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Lawrence WS, Peel JE, Slayden RA, Peterson JW, Baze WB, Hensel ME, Whorton EB, Beasley DWC, Cummings JE, Macias-Perez I. Rapid in vitro activity of telavancin against Bacillus anthracis and in vivo protection against inhalation anthrax infection in the rabbit model. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2024; 68:e0011224. [PMID: 38888319 PMCID: PMC11232409 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00112-24] [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: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Inhalation anthrax is the most severe form of Bacillus anthracis infection, often progressing to fatal conditions if left untreated. While recommended antibiotics can effectively treat anthrax when promptly administered, strains engineered for antibiotic resistance could render these drugs ineffective. Telavancin, a semisynthetic lipoglycopeptide antibiotic, was evaluated in this study as a novel therapeutic against anthrax disease. Specifically, the aims were to (i) assess in vitro potency of telavancin against 17 B. anthracis isolates by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) testing and (ii) evaluate protective efficacy in rabbits infected with a lethal dose of aerosolized anthrax spores and treated with human-equivalent intravenous telavancin doses (30 mg/kg every 12 hours) for 5 days post-antigen detection versus a humanized dose of levofloxacin and vehicle control. Blood samples were collected at various times post-infection to assess the level of bacteremia and antibody production, and tissues were collected to determine bacterial load. The animals' body temperatures were also recorded. Telavancin demonstrated potent bactericidal activity against all strains tested (MICs 0.06-0.125 μg/mL). Further, telavancin conveyed 100% survival in this model and cleared B. anthracis from the bloodstream and organ tissues more effectively than a humanized dose of levofloxacin. Collectively, the low MICs against all strains tested and rapid bactericidal in vivo activity demonstrate that telavancin has the potential to be an effective alternative for the treatment or prophylaxis of anthrax infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- William S. Lawrence
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Jennifer E. Peel
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Richard A. Slayden
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Johnny W. Peterson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Wallace B. Baze
- Department of Comparative Medicine and Research, University of Texas MD Anderson, Bastrop, Texas, USA
| | - Martha E. Hensel
- Department of Comparative Medicine and Research, University of Texas MD Anderson, Bastrop, Texas, USA
| | - Elbert B. Whorton
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - David W. C. Beasley
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Jason E. Cummings
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Ines Macias-Perez
- Product Development Division, Cumberland Pharmaceuticals, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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2
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Bradley JS, Bulitta JB, Cook R, Yu PA, Iwamoto C, Hesse EM, Chaney D, Yu Y, Kennedy JL, Sue D, Karchmer AW, Bower WA, Hendricks K. Central Nervous System Antimicrobial Exposure and Proposed Dosing for Anthrax Meningitis. Clin Infect Dis 2024; 78:1451-1457. [PMID: 38412060 PMCID: PMC11175673 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciae093] [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: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The high mortality of systemic anthrax is likely a consequence of the severe central nervous system inflammation that occurs in anthrax meningitis. Effective treatment of such infections requires, at a minimum, adequate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) antimicrobial concentrations. METHODS We reviewed English medical literature and regulatory documents to extract information on serum and CSF exposures for antimicrobials with in vitro activity against Bacillus anthracis. Using CSF pharmacokinetic exposures and in vitro B. anthracis susceptibility data, we used population pharmacokinetic modeling and Monte Carlo simulations to determine whether a specific antimicrobial dosage would likely achieve effective CSF antimicrobial activity in patients with normal to inflamed meninges (ie, an intact to markedly disrupted blood-brain barrier). RESULTS The probability of microbiologic success at achievable antimicrobial dosages was high (≥95%) for ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin (500 mg every 12 hours), meropenem, imipenem/cilastatin, penicillin G, ampicillin, ampicillin/sulbactam, doxycycline, and minocycline; acceptable (90%-95%) for piperacillin/tazobactam and levofloxacin (750 mg every 24 hours); and low (<90%) for vancomycin, amikacin, clindamycin, and linezolid. CONCLUSIONS Prompt empiric antimicrobial therapy of patients with suspected or confirmed anthrax meningitis may reduce the high morbidity and mortality. Our data support using several β-lactam-, fluoroquinolone-, and tetracycline-class antimicrobials as first-line and alternative agents for treatment of patients with anthrax meningitis; all should achieve effective microbiologic exposures. Our data suggest antimicrobials that should not be relied on to treat suspected or documented anthrax meningitis. Furthermore, the protein synthesis inhibitors clindamycin and linezolid can decrease toxin production and may be useful components of combination therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- John S Bradley
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California–San Diego School of Medicine and Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Jürgen B Bulitta
- Department of Pharmacotherapy and Translational Research, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA
| | - Rachel Cook
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, CDC Fellowship Program, Division of High Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Patricia A Yu
- Division of Preparedness and Emerging Infections, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Chelsea Iwamoto
- Division of High Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Elisabeth M Hesse
- Division of Preparedness and Emerging Infections, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Danielle Chaney
- Division of High Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Yon Yu
- Division of Preparedness and Emerging Infections, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Jordan L Kennedy
- Division of High Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - David Sue
- Division of Preparedness and Emerging Infections, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Adolf W Karchmer
- Division of Infectious Disease, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - William A Bower
- Division of High Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Katherine Hendricks
- Division of High Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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Herron ICT, Laws TR, Nelson M. Marmosets as models of infectious diseases. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1340017. [PMID: 38465237 PMCID: PMC10921895 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1340017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Animal models of infectious disease often serve a crucial purpose in obtaining licensure of therapeutics and medical countermeasures, particularly in situations where human trials are not feasible, i.e., for those diseases that occur infrequently in the human population. The common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus), a Neotropical new-world (platyrrhines) non-human primate, has gained increasing attention as an animal model for a number of diseases given its small size, availability and evolutionary proximity to humans. This review aims to (i) discuss the pros and cons of the common marmoset as an animal model by providing a brief snapshot of how marmosets are currently utilized in biomedical research, (ii) summarize and evaluate relevant aspects of the marmoset immune system to the study of infectious diseases, (iii) provide a historical backdrop, outlining the significance of infectious diseases and the importance of developing reliable animal models to test novel therapeutics, and (iv) provide a summary of infectious diseases for which a marmoset model exists, followed by an in-depth discussion of the marmoset models of two studied bacterial infectious diseases (tularemia and melioidosis) and one viral infectious disease (viral hepatitis C).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian C. T. Herron
- CBR Division, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), Salisbury, United Kingdom
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Kennedy JL, Bulitta JB, Chatham-Stephens K, Person MK, Cook R, Mongkolrattanothai T, Shin E, Yu P, Negron ME, Bower WA, Hendricks K. Postexposure Prophylaxis and Treatment of Bacillus anthracis Infections: A Systematic Review and Meta-analyses of Animal Models, 1947-2019. Clin Infect Dis 2022; 75:S379-S391. [PMID: 36251546 PMCID: PMC9649436 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciac591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anthrax is endemic to many countries, including the United States. The causative agent, Bacillus anthracis, poses a global bioterrorism threat. Without effective antimicrobial postexposure prophylaxis (PEPAbx) and treatment, the mortality of systemic anthrax is high. To inform clinical guidelines for PEPAbx and treatment of B. anthracis infections in humans, we systematically evaluated animal anthrax treatment model studies. METHODS We searched for survival outcome data in 9 scientific search engines for articles describing antimicrobial PEPAbx or treatment of anthrax in animals in any language through February 2019. We performed meta-analyses of efficacy of antimicrobial PEPAbx and treatment for each drug or drug combination using random-effects models. Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic relationships were developed for 5 antimicrobials with available pharmacokinetic data. Monte Carlo simulations were used to predict unbound drug exposures in humans. RESULTS We synthesized data from 34 peer-reviewed studies with 3262 animals. For PEPAbx and treatment of infection by susceptible B. anthracis, effective monotherapy can be accomplished with fluoroquinolones, tetracyclines, β-lactams (including penicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, and imipenem-cilastatin), and lipopeptides or glycopeptides. For naturally occurring strains, unbound drug exposures in humans were predicted to adequately cover the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs; those required to inhibit the growth of 50% or 90% of organisms [MIC50 or MIC90]) for ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and doxycycline for both the PEPAbx and treatment targets. Dalbavancin covered its MIC50 for PEPAbx. CONCLUSIONS These animal studies show many reviewed antimicrobials are good choices for PEPAbx or treatment of susceptible B. anthracis strains, and some are also promising options for combating resistant strains. Monte Carlo simulations suggest that oral ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and doxycycline are particularly robust choices for PEPAbx or treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan L Kennedy
- Correspondence: J. L. Kennedy, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, H24-12, Atlanta, GA 30329-4027 ()
| | - Jürgen B Bulitta
- Department of Pharmacotherapy and Translational Research, University of Florida College of Pharmacy, Orlando, Florida, USA
| | - Kevin Chatham-Stephens
- Division of Human Development and Disability, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Marissa K Person
- Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Rachel Cook
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, CDC Fellowship Program, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Thitipong Mongkolrattanothai
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, CDC Fellowship Program, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Eunjeong Shin
- Department of Pharmacotherapy and Translational Research, University of Florida College of Pharmacy, Orlando, Florida, USA
| | - Patricia Yu
- Division of Preparedness and Emerging Infections, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Maria E Negron
- Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - William A Bower
- Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Katherine Hendricks
- Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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Vietri NJ, Tobery SA, Chabot DJ, Ingavale S, Somerville BC, Miller JA, Schellhase CW, Twenhafel NA, Fetterer DP, Cote CK, Klimko CP, Boyer AE, Woolfitt AR, Barr JR, Wright ME, Friedlander AM. Clindamycin Protects Nonhuman Primates Against Inhalational Anthrax But Does Not Enhance Reduction of Circulating Toxin Levels When Combined With Ciprofloxacin. J Infect Dis 2021; 223:319-325. [PMID: 32697310 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Inhalational anthrax is rare and clinical experience limited. Expert guidelines recommend treatment with combination antibiotics including protein synthesis-inhibitors to decrease toxin production and increase survival, although evidence is lacking. METHODS Rhesus macaques exposed to an aerosol of Bacillus anthracis spores were treated with ciprofloxacin, clindamycin, or ciprofloxacin + clindamycin after becoming bacteremic. Circulating anthrax lethal factor and protective antigen were quantitated pretreatment and 1.5 and 12 hours after beginning antibiotics. RESULTS In the clindamycin group, 8 of 11 (73%) survived demonstrating its efficacy for the first time in inhalational anthrax, compared to 9 of 9 (100%) with ciprofloxacin, and 8 of 11 (73%) with ciprofloxacin + clindamycin. These differences were not statistically significant. There were no significant differences between groups in lethal factor or protective antigen levels from pretreatment to 12 hours after starting antibiotics. Animals that died after clindamycin had a greater incidence of meningitis compared to those given ciprofloxacin or ciprofloxacin + clindamycin, but numbers of animals were very low and no definitive conclusion could be reached. CONCLUSION Treatment of inhalational anthrax with clindamycin was as effective as ciprofloxacin in the nonhuman primate. Addition of clindamycin to ciprofloxacin did not enhance reduction of circulating toxin levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J Vietri
- Division of Bacteriology, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Steven A Tobery
- Division of Bacteriology, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Donald J Chabot
- Division of Bacteriology, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Susham Ingavale
- Division of Bacteriology, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Brandon C Somerville
- Division of Bacteriology, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Jeremy A Miller
- Division of Bacteriology, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Chris W Schellhase
- Division of Pathology, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Nancy A Twenhafel
- Division of Pathology, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - David P Fetterer
- Division of Biostatistics, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Christopher K Cote
- Division of Bacteriology, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Christopher P Klimko
- Division of Bacteriology, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Anne E Boyer
- National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Adrian R Woolfitt
- National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - John R Barr
- National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Mary E Wright
- Division of Clinical Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Arthur M Friedlander
- Headquarters, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, Maryland, USA.,Department of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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6
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Sittner A, Ben-Shmuel A, Glinert I, Bar-David E, Schlomovitz J, Kobiler D, Weiss S, Levy H. Using old antibiotics to treat ancient bacterium-β-lactams for Bacillus anthracis meningitis. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0228917. [PMID: 32053632 PMCID: PMC7018077 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0228917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2019] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
As Bacillus anthracis spores pose a proven bio-terror risk, the treatment focus has shifted from exposed populations to anthrax patients and the need for effective antibiotic treatment protocols increases. The CDC recommends carbapenems and Linezolid (oxazolidinone), for the treatment of anthrax, particularly for the late, meningeal stages of the disease. Previously we demonstrated that treatment with Meropenem or Linezolid, either as a single treatment or in combination with Ciprofloxacin, fails to protect rabbits from anthrax-meningitis. In addition, we showed that the failure of Meropenem was due to slow BBB penetration rather than low antibacterial activity. Herein, we tested the effect of increasing the dose of the antibiotic on treatment efficacy. We found that for full protection (88% cure rate) the dose should be increased four-fold from 40 mg/kg to 150 mg/kg. In addition, B. anthracis is a genetically stable bacterium and naturally occurring multidrug resistant B. anthracis strains have not been reported. In this manuscript, we report the efficacy of classical β-lactams as a single treatment or in combination with β-lactamase inhibitors in treating anthrax meningitis. We demonstrate that Ampicillin based treatment of anthrax meningitis is largely efficient (66%). The high efficacy (88-100%) of Augmentin (Amoxicillin and Clavulonic acid) and Unasyn (Ampicillin and Sulbactam) makes them a favorable choice due to reports of β-lactam resistant B. anthracis strains. Tazocin (Piperacillin and Tazobactam) proved inefficient compared to the highly efficient Augmentin and Unasyn.
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Affiliation(s)
- Assa Sittner
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness Ziona, Israel
| | - Amir Ben-Shmuel
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness Ziona, Israel
| | - Itai Glinert
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness Ziona, Israel
| | - Elad Bar-David
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness Ziona, Israel
| | - Josef Schlomovitz
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness Ziona, Israel
| | - David Kobiler
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness Ziona, Israel
| | - Shay Weiss
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness Ziona, Israel
| | - Haim Levy
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness Ziona, Israel
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