Pharmacology of novel heteroaromatic polycycle antibacterials

Discovery of antibiotic (E)-3-(3-carboxyphenyl)-2-(4-cyanostyryl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one

In the face of the clinical challenge posed by resistant bacteria, the present needs for novel classes of antibiotics are genuine. In silico docking and screening, followed by chemical synthesis of a library of quinazolinones, led to the discovery of (E)-3-(3-carboxyphenyl)-2-(4-cyanostyryl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (compound 2) as an antibiotic effective in vivo against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). This antibiotic impairs cell-wall biosynthesis as documented by functional assays, showing binding of 2 to penicillin-binding protein (PBP) 2a. We document that the antibiotic also inhibits PBP1 of S. aureus, indicating a broad targeting of structurally similar PBPs by this antibiotic. This class of antibiotics holds promise in fighting MRSA infections.

Minor groove binders as anti-infective agents

Minor groove binders are small molecules that form strong complexes with the minor groove of DNA. There are several structural types of which distamycin and netropsin analogues, oligoamides built from heterocyclic and aromatic amino acids, and bis-amidines separated by aromatic and heterocyclic rings are of particular pharmaceutical interest. These molecules have helical topology that approximately matches the curvature of DNA in the minor groove. Depending upon the precise structure of the minor groove binder, selectivity can be obtained with respect to the DNA base sequence to which the compound binds. Minor groove binders have found substantial applications in anti-cancer therapy but their significance in anti-infective therapy has also been significant and is growing. For example, compounds of the bis-amidine class have been notable contributors to antiparasitic therapy for many years with examples such as berenil and pentamidine being well-known. A recent growth area has been inreased sophistication in the oligoamide class. High sequence selectivity is now possible and compounds with distinct antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and antiparasitic activity have all been identified. Importantly, the structures of the most active compounds attacking the various infective organisms differ significantly but not necessarily predictively. This poses interesting questions of mechanism of action with many different targets involved in DNA processing being candidates. Access of compounds to specific cell types also plays a role and in some cases, can be decisive. Prospects for a range of selective therapeutic agents from this class of compounds are higher now than for some considerable time.

The MUT056399 inhibitor of FabI is a new antistaphylococcal compound

MUT056399 is a highly potent new inhibitor of the FabI enzyme of both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. In vitro, MUT056399 was very active against S. aureus strains, including methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA), methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), linezolid-resistant, and multidrug-resistant strains, with MIC(90)s between 0.03 and 0.12 μg/ml. MUT056399 was also active against coagulase-negative staphylococci, with MIC(90)s between 0.12 and 4 μg/ml. The antibacterial spectrum is consistent with specific FabI inhibition with no activity against bacteria using FabK but activity against FabI-containing Gram-negative bacilli. In vitro, resistant clones of S. aureus were obtained at a low frequency. All of the resistant clones analyzed were found to contain mutations in the fabI gene. In vivo, MUT056399, administered subcutaneously, protected mice from a lethal systemic infection induced by MSSA, MRSA, and vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus strains (50% effective doses ranging from 19.3 mg/kg/day to 49.6 mg/kg/day). In the nonneutropenic murine thigh infection model, the same treatment with MUT056399 reduced the bacterial multiplication of MSSA and MRSA in the thighs of immunocompetent mice. These properties support MUT056399 as a very promising candidate for a novel drug to treat severe staphylococcal infections.

In vivo imaging of pyrrole-imidazole polyamides with positron emission tomography

The biodistribution profiles in mice of two pyrrole-imidazole polyamides were determined by PET. Pyrrole-imidazole polyamides are a class of small molecules that can be programmed to bind a broad repertoire of DNA sequences, disrupt transcription factor-DNA interfaces, and modulate gene expression pathways in cell culture experiments. The (18)F-radiolabeled polyamides were prepared by oxime ligation between 4-[(18)F]-fluorobenzaldehyde and a hydroxylamine moiety at the polyamide C terminus. Small animal PET imaging of radiolabeled polyamides administered to mice revealed distinct differences in the biodistribution of a 5-ring beta-linked polyamide versus an 8-ring hairpin, which exhibited better overall bioavailability. In vivo imaging of pyrrole-imidazole polyamides by PET is a minimum first step toward the translation of polyamide-based gene regulation from cell culture to small animal studies.

Interactions of pyrrolobenzodiazepine dimers and duplex DNA from methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Binding of two bactericidal pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD) dimers, SJG-136 and ELB-21, to genomic DNA from Staphylococcus aureus EMRSA-16 was investigated. Both agents cross-linked purified EMRSA-16 DNA. The more potent agent, ELB-21, had a greater capacity to cross-link DNA after incubation with intact cells than SJG-136. Extensive interstrand cross-linking at multiple sites on the EMRSA-16 genome was demonstrated by probing EcoRI-restricted DNA with mecA and 16S rDNA. Cross-linking was again greater in DNA extracted from ELB-21-treated cells and was compatible with frequency analysis of preferred binding sequences in EMRSA-16 DNA. These studies support the premise that the potency of ELB-21 is due to efficient cell penetration and provide evidence that the antibacterial activity of PBD dimers results from cross-linking at specific genomic sites.

Hybrid molecules between distamycin A and active moieties of antitumor agents

The DNA minor groove is an attractive target for the design and development of molecules able to specifically recognize predetermined DNA sequences. The pyrrole-amide skeleton of distamycin A has been also used as DNA sequence selective vehicle for the delivery of alkylating functions to DNA targets. Selectivity for specific sequences may be of particular importance in affecting the activity of regulatory genes (oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes). Recent work on a number of hybrid compounds, in which known antitumor compounds or simple active moieties of known antitumor agents have been tethered to distamycin frame or hairpin polyamides derived from distamycin, is reviewed. The DNA alkylating and growth inhibition activities against several tumor cell lines are reported and discussed in terms of their structural differences in relation to both the number of N-methyl pyrrolic rings and the type of the alkylating unit tethered to the oligopyrrolic frame.

Neutropenia induced in outbred mice by a simplified low-dose cyclophosphamide regimen: characterization and applicability to diverse experimental models of infectious diseases

Background

For its low cost and ease of handling, the mouse remains the preferred experimental animal for preclinical tests. To avoid the interaction of the animal immune system, in vivo antibiotic pharmacodynamic studies often employ cyclophosphamide (CPM) to induce neutropenia. Although high doses (350–450 mg/kg) are still used and their effects on mouse leukocytes have been described, a lower dose (250 mg/kg) is widely preferred today, but the characteristics and applicability of this approach in outbred mice have not been determined.

Methods

Fifteen female ICR mice were injected intraperitoneally with 150 and 100 mg/kg of CPM on days 1 and 4, respectively. Blood samples (~160 μL) were drawn from the retro-orbital sinus of each mouse on days 1, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 11. Leukocytes were counted manually and the number of granulocytes was based on microscopic examination of Wright-stained smears. The impact of neutropenia induced by this method was then determined with a variety of pathogens in three different murine models of human infections: pneumonia (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus), meningoencephalitis (S. pneumoniae), and the thigh model (S. aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacteroides fragilis).

Results

The basal count of leukocytes was within the normal range for outbred mice. On day 4, there was an 84% reduction in total white blood cells, and by day 5 the leukopenia reached its nadir (370 ± 84 cells/mm³). Profound neutropenia (≤10 neutrophils/mm³) was demonstrated at day 4 and persisted through days 5 and 6. Lymphocytes and monocytes had a 92% and 96% decline between days 1 and 5, respectively. Leukocytes recovered completely by day 11. Mice immunosupressed under this protocol displayed clinical and microbiological patterns of progressive and lethal infectious diseases after inoculation in different organs with diverse human pathogens.

Conclusion

A CPM total dose of 250 mg/kg is sufficient to induce profound and sustained neutropenia (<10 neutrophils/mm³) at least during 3 days in outbred mice, is simpler than previously described methods, and allows successful induction of infection in a variety of experimental models.

Pyrrolobenzodiazepine dimers: novel sequence-selective, DNA-interactive, cross-linking agents with activity against Gram-positive bacteria

OBJECTIVES

Pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepine (PBD) dimers are synthetic sequence-selective interstrand DNA minor-groove cross-linking agents developed from anthramycins. We investigated the antibacterial activity of three dimers, SJG-136, DRG-16 and ELB-21, which differ in the structure of the PBD monomeric unit and the length of the linker region between the two identical PBD monomers.

METHODS

MICs were determined against 38 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), 20 vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), 12 isolates of Streptococcus pyogenes, 12 of Streptococcus agalactiae, 12 of Listeria monocytogenes and 24 Gram-negative clinical isolates. Binding to double-stranded DNA was assessed by determination of the DNA melting temperature (T(m)).

RESULTS

MIC(90) values for SJG-136 were 0.5 mg/L against MRSA, VRE and L. monocytogenes, 0.06 mg/L against S. pyogenes and 0.03 mg/L against S. agalactiae; these were below the maximum tolerated dose of the drug. MIC(90)s for DRG-16 were 0.125, >0.5, 0.125, 0.015 and <0.008 mg/L, respectively. The most potent compound was ELB-21, with corresponding MIC(90) values of 0.03, 0.06, 0.06, 0.015 and 0.015 mg/L. There was little or no variation in sensitivity amongst isolates from any one species. All Gram-negative species (Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, Proteus spp.) were not susceptible due to the barrier function of the outer membrane. PBD dimers showed bactericidal activity against MRSA and VRE and there was a significant post-antibiotic effect (1.5--3.5 h). Incubation of EMRSA-16 genomic DNA (50 microM) with 20 microM ELB-21 resulted in a large increase in T(m) suggesting that PBD dimers exert their antibacterial effect by cross-linking of the two DNA strands.

CONCLUSIONS

These data indicate that this novel class of antibacterial agents warrants further investigation as potential antibiotics for the treatment of severe infections caused by Gram-positive pathogens.

New advances in antibiotic development and discovery

The development of new antibiotics is crucial to controlling current and future infectious diseases caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Increased development costs, the difficulty in identifying new drug classes, unanticipated drug toxicities, the ease by which bacteria develop resistance to new antibiotics and the failure of many agents to address antibiotic resistance specifically, however, have all led to an overall decline in the number of antibiotics that are being introduced into clinical practice. Although there are few, if any, advances likely in the immediate future, there are agents in both clinical and preclinical development that can address some of the concerns of the infectious disease community. Many of these antibiotics will be tailored to specific infections caused by a relatively modest number of susceptible and resistant organisms.

DNA binding ligands with in vivo efficacy in murine models of bacterial infection: optimization of internal aromatic amino acids

DNA binding ligands with potent antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria were further optimized by variation of the internal aromatic amino acids. This modification led to compounds with improved in vivo efficacy in lethal murine models of peritonitis (methicillin-resistant S. aureus, MRSA) and lung infection (S. pneumoniae).