydroxy-3,5-diiodobenzamide, rafoxanide. CHEMICKE ZVESTI 2023; 77:1-5. [PMID: 37362790 PMCID: PMC10176281 DOI: 10.1007/s11696-023-02846-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
A method for the synthesis of rafoxanide 6, a halogenated salicylanilide used as an efficient anthelmintic in sheep and cattle, is presented. Rafoxanide 6 was synthesized in only three steps from readily available 4-chlorophenol with 74% overall yield. The synthesis has two key stages: the first was salicylic acid iodination, adding iodine in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, which allowed obtaining a 95% yield. The second key stage was the reaction of 3,5-diiodosalicylic acid 5 with aminoether 4, where salicylic acid chloride was formed in situ with PCl3 achieving 82% yield. Chemical characterization of both intermediates and final product was achieved through physical and spectroscopic (IR, NMR and MS) techniques. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11696-023-02846-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Víctor Kesternich
- Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Católica del Norte, Avda. Angamos 0610, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Marcia Pérez-Fehrmann
- Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Católica del Norte, Avda. Angamos 0610, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Víctor Quezada
- Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Católica del Norte, Avda. Angamos 0610, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Mariña Castroagudín
- Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Católica del Norte, Avda. Angamos 0610, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Ronald Nelson
- Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Católica del Norte, Avda. Angamos 0610, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Rolando Martínez
- Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Católica del Norte, Avda. Angamos 0610, Antofagasta, Chile
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Ramírez-Hernández M, Norambuena J, Hu H, Thomas B, Tang C, Boyd JM, Asefa T. Repurposing Anthelmintics: Rafoxanide- and Copper-Functionalized SBA-15 Carriers against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:17459-17469. [PMID: 36975176 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c19899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
The development of materials that can more efficiently administer antimicrobial agents in a controlled manner is urgently needed due to the rise in microbial resistance to traditional antibiotics. While new classes of antibiotics are developed and put into widespread usage, existing, inexpensive compounds can be repurposed to fight bacterial infections. Here, we present the synthesis of amine-functionalized SBA-15 mesoporous silica nanomaterials with physisorbed rafoxanide (RFX), a commonly used salicylanilide anthelmintic, and anchored Cu(II) ions that exhibit enhanced antimicrobial efficacy against the pathogenic bacterium Staphylococcus aureus. The synthesized nanomaterials are structurally characterized by a combination of physicochemical, thermal, and optical methods. Additionally, release studies are carried out in vitro to determine the effects of pH and the synthetic sequence used to produce the materials on Cu(II) ion release. Our results indicate that SBA-15 mesoporous silica nanocarriers loaded with Cu(II) and RFX exhibit 10 times as much bactericidal action against wild-type S. aureus as the nanocarrier loaded with only RFX. Furthermore, the synthetic sequence used to produce the nanomaterials could significantly affect (enhance) their bactericidal efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maricely Ramírez-Hernández
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 98 Brett Road, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, United States
| | - Javiera Norambuena
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 76 Lipman Drive, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, United States
| | - Hongnan Hu
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 98 Brett Road, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, United States
| | - Belvin Thomas
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 610 Taylor Road, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, United States
| | - Chaoyun Tang
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 98 Brett Road, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, United States
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 610 Taylor Road, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, United States
- Hoffman Institute of Advanced Materials, Shenzhen Polytechnic, 7098 Liuxian Boulevard, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Jeffrey M Boyd
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 76 Lipman Drive, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, United States
| | - Tewodros Asefa
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 98 Brett Road, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, United States
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 610 Taylor Road, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, United States
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Hu A, Liu J, Wang Y, Zhang M, Guo Y, Qin Y, Liu T, Men Y, Chen Q, Liu T. Discovery of rafoxanide as a novel agent for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. Sci Rep 2023; 13:693. [PMID: 36639421 PMCID: PMC9839764 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-27403-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which accounts for approximately 85% of all lung cancer cases, is associated with a poor outcome. Rafoxanide is an anthelmintic drug that inhibits tumor growth in certain malignancies. However, its impact on NSCLC remains unknown. In this study, we examined the effect of rafoxanide on NSCLC and dissected the underlying mechanism. The results showed that rafoxanide significantly inhibited the growth, invasion, and migration of NSCLC cells. Besides, rafoxanide can induce NSCLC cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in a dose-dependent manner. RNA-seq analysis revealed that genes associated with endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER) stress responses were activated. Mechanistically, we found Rafoxanide can induce ER stress and activate the unfolded protein response (UPR). Apoptosis was activated by excessive ER stress, and autophagy was activated to partially alleviate ER stress. In vivo, we found that rafoxanide inhibited the growth of A549 and H1299 xenograft mouse models without severe side effects. Collectively, the present study indicates that rafoxanide may be a candidate drug for the treatment of NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankang Hu
- grid.417303.20000 0000 9927 0537Center of Animal Laboratory, Xuzhou Medical University, No. 209 Tongshan Road, Xuzhou, Jiangsu China
| | - Jing Liu
- grid.452207.60000 0004 1758 0558Department of Respiratory Medicine, Xuzhou Central Hospital, No. 199 Jiefang South Road, Xuzhou, Jiangsu China
| | - Yonghui Wang
- grid.417303.20000 0000 9927 0537School of Life Sciences, Xuzhou Medical University, No. 209 Tongshan Road, Xuzhou, Jiangsu China
| | - Maoyin Zhang
- grid.413389.40000 0004 1758 1622Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University. No, 99 Huaihai West Road, Xuzhou, Jiangsu China
| | - Yao Guo
- grid.417303.20000 0000 9927 0537School of Life Sciences, Xuzhou Medical University, No. 209 Tongshan Road, Xuzhou, Jiangsu China
| | - Ying Qin
- grid.417303.20000 0000 9927 0537Center of Animal Laboratory, Xuzhou Medical University, No. 209 Tongshan Road, Xuzhou, Jiangsu China
| | - Tingya Liu
- grid.413389.40000 0004 1758 1622Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, No. 99 Huaihai West Road, Xuzhou, China
| | - Yanjuan Men
- grid.89957.3a0000 0000 9255 8984Kangda College of Nanjing Medical University, No. 88 Chunhui Road, Lianyungang, China
| | - Quangang Chen
- Center of Animal Laboratory, Xuzhou Medical University, No. 209 Tongshan Road, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China. .,School of Life Sciences, Xuzhou Medical University, No. 209 Tongshan Road, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Tingjun Liu
- Center of Animal Laboratory, Xuzhou Medical University, No. 209 Tongshan Road, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China.
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Jampilek J. Drug repurposing to overcome microbial resistance. Drug Discov Today 2022; 27:2028-2041. [PMID: 35561965 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2022.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Infections are a growing global threat, and the number of resistant species of microbial pathogens is alarming. However, the rapid development of cross-resistant or multidrug-resistant strains and the development of so-called 'superbugs' are in stark contrast to the number of newly launched anti-infectives on the market. In this review, I summarize the causes of antimicrobial resistance, briefly discuss different approaches to the discovery and development of new anti-infective drugs, and focus on drug repurposing strategy, which is discussed from all possible perspectives. A comprehensive overview of drugs of other indications tested for their in vitro antimicrobial activity to support existing anti-infective therapeutics is provided, including several critical remarks on this strategy of repurposing non-antibiotics to antibacterial drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josef Jampilek
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Ilkovicova 6, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia; Department of Chemical Biology, Faculty of Science, Palacky University, Slechtitelu 27, 783 71 Olomouc, Czech Republic.
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11
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Repurposing of the Tamoxifen Metabolites to Treat Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis and Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus faecalis Infections. Microbiol Spectr 2021; 9:e0040321. [PMID: 34668743 PMCID: PMC8528103 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00403-21] [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] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Repurposing drugs provides a new approach to the fight against multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. We have reported that three major tamoxifen metabolites, N-desmethyltamoxifen (DTAM), 4-hydroxytamoxifen (HTAM), and endoxifen (ENDX), presented bactericidal activity against Acinetobacter baumannii and Escherichia coli. Here, we aimed to analyze the activity of a mixture of the three tamoxifen metabolites against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE) and Enterococcus species. MRSE (n = 17) and Enterococcus species (Enterococcus faecalisn = 8 and Enterococcus faeciumn = 10) strains were used. MIC of the mixture of DTAM, HTAM, and ENDX and that of vancomycin were determined by microdilution assay. The bactericidal activity of the three metabolites together and of vancomycin against MRSE (SE385 and SE742) and vancomycin-resistant E. faecalis (EVR1 and EVR2) strains was determined by time-kill curve assays. Finally, changes in membrane permeability of SE742 and EVR1 strains were analyzed using fluorescence assays. MIC90 of tamoxifen metabolites was 1 mg/liter for MRSE strains and 2 mg/liter for E. faecalis and E. faecium strains. In the time-killing assays, tamoxifen metabolites mixture showed bactericidal activity at 4× MIC for MRSE (SE385 and SE742) and at 2× MIC and 4× MIC for E. faecalis (EVR1 and EVR2) strains, respectively. SE385 and EVR2 strains treated with the tamoxifen metabolites mixture presented higher membrane permeabilization. Altogether, these results showed that tamoxifen metabolites presented antibacterial activity against MRSE and vancomycin-resistant E. faecalis, suggesting that tamoxifen metabolites might increase the arsenal of drug treatments against these bacterial pathogens. IMPORTANCE The development of new antimicrobial therapeutic strategies requires immediate attention to avoid the tens of millions of deaths predicted to occur by 2050 as a result of MDR bacterial infections. In this study, we assessed the antibacterial activity of three major tamoxifen metabolites, N-desmethyltamoxifen (DTAM), 4-hydroxytamoxifen (HTAM), and endoxifen (ENDX), against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE) and Enterococcus spp. (E. faecalis and E. faecium). We found that the tamoxifen metabolites have antibacterial activity against MRSE, E. faecalis, and E. faecium strains by presenting MIC90 between 1 and 2 mg/liter and bactericidal activity over 24 h. In addition, this antibacterial activity is paralleled by an increased membrane permeability of these strains. Our results showed that tamoxifen metabolites might be potentially used as a therapeutic alternative when treating MRSE and E. faecalis strains in an animal model of infection.
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12
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Liu Y, She P, Xu L, Chen L, Li Y, Liu S, Li Z, Hussain Z, Wu Y. Antimicrobial, Antibiofilm, and Anti-persister Activities of Penfluridol Against Staphylococcus aureus. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:727692. [PMID: 34489917 PMCID: PMC8418195 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.727692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus has increasingly attracted global attention as a major opportunistic human pathogen owing to the emergence of biofilms (BFs) and persisters that are known to increase its antibiotic resistance. However, there are still no effective antimicrobial agents in clinical settings. This study investigated the antimicrobial activity of penfluridol (PF), a long-acting antipsychotic drug, against S. aureus and its clinical isolates via drug repurposing. PF exhibited strong bactericidal activity against S. aureus, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 4–8 and 16–32 μg/ml, respectively. PF could significantly inhibit biofilm formation and eradicate 24 h preformed biofilms of S. aureus in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, PF could effectively kill methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) persister cells and demonstrated considerable efficacy in a mouse model of subcutaneous abscess, skin wound infection, and acute peritonitis caused by MRSA. Notably, PF exerted almost no hemolysis activity on human erythrocytes, with limited cytotoxicity and low tendency to cause resistance. Additionally, PF induced bacterial membrane permeability and ATP release and further caused membrane disruption, which may be the underlying antibacterial mechanism of PF. In summary, our findings suggest that PF has the potential to serve as a novel antimicrobial agent against S. aureus biofilm- or persister-related infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaqian Liu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Pengfei She
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Lanlan Xu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Lihua Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yimin Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Shasha Liu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zehao Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zubair Hussain
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yong Wu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
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Zhang Z, Ortega D, Rush A, Blankenship LR, Cheng ZJ, Moore RE, Tran MLN, Sandoval LG, Aboulhosn K, Watanabe S, Cortez KS, Perlman DH, Semmelhack MF, Miller Conrad LC. Antibiotic Adjuvant Activity Revealed in a Photoaffinity Approach to Determine the Molecular Target of Antipyocyanin Compounds. ACS Infect Dis 2021; 7:535-543. [PMID: 33587590 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.0c00160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Infections with Pseudomonas aeruginosa are a looming threat to public health. New treatment strategies are needed to combat this pathogen, for example, by blocking the production of virulence factors like pyocyanin. A photoaffinity analogue of an antipyocyanin compound was developed to interrogate the inhibitor's molecular mechanism of action. While we sought to develop antivirulence inhibitors, the proteomics results suggested that the compounds had antibiotic adjuvant activity. Unexpectedly, we found that these compounds amplify the bactericidal activity of colistin, a well-characterized antibiotic, suggesting they may represent a first-in-class antibiotic adjuvant therapy. Analogues have the potential not only to widen the therapeutic index of cationic antimicrobial peptides like colistin, but also to be effective against colistin-resistant strains, strengthening our arsenal to combat P. aeruginosa infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zinan Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Washington Road, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
| | - Dominic Ortega
- Department of Chemistry, San José State University, 1 Washington Square, San Jose, California 95192, United States
| | - Anthony Rush
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, 443 Via Ortega, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Lauren R. Blankenship
- Department of Chemistry, San José State University, 1 Washington Square, San Jose, California 95192, United States
| | - Zi Jun Cheng
- Department of Chemistry, San José State University, 1 Washington Square, San Jose, California 95192, United States
| | - Rebecca E. Moore
- Department of Chemistry, San José State University, 1 Washington Square, San Jose, California 95192, United States
| | - Minh L. N. Tran
- Department of Chemistry, San José State University, 1 Washington Square, San Jose, California 95192, United States
| | - Lucero G. Sandoval
- Department of Chemistry, San José State University, 1 Washington Square, San Jose, California 95192, United States
| | - Kareem Aboulhosn
- Department of Chemistry, San José State University, 1 Washington Square, San Jose, California 95192, United States
| | - Seiichiro Watanabe
- Department of Chemistry, San José State University, 1 Washington Square, San Jose, California 95192, United States
| | - Kendra S. Cortez
- Department of Chemistry, San José State University, 1 Washington Square, San Jose, California 95192, United States
| | - David H. Perlman
- Princeton Proteomics and Mass Spectrometry Center, Princeton University, Washington Road, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
| | - Martin F. Semmelhack
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Washington Road, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
| | - Laura C. Miller Conrad
- Department of Chemistry, San José State University, 1 Washington Square, San Jose, California 95192, United States
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