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Sugrue I, Ross RP, Hill C. Bacteriocin diversity, function, discovery and application as antimicrobials. Nat Rev Microbiol 2024; 22:556-571. [PMID: 38730101 PMCID: PMC7616364 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-024-01045-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
Bacteriocins are potent antimicrobial peptides that are produced by bacteria. Since their discovery almost a century ago, diverse peptides have been discovered and described, and some are currently used as commercial food preservatives. Many bacteriocins exhibit extensively post-translationally modified structures encoded on complex gene clusters, whereas others have simple linear structures. The molecular structures, mechanisms of action and resistance have been determined for a number of bacteriocins, but most remain incompletely characterized. These gene-encoded peptides are amenable to bioengineering strategies and heterologous expression, enabling metagenomic mining and modification of novel antimicrobials. The ongoing global antimicrobial resistance crisis demands that novel therapeutics be developed to combat infectious pathogens. New compounds that are target-specific and compatible with the resident microbiota would be valuable alternatives to current antimicrobials. As bacteriocins can be broad or narrow spectrum in nature, they are promising tools for this purpose. However, few bacteriocins have gone beyond preclinical trials and none is currently used therapeutically in humans. In this Review, we explore the broad diversity in bacteriocin structure and function, describe identification and optimization methods and discuss the reasons behind the lack of translation beyond the laboratory of these potentially valuable antimicrobials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Sugrue
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - R Paul Ross
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Colin Hill
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
- School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
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2
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Hofkens N, Gestels Z, Abdellati S, Gabant P, Rodriguez-Villalobos H, Martin A, Kenyon C, Manoharan-Basil SS. Protective effect of microbisporicin (NAI-107) against vancomycin resistant Enterococcus faecium infection in a Galleria mellonella model. Sci Rep 2024; 14:4786. [PMID: 38413672 PMCID: PMC10899196 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-55262-8] [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: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Increasing antimicrobial resistance in Enterococcus faecium necessitates the search for novel treatment agents, such as bacteriocins. In this study, we conducted an in vivo assessment of five bacteriocins, namely Lacticin Z, Lacticin Q, Garvicin KS (ABC), Aureocin A53 and Microbisporicin (NAI-107), against vanB-resistant Enterococcus faecium using a Galleria mellonella model. Our in vitro experiments demonstrated the efficacy of all five bacteriocins against vanB-resistant E. faecium with only NAI-107 demonstrating in vivo efficacy. Notably, NAI-107 exhibited efficacy across a range of tested doses, with the highest efficacy observed at a concentration of 16 µg/mL. Mortality rates in the group treated with 16 µg/mL NAI-107 were lower than those observed in the linezolid-treated group. These findings strongly suggest that NAI-107 holds promise as a potential alternative therapeutic agent for treating infections caused by resistant E. faecium and warrants further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nele Hofkens
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Zina Gestels
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Saïd Abdellati
- Clinical Reference Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | | | | | - Chris Kenyon
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7700, South Africa
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3
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Ramírez-Rendón D, Guzmán-Chávez F, García-Ausencio C, Rodríguez-Sanoja R, Sánchez S. The untapped potential of actinobacterial lanthipeptides as therapeutic agents. Mol Biol Rep 2023; 50:10605-10616. [PMID: 37934370 PMCID: PMC10676316 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-023-08880-w] [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: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
The increase in bacterial resistance generated by the indiscriminate use of antibiotics in medical practice set new challenges for discovering bioactive natural products as alternatives for therapeutics. Lanthipeptides are an attractive natural product group that has been only partially explored and shows engaging biological activities. These molecules are small peptides with potential application as therapeutic agents. Some members show antibiotic activity against problematic drug-resistant pathogens and against a wide variety of viruses. Nevertheless, their biological activities are not restricted to antimicrobials, as their contribution to the treatment of cystic fibrosis, cancer, pain symptoms, control of inflammation, and blood pressure has been demonstrated. The study of biosynthetic gene clusters through genome mining has contributed to accelerating the discovery, enlargement, and diversification of this group of natural products. In this review, we provide insight into the recent advances in the development and research of actinobacterial lanthipeptides that hold great potential as therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dulce Ramírez-Rendón
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, CDMX, 04510, Mexico City, México
| | - Fernando Guzmán-Chávez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, CDMX, 04510, Mexico City, México
| | - Carlos García-Ausencio
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, CDMX, 04510, Mexico City, México
| | - Romina Rodríguez-Sanoja
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, CDMX, 04510, Mexico City, México
| | - Sergio Sánchez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, CDMX, 04510, Mexico City, México.
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4
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Heinzinger LR, Pugh AR, Wagner JA, Otto M. Evaluating the Translational Potential of Bacteriocins as an Alternative Treatment for Staphylococcus aureus Infections in Animals and Humans. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:1256. [PMID: 37627676 PMCID: PMC10451987 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12081256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance remains a global threat to human and animal health. Staphylococcus aureus is an opportunistic pathogen that causes minor to life-threatening infections. The widespread use of antibiotics in the clinical, veterinary, and agricultural setting combined with the increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant S. aureus strains makes it abundantly clear that alternatives to antibiotics are urgently needed. Bacteriocins represent one potential alternative therapeutic. They are antimicrobial peptides that are produced by bacteria that are generally nontoxic and have a relatively narrow target spectrum, and they leave many commensals and most mammalian cells unperturbed. Multiple studies involving bacteriocins (e.g., nisin, epidermicin, mersacidin, and lysostaphin) have demonstrated their efficacy at eliminating or treating a wide variety of S. aureus infections in animal models. This review provides a comprehensive and updated evaluation of animal studies involving bacteriocins and highlights their translational potential. The strengths and limitations associated with bacteriocin treatments compared with traditional antibiotic therapies are evaluated, and the challenges that are involved with implementing novel therapeutics are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Michael Otto
- Pathogen Molecular Genetics Section, Laboratory of Bacteriology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA; (L.R.H.); (A.R.P.); (J.A.W.)
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5
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Rox K. Influence of tramadol on bacterial burden in the standard neutropenic thigh infection model. Sci Rep 2022; 12:19606. [PMID: 36380116 PMCID: PMC9666522 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-24111-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The neutropenic thigh infection model is one of the standard models in pharmacokinetic/ pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) characterization of novel antibacterials which are urgently needed due to the rise of antimicrobial resistance. The model enables to investigate PK/PD parameters crucial for translation of animal results towards humans. However, the neutropenic thigh infection model can result in moderate to severe discomfort of the animals, especially when high inocula are used. Tramadol has been proven to reduce pain effectively. This study investigates if tramadol influences the bacterial burden in the primary organ, the thighs, and organs affected by secondary seeding. Therefore, several strains of the ESKAPE pathogens, namely S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae, E. coli, A. baumannii and E. faecalis were examined. It was shown that tramadol did not influence the bacterial burden neither in thighs nor in organs affected by secondary seeding for the strains of E. faecalis, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae and E.coli tested here, whereas secondary seeding seemed to be affected by tramadol for the tested strain of A. baumannii. Consequently, it was demonstrated that tramadol is an option to reduce discomfort in the untreated group for the strains of five out of the six tested ESKAPE pathogens and, thereby, contributes to the refinement of one of the standard PK/PD models.
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Affiliation(s)
- K. Rox
- grid.7490.a0000 0001 2238 295XDepartment of Chemical Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Inhoffenstraße 7, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany ,grid.452463.2German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
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6
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van Os W, Zeitlinger M. Predicting Antimicrobial Activity at the Target Site: Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Indices versus Time-Kill Approaches. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021; 10:antibiotics10121485. [PMID: 34943697 PMCID: PMC8698708 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10121485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic dosing strategies are generally based on systemic drug concentrations. However, drug concentrations at the infection site drive antimicrobial effect, and efficacy predictions and dosing strategies should be based on these concentrations. We set out to review different translational pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) approaches from a target site perspective. The most common approach involves calculating the probability of attaining animal-derived PK/PD index targets, which link PK parameters to antimicrobial susceptibility measures. This approach is time efficient but ignores some aspects of the shape of the PK profile and inter-species differences in drug clearance and distribution, and provides no information on the PD time-course. Time–kill curves, in contrast, depict bacterial response over time. In vitro dynamic time–kill setups allow for the evaluation of bacterial response to clinical PK profiles, but are not representative of the infection site environment. The translational value of in vivo time–kill experiments, conversely, is limited from a PK perspective. Computational PK/PD models, especially when developed using both in vitro and in vivo data and coupled to target site PK models, can bridge translational gaps in both PK and PD. Ultimately, clinical PK and experimental and computational tools should be combined to tailor antibiotic treatment strategies to the site of infection.
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7
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Grant-Mackie E, Williams ET, Harris PWR, Brimble MA. Aminovinyl Cysteine Containing Peptides: A Unique Motif That Imparts Key Biological Activity. JACS AU 2021; 1:1527-1540. [PMID: 34723257 PMCID: PMC8549060 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.1c00308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Natural products that contain distinctive chemical functionality can serve as useful starting points to develop Nature's compounds into viable therapeutics. Peptide natural products, an under-represented class of medicines, such as ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs), often contain noncanonical amino acids and structural motifs that give rise to potent biological activity. However, these motifs can be difficult to obtain synthetically, thereby limiting the transition of RiPPs to the clinic. Aminovinyl cysteine containing peptides, which display potent antimicrobial or anticancer activity, possess an intricate C-terminal ring that is critical for bioactivity. To date, successful methods for the total chemical synthesis of such peptides are yet to be realized, although several advancements have been achieved. In this perspective, we review this burgeoning class of aminovinyl cysteine peptides and critically evaluate the chemical strategies to install the distinct aminovinyl cysteine motif.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily
S. Grant-Mackie
- School
of Chemical Sciences, The University of
Auckland, 23 Symonds Street, Auckland 1132, New Zealand
| | - Elyse T. Williams
- School
of Chemical Sciences, The University of
Auckland, 23 Symonds Street, Auckland 1132, New Zealand
| | - Paul W. R. Harris
- School
of Chemical Sciences, The University of
Auckland, 23 Symonds Street, Auckland 1132, New Zealand
- School
of Biological Sciences, The University of
Auckland, 3b Symonds
Street, Auckland 1132, New Zealand
- The
Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, The University of Auckland, 3b Symonds Street, Auckland 1132, New Zealand
| | - Margaret A. Brimble
- School
of Chemical Sciences, The University of
Auckland, 23 Symonds Street, Auckland 1132, New Zealand
- School
of Biological Sciences, The University of
Auckland, 3b Symonds
Street, Auckland 1132, New Zealand
- The
Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, The University of Auckland, 3b Symonds Street, Auckland 1132, New Zealand
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Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of enrofloxacin treatment of Escherichia coli in a murine thigh infection modeling. BMC Vet Res 2021; 17:212. [PMID: 34107961 PMCID: PMC8191022 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-021-02908-8] [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] [Received: 03/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Enrofloxacin is an antibacterial drug with broad-spectrum activity that is widely indicated for veterinary use. We aim to develop the clinical applications of Enrofloxacin against colibacillosis by using the neutropenic mice thigh infection model. RESULTS The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) distribution of 67 isolated E. coli strains to ENR was calculated using CLSI guidelines. Whereas, the MIC50 value calculation was considered as the population PD parameter for ENR against E. coli strains. The MIC values of 15 E. coli strains were found to be nearest to the MIC50 i.e., 0.25 μg/mL. Of all the tested strains, the PK-PD and E. coli disease model was established via selected E. coli strain i.e., Heilong 15. We analyzed the PK characteristics of ENR and its metabolite ciprofloxacin (CIP) following a single subcutaneous (s.c.) injection of ENR (1.25, 2.5, 5, 10 mg/kg). The concentration-time profiling of ENR within the plasma specimens was determined by considering the non-compartmental analysis (NCA). The basic PK parameters of ENR for the peak drug concentration (Cmax) and the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) values were found to be in the range of 0.27-1.97 μg/mL and 0.62-3.14 μg.h/mL, respectively. Multiple s.c. injection over 24 h (1.25, 2.5, 5, 10 mg/kg at various time points i.e., 6, 8, 12, and 24 h respectively) were administered to assess the targeted PD values. The Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) was used to choose PD models, and the model with the lowest AIC was chosen. The inhibitory Emax model was employed to calculate the related PK-PD parameters. The results of our study indicated that there was a strong correlation between the AUC/MIC and various antibacterial activities (R2 = 0.9928). The target values of dividing AUC/MIC by 24 h for bacteriostatic action were 1-log10 reduction, 2-log10 reduction, and 3-log10 reduction 0.325, 0.4375, 0.63, and 0.95 accordingly. CONCLUSION The identified pharmacodynamics targets for various antibacterial effects will be crucial in enhancing ENR clinical applications and serving as a key step in reducing bacterial resistance.
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Karczewski J, Brown CM, Maezato Y, Krasucki SP, Streatfield SJ. Efficacy of a novel lantibiotic, CMB001, against MRSA. J Antimicrob Chemother 2021; 76:1532-1538. [PMID: 33582800 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkab040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To evaluate the efficacy of a novel lantibiotic, CMB001, against MRSA biofilms in vitro and in an in vivo experimental model of bacterial infection. METHODS Antibacterial activity of CMB001 was measured in vitro after its exposure to whole blood or to platelet-poor plasma. In vitro efficacy of CMB001 against a Staphylococcus aureus biofilm was studied using scanning electron microscopy. The maximum tolerable dose in mice was determined and a preliminary pharmacokinetic analysis for CMB001 was performed in mice. In vivo efficacy was evaluated in a neutropenic mouse thigh model of infection. RESULTS CMB001 maintained its antibacterial activity in the presence of blood or plasma for up to 24 h at 37°C. CMB001 efficiently killed S. aureus within the biofilm by causing significant damage to the bacterial cell wall. The maximum tolerable dose in mice was established to be 10 mg/kg and could be increased to 30 mg/kg in mice pretreated with antihistamines. In neutropenic mice infected with MRSA, treatment with CMB001 reduced the bacterial burden with an efficacy equivalent to that of vancomycin. CONCLUSIONS CMB001 offers potential as an alternative treatment option to combat MRSA. It will be of interest to evaluate the in vivo efficacy of CMB001 against infections caused by other pathogens, including Clostridioides difficile and Acinetobacter baumannii, and to expand its pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic parameters and safety profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerzy Karczewski
- Fraunhofer USA Center for Molecular Biotechnology, Newark, DE 19711, USA
| | - Christine M Brown
- Fraunhofer USA Center for Molecular Biotechnology, Newark, DE 19711, USA
| | - Yukari Maezato
- Fraunhofer USA Center for Molecular Biotechnology, Newark, DE 19711, USA
| | - Stephen P Krasucki
- Fraunhofer USA Center for Molecular Biotechnology, Newark, DE 19711, USA
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10
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Huang F, Teng K, Liu Y, Cao Y, Wang T, Ma C, Zhang J, Zhong J. Bacteriocins: Potential for Human Health. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2021; 2021:5518825. [PMID: 33936381 PMCID: PMC8055394 DOI: 10.1155/2021/5518825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Due to the challenges of antibiotic resistance to global health, bacteriocins as antimicrobial compounds have received more and more attention. Bacteriocins are biosynthesized by various microbes and are predominantly used as food preservatives to control foodborne pathogens. Now, increasing researches have focused on bacteriocins as potential clinical antimicrobials or immune-modulating agents to fight against the global threat to human health. Given the broad- or narrow-spectrum antimicrobial activity, bacteriocins have been reported to inhibit a wide range of clinically pathogenic and multidrug-resistant bacteria, thus preventing the infections caused by these bacteria in the human body. Otherwise, some bacteriocins also show anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and immune-modulatory activities. Because of the safety and being not easy to cause drug resistance, some bacteriocins appear to have better efficacy and application prospects than existing therapeutic agents do. In this review, we highlight the potential therapeutic activities of bacteriocins and suggest opportunities for their application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuqing Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100008, China
| | - Kunling Teng
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Yayong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100008, China
| | - Yanhong Cao
- The Animal Husbandry Research Institute of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning 530000, China
| | - Tianwei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Cui Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Jin Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100008, China
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11
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Pipiya SO, Terekhov SS, Mokrushina YA, Knorre VD, Smirnov IV, Gabibov AG. Engineering Artificial Biodiversity of Lantibiotics to Expand Chemical Space of DNA-Encoded Antibiotics. BIOCHEMISTRY. BIOKHIMIIA 2020; 85:1319-1334. [PMID: 33280576 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297920110048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The discovery of antibiotics was one of the fundamental stages in the development of humanity, leading to a dramatic increase in the life expectancy of millions of people all over the world. The uncontrolled use of antibiotics resulted in the selection of resistant strains of bacteria, limiting the effectiveness of antimicrobial therapy nowadays. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) were considered promising candidates for next-generation antibiotics for a long time. However, the practical application of AMPs is restricted by their low therapeutic indices, impaired pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics, which is predetermined by their peptide structure. Nevertheless, the DNA-encoded nature of AMPs enables creating broad repertoires of artificial biodiversity of antibiotics, making them versatile templates for the directed evolution of antibiotic activity. Lantibiotics are a unique class of AMPs with an expanded chemical space. A variety of post-translational modifications, mechanisms of action on bacterial membranes, and DNA-encoded nature make them a convenient molecular template for creating highly representative libraries of antimicrobial compounds. Isolation of new drug candidates from this synthetic biodiversity is extremely attractive but requires high-throughput screening of antibiotic activity. The combination of synthetic biology and ultrahigh-throughput microfluidics allows implementing the concept of directed evolution of lantibiotics for accelerated creation of new promising drug candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- S O Pipiya
- Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997, Russia
| | - S S Terekhov
- Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997, Russia
- Faculty of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Yu A Mokrushina
- Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997, Russia
- Faculty of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - V D Knorre
- Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997, Russia
| | - I V Smirnov
- Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997, Russia.
- Faculty of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - A G Gabibov
- Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997, Russia
- Faculty of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia
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12
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Dreyer L, Smith C, Deane SM, Dicks LMT, van Staden AD. Migration of Bacteriocins Across Gastrointestinal Epithelial and Vascular Endothelial Cells, as Determined Using In Vitro Simulations. Sci Rep 2019; 9:11481. [PMID: 31391488 PMCID: PMC6685951 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-47843-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Little is known about the migration of bacteriocins across human cells. In this study, we report on migration of three bacteriocins nisin, plantaricin 423 and bacST4SA across colonic adenocarcinoma (Caco-2) cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Bacteriocins were fluorescently labelled while still maintaining antimicrobial activity. Migration of fluorescently labelled bacteriocins across monolayers was assessed in vitro using transmigration well inserts. After 3 h, 75% of nisin, 85% of plantaricin 423 and 82% of bacST4SA migrated across the Caco-2 cell monolayer. Over the same time span, 88% nisin, 93% plantaricin 423 and 91% bacST4SA migrated across the HUVEC monolayer. The viability of both cell types remained unchanged when exposed to 50 µM of nisin, plantaricin 423 or bacST4SA. The effect of human plasma on bacteriocin activity was also assessed. Activity loss was dependent on bacteriocin type and concentration, with the class-IIa bacteriocins retaining more activity compared to nisin. This is the first report of bacteriocins migrating across simulated gastrointestinal- and vascular-barriers. This study provides some of the first evidence that bacteriocins are capable of crossing the gut-blood-barrier. However, in vivo studies need to be performed to confirm these findings and expand on the role of bacteriocin migration across cell barriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leané Dreyer
- Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa
| | - Carine Smith
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa
| | - Shelly M Deane
- Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa
| | - Leon M T Dicks
- Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa.
| | - Anton D van Staden
- Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa.
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa.
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13
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Wicha WW, Craig WA, Andes D. In vivo pharmacodynamics of lefamulin, the first systemic pleuromutilin for human use, in a neutropenic murine thigh infection model. J Antimicrob Chemother 2019; 74:iii5-iii10. [PMID: 30949706 PMCID: PMC6449574 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkz085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To characterize the pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of lefamulin in the neutropenic murine thigh infection model to ascertain (i) which PK/PD index best correlates with efficacy and (ii) whether the magnitude of the index that drives efficacy varies for different pathogens. METHODS We evaluated the in vivo PK/PD of lefamulin against five Streptococcus pneumoniae and five Staphylococcus aureus strains using a neutropenic murine thigh infection model. The relationships between bacterial burden in the thigh of normal and neutropenic mice after 24 h of lefamulin treatment and various PK/PD indices were determined. RESULTS The kinetics of the three doses was linear by AUC. Rate of killing was maximal at concentrations near the MIC; suppression of regrowth was dose dependent, with a post-antibiotic effect of 3.0-3.5 and 1.0-1.5 h against S. pneumoniae and S. aureus, respectively. The efficacy of lefamulin correlated most strongly with the AUC0-24/MIC ratio; coefficient of determination was 79.9% for S. pneumoniae and 78.3% for S. aureus. The magnitude of the 24 h AUC/MIC of total drug required ranged from 9.92 to 32.1 for S. pneumoniae and 40.2 to 82.5 for S. aureus, corresponding to free drug values (∼20% free fraction) of 1.98-6.42 and 8.04-16.5, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Lefamulin, the first systemically available pleuromutilin in humans, exhibits time- and concentration-dependent killing. The presence of white blood cells had only a slight effect in enhancing the activity of the drug, indicating a leucocyte-independent effect. The identified driver of efficacy, the AUC0-24/MIC ratio and the ratios determined against various S. aureus and S. pneumoniae strains, will inform further non-clinical and clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - William A Craig
- University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI, USA
| | - David Andes
- University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI, USA
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14
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Brunati C, Thomsen TT, Gaspari E, Maffioli S, Sosio M, Jabes D, Løbner-Olesen A, Donadio S. Expanding the potential of NAI-107 for treating serious ESKAPE pathogens: synergistic combinations against Gram-negatives and bactericidal activity against non-dividing cells. J Antimicrob Chemother 2019; 73:414-424. [PMID: 29092042 PMCID: PMC5890740 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkx395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2017] [Accepted: 09/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives To characterize NAI-107 and related lantibiotics for their in vitro activity against Gram-negative pathogens, alone or in combination with polymyxin, and against non-dividing cells or biofilms of Staphylococcus aureus. NAI-107 was also evaluated for its propensity to select or induce self-resistance in Gram-positive bacteria. Methods We used MIC determinations and chequerboard experiments to establish the antibacterial activity of the examined compounds against target microorganisms. Time-kill assays were used to evaluate killing of exponential and stationary-phase cells. The effects on biofilms (growth inhibition and biofilm eradication) were evaluated using biofilm-coated pegs. The frequency of spontaneous resistant mutants was evaluated by either direct plating or by continuous sub-culturing at 0.5 × MIC levels, followed by population analysis profiles. Results The results showed that NAI-107 and its brominated variant are highly active against Neisseria gonorrhoeae and some other fastidious Gram-negative pathogens. Furthermore, all compounds strongly synergized with polymyxin against Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and showed bactericidal activity. Surprisingly, NAI-107 alone was bactericidal against non-dividing A. baumannii cells. Against S. aureus, NAI-107 and related lantibiotics showed strong bactericidal activity against dividing and non-dividing cells. Activity was also observed against S. aureus biofilms. As expected for a lipid II binder, no significant resistance to NAI-107 was observed by direct plating or serial passages. Conclusions Overall, the results of the current work, along with previously published results on the efficacy of NAI-107 in experimental models of infection, indicate that this lantibiotic represents a promising option in addressing the serious threat of antibiotic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Brunati
- NAICONS Srl, Viale Ortles 22/4, 20139 Milano, Italy.,KtedoGen Srl, Viale Ortles 22/4, 20139 Milano, Italy
| | - Thomas T Thomsen
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaløe's Vej 5, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | | | - Margherita Sosio
- NAICONS Srl, Viale Ortles 22/4, 20139 Milano, Italy.,KtedoGen Srl, Viale Ortles 22/4, 20139 Milano, Italy
| | | | - Anders Løbner-Olesen
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaløe's Vej 5, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Stefano Donadio
- NAICONS Srl, Viale Ortles 22/4, 20139 Milano, Italy.,KtedoGen Srl, Viale Ortles 22/4, 20139 Milano, Italy
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15
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Ghazi IM, Monogue ML, Tsuji M, Nicolau DP. Pharmacodynamics of cefiderocol, a novel siderophore cephalosporin, in a Pseudomonas aeruginosa neutropenic murine thigh model. Int J Antimicrob Agents 2018; 51:206-212. [PMID: 29111435 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2017.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2017] [Revised: 10/11/2017] [Accepted: 10/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Cefiderocol is a siderophore cephalosporin that displays potent in vitro activity against multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria. This study aimed to describe the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and 24-h efficacy of cefiderocol using dose-ranging methods in a neutropenic murine thigh infection model. Infection was established in neutropenic mice (administered cyclophosphamide 150 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg at 4 days and 1 day prior to inoculation, respectively) with eight Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates [minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) range 0.063-0.5 µg/mL] that displayed variable in vivo activity against previously tested β-lactams with siderophore moieties. Renal excretion was controlled by administration of 5 mg/kg uranyl nitrate 3 days prior to inoculation. Cefiderocol was administered subcutaneously in eight escalating doses [4.2-166.7 mg/kg every 8 h (q8h)]. In pharmacokinetic studies, cefiderocol manifested similar pharmacokinetics across tested doses (4, 100 and 250 mg/kg) with a mean half-life of 0.86 h. In pharmacodynamic studies, the change in CFU after 24 h from the initial inoculum ranged from +3.4 to -3.1 log10 with doses of 4.2-166.7 mg/kg q8h. Dose-response curves for the eight isolates assumed the characteristic sigmoidal shape, with greater CFU reductions as the dose increased. Focusing on the previously defined efficacy parameter of fT>MIC (time that the free drug concentration exceeds the MIC) for this compound, targets for stasis and 1 log10 and 2 log10 reductions ranged from 44.4-94.7, 50.2-97.5 and 62.1-100, respectively. Cefiderocol displayed sustained antibacterial effects against these MDR P. aeruginosa isolates. These data support the cefiderocol dose selected for clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Islam M Ghazi
- Center for Anti-Infective Research and Development, Hartford Hospital, 80 Seymour Street, Hartford, CT 06102, USA
| | - Marguerite L Monogue
- Center for Anti-Infective Research and Development, Hartford Hospital, 80 Seymour Street, Hartford, CT 06102, USA
| | - Masakatsu Tsuji
- Drug Discovery & Disease Research Laboratory, Shionogi & Co., Ltd., Osaka, Japan
| | - David P Nicolau
- Center for Anti-Infective Research and Development, Hartford Hospital, 80 Seymour Street, Hartford, CT 06102, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT, USA.
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16
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Gomes KM, Duarte RS, de Freire Bastos MDC. Lantibiotics produced by Actinobacteria and their potential applications (a review). MICROBIOLOGY-SGM 2017; 163:109-121. [PMID: 28270262 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.000397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The phylum Actinobacteria, which comprises a great variety of Gram-positive bacteria with a high G+C content in their genomes, is known for its large production of bioactive compounds, including those with antimicrobial activity. Among the antimicrobials, bacteriocins, ribosomally synthesized peptides, represent an important arsenal of potential new drugs to face the increasing prevalence of resistance to antibiotics among microbial pathogens. The actinobacterial bacteriocins form a heterogeneous group of substances that is difficult to adapt to most proposed classification schemes. However, recent updates have accommodated efficiently the diversity of bacteriocins produced by this phylum. Among the bacteriocins, the lantibiotics represent a source of new antimicrobials to control infections caused mainly by Gram-positive bacteria and with a low propensity for resistance development. Moreover, some of these compounds have additional biological properties, exhibiting activity against viruses and tumour cells and having also potential to be used in blood pressure or inflammation control and in pain relief. Thus, lantibiotics already described in Actinobacteria exhibit potential practical applications in medical settings, food industry and agriculture, with examples at different stages of pre-clinical and clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Machado Gomes
- Departamento de Microbiologia Médica, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rafael Silva Duarte
- Departamento de Microbiologia Médica, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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17
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Repka LM, Chekan JR, Nair SK, van der Donk WA. Mechanistic Understanding of Lanthipeptide Biosynthetic Enzymes. Chem Rev 2017; 117:5457-5520. [PMID: 28135077 PMCID: PMC5408752 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.6b00591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 320] [Impact Index Per Article: 45.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
![]()
Lanthipeptides
are ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally
modified peptides (RiPPs) that display a wide variety of biological
activities, from antimicrobial to antiallodynic. Lanthipeptides that
display antimicrobial activity are called lantibiotics. The post-translational
modification reactions of lanthipeptides include dehydration of Ser
and Thr residues to dehydroalanine and dehydrobutyrine, a transformation
that is carried out in three unique ways in different classes of lanthipeptides.
In a cyclization process, Cys residues then attack the dehydrated
residues to generate the lanthionine and methyllanthionine thioether
cross-linked amino acids from which lanthipeptides derive their name.
The resulting polycyclic peptides have constrained conformations that
confer their biological activities. After installation of the characteristic
thioether cross-links, tailoring enzymes introduce additional post-translational
modifications that are unique to each lanthipeptide and that fine-tune
their activities and/or stability. This review focuses on studies
published over the past decade that have provided much insight into
the mechanisms of the enzymes that carry out the post-translational
modifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay M Repka
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Chemistry, ‡Department of Biochemistry, and §Center for Biophysics and Computational Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , 600 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Jonathan R Chekan
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Chemistry, ‡Department of Biochemistry, and §Center for Biophysics and Computational Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , 600 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Satish K Nair
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Chemistry, ‡Department of Biochemistry, and §Center for Biophysics and Computational Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , 600 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Wilfred A van der Donk
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Chemistry, ‡Department of Biochemistry, and §Center for Biophysics and Computational Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , 600 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
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18
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Ongey EL, Yassi H, Pflugmacher S, Neubauer P. Pharmacological and pharmacokinetic properties of lanthipeptides undergoing clinical studies. Biotechnol Lett 2017; 39:473-482. [PMID: 28044226 DOI: 10.1007/s10529-016-2279-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2016] [Accepted: 12/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The intrinsic qualities of lanthipeptides for their use as therapeutic drugs present several challenges because of their properties, which include stability, solubility and bioavailability, which, under physiological conditions, are very low. Researches have encouraged clinical evaluation of a few compounds, such as mutacin 1140, microbisporicin, actagardine and duramycin, with pharmacokinetic profiles showing rapid distribution and elimination rates, good bioavailability and fecal excretion, as well as high protein binding. Local and parenteral administration are currently suitable to minimize environmental influences on lanthipeptides and ensure efficient activity. Nevertheless, valuable improvements on pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties may also permit systemic applications via enteral routes. Understanding how rational modifications influence the desired pharmacological and pharmacokinetic properties of these biomolecules would help to answer some specific questions about their susceptibility to environmental changes, mechanism of action and how to engineer other peptides of the same group to improve their clinical relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elvis Legala Ongey
- Chair of Bioprocess Engineering, Department of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Ackerstraße 76, ACK24, 13355, Berlin, Germany. .,Department of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Ackerstraße 76, ACK24, 13355, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Hüseyin Yassi
- Chair of Bioprocess Engineering, Department of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Ackerstraße 76, ACK24, 13355, Berlin, Germany
| | - Stephan Pflugmacher
- Department Ecological Impact Research and Ecotoxicology, Institute of Ecology, Berlin Institute of Technology (BIT), 10538, Berlin, Germany
| | - Peter Neubauer
- Chair of Bioprocess Engineering, Department of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Ackerstraße 76, ACK24, 13355, Berlin, Germany
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19
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Garg N, Goto Y, Chen T, van der Donk WA. Characterization of the stereochemical configuration of lanthionines formed by the lanthipeptide synthetase GeoM. Biopolymers 2016; 106:834-842. [PMID: 27178086 PMCID: PMC5108700 DOI: 10.1002/bip.22876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2016] [Revised: 04/13/2016] [Accepted: 04/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The biosynthesis of the class II lanthipeptide geobacillin II was reconstituted in vitro. The purified precursor peptide was modified by the lanthipeptide synthetase GeoM at temperatures ranging between 37 and 80°C demonstrating the thermostability of the enzyme. Geobacillin II shares with cytolysin, haloduracin, and carnolysin a DhxDhxXxxXxxCys motif (Dhx = dehydroalanine or dehydrobutyrine) as precursor to its N-terminal A-ring. Like in these other three lantibiotics, the lanthionine in the A-ring of geobacillin II had the LL stereochemical configuration as shown by chiral gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Various analogues of geobacillin II were produced using co-expression of mutants of the precursor peptide GeoAII and the synthetase GeoM in Escherichia coli. The findings in this study suggest that the stereochemical outcome of the A-ring in geobacillin II is not solely dependent on the peptide sequence as previously suggested for haloduracin © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers (Pept Sci) 106: 834-842, 2016.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neha Garg
- Roger Adams Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Yuki Goto
- Roger Adams Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Ting Chen
- College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Wilfred A. van der Donk
- Roger Adams Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute
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20
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Araújo-Bazán L, Ruiz-Avila LB, Andreu D, Huecas S, Andreu JM. Cytological Profile of Antibacterial FtsZ Inhibitors and Synthetic Peptide MciZ. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:1558. [PMID: 27752253 PMCID: PMC5045927 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.01558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2016] [Accepted: 09/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell division protein FtsZ is the organizer of the cytokinetic ring in almost all bacteria and a target for the discovery of new antibacterial agents that are needed to counter widespread antibiotic resistance. Bacterial cytological profiling, using quantitative microscopy, is a powerful approach for identifying the mechanism of action of antibacterial molecules affecting different cellular pathways. We have determined the cytological profile on Bacillus subtilis cells of a selection of small molecule inhibitors targeting FtsZ on different binding sites. FtsZ inhibitors lead to long undivided cells, impair the normal assembly of FtsZ into the midcell Z-rings, induce aberrant ring distributions, punctate FtsZ foci, membrane spots and also modify nucleoid length. Quantitative analysis of cell and nucleoid length combined, or the Z-ring distribution, allows categorizing FtsZ inhibitors and to distinguish them from antibiotics with other mechanisms of action, which should be useful for identifying new antibacterial FtsZ inhibitors. Biochemical assays of FtsZ polymerization and GTPase activity combined explain the cellular effects of the FtsZ polymer stabilizing agent PC190723 and its fragments. MciZ is a 40-aminoacid endogenous inhibitor of cell division normally expressed during sporulation in B. subtilis. Using FtsZ cytological profiling we have determined that exogenous synthetic MciZ is an effective inhibitor of B. subtilis cell division, Z-ring formation and localization. This finding supports our cell-based approach to screen for FtsZ inhibitors and opens new possibilities for peptide inhibitors of bacterial cell division.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lidia Araújo-Bazán
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura B Ruiz-Avila
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas Madrid, Spain
| | - David Andreu
- Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sonia Huecas
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas Madrid, Spain
| | - José M Andreu
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas Madrid, Spain
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21
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Montalbán-López M, van Heel AJ, Kuipers OP. Employing the promiscuity of lantibiotic biosynthetic machineries to produce novel antimicrobials. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2016; 41:5-18. [PMID: 27591436 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuw034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 03/07/2016] [Accepted: 07/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
As the number of new antibiotics that reach the market is decreasing and the demand for them is rising, alternative sources of novel antimicrobials are needed. Lantibiotics are potent peptide antimicrobials that are ribosomally synthesized and stabilized by post-translationally introduced lanthionine rings. Their ribosomal synthesis and enzymatic modifications provide excellent opportunities to design and engineer a large variety of novel antimicrobial compounds. The research conducted in this area demonstrates that the modularity present in both the peptidic rings as well as in the combination of promiscuous modification enzymes can be exploited to further increase the diversity of lantibiotics. Various approaches, where the modifying enzymes and corresponding leader peptides are decoupled from their natural core peptide and integrated in designed plug-and-play production systems, enable the production of modified peptides that are either derived from vast genomic data or designed using functional parts from a wide diversity of core peptides. These approaches constitute a powerful discovery platform to develop novel antimicrobials with high therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Montalbán-López
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747AG Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Auke J van Heel
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747AG Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Oscar P Kuipers
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747AG Groningen, the Netherlands
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22
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The Lantibiotic NAI-107 Efficiently Rescues Drosophila melanogaster from Infection with Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus USA300. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2016; 60:5427-36. [PMID: 27381394 PMCID: PMC4997821 DOI: 10.1128/aac.02965-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2015] [Accepted: 06/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
We used the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster as a cost-effective in vivo model to evaluate the efficacy of novel antibacterial peptides and peptoids for treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections. A panel of peptides with known antibacterial activity in vitro and/or in vivo was tested in Drosophila Although most peptides and peptoids that were effective in vitro failed to rescue lethal effects of S. aureus infections in vivo, we found that two lantibiotics, nisin and NAI-107, rescued adult flies from fatal infections. Furthermore, NAI-107 rescued mortality of infection with the MRSA strain USA300 with an efficacy equivalent to that of vancomycin, a widely applied antibiotic for the treatment of serious MRSA infections. These results establish Drosophila as a useful model for in vivo drug evaluation of antibacterial peptides.
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23
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Antibacterial activity of the novel semisynthetic lantibiotic NVB333 in vitro and in experimental infection models. J Antibiot (Tokyo) 2016; 69:850-857. [PMID: 27189121 DOI: 10.1038/ja.2016.47] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2015] [Revised: 02/26/2016] [Accepted: 04/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
NVB333 is a novel semisynthetic lantibiotic derived from the amide coupling of 3,5-dichlorobenzylamine to the C-terminal of deoxyactagardine B. The in vitro activity of NVB333 includes efficacy against clinically relevant pathogens including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus spp. NVB333 shows no cross-resistance with other antibiotics tested and a very low propensity for resistance development. After intravenous dosing NVB333 has high exposure in mouse plasma and shows generally improved in vivo activity compared with vancomycin in mouse infection models despite modest MIC values. In thigh infection models, promising efficacy was demonstrated against several strains of S. aureus including methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus (VISA) strains, and against Enterococcus faecalis UNT126-3. Area under the concentration curve (AUC)/MIC was shown to be the best predictor of efficacy against S. aureus UNT103-3 with an AUC/MIC of 138 (uncorrected for protein binding) achieving a static effect. NVB333 was also effective in a disseminated infection model where it conferred complete survival from the MRSA strain ATCC 33591. NVB333 showed rather modest lung penetration after intravenous dosing (AUC in lung 2-3% of plasma AUC), but because of very high plasma exposure, therapeutic levels of compound were achieved in the lung. Efficacy at least equal to vancomycin was demonstrated against an MRSA strain (UNT084-3) in a bronchoalveolar infection model. The impressive in vivo efficacy of NVB333 and strong resistance prognosis makes this compound an interesting candidate for development for treating systemic Gram-positive infections.
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Czaplewski L, Bax R, Clokie M, Dawson M, Fairhead H, Fischetti VA, Foster S, Gilmore BF, Hancock REW, Harper D, Henderson IR, Hilpert K, Jones BV, Kadioglu A, Knowles D, Ólafsdóttir S, Payne D, Projan S, Shaunak S, Silverman J, Thomas CM, Trust TJ, Warn P, Rex JH. Alternatives to antibiotics-a pipeline portfolio review. THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2016; 16:239-51. [PMID: 26795692 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(15)00466-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 533] [Impact Index Per Article: 66.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2015] [Revised: 11/06/2015] [Accepted: 11/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotics have saved countless lives and enabled the development of modern medicine over the past 70 years. However, it is clear that the success of antibiotics might only have been temporary and we now expect a long-term and perhaps never-ending challenge to find new therapies to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria. A broader approach to address bacterial infection is needed. In this Review, we discuss alternatives to antibiotics, which we defined as non-compound approaches (products other than classic antibacterial agents) that target bacteria or any approaches that target the host. The most advanced approaches are antibodies, probiotics, and vaccines in phase 2 and phase 3 trials. This first wave of alternatives to antibiotics will probably best serve as adjunctive or preventive therapies, which suggests that conventional antibiotics are still needed. Funding of more than £1·5 billion is needed over 10 years to test and develop these alternatives to antibiotics. Investment needs to be partnered with translational expertise and targeted to support the validation of these approaches in phase 2 trials, which would be a catalyst for active engagement and investment by the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry. Only a sustained, concerted, and coordinated international effort will provide the solutions needed for the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lloyd Czaplewski
- Chemical Biology Ventures, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, UK; Abgentis, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK; Persica Pharmaceuticals, Canterbury, Kent, UK.
| | | | - Martha Clokie
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Mike Dawson
- Novacta Biosystems, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, UK; Cantab Anti-infectives, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, UK
| | | | - Vincent A Fischetti
- Laboratory of Bacterial Pathogenesis and Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Simon Foster
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK; Absynth Biologics, Liverpool, UK
| | | | - Robert E W Hancock
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - David Harper
- Evolution Biotechnologies, Ampthill, Bedfordshire, UK
| | - Ian R Henderson
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK
| | - Kai Hilpert
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, St George's, University of London, London, UK; TiKa Diagnostics, London, UK
| | - Brian V Jones
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Brighton, Brighton, UK; Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, East Grinstead, West Sussex, UK
| | - Aras Kadioglu
- Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - David Knowles
- Absynth Biologics, Liverpool, UK; Procarta Biosystems, Norwich, UK
| | | | - David Payne
- GlaxoSmithKline, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, PA, USA
| | | | - Sunil Shaunak
- Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | | - Christopher M Thomas
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK; Plasgene, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK
| | - Trevor J Trust
- Pan-Provincial Vaccine Enterprise, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | | | - John H Rex
- AstraZeneca, Boston, MA, USA; F2G, Manchester, UK
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Gallo G, Renzone G, Palazzotto E, Monciardini P, Arena S, Faddetta T, Giardina A, Alduina R, Weber T, Sangiorgi F, Russo A, Spinelli G, Sosio M, Scaloni A, Puglia AM. Elucidating the molecular physiology of lantibiotic NAI-107 production in Microbispora ATCC-PTA-5024. BMC Genomics 2016; 17:42. [PMID: 26754974 PMCID: PMC4709908 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-016-2369-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2015] [Accepted: 01/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The filamentous actinomycete Microbispora ATCC-PTA-5024 produces the lantibiotic NAI-107, which is an antibiotic peptide effective against multidrug-resistant Gram-positive bacteria. In actinomycetes, antibiotic production is often associated with a physiological differentiation program controlled by a complex regulatory and metabolic network that may be elucidated by the integration of genomic, proteomic and bioinformatic tools. Accordingly, an extensive evaluation of the proteomic changes associated with NAI-107 production was performed on Microbispora ATCC-PTA-5024 by combining two-dimensional difference in gel electrophoresis, mass spectrometry and gene ontology approaches. Results Microbispora ATCC-PTA-5024 cultivations in a complex medium were characterized by stages of biomass accumulation (A) followed by biomass yield decline (D). NAI-107 production started at 90 h (A stage), reached a maximum at 140 h (D stage) and decreased thereafter. To reveal patterns of differentially represented proteins associated with NAI-107 production onset and maintenance, differential proteomic analyses were carried-out on biomass samples collected: i) before (66 h) and during (90 h) NAI-107 production at A stage; ii) during three time-points (117, 140, and 162 h) at D stage characterized by different profiles of NAI-107 yield accumulation (117 and 140 h) and decrement (162 h). Regulatory, metabolic and unknown-function proteins, were identified and functionally clustered, revealing that nutritional signals, regulatory cascades and primary metabolism shift-down trigger the accumulation of protein components involved in nitrogen and phosphate metabolism, cell wall biosynthesis/maturation, lipid metabolism, osmotic stress response, multi-drug resistance, and NAI-107 transport. The stimulating role on physiological differentiation of a TetR-like regulator, originally identified in this study, was confirmed by the construction of an over-expressing strain. Finally, the possible role of cellular response to membrane stability alterations and of multi-drug resistance ABC transporters as additional self-resistance mechanisms toward the lantibiotic was confirmed by proteomic and confocal microscopy experiments on a Microbispora ATCC-PTA-5024 lantibiotic-null producer strain which was exposed to an externally-added amount of NAI-107 during growth. Conclusion This study provides a net contribution to the elucidation of the regulatory, metabolic and molecular patterns controlling physiological differentiation in Microbispora ATCC-PTA-5024, supporting the relevance of proteomics in revealing protein players of antibiotic biosynthesis in actinomycetes. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-016-2369-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Gallo
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, STEBICEF Department, University of Palermo, 90128, Palermo, Italy.
| | - Giovanni Renzone
- Proteomic and Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, ISPAAM, National Research Council, 80147, Naples, Italy
| | - Emilia Palazzotto
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, STEBICEF Department, University of Palermo, 90128, Palermo, Italy
| | | | - Simona Arena
- Proteomic and Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, ISPAAM, National Research Council, 80147, Naples, Italy
| | - Teresa Faddetta
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, STEBICEF Department, University of Palermo, 90128, Palermo, Italy
| | - Anna Giardina
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, STEBICEF Department, University of Palermo, 90128, Palermo, Italy
| | - Rosa Alduina
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, STEBICEF Department, University of Palermo, 90128, Palermo, Italy
| | - Tilmann Weber
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2970, Hørsholm, Denmark.,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) partner site Tübingen, 72074, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Fabio Sangiorgi
- Sistema Informativo di Ateneo (SIA), Area Servizi di Rete, University of Palermo, 90128, Palermo, Italy
| | - Alessandro Russo
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, STEBICEF Department, University of Palermo, 90128, Palermo, Italy
| | - Giovanni Spinelli
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, STEBICEF Department, University of Palermo, 90128, Palermo, Italy
| | | | - Andrea Scaloni
- Proteomic and Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, ISPAAM, National Research Council, 80147, Naples, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Puglia
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, STEBICEF Department, University of Palermo, 90128, Palermo, Italy
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Cruz JCS, Iorio M, Monciardini P, Simone M, Brunati C, Gaspari E, Maffioli SI, Wellington E, Sosio M, Donadio S. Brominated Variant of the Lantibiotic NAI-107 with Enhanced Antibacterial Potency. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2015; 78:2642-2647. [PMID: 26512731 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.5b00576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
We identified an Actinoallomurus strain producing NAI-107, a chlorinated lantibiotic effective against multidrug-resistant Gram-positive pathogens and previously reported from the distantly related genus Microbispora. Inclusion of KBr in the production medium of either the Actinoallomurus or the Microbispora producer readily afforded brominated variants of NAI-107, which were designated as NAI-108. The other post-translational modifications naturally occurring in this lantibiotic family (i.e., hydroxylation of Pro-14 and C-terminal decarboxylation) were unaffected by the presence of a brominated tryptophan. In addition to being the first example of a bromine-containing lantibiotic, NAI-108 displayed a small but consistent improvement in antibacterial activity against all tested strains. The brominated lantibiotic maintained the same rapid bactericidal activity as NAI-107 but at reduced concentrations, consistent with its increased potency and with the role played by the hydrophobicity of the first lanthionine ring. NAI-108 thus represents an interesting addition to a promising family of potent and effective lantibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- João C S Cruz
- KtedoGen Srl , Viale Ortles 22/4, 20139 Milano, Italy
- University of Warwick , Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | | | - Paolo Monciardini
- KtedoGen Srl , Viale Ortles 22/4, 20139 Milano, Italy
- Naicons Srl , Viale Ortles 22/4, 20139 Milano, Italy
| | - Matteo Simone
- Naicons Srl , Viale Ortles 22/4, 20139 Milano, Italy
| | - Cristina Brunati
- University of Warwick , Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
- Naicons Srl , Viale Ortles 22/4, 20139 Milano, Italy
| | | | - Sonia I Maffioli
- KtedoGen Srl , Viale Ortles 22/4, 20139 Milano, Italy
- Naicons Srl , Viale Ortles 22/4, 20139 Milano, Italy
| | | | - Margherita Sosio
- KtedoGen Srl , Viale Ortles 22/4, 20139 Milano, Italy
- Naicons Srl , Viale Ortles 22/4, 20139 Milano, Italy
| | - Stefano Donadio
- KtedoGen Srl , Viale Ortles 22/4, 20139 Milano, Italy
- Naicons Srl , Viale Ortles 22/4, 20139 Milano, Italy
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Maffioli SI, Cruz JCS, Monciardini P, Sosio M, Donadio S. Advancing cell wall inhibitors towards clinical applications. J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol 2015; 43:177-84. [PMID: 26515981 DOI: 10.1007/s10295-015-1703-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2015] [Accepted: 10/10/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Natural products represent a major source of approved drugs and still play an important role in supplying chemical diversity. Consistently, 2014 has seen new, natural product-derived antibiotics approved for human use by the US Food and Drug Administration. One of the recently approved second-generation glycopeptides is dalbavancin, a semi-synthetic derivative of the natural product A40,926. This compound inhibits bacterial growth by binding to lipid intermediate II (Lipid II), a key intermediate in peptidoglycan biosynthesis. Like other recently approved antibiotics, dalbavancin has a complex history of preclinical and clinical development, with several companies contributing to different steps in different years. While our work on dalbavancin development stopped at the previous company, intriguingly our current pipeline includes two more Lipid II-binding natural products or derivatives thereof. In particular, we will focus on the properties of NAI-107 and related lantibiotics, which originated from recent screening and characterization efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia I Maffioli
- KtedoGen Srl, Viale Ortles 22/4, 20139, Milan, Italy.,Naicons Srl, Viale Ortles 22/4, 20139, Milan, Italy
| | - João C S Cruz
- KtedoGen Srl, Viale Ortles 22/4, 20139, Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo Monciardini
- KtedoGen Srl, Viale Ortles 22/4, 20139, Milan, Italy.,Naicons Srl, Viale Ortles 22/4, 20139, Milan, Italy
| | - Margherita Sosio
- KtedoGen Srl, Viale Ortles 22/4, 20139, Milan, Italy.,Naicons Srl, Viale Ortles 22/4, 20139, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano Donadio
- KtedoGen Srl, Viale Ortles 22/4, 20139, Milan, Italy. .,Naicons Srl, Viale Ortles 22/4, 20139, Milan, Italy.
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Cheah SE, Wang J, Nguyen VTT, Turnidge JD, Li J, Nation RL. New pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic studies of systemically administered colistin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii in mouse thigh and lung infection models: smaller response in lung infection. J Antimicrob Chemother 2015; 70:3291-7. [PMID: 26318190 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkv267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2015] [Accepted: 08/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study investigated the exposure-response relationships between unbound colistin in plasma and antibacterial activity in mouse thigh and lung infections. METHODS Dose fractionation studies (subcutaneous colistin sulphate at 1.25-160 mg/kg/day) were conducted in neutropenic mice in which infection (three strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and three strains of Acinetobacter baumannii) had been produced by intramuscular thigh injection or aerosol lung delivery. Bacterial burden was measured at 24 h after initiation of colistin treatment. Plasma protein binding was measured by rapid equilibrium dialysis and ultracentrifugation. The inhibitory sigmoid dose-effect model and non-linear least squares regression were employed to determine the relationship between exposure to unbound colistin and efficacy. RESULTS Plasma binding of colistin was constant over the concentration range ∼2-50 mg/L. The average ± SD percentage bound for all concentrations was 92.9 ± 3.3% by ultracentrifugation and 90.4 ± 1.1% by equilibrium dialysis. In the thigh model, across all six strains the antibacterial effect of colistin was well correlated with fAUC/MIC (R(2) = 0.82-0.94 for P. aeruginosa and R(2) = 0.84-0.95 for A. baumannii). Target values of fAUC/MIC for 2 log10 kill were 7.4-13.7 for P. aeruginosa and 7.4-17.6 for A. baumannii. In the lung model, for only two strains of P. aeruginosa and one strain of A. baumannii was it possible to achieve 2 log10 kill (fAUC/MIC target values 36.8-105), even at the highest colistin dose tolerated by mice. This dose was not able to achieve bacteriostasis for the other two strains of A. baumannii. CONCLUSIONS Colistin was substantially less effective in lung infection. The pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic target values will assist in the design of optimized dosage regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soon-Ee Cheah
- Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University (Parkville campus), Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Jiping Wang
- Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University (Parkville campus), Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Van Thi Thu Nguyen
- Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University (Parkville campus), Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - John D Turnidge
- Departments of Pathology and Paediatrics and School of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
| | - Jian Li
- Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University (Parkville campus), Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Roger L Nation
- Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University (Parkville campus), Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
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A Novel Microbisporicin Producer Identified by Early Dereplication during Lantibiotic Screening. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2015; 2015:419383. [PMID: 26346738 PMCID: PMC4539421 DOI: 10.1155/2015/419383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2015] [Revised: 05/29/2015] [Accepted: 05/31/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
With the increasing need of effective antibiotics against multi-drug resistant pathogens, lantibiotics are an attractive option of a new class of molecules. They are ribosomally synthetized and posttranslationally modified peptides possessing potent antimicrobial activity against aerobic and anaerobic Gram-positive pathogens, including those increasingly resistant to β-lactams and glycopeptides. Some of them (actagardine, mersacidin, planosporicin, and microbisporicin) inhibit cell wall biosynthesis in pathogens and their effect is not antagonized by vancomycin. Hereby, we apply an efficient strategy for lantibiotic screening to 240 members of a newly described genus of filamentous actinomycetes, named Actinoallomurus, that is considered a yet-poorly-exploited promising source for novel bioactive metabolites. By combining antimicrobial differential assay against Staphylococcus aureus and its L-form (also in the presence of a β-lactamase cocktail or Ac-Lys-D-alanyl-D-alanine tripeptide), with LC-UV-MS dereplication coupled with bioautography, a novel producer of the potent microbisporicin complex was rapidly identified. Under the commercial name of NAI-107, it is currently in late preclinical phase for the treatment of multi-drug resistant Gram-positive pathogens. To our knowledge, this is the first report on a lantibiotic produced by an Actinoallomurus sp. and on a microbisporicin producer not belonging to the Microbispora genus.
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Pozzi R, Coles M, Linke D, Kulik A, Nega M, Wohlleben W, Stegmann E. Distinct mechanisms contribute to immunity in the lantibiotic NAI-107 producer strain Microbispora ATCC PTA-5024. Environ Microbiol 2015; 18:118-32. [PMID: 25923468 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.12892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2015] [Revised: 04/24/2015] [Accepted: 04/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The investigation of self-resistance in antibiotic producers is important to understand the emergence of antibiotic resistance in pathogens and to improve antibiotic production. Lantibiotics are ribosomally synthesized antibiotics that mostly target peptidoglycan biosynthesis. The actinomycete Microbispora ATCC PTA-5024 produces the lantibiotic NAI-107, which interferes with peptidoglycan biosynthesis by binding bactoprenol-pyrophosphate-coupled peptidoglycan precursors. In order to understand how Microbispora counteracts the action of its own antibiotic, its peptidoglycan composition was analysed in detail. Microbispora peptidoglycan consists of muropeptides with D-Ala and Gly in similar proportion at the fourth position of the peptide stems and alternative 3-3 cross-links besides the classical 4-3 cross-links. In addition, the NAI-107 biosynthetic gene cluster (mlb) was analysed for the expression of immunity proteins. We show that distinct immunity determinants are encoded in the mlb cluster: the ABC transporter MlbYZ acting cooperatively with the transmembrane protein MlbJ and the lipoprotein MlbQ. NMR structural analysis of MlbQ revealed a hydrophobic surface patch, which is proposed to bind the cognate lantibiotic. This study demonstrates that immunity in Microbispora is not only based on one determinant but on the action of the distinct immunity proteins MlbQ, MlbYZ and MlbJ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Pozzi
- Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tuebingen, Microbiology/Biotechnology Department, University of Tuebingen, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Murray Coles
- Department of Protein Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Spemannstrasse 35, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Dirk Linke
- Department of Protein Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Spemannstrasse 35, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Andreas Kulik
- Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tuebingen, Microbiology/Biotechnology Department, University of Tuebingen, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Mulugeta Nega
- Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tuebingen, Microbial Genetics Department, University of Tuebingen, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Wohlleben
- Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tuebingen, Microbiology/Biotechnology Department, University of Tuebingen, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Evi Stegmann
- Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tuebingen, Microbiology/Biotechnology Department, University of Tuebingen, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
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Escano J, Smith L. Multipronged approach for engineering novel peptide analogues of existing lantibiotics. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2015; 10:857-70. [PMID: 26004576 DOI: 10.1517/17460441.2015.1049527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Lantibiotics are a class of ribosomally and post-translationally modified peptide antibiotics that are active against a broad spectrum of Gram-positive bacteria. Great efforts have been made to promote the production of these antibiotics, so that they can one day be used in our antimicrobial arsenal to combat multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. AREAS COVERED This review provides a synopsis of lantibiotic research aimed at furthering our understanding of the structural limitation of lantibiotics as well as identifying structural regions that can be modified to improve the bioactivity. In vivo, in vitro and chemical synthesis of lantibiotics has been useful for engineering novel variants with enhanced activities. These approaches have provided novel ways to further our understanding of lantibiotic function and have advanced the objective to develop lantibiotics for the treatment of infectious diseases. EXPERT OPINION Synthesis of lantibiotics with enhanced activities will lead to the discovery of new promising drug candidates that will have a long lasting impact on the treatment of Gram-positive infections. The current body of literature for producing structural variants of lantibiotics has been more of a 'proof-of-principle' approach and the application of these methods has not yet been fully utilized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerome Escano
- Texas A&M University, Department of Biological Sciences, College Station , TX 77843 , USA
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