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Youse MS, Abutaleb NS, Nocentini A, S Abdelsattar A, Ali F, Supuran CT, Seleem MN, Flaherty DP. Optimization of Ethoxzolamide Analogs with Improved Pharmacokinetic Properties for In Vivo Efficacy against Neisseria gonorrhoeae. J Med Chem 2024; 67:15537-15556. [PMID: 39141375 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c01187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/15/2024]
Abstract
Drug-resistant gonorrhea is caused by the bacterial pathogen Neisseria gonorrhoeae, for which there is no recommended oral treatment. We have demonstrated that the FDA-approved human carbonic anhydrase inhibitor ethoxzolamide potently inhibits N. gonorrhoeae; however, is not effective at reducing N. gonorrhoeae bioburden in a mouse model. Thus, we sought to optimize the pharmacokinetic properties of the ethoxzolamide scaffold. These efforts resulted in analogs with improved activity against N. gonorrhoeae, increased metabolic stability in mouse liver microsomes, and improved Caco-2 permeability compared to ethoxzolamide. Improvement in these properties resulted in increased plasma exposure in vivo after oral dosing. Top compounds were investigated for in vivo efficacy in a vaginal mouse model of gonococcal genital tract infection, and they significantly decreased the gonococcal burden compared to vehicle and ethoxzolamide controls. Altogether, results from this study provide evidence that ethoxzolamide-based compounds have the potential to be effective oral therapeutics against gonococcal infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly S Youse
- Borch Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Nader S Abutaleb
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
- Center for One Health Research, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Alessio Nocentini
- Department of NEUROFARBA, Section of Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Sciences, University of Florence, Polo Scientifico, Firenze 50122, Italy
| | - Abdallah S Abdelsattar
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
- Center for One Health Research, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Farman Ali
- Borch Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Claudiu T Supuran
- Department of NEUROFARBA, Section of Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Sciences, University of Florence, Polo Scientifico, Firenze 50122, Italy
| | - Mohamed N Seleem
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
- Center for One Health Research, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Daniel P Flaherty
- Borch Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
- Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
- Purdue Institute of Inflammation, Immunology and Infectious Disease, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
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2
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Abouelkhair AA, Seleem MN. Exploring novel microbial metabolites and drugs for inhibiting Clostridioides difficile. mSphere 2024; 9:e0027324. [PMID: 38940508 PMCID: PMC11288027 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00273-24] [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: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile is an enteric pathogen that can cause a range of illnesses from mild diarrhea to pseudomembranous colitis and even death. This pathogen often takes advantage of microbial dysbiosis provoked by antibiotic use. With the increasing incidence and severity of infections, coupled with high recurrence rates, there is an urgent need to identify innovative therapies that can preserve the healthy state of the gut microbiota. In this study, we screened a microbial metabolite library against C. difficile. From a collection of 527 metabolites, we identified 18 compounds with no previously identified antimicrobial activity and metabolites that exhibited potent activity against C. difficile growth. Of these 18 hits, five drugs and three metabolites displayed the most potent anti-C. difficile activity and were subsequently assessed against 20 clinical isolates of C. difficile. These potent agents included ecteinascidin 770 (minimum inhibitory concentration against 50% of isolates [MIC50] ≤0.06 µg/mL); 8-hydroxyquinoline derivatives, such as broxyquinoline and choloroquinaldol (MIC50 = 0.125 µg/mL); ionomycin calcium salt, carbadox, and robenidine hydrochloride (MIC50 = 1 µg/mL); and dronedarone and milbemycin oxime (MIC50 = 4 µg/mL). Unlike vancomycin and fidaxomicin, which are the standard-of-care anti-C. difficile antibiotics, most of these metabolites showed robust bactericidal activity within 2-8 h with minimal impact on the growth of representative members of the normal gut microbiota. These results suggest that the drugs and microbial metabolite scaffolds may offer alternative avenues to address unmet needs in C. difficile disease prevention and treatment. IMPORTANCE The most frequent infection associated with hospital settings is Clostridioides difficile, which can cause fatal diarrhea and severe colitis, toxic megacolon, sepsis, and leaky gut. Those who have taken antibiotics for other illnesses that affect the gut's healthy microbiota are more susceptible to C. difficile infection (CDI). Recently, some reports showed higher recurrence rates and resistance to anti-C. difficile, which may compromise the efficacy of CDI treatment. Our study is significant because it is anticipated to discover novel microbial metabolites and drugs with microbial origins that are safe for the intestinal flora, effective against C. difficile, and reduce the risk of recurrence associated with CDI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed A. Abouelkhair
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
- Center for One Health Research, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
- Department of Bacteriology, Mycology, and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sadat City, Sadat City, Menoufia, Egypt
| | - Mohamed N. Seleem
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
- Center for One Health Research, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
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3
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Golchha NC, Abdulhameed Odhar H, Nighojkar A, Nighojkar S. Molecular docking, dynamics and in vitro analysis of multi-target inhibitors for Clostridioides difficile. Bioinformation 2024; 20:39-48. [PMID: 38352908 PMCID: PMC10859948 DOI: 10.6026/973206300200039] [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: 01/01/2024] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
The opportunistic pathogen, Clostridioides difficile owes its extreme pathogenicity for its ability to develop antibiotic resistance and recurrent infections. The current antibiotics used for the treatment are showing declining sensitivity and rising antibiotic resistance. Therefore, it is of interest to develop the anti-clostridial drugs to overcome these issues. Hence, we have explored ZINC library to find the suitable lead compounds against five target proteins of C. difficile. Multistep virtual screening is performed to find the suitable compounds that are checked for their stability using molecular dynamics and are validated in vitro against C. difficile. In our study, five compounds viz., ZINC64969876, ZINC13641164, ZINC13691348, ZINC5554596 and ZINC3894278 that inhibit HisC, Spo0A, PdcA, DAHP synthase and cyclic-di GMP proteins, respectively have been identified. Further, these compounds were tested in vitro against four different isolates of C. difficile and all of them were found to inhibit the pathogen. However, to use these compounds as anti-clostridial drugs, further testing needs to be done. The selected compounds from our study are reported for the first time as antimicrobial agents against C. difficile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikita Chordia Golchha
- School of Biotechnology, Devi Ahilya University, Takshashila Campus, Khandwa Road, INDORE-452001, India
| | | | - Anand Nighojkar
- Maharaja Ranjit Singh College of Professional Sciences, Hemkunt Campus, Khandwa Road, Indore, 452001, India
| | - Sadhana Nighojkar
- Mata Gujri College of Professional Studies, A.B. Road, Indore, 452001, India
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4
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Wagdy RA, Abutaleb NS, Fathalla RK, Elgammal Y, Weck S, Pal R, Fischer PD, Ducho C, Abadi AH, N Seleem M, Engel M, Abdel-Halim M. Discovery of 1,2-diaryl-3-oxopyrazolidin-4-carboxamides as a new class of MurA enzyme inhibitors and characterization of their antibacterial activity. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 261:115789. [PMID: 37717380 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115789] [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: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
The cytoplasmic steps of peptidoglycan synthesis represent an important targeted pathway for development of new antibiotics. Herein, we report the synthesis of novel 3-oxopyrazolidin-4-carboxamide derivatives with variable amide side chains as potential antibacterial agents targeting MurA enzyme, the first committed enzyme in these cytosolic steps. Compounds 15 (isoindoline-1,3-dione-5-yl), 16 (4-(1H-pyrazol-4-yl)phenyl), 20 (5-cyanothiazol-2-yl), 21 and 31 (5-nitrothiazol-2-yl derivatives) exhibited the most potent MurA inhibition, with IC50 values of 9.8-12.2 μM. Compounds 15, 16 and 21 showed equipotent inhibition of the C115D MurA mutant developed by fosfomycin-resistant Escherichia coli. NMR binding studies revealed that some of the MurA residues targeted by 15 also interacted with fosfomycin, but not all, indicating an overlapping but not identical binding site. The antibacterial activity of the compounds against E. coli ΔtolC suggests that inhibition of MurA accounts for the observed effect on bacterial growth, considering that a few potent MurA inhibitors could not penetrate the bacterial outer membrane and were therefore inactive as proven by the bacterial cell uptake assay. The most promising compounds were also evaluated against a panel of Gram-positive bacteria. Remarkably, compounds 21 and 31 (MurA IC50 = 9.8 and 10.2 μM respectively) exhibited a potent activity against Clostridioides difficile strains with MIC values ranging from 0.125 to 1 μg/mL, and were also shown to be bactericidal with MBC values between 0.25 and 1 μg/mL. Furthermore, both compounds were shown to have a limited activity against human normal intestinal flora and showed high safety towards human colon cells (Caco-2) in vitro. The thiolactone derivative (compound 5) exhibited an interesting broad spectrum antibacterial activity despite its weak MurA inhibition. Altogether, the presented series provides a promising class of antibiotics that merits further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reem A Wagdy
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, German University in Cairo, Cairo, 11835, Egypt
| | - Nader S Abutaleb
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44519, Egypt
| | - Reem K Fathalla
- Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Saarland University, Campus C2.3, D-66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Yehia Elgammal
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Stefanie Weck
- Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Saarland University, Campus C2.3, D-66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Rusha Pal
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Patrick D Fischer
- Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Saarland University, Campus C2.3, D-66123, Saarbrücken, Germany; Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02215, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Christian Ducho
- Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Saarland University, Campus C2.3, D-66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Ashraf H Abadi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, German University in Cairo, Cairo, 11835, Egypt
| | - Mohamed N Seleem
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA; Center for One Health Research, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Matthias Engel
- Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Saarland University, Campus C2.3, D-66123, Saarbrücken, Germany.
| | - Mohammad Abdel-Halim
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, German University in Cairo, Cairo, 11835, Egypt.
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5
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Pal R, Seleem MN. Antisense inhibition of RNA polymerase α subunit of Clostridioides difficile. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0175523. [PMID: 37772833 PMCID: PMC10581251 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01755-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile, the causative agent of antibiotic-associated diarrhea and pseudomembranous colitis, has emerged as a major enteric pathogen in recent years. Antibiotic treatment perturbs the gut microbiome homeostasis, which facilitates the colonization and proliferation of the pathogen in the host intestine. Paradoxically, the clinical repertoire for C. difficile infection includes the antibiotics vancomycin and/or fidaxomicin. The current therapies do not address the perturbed gut microbiome, which supports the recurrence of infection after cessation of antibiotic therapy. Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) are novel alternatives to traditional antimicrobial therapy capable of forming strong and stable complexes with RNA and DNA, thus permitting targeted inhibition of specific genes. Here, we report a novel PNA that can target the RNA polymerase α subunit (rpoA) in C. difficile. The designed anti-rpoA construct inhibited clinical isolates of C. difficile (minimum inhibitory concentration values ranged between 4 and 8 µM) and exhibited bactericidal activity. Furthermore, silencing of the rpoA gene suppressed the expression of genes that encode virulence factors [toxin A (tcdA), toxin B (tcdB)] in C. difficile, and the gene that encodes the transcription factor stage 0 sporulation protein (spoOA). Interestingly, the efficacy of the designed PNA conjugate remained unaffected even when tested at different pH levels and against a high inoculum of the pathogen. The rpoA-TAT conjugate was very specific against C. difficile and did not inhibit members of the beneficial gut microflora. Taken altogether, our study confirms that the rpoA gene can be a promising narrow-spectrum therapeutic target to curb C. difficile infection. IMPORTANCE The widespread use of antibiotics can destroy beneficial intestinal microflora, opening the door for spores of Clostridioides difficile to run rampant in the digestive system, causing life-threatening diarrhea. Alternative approaches to target this deadly pathogen are urgently needed. We utilized targeted therapeutics called peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) to inhibit gene expression in C. difficile. Inhibition of the RNA polymerase α subunit gene (rpoA) by PNA was found to be lethal for C. difficile and could also disarm its virulence factors. Additionally, antisense inhibition of the C. difficile rpoA gene did not impact healthy microflora. We also propose a novel approach to manipulate gene expression in C. difficile without the need for established genetic tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rusha Pal
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Mohamed N. Seleem
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
- Center for Emerging Zoonotic and Arthropod-borne Pathogens, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
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6
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Almolhim H, Elhassanny AEM, Abutaleb NS, Abdelsattar AS, Seleem MN, Carlier PR. Substituted salicylic acid analogs offer improved potency against multidrug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae and good selectivity against commensal vaginal bacteria. Sci Rep 2023; 13:14468. [PMID: 37660222 PMCID: PMC10475031 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-41442-5] [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: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Drug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae represents a major threat to public health; without new effective antibiotics, untreatable gonococcal infections loom as a real possibility. In a previous drug-repurposing study, we reported that salicylic acid had good potency against azithromycin-resistant N. gonorrhoeae. We now report that the anti-gonococcal activity in this scaffold is easily lost by inopportune substitution, but that select substituted naphthyl analogs (3b, 3o and 3p) have superior activity to salicylic acid itself. Furthermore, these compounds retained potency against multiple ceftriaxone- and azithromycin-resistant strains, exhibited rapid bactericidal activity against N. gonorrhoeae, and showed high tolerability to mammalian cells (CC50 > 128 µg/mL). Promisingly, these compounds also show very weak growth inhibition of commensal vaginal bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanan Almolhim
- Department of Chemistry and Virginia Tech Center for Drug Discovery, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Ahmed E M Elhassanny
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
- Center for One Health Research, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Nader S Abutaleb
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
- Center for One Health Research, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Abdallah S Abdelsattar
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
- Center for One Health Research, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Mohamed N Seleem
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
- Center for One Health Research, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Paul R Carlier
- Department of Chemistry and Virginia Tech Center for Drug Discovery, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA.
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Illinois Chicago, 833 S Wood St, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA.
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Omara M, Hagras M, Elsebaie MM, Abutaleb NS, Nour El-Din HT, Mekhail MO, Attia AS, Seleem MN, Sarg MT, Mayhoub AS. Exploring novel aryl/heteroaryl-isosteres of phenylthiazole against multidrug-resistant bacteria. RSC Adv 2023; 13:19695-19709. [PMID: 37425632 PMCID: PMC10323310 DOI: 10.1039/d3ra02778c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance has become a concern as a worldwide threat. A novel scaffold of phenylthiazoles was recently evaluated against multidrug-resistant Staphylococci to control the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance, showing good results. Several structural modifications are needed based on the structure-activity relationships (SARs) of this new antibiotic class. Previous studies revealed the existence of two key structural features essential for the antibacterial activity, the guanidine head and lipophilic tail. In this study, a new series of twenty-three phenylthiazole derivatives were synthesized utilizing the Suzuki coupling reaction to explore the lipophilic part. The in vitro antibacterial activity was evaluated against a range of clinical isolates. The three most promising compounds, 7d, 15d and 17d, with potent MIC values against MRSA USA300 were selected for further antimicrobial evaluation. The tested compounds exhibited potent results against the tested MSSA, MRSA, and VRSA strains (concentration: 0.5 to 4 μg mL-1). Compound 15d inhibited MRSA USA400 at a concentration of 0.5 μg mL-1 (one-fold more potent than vancomycin) and showed low MIC values against ten clinical isolates, including linezolid-resistant strain MRSA NRS119 and three vancomycin-resistant isolates VRSA 9/10/12. Moreover, compound 15d retained its potent antibacterial activity using the in vivo model by the burden reduction of MRSA USA300 in skin-infected mice. The tested compounds also showed good toxicity profiles and were found to be highly tolerable to Caco-2 cells at concentrations of up to 16 μg mL-1, with 100% of the cells remaining viable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariam Omara
- Department of Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry, College of Pharmacy (Girls), Al-Azhar University Cairo Egypt
| | - Mohamed Hagras
- Department of Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry, College of Pharmacy (Boys), Al-Azhar University Cairo 11884 Egypt
| | - Mohamed M Elsebaie
- Department of Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry, College of Pharmacy (Boys), Al-Azhar University Cairo 11884 Egypt
| | - Nader S Abutaleb
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg Virginia 24061 USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University Zagazig 44519 Egypt
| | - Hanzada T Nour El-Din
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University Cairo 11562 Egypt
| | - Maria O Mekhail
- PharmD-Clinical Pharmacy Undergraduate Program, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University Cairo 11562 Egypt
| | - Ahmed S Attia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University Cairo 11562 Egypt
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Pharmacy, Newgiza University Giza Egypt
| | - Mohamed N Seleem
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg Virginia 24061 USA
- Center for One Health Research, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg Virginia 24061 USA
| | - Marwa T Sarg
- Department of Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry, College of Pharmacy (Girls), Al-Azhar University Cairo Egypt
| | - Abdelrahman S Mayhoub
- Department of Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry, College of Pharmacy (Boys), Al-Azhar University Cairo 11884 Egypt
- Nanoscience Program, University of Science and Technology, Zewail City of Science and Technology Giza Egypt
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8
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Dokla EME, Abutaleb NS, Milik SN, Kandil EAEA, Qassem OM, Elgammal Y, Nasr M, McPhillie MJ, Abouzid KAM, Seleem MN, Imming P, Adel M. SAR investigation and optimization of benzimidazole-based derivatives as antimicrobial agents against Gram-negative bacteria. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 247:115040. [PMID: 36584632 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.115040] [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: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria represent a serious threat to modern medicine and human life. Only a minority of antibacterial agents are active against Gram-negative bacteria. Hence, the development of novel antimicrobial agents will always be a vital need. In an effort to discover new therapeutics against Gram-negative bacteria, we previously reported a structure-activity-relationship (SAR) study on 1,2-disubstituted benzimidazole derivatives. Compound III showed a potent activity against tolC-mutant Escherichia coli with an MIC value of 2 μg/mL, representing a promising lead for further optimization. Building upon this study, herein, 49 novel benzimidazole compounds were synthesized to investigate their antibacterial activity against Gram-negative bacteria. Our design focused on three main goals, to address the low permeability of our compounds and improve their cellular accumulation, to expand the SAR study to the unexplored ring C, and to optimize the lead compound (III) by modification of the methanesulfonamide moiety. Compounds (25a-d, 25f-h, 25k, 25l, 25p, 25r, 25s, and 26b) exhibited potent activity against tolC-mutant E. coli with MIC values ranging from 0.125 to 4 μg/mL, with compound 25d displaying the highest potency among the tested compounds with an MIC value of 0.125 μg/mL. As its predecessor, III, compound 25d exhibited an excellent safety profile without any significant cytotoxicity to mammalian cells. Time-kill kinetics assay indicated that 25d exhibited a bacteriostatic activity and significantly reduced E. coli JW55031 burden as compared to DMSO. Additionally, combination of 25d with colistin partially restored its antibacterial activity against Gram-negative bacterial strains (MIC values ranging from 4 to 16 μg/mL against E. coli BW25113, K. pneumoniae, A. baumannii, and P. aeruginosa). Furthermore, formulation of III and 25d as lipidic nanoparticles (nanocapsules) resulted in moderate enhancement of their antibacterial activity against Gram-negative bacterial strains (A. Baumannii, N. gonorrhoeae) and compound 25d demonstrated superior activity to the lead compound III. These findings establish compound 25d as a promising candidate for treatment of Gram-negative bacterial infections and emphasize the potential of nano-formulations in overcoming poor cellular accumulation in Gram-negative bacteria where further optimization and investigation are warranted to improve the potency and broaden the spectrum of our compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eman M E Dokla
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Abbassia, Cairo, 11566, Egypt; Institute für Pharmazie, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Wolfgang-Langenbeck-Str. 4, Halle (Saale), 06120, Germany.
| | - Nader S Abutaleb
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44519, Egypt
| | - Sandra N Milik
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Abbassia, Cairo, 11566, Egypt; School of Chemistry, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Ezzat A E A Kandil
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Abbassia, Cairo, 11566, Egypt
| | - Omar M Qassem
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Abbassia, Cairo, 11566, Egypt; Purdue University Institute of Drug Discovery, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Yehia Elgammal
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Maha Nasr
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Abbassia, Cairo, 11566, Egypt
| | - Martin J McPhillie
- School of Chemistry, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Khaled A M Abouzid
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Abbassia, Cairo, 11566, Egypt
| | - Mohamed N Seleem
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA; Center for Emerging, Zoonotic and Arthropod-borne Pathogens, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Peter Imming
- Institute für Pharmazie, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Wolfgang-Langenbeck-Str. 4, Halle (Saale), 06120, Germany
| | - Mai Adel
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Abbassia, Cairo, 11566, Egypt.
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9
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Auranofin and Baicalin Inhibit Clostridioides difficile Growth and Sporulation: An In vitro Study. JOURNAL OF PURE AND APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.22207/jpam.16.3.01] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile is a principal cause of hospital-acquired gastrointestinal infections, with sporulation and toxin production being key determinants in the disease pathogenesis. Although infections have been escalating and the complications can be life-threatening, the narrow pipeline of approved therapeutics has not witnessed an equivalent surge. With the unfolding of worrisome mutations and antimicrobial resistance, attention has been drawn to either discovering new therapeutics, or even better, repurposing already available ones. Consequently, this study was undertaken to assess the anti-clostridial activity of auranofin, an anti-rheumatic FDA-approved therapeutic; and baicalin, a natural flavone glycoside with reported anti-microbial potential. In comparison with vancomycin, the in vitro efficacy of auranofin and baicalin was tested against hypervirulent C. difficile (BAA-1870TM). Broth suspensions were prepared with and without the three agents and anaerobically incubated. At 24- and 48-hours post-incubation, serial dilutions were prepared and inoculated onto agar plates. Viable cell counts and viable spore counts were then quantified. Meanwhile, toxin production was assessed via ELISA. At a concentration as low as 3 μg/mL, auranofin demonstrated a potent anti-clostridial activity. Both auranofin and baicalin exhibited a remarkable reduction in C. difficile viable cell counts (P-value 0.03 for each) and spore counts (P-values 0.023 and 0.045 respectively). While auranofin and baicalin proved to be non-inferior to vancomycin as inhibitors of C. difficile growth, both drugs proved to be superior to vancomycin in decreasing the spore counts 48-hours post inoculation. Additionally, auranofin markedly reduced C. difficile toxin production (P-value 0.021); a feature that was deficient in both baicalin and vancomycin. To enrich the currently limited repertoire of anti-clostridial drugs, further research is encouraging to compare between the in vivo efficacy of auranofin and that of baicalin. Both agents represent promising approaches that could address the unfulfilled needs in controlling C. difficile infection.
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Karanja CW, Naganna N, Abutaleb NS, Dayal N, Onyedibe KI, Aryal U, Seleem MN, Sintim HO. Isoquinoline Antimicrobial Agent: Activity against Intracellular Bacteria and Effect on Global Bacterial Proteome. Molecules 2022; 27:5085. [PMID: 36014324 PMCID: PMC9416421 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27165085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
A new class of alkynyl isoquinoline antibacterial compounds, synthesized via Sonogashira coupling, with strong bactericidal activity against a plethora of Gram-positive bacteria including methicillin- and vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) strains is presented. HSN584 and HSN739, representative compounds in this class, reduce methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) load in macrophages, whilst vancomycin, a drug of choice for MRSA infections, was unable to clear intracellular MRSA. Additionally, both HSN584 and HSN739 exhibited a low propensity to develop resistance. We utilized comparative global proteomics and macromolecule biosynthesis assays to gain insight into the alkynyl isoquinoline mechanism of action. Our preliminary data show that HSN584 perturb S. aureus cell wall and nucleic acid biosynthesis. The alkynyl isoquinoline moiety is a new scaffold for the development of potent antibacterial agents against fatal multidrug-resistant Gram-positive bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline W. Karanja
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, 560 Oval Drive, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Nimishetti Naganna
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, 560 Oval Drive, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Nader S. Abutaleb
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, 625 Harrison Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1410 Prices Fork Rd, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Neetu Dayal
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, 560 Oval Drive, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Kenneth I. Onyedibe
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, 560 Oval Drive, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
- Purdue Institute of Inflammation, Immunology and Infectious Disease, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Uma Aryal
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, 625 Harrison Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
- Purdue Proteomics Facility, Bindley Bioscience Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Mohamed N. Seleem
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, 625 Harrison Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1410 Prices Fork Rd, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Herman O. Sintim
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, 560 Oval Drive, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
- Purdue Institute of Inflammation, Immunology and Infectious Disease, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
- Institute for Drug Discovery, Purdue University, 720 Clinic Drive, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
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Pal R, Seleem MN. Discovery of a novel natural product inhibitor of Clostridioides difficile with potent activity in vitro and in vivo. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0267859. [PMID: 35939437 PMCID: PMC9359557 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0267859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile infection is a global health threat and remains the primary cause of hospital-acquired infections worldwide. The burgeoning incidence and severity of infections coupled with high rates of recurrence have created an urgent need for novel therapeutics. Here, we report a novel natural product scaffold as a potential anticlostridial lead with antivirulence properties and potent activity both in vitro and in vivo. A whole cell phenotypic screening of 1,000 purified natural products identified 6 compounds with potent activity against C. difficile (minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) range from 0.03 to 2 μg/ml). All these 6 compounds were non-toxic to human colorectal cells. The natural product compounds also inhibited the production of key toxins, TcdA and TcdB, the key virulence determinants of C. difficile infection pathology. Additionally, the compounds exhibited rapid bactericidal activity and were superior to the standard-of-care antibiotic vancomycin, in reducing a high inoculum of C. difficile in vitro. Furthermore, a murine model of C. difficile infection revealed that compound NP-003875 conferred 100% protection to the infected mice from clinical manifestations of the disease. Collectively, the current study lays the foundation for further investigation of the natural product NP-003875 as a potential therapeutic choice for C. difficile infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rusha Pal
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Mohamed N. Seleem
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America
- Center for Emerging, Zoonotic and Arthropod-borne Pathogens, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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12
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Chen J, Li Y, Wang S, Zhang H, Du Y, Wu Q, Wang H. Targeting Clostridioides difficile: New uses for old drugs. Drug Discov Today 2022; 27:1862-1873. [PMID: 35390545 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2022.03.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile bacteria can cause life-threatening diarrhea and colitis owing to limited treatment options and unacceptably high recurrence rates among infected patients. This necessitates the development of alternative routes for C. difficile treatment. Drug repurposing with new indications represents a proven shortcut. Here, we present a refined focus on 16 FDA-approved drugs that would be suitable for further development as potential anti-C. difficile drugs. Of these drugs, clinical trials have been conducted on five currently used drugs; however, ursodeoxycholic acid is the only drug to enter Phase IV clinical trials to date. Thus, drug repurposing promotes the study of mechanistic and therapeutic strategies, providing new options for the development of next-generation anti-C. difficile agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianwei Chen
- College of Pharmaceutical Science & Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China; Macau University of Science and Technology, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicines, Macao
| | - Yasheng Li
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University & Anhui Center for Surveillance of Bacterial Resistance, Hefei, China
| | - Siqi Wang
- College of Pharmaceutical Science & Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hongfang Zhang
- College of Pharmaceutical Science & Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yujie Du
- College of Pharmaceutical Science & Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qiang Wu
- Macau University of Science and Technology, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicines, Macao.
| | - Hong Wang
- College of Pharmaceutical Science & Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China.
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13
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Abutaleb NS, Elhassanny AEM, Seleem MN. In vivo efficacy of acetazolamide in a mouse model of Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection. Microb Pathog 2022; 164:105454. [PMID: 35189278 PMCID: PMC8923983 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2022.105454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Gonococcal infections represent an urgent public health threat worldwide due to the increasing incidence of infections that has been accompanied by an increase in bacterial resistance to most antibiotics. This has resulted in a dwindling number of effective treatment options. Undoubtedly, there is a critical need to develop new, effective anti-gonococcal agents. In an effort to discover new anti-gonococcal therapeutics, we previously identified acetazolamide, a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, as a novel inhibitor of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Acetazolamide exhibited potent anti-gonococcal activity in vitro as it inhibited growth of strains of N. gonorrhoeae at concentrations that ranged from 0.5 to 4 μg/mL. The aim of this study was to investigate the in vivo efficacy of acetazolamide in a mouse model of N. gonorrhoeae genital tract infection. Compared to vehicle-treated mice, acetazolamide significantly reduced the gonococcal burden by 90% in the vagina of infected mice after three days of treatment. These results indicate that acetazolamide warrants further investigation as a promising treatment option to supplement the limited pipeline of anti-gonococcal therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nader S. Abutaleb
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Ahmed E. M. Elhassanny
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Mohamed N. Seleem
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA,Center for Emerging, Zoonotic, and Arthropod-borne Pathogens, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA,Corresponding Author: Mohamed N. Seleem, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1410 Prices Fork Rd, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA, Phone: 540-231-2703,
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14
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Abutaleb NS, Elhassanny AEM, Nocentini A, Hewitt CS, Elkashif A, Cooper BR, Supuran CT, Seleem MN, Flaherty DP. Repurposing FDA-approved sulphonamide carbonic anhydrase inhibitors for treatment of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2021; 37:51-61. [PMID: 34894972 PMCID: PMC8667909 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2021.1991336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a high-priority pathogen of concern due to the growing prevalence of resistance development against approved antibiotics. Herein, we report the anti-gonococcal activity of ethoxzolamide, the FDA-approved human carbonic anhydrase inhibitor. Ethoxzolamide displayed an MIC50, against a panel of N. gonorrhoeae isolates, of 0.125 µg/mL, 16-fold more potent than acetazolamide, although both molecules exhibited almost similar potency against the gonococcal carbonic anhydrase enzyme (NgCA) in vitro. Acetazolamide displayed an inhibition constant (Ki) versus NgCA of 74 nM, while Ethoxzolamide’s Ki was estimated to 94 nM. Therefore, the increased anti-gonococcal potency of ethoxzolamide was attributed to its increased permeability in N. gonorrhoeae as compared to that of acetazolamide. Both drugs demonstrated bacteriostatic activity against N. gonorrhoeae, exhibited post-antibiotic effects up to 10 hours, and resistance was not observed against both. Taken together, these results indicate that acetazolamide and ethoxzolamide warrant further investigation for translation into effective anti-N. gonorrhoeae agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nader S Abutaleb
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VI, USA
| | - Ahmed E M Elhassanny
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VI, USA
| | - Alessio Nocentini
- Department of NEUROFARBA, Section of Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Sciences, University of Florence, Polo Scientifico, Firenze, Italy
| | - Chad S Hewitt
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Ahmed Elkashif
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Bruce R Cooper
- Metabolite Profiling Facility, Bindley Bioscience Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States
| | - Claudiu T Supuran
- Department of NEUROFARBA, Section of Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Sciences, University of Florence, Polo Scientifico, Firenze, Italy
| | - Mohamed N Seleem
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VI, USA.,Center for Emerging, Zoonotic and Arthropod-borne Pathogens, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VI, USA
| | - Daniel P Flaherty
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.,Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery, West Lafayette, IN, USA.,Purdue Institute of Inflammation, Immunology and Infectious Disease, West Lafayette, IN, USA
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Monaghan TM, Seekatz AM, Mullish BH, Moore-Gillon CCER, Dawson LF, Ahmed A, Kao D, Chan WC. Clostridioides difficile: innovations in target discovery and potential for therapeutic success. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2021; 25:949-963. [PMID: 34793686 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2021.2008907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) remains a worldwide clinical problem. Increased incidence of primary infection, occurrence of hypertoxigenic ribotypes, and more frequent occurrence of drug resistant, recurrent, and non-hospital CDI, emphasizes the urgent unmet need of discovering new therapeutic targets. AREAS COVERED We searched PubMed and Web of Science databases for articles identifying novel therapeutic targets or treatments for C. difficile from 2001 to 2021. We present an updated review on current preclinical efforts on designing inhibitory compounds against these drug targets and indicate how these could become the focus of future therapeutic approaches. We also evaluate the increasing exploitability of gut microbial-derived metabolites and host-derived therapeutics targeting VEGF-A, immune targets and pathways, ion transporters, and microRNAs as anti-C. difficile therapeutics, which have yet to reach clinical trials. Our review also highlights the therapeutic potential of re-purposing currently available agents . We conclude by considering translational hurdles and possible strategies to mitigate these problems. EXPERT OPINION Considerable progress has been made in the development of new anti-CDI drug candidates. Nevertheless, a greater comprehension of CDI pathogenesis and host-microbe interactions is beginning to uncover potential novel therapeutic targets, which can be exploited to plug gaps in the CDI drug discovery pipeline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya M Monaghan
- NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Anna M Seekatz
- Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
| | - Benjamin H Mullish
- Division of Digestive Diseases, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Departments of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, St Mary's Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Claudia C E R Moore-Gillon
- Division of Digestive Diseases, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Departments of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, St Mary's Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Lisa F Dawson
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Ammar Ahmed
- NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Dina Kao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zeidler Ledcor Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Weng C Chan
- School of Pharmacy, Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, UK
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Rollin-Pinheiro R, Borba-Santos LP, da Silva Xisto MID, de Castro-Almeida Y, Rochetti VP, Rozental S, Barreto-Bergter E. Identification of Promising Antifungal Drugs against Scedosporium and Lomentospora Species after Screening of Pathogen Box Library. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7100803. [PMID: 34682224 PMCID: PMC8539698 DOI: 10.3390/jof7100803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungal infections have been increasing during the last decades. Scedosporium and Lomentospora species are filamentous fungi most associated to those infections, especially in immunocompromised patients. Considering the limited options of treatment and the emergence of resistant isolates, an increasing concern motivates the development of new therapeutic alternatives. In this context, the present study screened the Pathogen Box library to identify compounds with antifungal activity against Scedosporium and Lomentospora. Using antifungal susceptibility tests, biofilm analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and synergism assay, auranofin and iodoquinol were found to present promising repurposing applications. Both compounds were active against different Scedosporium and Lomentospora, including planktonic cells and biofilm. SEM revealed morphological alterations and synergism analysis showed that both drugs present positive interactions with voriconazole, fluconazole, and caspofungin. These data suggest that auranofin and iodoquinol are promising compounds to be studied as repurposing approaches against scedosporiosis and lomentosporiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Rollin-Pinheiro
- Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (R.R.-P.); (M.I.D.d.S.X.); (Y.d.C.-A.); (V.P.R.)
| | - Luana Pereira Borba-Santos
- Programa de Biologia Celular e Parasitologia, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (L.P.B.-S.); (S.R.)
| | - Mariana Ingrid Dutra da Silva Xisto
- Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (R.R.-P.); (M.I.D.d.S.X.); (Y.d.C.-A.); (V.P.R.)
| | - Yuri de Castro-Almeida
- Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (R.R.-P.); (M.I.D.d.S.X.); (Y.d.C.-A.); (V.P.R.)
| | - Victor Pereira Rochetti
- Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (R.R.-P.); (M.I.D.d.S.X.); (Y.d.C.-A.); (V.P.R.)
| | - Sonia Rozental
- Programa de Biologia Celular e Parasitologia, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (L.P.B.-S.); (S.R.)
| | - Eliana Barreto-Bergter
- Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (R.R.-P.); (M.I.D.d.S.X.); (Y.d.C.-A.); (V.P.R.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +55-(21)-3938-6741
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Hewitt CS, Abutaleb NS, Elhassanny AEM, Nocentini A, Cao X, Amos DP, Youse MS, Holly KJ, Marapaka A, An W, Kaur J, Krabill AD, Elkashif A, Elgammal Y, Graboski AL, Supuran CT, Seleem MN, Flaherty DP. Structure-Activity Relationship Studies of Acetazolamide-Based Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors with Activity against Neisseria gonorrhoeae. ACS Infect Dis 2021; 7:1969-1984. [PMID: 33765392 PMCID: PMC8317129 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.1c00055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Neisseria gonorrhoeae is an urgent threat to public health in the United States and around the world. Many of the current classes of antibiotics to treat N. gonorrhoeae infection are quickly becoming obsolete due to increased rates of resistance. Thus, there is a critical need for alternative antimicrobial targets and new chemical entities. Our team has repurposed the FDA-approved carbonic anhydrase inhibitor scaffold of acetazolamide to target N. gonorrhoeae and the bacteria's essential carbonic anhydrase, NgCA. This study established both structure-activity and structure-property relationships that contribute to both antimicrobial activity and NgCA activity. This ultimately led to molecules 20 and 23, which displayed minimum inhibitory concentration values as low as 0.25 μg/mL equating to an 8- to 16-fold improvement in antigonococcal activity compared to acetazolamide. These analogues were determined to be bacteriostatic against the pathogen and likely on-target against NgCA. Additionally, they did not exhibit any detrimental effects in cellular toxicity assays against both a human endocervical (End1/E6E7) cell line or colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line (Caco-2) at concentrations up to 128 μg/mL. Taken together, this study presents a class of antigonococcal agents with the potential to be advanced for further evaluation in N. gonorrhoeae infection models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chad S. Hewitt
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, 575 Stadium Mall Dr., West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Nader S. Abutaleb
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Ahmed E. M. Elhassanny
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Alessio Nocentini
- Department of NEUROFARBA, Section of Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Sciences, University of Florence, Polo Scientifico, Firenze, Italy
| | - Xufeng Cao
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, 575 Stadium Mall Dr., West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Devon P. Amos
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, 575 Stadium Mall Dr., West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Molly S. Youse
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, 575 Stadium Mall Dr., West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Katrina J. Holly
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, 575 Stadium Mall Dr., West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Anil Marapaka
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, 575 Stadium Mall Dr., West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Weiwei An
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, 575 Stadium Mall Dr., West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Jatinder Kaur
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, 575 Stadium Mall Dr., West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Aaron D. Krabill
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, 575 Stadium Mall Dr., West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Ahmed Elkashif
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, 625 Harrison St., West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Yehia Elgammal
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Amanda L. Graboski
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, 575 Stadium Mall Dr., West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Claudiu T. Supuran
- Department of NEUROFARBA, Section of Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Sciences, University of Florence, Polo Scientifico, Firenze, Italy
| | - Mohamed N. Seleem
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Daniel P. Flaherty
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, 575 Stadium Mall Dr., West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
- Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery, 720 Clinic Dr., West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
- Purdue Institute of Inflammation, Immunology and Infectious Disease, 207 South Martin Jischke Dr., West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
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18
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Pal R, Dai M, Seleem MN. High-throughput screening identifies a novel natural product-inspired scaffold capable of inhibiting Clostridioides difficile in vitro. Sci Rep 2021; 11:10913. [PMID: 34035338 PMCID: PMC8149678 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-90314-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile is an enteric pathogen responsible for causing debilitating diarrhea, mostly in hospitalized patients. The bacterium exploits on microbial dysbiosis induced by the use of antibiotics to establish infection that ranges from mild watery diarrhea to pseudomembranous colitis. The increased prevalence of the disease accompanied by exacerbated comorbidity and the paucity of anticlostridial drugs that can tackle recurrence entails novel therapeutic options. Here, we report new lead molecules with potent anticlostridial activity from the AnalytiCon NATx library featuring natural product-inspired or natural product-derived small molecules. A high-throughput whole-cell-based screening of 5000 synthetic compounds from the AnalytiCon NATx library helped us identify 10 compounds capable of inhibiting the pathogen. Out of these 10 hits, we found 3 compounds with potent activity against C. difficile (MIC = 0.5-2 μg/ml). Interestingly, these compounds had minimal to no effect on the indigenous intestinal microbial species tested, unlike the standard-of-care antibiotics vancomycin and fidaxomicin. Further in vitro investigation revealed that the compounds were nontoxic to Caco-2 cell line. Given their potent anticlostridial activity, natural product-inspired scaffolds may suggest potential avenues that can address the unmet needs in preventing C. difficile mediated disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rusha Pal
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Mingji Dai
- Department of Chemistry and Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Mohamed N Seleem
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA.
- Center for Emerging, Zoonotic and Arthropod-Borne Pathogens, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA.
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19
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Abutaleb NS, Elhassanny AEM, Flaherty DP, Seleem MN. In vitro and in vivo activities of the carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, dorzolamide, against vancomycin-resistant enterococci. PeerJ 2021; 9:e11059. [PMID: 33850651 PMCID: PMC8018244 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are a serious public health threat and a leading cause of healthcare-associated infections. Bacterial resistance to antibiotics recommended for the treatment of enterococcal infections complicates the management of these infections. Hence, there is a critical need for the discovery of new anti-VRE agents. We previously reported carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (CAIs) as new potent VRE inhibitors. In the present study, the activity of the CAI, dorzolamide was evaluated against VRE both in vitro and in vivo. Dorzolamide exhibited potent activity against a panel of clinical VRE isolates, with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 1 µg/mL to 8 µg/mL. A killing kinetics experiment determined that dorzolamide exhibited a bacteriostatic effect against VRE, which was similar to the drug of choice (linezolid). Dorzolamide interacted synergistically with gentamicin against four strains of VRE, and exhibited an additive interaction with gentamicin against six VRE strains, reducing gentamicin’s MIC by several folds. Moreover, dorzolamide outperformed linezolid in an in vivo VRE colonization reduction mouse model. Dorzolamide significantly reduced the VRE burden in fecal samples of mice by 2.9-log10 (99.9%) and 3.86-log10 (99.99%) after 3 and 5 days of treatment, respectively. Furthermore, dorzolamide reduced the VRE count in the cecal (1.74-log10 (98.2%) reduction) and ileal contents (1.5-log10 (96.3%)) of mice, which was superior to linezolid. Collectively, these results indicate that dorzolamide represents a promising treatment option that warrants consideration as a supplement to current therapeutics used for VRE infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nader S Abutaleb
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA, United States of America.,Department of Comparative Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States of America
| | - Ahmed E M Elhassanny
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA, United States of America
| | - Daniel P Flaherty
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States of America.,Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States of America
| | - Mohamed N Seleem
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA, United States of America.,Department of Comparative Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States of America
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20
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In vivo efficacy of auranofin in a hamster model of Clostridioides difficile infection. Sci Rep 2021; 11:7093. [PMID: 33782498 PMCID: PMC8007812 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-86595-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile infections (CDIs) are an urgent public health threat worldwide and are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in healthcare settings. The increasing incidence and severity of infections combined with the scarcity of effective anti-CDI agents has made treatment of CDI very challenging. Therefore, development of new, effective anticlostridial agents remains a high priority. The current study investigated the in vivo efficacy of auranofin in a CDI hamster model. All hamsters treated with auranofin (5 mg/kg) survived a lethal challenge with C. difficile. Furthermore, auranofin (5 mg/kg) was as effective as vancomycin, the drug of choice for treatment of CDIs, against relapsing CDI. Furthermore, auranofin (5 mg/kg) generated a 3.15-log10 reduction (99.97%) in C. difficile count in the cecal contents of hamsters. These results indicate that auranofin warrants further investigation as a new agent to replenish the pipeline of anti-CDI therapeutics.
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21
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In Vivo Antibacterial Activity of Acetazolamide. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2021; 65:AAC.01715-20. [PMID: 33495225 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01715-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) represent a major public health threat that requires the development of new therapeutics. In the present study, acetazolamide (AZM) was evaluated against enterococci. It inhibited different enterococcal strains tested at clinically achievable concentrations. Moreover, AZM outperformed linezolid, the drug of choice for VRE infections, in two in vivo VRE mouse models-murine colonization-reduction and VRE septicemia. Collectively, these results indicate that AZM warrants consideration as a promising treatment option for VRE infections.
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22
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Naclerio GA, Abutaleb NS, Alhashimi M, Seleem MN, Sintim HO. N-(1,3,4-Oxadiazol-2-yl)Benzamides as Antibacterial Agents against Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:2427. [PMID: 33671065 PMCID: PMC7957578 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22052427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recognizes Neisseria gonorrhoeae as an urgent-threat Gram-negative bacterial pathogen. Additionally, resistance to frontline treatment (dual therapy with azithromycin and ceftriaxone) has led to the emergence of multidrug-resistant N. gonorrhoeae, which has caused a global health crisis. The drug pipeline for N. gonorrhoeae has been severely lacking as new antibacterial agents have not been approved by the FDA in the last twenty years. Thus, there is a need for new chemical entities active against drug-resistant N. gonorrhoeae. Trifluoromethylsulfonyl (SO2CF3), trifluoromethylthio (SCF3), and pentafluorosulfanyl (SF5) containing N-(1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)benzamides are novel compounds with potent activities against Gram-positive bacterial pathogens. Here, we report the discovery of new N-(1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)benzamides (HSGN-237 and -238) with highly potent activity against N. gonorrhoeae. Additionally, these new compounds were shown to have activity against clinically important Gram-positive bacteria, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), and Listeria monocytogenes (minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) as low as 0.25 µg/mL). Both compounds were highly tolerable to human cell lines. Moreover, HSGN-238 showed an outstanding ability to permeate across the gastrointestinal tract, indicating it would have a high systemic absorption if used as an anti-gonococcal therapeutic.
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Affiliation(s)
- George A Naclerio
- Chemistry Department, Institute for Drug Discovery, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Nader S Abutaleb
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Marwa Alhashimi
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Mohamed N Seleem
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA
- Purdue Institute of Inflammation, Immunology, and Infectious Disease, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Herman O Sintim
- Chemistry Department, Institute for Drug Discovery, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
- Purdue Institute of Inflammation, Immunology, and Infectious Disease, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
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23
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Song J, Malwal SR, Baig N, Schurig-Briccio LA, Gao Z, Vaidya GS, Yang K, Abutaleb NS, Seleem MN, Gennis RB, Pogorelov TV, Oldfield E, Feng X. Discovery of Prenyltransferase Inhibitors with In Vitro and In Vivo Antibacterial Activity. ACS Infect Dis 2020; 6:2979-2993. [PMID: 33085463 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.0c00472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Cis-prenyltransferases such as undecaprenyl diphosphate synthase (UPPS) and decaprenyl diphosphate synthase (DPPS) are essential enzymes in bacteria and are involved in cell wall biosynthesis. UPPS and DPPS are absent in the human genome, so they are of interest as targets for antibiotic development. Here, we screened a library of 750 compounds from National Cancer Institute Diversity Set V for the inhibition of Mycobacterium tuberculosis DPPS and found 17 hits, and then IC50s were determined using dose-response curves. Compounds were tested for growth inhibition against a panel of bacteria, for in vivo activity in a Staphylococcus aureus/Caenorhabditis elegans model, and for mammalian cell toxicity. The most active DPPS inhibitor was the dicarboxylic acid redoxal (compound 10), which also inhibited undecaprenyl diphosphate synthase (UPPS) as well as farnesyl diphosphate synthase. 10 was active against S. aureus, Clostridiodes difficile, Bacillus anthracis Sterne, and Bacillus subtilis, and there was a 3.4-fold increase in IC50 on addition of a rescue agent, undecaprenyl monophosphate. We found that 10 was also a weak protonophore uncoupler, leading to the idea that it targets both isoprenoid biosynthesis and the proton motive force. In an S. aureus/C. elegans in vivo model, 10 reduced the S. aureus burden 3 times more effectively than did ampicillin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junfeng Song
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Nanomedicine, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomacromolecular Chemical Biology, and Department of Chemistry, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Kailing Yang
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Nanomedicine, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomacromolecular Chemical Biology, and Department of Chemistry, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
| | - Nader S. Abutaleb
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Mohamed N. Seleem
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | | | | | | | - Xinxin Feng
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Nanomedicine, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomacromolecular Chemical Biology, and Department of Chemistry, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
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24
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Naclerio GA, Abutaleb NS, Li D, Seleem MN, Sintim HO. Ultrapotent Inhibitor of Clostridioides difficile Growth, Which Suppresses Recurrence In Vivo. J Med Chem 2020; 63:11934-11944. [PMID: 32960605 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile is the leading cause of healthcare-associated infection in the U.S. and considered an urgent threat by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Only two antibiotics, vancomycin and fidaxomicin, are FDA-approved for the treatment of C. difficile infection (CDI), but these therapies still suffer from high treatment failure and recurrence. Therefore, new chemical entities to treat CDI are needed. Trifluoromethylthio-containing N-(1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)benzamides displayed very potent activities [sub-μg/mL minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values] against Gram-positive bacteria. Here, we report remarkable antibacterial activity enhancement via halogen substitutions, which afforded new anti-C. difficile agents with ultrapotent activities [MICs as low as 0.003 μg/mL (0.007 μM)] that surpassed the activity of vancomycin against C. difficile clinical isolates. The most promising compound in the series, HSGN-218, is nontoxic to mammalian colon cells and is gut-restrictive. In addition, HSGN-218 protected mice from CDI recurrence. Not only does this work provide a potential clinical lead for the development of C. difficile therapeutics but also highlights dramatic drug potency enhancement via halogen substitution.
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Affiliation(s)
- George A Naclerio
- Chemistry Department, Institute for Drug Discovery, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Nader S Abutaleb
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Daoyi Li
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Mohamed N Seleem
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States.,Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24060, United States.,Purdue Institute of Inflammation, Immunology, and Infectious Disease, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Herman O Sintim
- Chemistry Department, Institute for Drug Discovery, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States.,Purdue Institute of Inflammation, Immunology, and Infectious Disease, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
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25
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Mody D, Athamneh AIM, Seleem MN. Curcumin: A natural derivative with antibacterial activity against Clostridium difficile. J Glob Antimicrob Resist 2019; 21:154-161. [PMID: 31622683 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgar.2019.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Revised: 10/06/2019] [Accepted: 10/07/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The rapid emergence of hypervirulent Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) isolates and the paucity of effective anti-clostridial antibiotics call for extensive research to identify new treatment options. This study aimed to test the anti-clostridial activity of bioactive extracts of turmeric, which is a natural herb widely known for its profound medicinal properties. METHODS The MICs of turmeric derivatives were determined against 27 C. difficile strains, including hypervirulent (BI/NAP1/027) and clinical toxigenic isolates. Additionally, their ability to inhibit C. difficile toxin production and spore formation was investigated. Furthermore, the safety profiles of turmeric derivatives regarding their effects on human gut microflora - such as Bacteroides, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium - were evaluated. RESULTS Curcuminoids, the major phytoconstituents of turmeric - including curcumin, demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin - inhibited growth of C. difficile at concentrations ranging from 4 to 32μg/mL. Additionally, curcuminoids showed no negative effect on major populating species of the human gut. Curcumin was more effective than fidaxomicin in inhibiting C. difficile toxin production, but less so in inhibiting spore formation. CONCLUSION The findings suggest that curcumin has potential as an anti-clostridial agent. More work is needed to further investigate the efficacy of curcumin as a stand-alone drug or as a supplement of current drugs of choice, as it has no antagonistic activities but might overcome their drawbacks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepansh Mody
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Ahmad I M Athamneh
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Mohamed N Seleem
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, West Lafayette, IN, USA; Purdue Institute of Inflammation, Immunology, and Infectious Disease, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
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