1
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Ghosh C, Popella L, Dhamodharan V, Jung J, Dietzsch J, Barquist L, Höbartner C, Vogel J. A comparative analysis of peptide-delivered antisense antibiotics using diverse nucleotide mimics. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2024; 30:624-643. [PMID: 38413166 PMCID: PMC11098465 DOI: 10.1261/rna.079969.124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Antisense oligomer (ASO)-based antibiotics that target mRNAs of essential bacterial genes have great potential for counteracting antimicrobial resistance and for precision microbiome editing. To date, the development of such antisense antibiotics has primarily focused on using phosphorodiamidate morpholino (PMO) and peptide nucleic acid (PNA) backbones, largely ignoring the growing number of chemical modalities that have spurred the success of ASO-based human therapy. Here, we directly compare the activities of seven chemically distinct 10mer ASOs, all designed to target the essential gene acpP upon delivery with a KFF-peptide carrier into Salmonella. Our systematic analysis of PNA, PMO, phosphorothioate (PTO)-modified DNA, 2'-methylated RNA (RNA-OMe), 2'-methoxyethylated RNA (RNA-MOE), 2'-fluorinated RNA (RNA-F), and 2'-4'-locked RNA (LNA) is based on a variety of in vitro and in vivo methods to evaluate ASO uptake, target pairing and inhibition of bacterial growth. Our data show that only PNA and PMO are efficiently delivered by the KFF peptide into Salmonella to inhibit bacterial growth. Nevertheless, the strong target binding affinity and in vitro translational repression activity of LNA and RNA-MOE make them promising modalities for antisense antibiotics that will require the identification of an effective carrier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chandradhish Ghosh
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), D-97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Linda Popella
- Institute of Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), University of Würzburg, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany
- Cluster for Nucleic Acid Therapeutics Munich (CNATM), Munich, Germany
| | - V Dhamodharan
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Center for Nanosystems Chemistry, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jakob Jung
- Institute of Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), University of Würzburg, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Julia Dietzsch
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Center for Nanosystems Chemistry, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Lars Barquist
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), D-97080 Würzburg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Würzburg, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Claudia Höbartner
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Center for Nanosystems Chemistry, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jörg Vogel
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), D-97080 Würzburg, Germany
- Institute of Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), University of Würzburg, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany
- Cluster for Nucleic Acid Therapeutics Munich (CNATM), Munich, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Würzburg, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
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2
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Wan X, Wang W, Zhu J, Xiao Y. Antibacterial peptide Reg4 ameliorates Pseudomonas aeruginosa-induced pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0390523. [PMID: 38501823 PMCID: PMC11064540 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03905-23] [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: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is a Gram-negative facultative anaerobe that has become an important cause of severe infections in humans, particularly in patients with cystic fibrosis. The development of efficacious methods or mendicants against P. aeruginosa is still needed. We previously reported that regenerating islet-derived family member 4 (Reg4) has bactericidal activity against Salmonella Typhimurium, a Gram-negative flagellated bacterium. We herein explore whether Reg4 has bactericidal activity against P. aeruginosa. In the P. aeruginosa PAO1-chronic infection model, Reg4 significantly inhibits the colonization of PAO1 in the lung and subsequently ameliorates pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis. Reg4 recombinant protein suppresses the growth motility and biofilm formation capability of PAO1 in vitro. Mechanistically, Reg4 not only exerts bactericidal action via direct binding to the P. aeruginosa cell wall but also enhances the phagocytosis of alveolar macrophages in the host. Taken together, our study demonstrates that Reg4 may provide protection against P. aeruginosa-induced pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis via its antibacterial activity.IMPORTANCEChronic lung infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with cystic fibrosis. Due to the antibiotic resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, antimicrobial peptides appear to be a potential alternative to combat its infection. In this study, we report an antimicrobial peptide, regenerating islet-derived 4 (Reg4), that showed killing activity against clinical strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 and ameliorated PAO1-induced pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis. Experimental data also showed Reg4 directly bound to the bacterial cell membrane and enhanced the phagocytosis of host alveolar macrophages. Our presented study will be a helpful resource in searching for novel antimicrobial peptides that could have the potential to replace conventional antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Wan
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Weipeng Wang
- Xin Hua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Zhu
- Xin Hua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yongtao Xiao
- Xin Hua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
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3
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MacNair CR, Rutherford ST, Tan MW. Alternative therapeutic strategies to treat antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Nat Rev Microbiol 2024; 22:262-275. [PMID: 38082064 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-023-00993-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Resistance threatens to render antibiotics - which are essential for modern medicine - ineffective, thus posing a threat to human health. The discovery of novel classes of antibiotics able to overcome resistance has been stalled for decades, with the developmental pipeline relying almost entirely on variations of existing chemical scaffolds. Unfortunately, this approach has been unable to keep pace with resistance evolution, necessitating new therapeutic strategies. In this Review, we highlight recent efforts to discover non-traditional antimicrobials, specifically describing the advantages and limitations of antimicrobial peptides and macrocycles, antibodies, bacteriophages and antisense oligonucleotides. These approaches have the potential to stem the tide of resistance by expanding the physicochemical property space and target spectrum occupied by currently approved antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig R MacNair
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Steven T Rutherford
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Man-Wah Tan
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA.
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4
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Nanayakkara AK, Moustafa DA, Pifer R, Goldberg JB, Greenberg DE. Sequence specificity defines the effectiveness of PPMOs targeting Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2023; 67:e0024523. [PMID: 37610213 PMCID: PMC10508178 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00245-23] [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: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Development of new therapeutics against antibiotic resistant pathogenic bacteria is recognized as a priority across the globe. We have reported using peptide-conjugated phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers (PPMOs) as species-specific antibiotics. The oligo sequences, 11 bases are designed to be complementary to specific essential genes near the Shine-Dalgarno site and inhibit translation. Here, we analyzed target specificity and the impact of genetic mutations on lead PPMOs targeting the rpsJ or acpP gene of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Mutants in P. aeruginosa PAO1 were generated with four, two, or one base-pair mutations within the 11-base target sequence of the rpsJ gene. All mutants exhibited increased MICs compared to wild-type PAO1 when treated with the RpsJ PPMO, and the increase in the MICs was proportional to the number of base-pair mutations. Among single base-pair mutants, mutations in the middle of the sequence were more impactful than mutations in 5' or 3' end of the sequence. The increased MICs shown by the rpsJ mutants could be reversed by PPMOs designed to target the mutated rpsJ sequence. BALB/c mice infected intratracheally with mutants demonstrated increased lung burden when treated with RpsJ PPMO compared to wild-type PAO1-infected mice treated with RpsJ PPMO. Treating mice with a PPMOs designed to specifically target the mutant sequence was more effective against these mutant strains. These experiments confirm target specificity of two lead P. aeruginosa PPMOs and illustrate one potential mechanism of resistance that could emerge from an antisense approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. K. Nanayakkara
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - D. A. Moustafa
- Department of Pediatrics and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Center for Cystic Fibrosis and Airway Diseases Research, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - R. Pifer
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - J. B. Goldberg
- Department of Pediatrics and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Center for Cystic Fibrosis and Airway Diseases Research, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - D. E. Greenberg
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
- Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
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5
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Roychowdhury S, Roth CM. Pharmacodynamic Model of the Dynamic Response of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilms to Antibacterial Treatments. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2316. [PMID: 37626812 PMCID: PMC10452719 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11082316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Accurate pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) models of biofilm treatment could be used to guide formulation and administration strategies to better control bacterial lung infections. To this end, we developed a detailed pharmacodynamic model of P. aeruginosa treatment with the front-line antibiotics, tobramycin and colistin, and validated it on a detailed dataset of killing dynamics. A compartmental model structure was developed in which the key features are the diffusion of the drug through a boundary layer to the bacteria, concentration-dependent interactions with bacteria, and the passage of the bacteria through successive transit states before death. The number of transit states employed was greater for tobramycin, which is a ribosomal inhibitor, than for colistin, which disrupts bacterial membranes. For both drugs, the experimentally observed delay in the killing of bacteria following drug exposure was consistent with the sum of the diffusion time and the time for passage through the transit states. For each drug, the PD model with a single set of parameters described data across a ten-fold range of concentrations and for both continuous and transient exposure protocols, as well as for combined drug treatments. The ability to predict drug response over a range of administration protocols allows this PD model to be integrated with PK descriptions to describe in vivo antibiotic response dynamics and to predict drug delivery strategies for the improved control of bacterial lung infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swarnima Roychowdhury
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA;
| | - Charles M. Roth
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA;
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
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6
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Cao P, Fleming D, Moustafa DA, Dolan SK, Szymanik KH, Redman WK, Ramos A, Diggle FL, Sullivan CS, Goldberg JB, Rumbaugh KP, Whiteley M. A Pseudomonas aeruginosa small RNA regulates chronic and acute infection. Nature 2023; 618:358-364. [PMID: 37225987 PMCID: PMC10247376 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06111-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The ability to switch between different lifestyles allows bacterial pathogens to thrive in diverse ecological niches1,2. However, a molecular understanding of their lifestyle changes within the human host is lacking. Here, by directly examining bacterial gene expression in human-derived samples, we discover a gene that orchestrates the transition between chronic and acute infection in the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The expression level of this gene, here named sicX, is the highest of the P. aeruginosa genes expressed in human chronic wound and cystic fibrosis infections, but it is expressed at extremely low levels during standard laboratory growth. We show that sicX encodes a small RNA that is strongly induced by low-oxygen conditions and post-transcriptionally regulates anaerobic ubiquinone biosynthesis. Deletion of sicX causes P. aeruginosa to switch from a chronic to an acute lifestyle in multiple mammalian models of infection. Notably, sicX is also a biomarker for this chronic-to-acute transition, as it is the most downregulated gene when a chronic infection is dispersed to cause acute septicaemia. This work solves a decades-old question regarding the molecular basis underlying the chronic-to-acute switch in P. aeruginosa and suggests oxygen as a primary environmental driver of acute lethality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengbo Cao
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Emory-Children's Cystic Fibrosis Center, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Center for Microbial Dynamics and Infection, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Derek Fleming
- Department of Surgery, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
- Burn Center of Research Excellence, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Dina A Moustafa
- Emory-Children's Cystic Fibrosis Center, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pulmonary, Asthma, Cystic Fibrosis, and Sleep, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Stephen K Dolan
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Emory-Children's Cystic Fibrosis Center, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Center for Microbial Dynamics and Infection, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Kayla H Szymanik
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Whitni K Redman
- Department of Surgery, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
- Burn Center of Research Excellence, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, USA
| | - Anayancy Ramos
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Emory-Children's Cystic Fibrosis Center, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Center for Microbial Dynamics and Infection, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Frances L Diggle
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Emory-Children's Cystic Fibrosis Center, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Center for Microbial Dynamics and Infection, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Joanna B Goldberg
- Emory-Children's Cystic Fibrosis Center, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pulmonary, Asthma, Cystic Fibrosis, and Sleep, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Kendra P Rumbaugh
- Department of Surgery, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
- Burn Center of Research Excellence, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Marvin Whiteley
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Emory-Children's Cystic Fibrosis Center, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Center for Microbial Dynamics and Infection, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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7
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Jung J, Popella L, Do PT, Pfau P, Vogel J, Barquist L. Design and off-target prediction for antisense oligomers targeting bacterial mRNAs with the MASON web server. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2023; 29:570-583. [PMID: 36750372 PMCID: PMC10158992 DOI: 10.1261/rna.079263.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Antisense oligomers (ASOs), such as peptide nucleic acids (PNAs), designed to inhibit the translation of essential bacterial genes, have emerged as attractive sequence- and species-specific programmable RNA antibiotics. Yet, potential drawbacks include unwanted side effects caused by their binding to transcripts other than the intended target. To facilitate the design of PNAs with minimal off-target effects, we developed MASON (make antisense oligomers now), a web server for the design of PNAs that target bacterial mRNAs. MASON generates PNA sequences complementary to the translational start site of a bacterial gene of interest and reports critical sequence attributes and potential off-target sites. We based MASON's off-target predictions on experiments in which we treated Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium with a series of 10-mer PNAs derived from a PNA targeting the essential gene acpP but carrying two serial mismatches. Growth inhibition and RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) data revealed that PNAs with terminal mismatches are still able to target acpP, suggesting wider off-target effects than anticipated. Comparison of these results to an RNA-seq data set from uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) treated with eleven different PNAs confirmed that our findings are not unique to Salmonella We believe that MASON's off-target assessment will improve the design of specific PNAs and other ASOs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakob Jung
- Institute for Molecular Infection Biology, University of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Linda Popella
- Institute for Molecular Infection Biology, University of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Phuong Thao Do
- Institute for Molecular Infection Biology, University of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Patrick Pfau
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jörg Vogel
- Institute for Molecular Infection Biology, University of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Lars Barquist
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), 97080 Würzburg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
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8
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Developing New Tools to Fight Human Pathogens: A Journey through the Advances in RNA Technologies. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10112303. [DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10112303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Revised: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
A long scientific journey has led to prominent technological advances in the RNA field, and several new types of molecules have been discovered, from non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) to riboswitches, small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and CRISPR systems. Such findings, together with the recognition of the advantages of RNA in terms of its functional performance, have attracted the attention of synthetic biologists to create potent RNA-based tools for biotechnological and medical applications. In this review, we have gathered the knowledge on the connection between RNA metabolism and pathogenesis in Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. We further discuss how RNA techniques have contributed to the building of this knowledge and the development of new tools in synthetic biology for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms. Infectious diseases are still a world-leading cause of death and morbidity, and RNA-based therapeutics have arisen as an alternative way to achieve success. There are still obstacles to overcome in its application, but much progress has been made in a fast and effective manner, paving the way for the solid establishment of RNA-based therapies in the future.
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9
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Bruch A, Kelani AA, Blango MG. RNA-based therapeutics to treat human fungal infections. Trends Microbiol 2022; 30:411-420. [PMID: 34635448 PMCID: PMC8498853 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2021.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
In recent decades, RNA-based therapeutics have transitioned from a near impossibility to a compelling treatment alternative for genetic disorders and infectious diseases. The mRNA vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are truly groundbreaking, and new adaptations are already being proposed to fight other microbes. Unfortunately, the potential of RNA-based therapeutics to treat human fungal infections has remained mostly absent from the conversation, despite the fact that invasive fungal infections kill as many per year as tuberculosis and even more than malaria. Here, we argue that RNA-based therapeutics should be investigated for the treatment of human fungal infections and discuss several major roadblocks and potential circumventions that may allow for the realization of RNA-based therapies against human fungal pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Bruch
- Junior Research Group RNA Biology of Fungal Infections, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology – Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Abdulrahman A. Kelani
- Junior Research Group RNA Biology of Fungal Infections, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology – Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Matthew G. Blango
- Junior Research Group RNA Biology of Fungal Infections, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology – Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Jena, Germany,Correspondence:
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10
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Goldberg JB, Crisan CV, Luu JM. Pseudomonas aeruginosa Antivirulence Strategies: Targeting the Type III Secretion System. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2022; 1386:257-280. [PMID: 36258075 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-08491-1_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The Pseudomonas aeruginosa type III secretion system (T3SS) is a complex molecular machine that delivers toxic proteins from the bacterial cytoplasm directly into host cells. This apparatus spans the inner and outer membrane and employs a needle-like structure that penetrates through the eucaryotic cell membrane into the host cell cytosol. The expression of the P. aeruginosa T3SS is highly regulated by environmental signals including low calcium and host cell contact. P. aeruginosa strains with mutations in T3SS genes are less pathogenic, suggesting that the T3SS is a virulence mechanism. Given that P. aeruginosa is naturally antibiotic resistant and multidrug resistant isolates are rapidly emerging, new antibiotics to target P. aeruginosa are needed. Furthermore, even if new antibiotics were to be developed, the timeline between when an antibiotic is released and resistance development is relatively short. Therefore, the concept of targeting virulence factors has garnered attention. So-called "antivirulence" approaches do not kill the microbe but instead focus on rendering it harmless and therefore unable to cause damage. Since these therapies target a particular system or pathway, the normal microbiome is unlikely to be affected and there is less concern about the spread to other microbes. Finally, and most importantly, since any antivirulence drug does not kill the microbe, there should be less selective pressure to develop resistance to these inhibitors. The P. aeruginosa T3SS has been well studied due to its importance for pathogenesis in numerous human and animal infections. Thus, many P. aeruginosa T3SS inhibitors have been described as potential antivirulence therapeutics, some of which have progressed to clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna B Goldberg
- Division of Pulmonary, Asthma, Cystic Fibrosis, and Sleep, Department of Pediatrics and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Center for Cystic Fibrosis and Airway Disease Research, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Cristian V Crisan
- Division of Pulmonary, Asthma, Cystic Fibrosis, and Sleep, Department of Pediatrics and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Center for Cystic Fibrosis and Airway Disease Research, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Justin M Luu
- Division of Pulmonary, Asthma, Cystic Fibrosis, and Sleep, Department of Pediatrics and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Center for Cystic Fibrosis and Airway Disease Research, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Microbiology and Molecular Genetics Program, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Laney Graduate School, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
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11
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Effect of Imipenem and Amikacin Combination against Multi-Drug Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021; 10:antibiotics10111429. [PMID: 34827367 PMCID: PMC8615098 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10111429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic nosocomial pathogen associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Combination of antibiotics has been found to combat multi-drug resistant or extensively drug resistance P. aeruginosa. In this study we investigate the in vitro and in vivo effect of amikacin and imipenem combination against resistant P. aeruginosa. The checkerboard technique and time-killing curve have been performed for in vitro studies showed synergistic effect for combination. A peritonitis mouse model has been used for evaluation of the therapeutic efficacy of this combination which confirmed this synergistic effect. The in vitro and in vivo techniques showed synergistic interaction between tested drugs with fractional inhibitory concentration indices (FICIs) of ≤0.5. Conventional PCR and quantitative real-time PCR techniques were used in molecular detection of bla IMP and aac(6')-Ib as 35.5% and 42.2% of P. aeruginosa harbored bla IMP and aac(6')-Ib respectively. Drug combination viewed statistically significant reduction in bacterial counts (p value < 0.5). The lowest bla IMP and aac(6')-Ib expression was observed after treatment with 0.25 MIC of imipenem + 0.5 MIC of amikacin. Morphological changes in P. aeruginosa isolates were detected by scanning electron microscope (SEM) showing cell shrinkage and disruption in the outer membrane of P. aeruginosa that were more prominent with combination therapy than with monotherapy.
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12
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Nanayakkara AK, Boucher HW, Fowler VG, Jezek A, Outterson K, Greenberg DE. Antibiotic resistance in the patient with cancer: Escalating challenges and paths forward. CA Cancer J Clin 2021; 71:488-504. [PMID: 34546590 DOI: 10.3322/caac.21697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Infection is the second leading cause of death in patients with cancer. Loss of efficacy in antibiotics due to antibiotic resistance in bacteria is an urgent threat against the continuing success of cancer therapy. In this review, the authors focus on recent updates on the impact of antibiotic resistance in the cancer setting, particularly on the ESKAPE pathogens (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter spp.). This review highlights the health and financial impact of antibiotic resistance in patients with cancer. Furthermore, the authors recommend measures to control the emergence of antibiotic resistance, highlighting the risk factors associated with cancer care. A lack of data in the etiology of infections, specifically in oncology patients in United States, is identified as a concern, and the authors advocate for a centralized and specialized surveillance system for patients with cancer to predict and prevent the emergence of antibiotic resistance. Finding better ways to predict, prevent, and treat antibiotic-resistant infections will have a major positive impact on the care of those with cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amila K Nanayakkara
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, Texas
| | - Helen W Boucher
- Division of Geographic Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Vance G Fowler
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Amanda Jezek
- Infectious Diseases Society of America, Arlington, Virginia
| | - Kevin Outterson
- CARB-X, Boston, Massachusetts
- Boston University School of Law, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - David E Greenberg
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, Texas
- Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, Texas
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13
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Specific and Global RNA Regulators in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22168632. [PMID: 34445336 PMCID: PMC8395346 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pae) is an opportunistic pathogen showing a high intrinsic resistance to a wide variety of antibiotics. It causes nosocomial infections that are particularly detrimental to immunocompromised individuals and to patients suffering from cystic fibrosis. We provide a snapshot on regulatory RNAs of Pae that impact on metabolism, pathogenicity and antibiotic susceptibility. Different experimental approaches such as in silico predictions, co-purification with the RNA chaperone Hfq as well as high-throughput RNA sequencing identified several hundreds of regulatory RNA candidates in Pae. Notwithstanding, using in vitro and in vivo assays, the function of only a few has been revealed. Here, we focus on well-characterized small base-pairing RNAs, regulating specific target genes as well as on larger protein-binding RNAs that sequester and thereby modulate the activity of translational repressors. As the latter impact large gene networks governing metabolism, acute or chronic infections, these protein-binding RNAs in conjunction with their cognate proteins are regarded as global post-transcriptional regulators.
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14
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Popella L, Jung J, Popova K, Ðurica-Mitić S, Barquist L, Vogel J. Global RNA profiles show target selectivity and physiological effects of peptide-delivered antisense antibiotics. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:4705-4724. [PMID: 33849070 PMCID: PMC8096218 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Antisense peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) inhibiting mRNAs of essential genes provide a straight-forward way to repurpose our knowledge of bacterial regulatory RNAs for development of programmable species-specific antibiotics. While there is ample proof of PNA efficacy, their target selectivity and impact on bacterial physiology are poorly understood. Moreover, while antibacterial PNAs are typically designed to block mRNA translation, effects on target mRNA levels are not well-investigated. Here, we pioneer the use of global RNA-seq analysis to decipher PNA activity in a transcriptome-wide manner. We find that PNA-based antisense oligomer conjugates robustly decrease mRNA levels of the widely-used target gene, acpP, in Salmonella enterica, with limited off-target effects. Systematic analysis of several different PNA-carrier peptides attached not only shows different bactericidal efficiency, but also activation of stress pathways. In particular, KFF-, RXR- and Tat-PNA conjugates especially induce the PhoP/Q response, whereas the latter two additionally trigger several distinct pathways. We show that constitutive activation of the PhoP/Q response can lead to Tat-PNA resistance, illustrating the utility of RNA-seq for understanding PNA antibacterial activity. In sum, our study establishes an experimental framework for the design and assessment of PNA antimicrobials in the long-term quest to use these for precision editing of microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Popella
- Institute of Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), University of Würzburg, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jakob Jung
- Institute of Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), University of Würzburg, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Kristina Popova
- Institute of Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), University of Würzburg, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Svetlana Ðurica-Mitić
- Institute of Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), University of Würzburg, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Lars Barquist
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), D-97080 Würzburg, Germany.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Würzburg, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jörg Vogel
- Institute of Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), University of Würzburg, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany.,Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), D-97080 Würzburg, Germany.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Würzburg, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany
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15
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Schafer ME, Browne H, Goldberg JB, Greenberg DE. Peptides and Antibiotic Therapy: Advances in Design and Delivery. Acc Chem Res 2021; 54:2377-2385. [PMID: 33881843 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.1c00040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance (AMR) is an increasing public health crisis worldwide. This threatens our ability to adequately care for patients with infections due to multi-drug-resistant (MDR) pathogens. As such, there is an urgent need to develop new classes of antimicrobials that are not based on currently utilized antibiotic scaffolds. One promising avenue of antimicrobial research that deserves renewed examination involves the use of peptides. Although antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been studied for a number of years, innovations in peptide design and their applications are increasingly making this approach a viable alternative to traditional small-molecule antibiotics. This review will provide updates on two ways in which peptides are being explored as antibiotics. The first topic will focus on novel types of peptides and conjugation methods that are being exploited to act as antibiotics themselves. These direct-acting modified peptides could serve as potentially useful drugs while mitigating many of the known liabilities of AMPs. The second topic relates to the use of peptides as delivery vehicles for other active compounds with antimicrobial activity. Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are peptides designed to carry compounds across cell membranes and are a promising method for delivering a variety of antimicrobial compounds. When conjugated to other compounds, CPPs have been shown to be effective at increasing the uptake of both small- and large-molecular-weight compounds. This includes conjugation to antisense molecules and traditional antibiotics, resulting in increased effectiveness of these antimicrobials. One particular approach utilizes CPPs conjugated to phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers (PMOs). PMOs are designed to target particular pathogens in a gene-specific way. They target mRNA and block protein translation. Peptide-conjugated PMOs (PPMOs) allow for efficient delivery into the Gram-negative cytoplasm, and recent updates to their in vitro and in vivo activity are reviewed. This includes recent data to suggest that PPMOs maintain activity in the setting of multi-drug-resistant (MDR) strains, an important finding as it relates to the further development of this therapeutic approach. Other topics include the ability to have activity in the biofilm setting, a finding that likely relates to the peptide portion of the conjugate. Finally, what is known and anticipated related to the development of resistance to these peptides will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan E. Schafer
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Immunology, Cystic Fibrosis, and Sleep, Department of Pediatrics and Center for Cystic Fibrosis and Airway Diseases Research, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University School of Medicine, 1510 Clifton Road NE, Suite 3009, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | | | - Joanna B. Goldberg
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Immunology, Cystic Fibrosis, and Sleep, Department of Pediatrics and Center for Cystic Fibrosis and Airway Diseases Research, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University School of Medicine, 1510 Clifton Road NE, Suite 3009, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
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