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Tan L, Ma R, Katz AJ, Levi N. Farnesol repurposing for prevention and treatment of Acinetobacter baumannii biofilms. Biofilm 2024; 7:100198. [PMID: 38706984 PMCID: PMC11066513 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioflm.2024.100198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Acinetobacter baumannii has emerged as a multidrug-resistant (MDR) superbug by causing severe infections, with high mortality rates. The ability of A. baumannii to form biofilms significantly contributes to its persistence in diverse environmental and hospital settings. Here we report that farnesol, an FDA-approved commercial cosmetic and flavoring agent, demonstrates efficacy for both inhibition of biofilm formation, and disruption of established A. baumannii biofilms. Moreover, no resistance to farnesol was observed even after prolonged culture in the presence of sub-inhibitory farnesol doses. Farnesol combats A. baumannii biofilms by direct killing, while also facilitating biofilm detachment. Furthermore, farnesol was safe, and effective, for both prevention and treatment of A. baumannii biofilms in an ex vivo burned human skin model. Since current treatment options for A. baumannii biofilm infections were mainly counted on the combination therapy of last-resort antibiotics, and clearly non-sustainable due to robust MDR phenotype of A. baumannii, we propose that farnesol alone can be repurposed as a highly effective agent for both preventing and treating life-threating biofilm-associated infections of A. baumannii due to its proven safety, convenient topical delivery, and excellent efficiency, plus its superiority of evading resistance development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Tan
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Rong Ma
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Adam J. Katz
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Nicole Levi
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
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Tan L, Ma R, Reeves T, Katz AJ, Levi N. Repurposing Farnesol for Combating Drug-Resistant and Persistent Single and Polymicrobial Biofilms. Antibiotics (Basel) 2024; 13:350. [PMID: 38667026 PMCID: PMC11047559 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics13040350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2024] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Biofilm-associated infections caused by drug-resistant and persistent bacteria remain a significant clinical challenge. Here we report that farnesol, commercially available as a cosmetic and flavoring agent, shows significant anti-biofilm properties when dissolved in ethanol using a proprietary formulation emulsion technique. Farnesol in the new formulation inhibits biofilm formation and disrupts established biofilms for Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa, including their polymicrobial biofilms, and, moreover, kills S. aureus persister cells that have developed tolerance to antibiotics. No resistance to farnesol was observed for S. aureus after twenty continuous passages. Farnesol combats biofilms by direct killing, while also facilitating biofilm detachment. Furthermore, farnesol was safe and effective for preventing and treating biofilm-associated infections of both types of bacteria in an ex vivo burned human skin model. These data suggest that farnesol in the new formulation is an effective broad-spectrum anti-biofilm agent with promising clinical potential. Due to its established safety, low-cost, versatility, and excellent efficacy-including ability to reduce persistent and resistant microbial populations-farnesol in the proprietary formulation represents a compelling transformative, translational, and commercial platform for addressing many unsolved clinical challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Tan
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA; (L.T.); (A.J.K.)
| | - Rong Ma
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA; (L.T.); (A.J.K.)
| | - Tony Reeves
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section on Molecular Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
| | - Adam J. Katz
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA; (L.T.); (A.J.K.)
| | - Nicole Levi
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA; (L.T.); (A.J.K.)
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3
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Ivanova A, Ivanova K, Fiandra L, Mantecca P, Catelani T, Natan M, Banin E, Jacobi G, Tzanov T. Antibacterial, Antibiofilm, and Antiviral Farnesol-Containing Nanoparticles Prevent Staphylococcus aureus from Drug Resistance Development. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23147527. [PMID: 35886883 PMCID: PMC9321328 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23147527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 07/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Multidrug antimicrobial resistance is a constantly growing health care issue associated with increased mortality and morbidity, and huge financial burden. Bacteria frequently form biofilm communities responsible for numerous persistent infections resistant to conventional antibiotics. Herein, novel nanoparticles (NPs) loaded with the natural bactericide farnesol (FSL NPs) are generated using high-intensity ultrasound. The nanoformulation of farnesol improved its antibacterial properties and demonstrated complete eradication of Staphylococcus aureus within less than 3 h, without inducing resistance development, and was able to 100% inhibit the establishment of a drug-resistant S. aureus biofilm. These antibiotic-free nano-antimicrobials also reduced the mature biofilm at a very low concentration of the active agent. In addition to the outstanding antibacterial properties, the engineered nano-entities demonstrated strong antiviral properties and inhibited the spike proteins of SARS-CoV-2 by up to 83%. The novel FSL NPs did not cause skin tissue irritation and did not induce the secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines in a 3D skin tissue model. These results support the potential of these bio-based nano-actives to replace the existing antibiotics and they may be used for the development of topical pharmaceutic products for controlling microbial skin infections, without inducing resistance development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Ivanova
- Group of Molecular and Industrial Biotechnology, Chemical Engineering, Universitat Politécnica de Catalunya, 08222 Terrassa, Spain; (A.I.); (K.I.)
| | - Kristina Ivanova
- Group of Molecular and Industrial Biotechnology, Chemical Engineering, Universitat Politécnica de Catalunya, 08222 Terrassa, Spain; (A.I.); (K.I.)
| | - Luisa Fiandra
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Research Center POLARIA, Universita degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Milano, Italy; (L.F.); (P.M.)
| | - Paride Mantecca
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Research Center POLARIA, Universita degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Milano, Italy; (L.F.); (P.M.)
| | - Tiziano Catelani
- Interdepartmental Microscopy Platform, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milano, Italy;
| | - Michal Natan
- The Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 52900, Israel; (M.N.); (E.B.); (G.J.)
| | - Ehud Banin
- The Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 52900, Israel; (M.N.); (E.B.); (G.J.)
| | - Gila Jacobi
- The Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 52900, Israel; (M.N.); (E.B.); (G.J.)
| | - Tzanko Tzanov
- Group of Molecular and Industrial Biotechnology, Chemical Engineering, Universitat Politécnica de Catalunya, 08222 Terrassa, Spain; (A.I.); (K.I.)
- Correspondence:
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4
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van Tilburg AY, Warmer P, van Heel AJ, Sauer U, Kuipers OP. Membrane composition and organization of Bacillus subtilis 168 and its genome-reduced derivative miniBacillus PG10. Microb Biotechnol 2021; 15:1633-1651. [PMID: 34856064 PMCID: PMC9049611 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.13978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
A form of lateral membrane compartmentalization in bacteria is represented by functional membrane microdomains (FMMs). FMMs are important for various cellular processes and offer application possibilities in microbial biotechnology. We designed a lipidomics method to directly measure relative abundances of lipids in detergent‐resistant and detergent‐sensitive membrane fractions of the model bacterium Bacillus subtilis 168 and the biotechnologically attractive miniBacillus PG10 strain. Our study supports previous work suggesting that cardiolipin and prenol lipids are enriched in FMMs of B. subtilis. Additionally, structural analysis of acyl chains of major phospholipids indicated that FMMs display increased order and thickness compared with the surrounding bilayer. Despite the 36% genome reduction, membrane and FMM integrity are largely preserved in miniBacillus PG10, as supported by analysis of membrane fluidity, flotillin distribution and gene expression data. The novel insights in FMM architecture reported here will contribute to further explore the biological significance of FMMs and the means by which FMMs can be exploited as heterologous production platforms. Moreover, our lipidomics method enables comparative FMM lipid profiling between different bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Y van Tilburg
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Philipp Warmer
- Institute of Molecular Systems Biology, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.,Life Science Zürich PhD Program on Systems Biology, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Auke J van Heel
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Uwe Sauer
- Institute of Molecular Systems Biology, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Oscar P Kuipers
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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Fisher JF, Mobashery S. β-Lactams against the Fortress of the Gram-Positive Staphylococcus aureus Bacterium. Chem Rev 2021; 121:3412-3463. [PMID: 33373523 PMCID: PMC8653850 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.0c01010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The biological diversity of the unicellular bacteria-whether assessed by shape, food, metabolism, or ecological niche-surely rivals (if not exceeds) that of the multicellular eukaryotes. The relationship between bacteria whose ecological niche is the eukaryote, and the eukaryote, is often symbiosis or stasis. Some bacteria, however, seek advantage in this relationship. One of the most successful-to the disadvantage of the eukaryote-is the small (less than 1 μm diameter) and nearly spherical Staphylococcus aureus bacterium. For decades, successful clinical control of its infection has been accomplished using β-lactam antibiotics such as the penicillins and the cephalosporins. Over these same decades S. aureus has perfected resistance mechanisms against these antibiotics, which are then countered by new generations of β-lactam structure. This review addresses the current breadth of biochemical and microbiological efforts to preserve the future of the β-lactam antibiotics through a better understanding of how S. aureus protects the enzyme targets of the β-lactams, the penicillin-binding proteins. The penicillin-binding proteins are essential enzyme catalysts for the biosynthesis of the cell wall, and understanding how this cell wall is integrated into the protective cell envelope of the bacterium may identify new antibacterials and new adjuvants that preserve the efficacy of the β-lactams.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jed F Fisher
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, McCourtney Hall, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Shahriar Mobashery
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, McCourtney Hall, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame Indiana 46556, United States
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Tsai YT, Moore W, Kim H, Budin I. Bringing rafts to life: Lessons learned from lipid organization across diverse biological membranes. Chem Phys Lipids 2020; 233:104984. [PMID: 33203526 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemphyslip.2020.104984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 09/13/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The ability of lipids to drive lateral organization is a remarkable feature of membranes and has been hypothesized to underlie the architecture of cells. Models for lipid rafts and related domains were originally based on the mammalian plasma membrane, but the nature of heterogeneity in this system is still not fully resolved. However, the concept of lipid-driven organization has been highly influential across biology, and has led to discoveries in organisms that feature a diversity of lipid chemistries and physiological needs. Here we review several emerging and instructive cases of membrane organization in non-mammalian systems. In bacteria, several types of membrane domains that act in metabolism and signaling have been elucidated. These widen our view of what constitutes a raft, but also introduce new questions about the relationship between organization and function. In yeast, observable membrane organization is found in both the plasma membrane and the vacuole. The latter serves as the best example of classic membrane phase partitioning in a living system to date, suggesting that internal organelles are important membranes to investigate across eukaryotes. Finally, we highlight plants as powerful model systems for complex membrane interactions in multicellular organisms. Plant membranes are organized by unique glycosphingolipids, supporting the importance of carbohydrate interactions in organizing lateral domains. These examples demonstrate that membrane organization is a potentially universal phenonenon in biology and argue for the continued broadening of lipid physical chemistry research into a wide range of systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Ting Tsai
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
| | - William Moore
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
| | - Hyesoo Kim
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
| | - Itay Budin
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States.
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Kossakowska-Zwierucho M, Szewczyk G, Sarna T, Nakonieczna J. Farnesol potentiates photodynamic inactivation of Staphylococcus aureus with the use of red light-activated porphyrin TMPyP. JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY. B, BIOLOGY 2020; 206:111863. [PMID: 32224392 DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2020.111863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Revised: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Photodynamic inactivation (PDI) or antibacterial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) is a method based on the use of a photosensitizer, light of a proper wavelength and oxygen, which combined together leads to an oxidative stress and killing of target cells. PDI can be applied towards various pathogenic bacteria independently on their antibiotic resistance profile. Optimization of photodynamic treatment to eradicate the widest range of human pathogens remains challenging despite the availability of numerous photosensitizing compounds. Therefore, a search for molecules that could act as adjuvants potentiating antibacterial photoinactivation is of high scientific and clinical importance. Here we propose farnesol (FRN), a well described sesquiterpene, as a potent adjuvant of PDI, which specifically sensitizes Staphylococcus aureus to 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(1-methylpyridinium-4-yl)porphyrin tetratosylate (TMPyP) upon red light irradiation. Interestingly, the observed potentiation strongly depends on the presence of light. Analysis of this combined action of FRN and TMPyP, however, showed no influence of farnesol on TMPyP photochemical properties, i.e. the amount of reactive oxygen species that were produced by TMPyP in the presence of FRN. The accumulation rate of TMPyP in Staphylococcus aureus cells did not change, as well as the influence of staphyloxanthin inhibition. The precise mechanism of observed sensitization is unclear and probably involves specific molecular targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Kossakowska-Zwierucho
- Laboratory of Molecular Diagnostics, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology University of Gdansk and Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Szewczyk
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Tadeusz Sarna
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Joanna Nakonieczna
- Laboratory of Molecular Diagnostics, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology University of Gdansk and Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland.
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Orazi G, O'Toole GA. "It Takes a Village": Mechanisms Underlying Antimicrobial Recalcitrance of Polymicrobial Biofilms. J Bacteriol 2019; 202:e00530-19. [PMID: 31548277 PMCID: PMC6932244 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00530-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic infections are frequently caused by polymicrobial biofilms. Importantly, these infections are often difficult to treat effectively in part due to the recalcitrance of biofilms to antimicrobial therapy. Emerging evidence suggests that polymicrobial interactions can lead to dramatic and unexpected changes in the ability of antibiotics to eradicate biofilms and often result in decreased antimicrobial efficacy in vitro In this review, we discuss the influence of polymicrobial interactions on the antibiotic susceptibility of biofilms, and we highlight the studies that first documented the shifted antimicrobial susceptibilities of mixed-species cultures. Recent studies have identified several mechanisms underlying the recalcitrance of polymicrobial biofilm communities, including interspecies exchange of antibiotic resistance genes, β-lactamase-mediated inactivation of antibiotics, changes in gene expression induced by metabolites and quorum sensing signals, inhibition of the electron transport chain, and changes in properties of the cell membrane. In addition to elucidating multiple mechanisms that contribute to the altered drug susceptibility of polymicrobial biofilms, these studies have uncovered novel ways in which polymicrobial interactions can impact microbial physiology. The diversity of findings discussed highlights the importance of continuing to investigate the efficacy of antibiotics against biofilm communities composed of different combinations of microbial species. Together, the data presented here illustrate the importance of studying microbes as part of mixed-species communities rather than in isolation. In light of our greater understanding of how interspecies interactions alter the efficacy of antimicrobial agents, we propose that the methods for measuring the drug susceptibility of polymicrobial infections should be revisited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Orazi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - George A O'Toole
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
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Jiang Q, Chen J, Yang C, Yin Y, Yao K. Quorum Sensing: A Prospective Therapeutic Target for Bacterial Diseases. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 2019:2015978. [PMID: 31080810 PMCID: PMC6475571 DOI: 10.1155/2019/2015978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Accepted: 03/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial quorum sensing (QS) is a cell-to-cell communication in which specific signals are activated to coordinate pathogenic behaviors and help bacteria acclimatize to the disadvantages. The QS signals in the bacteria mainly consist of acyl-homoserine lactone, autoinducing peptide, and autoinducer-2. QS signaling activation and biofilm formation lead to the antimicrobial resistance of the pathogens, thus increasing the therapy difficulty of bacterial diseases. Anti-QS agents can abolish the QS signaling and prevent the biofilm formation, therefore reducing bacterial virulence without causing drug-resistant to the pathogens, suggesting that anti-QS agents are potential alternatives for antibiotics. This review focuses on the anti-QS agents and their mediated signals in the pathogens and conveys the potential of QS targeted therapy for bacterial diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Jiang
- Laboratory of Animal Nutritional Physiology and Metabolic Process, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100043, China
- Department of Animal Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3T 2N2
| | - Jiashun Chen
- Laboratory of Animal Nutritional Physiology and Metabolic Process, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
| | - Chengbo Yang
- Department of Animal Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3T 2N2
| | - Yulong Yin
- Laboratory of Animal Nutritional Physiology and Metabolic Process, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
| | - Kang Yao
- Laboratory of Animal Nutritional Physiology and Metabolic Process, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
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Kim C, Hesek D, Lee M, Mobashery S. Potentiation of the activity of β-lactam antibiotics by farnesol and its derivatives. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2018; 28:642-645. [PMID: 29402738 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2018.01.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2017] [Revised: 01/15/2018] [Accepted: 01/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Farnesol, a sesquiterpene alcohol, potentiates the activity of β-lactam antibiotics against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. We document that farnesol and two synthetic derivatives (compounds 2 and 6) have poor antibacterial activities of their own, but they potentiate the activities of ampicillin and oxacillin against Staphylococcus aureus strains (including methicillin-resistant S. aureus). These compounds attenuate the rate of growth of bacteria, which has to be taken into account in assessment of the potentiation effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Choon Kim
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, 46556 IN, United States
| | - Dusan Hesek
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, 46556 IN, United States
| | - Mijoon Lee
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, 46556 IN, United States
| | - Shahriar Mobashery
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, 46556 IN, United States.
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Modulation of Staphylococcus aureus Response to Antimicrobials by the Candida albicans Quorum Sensing Molecule Farnesol. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2017; 61:AAC.01573-17. [PMID: 28893777 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01573-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2017] [Accepted: 09/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In microbial biofilms, microorganisms utilize secreted signaling chemical molecules to coordinate their collective behavior. Farnesol is a quorum sensing molecule secreted by the fungal species Candida albicans and shown to play a central physiological role during fungal biofilm growth. Our pervious in vitro and in vivo studies characterized an intricate interaction between C. albicans and the bacterial pathogen Staphylococcus aureus, as these species coexist in biofilm. In this study, we aimed to investigate the impact of farnesol on S. aureus survival, biofilm formation, and response to antimicrobials. The results demonstrated that in the presence of exogenously supplemented farnesol or farnesol secreted by C. albicans in biofilm, S. aureus exhibited significantly enhanced tolerance to antimicrobials. By using gene expression studies, S. aureus mutant strains, and chemical inhibitors, the mechanism for the enhanced tolerance was attributed to upregulation of drug efflux pumps. Importantly, we showed that sequential exposure of S. aureus to farnesol generated a phenotype of high resistance to antimicrobials. Based on the presence of intracellular reactive oxygen species upon farnesol exposure, we hypothesize that antimicrobial tolerance in S. aureus may be mediated by farnesol-induced oxidative stress triggering the upregulation of efflux pumps, as part of a general stress response system. Hence, in mixed biofilms, C. albicans may influence the pathogenicity of S. aureus through acquisition of a drug-tolerant phenotype, with important therapeutic implications. Understanding interspecies signaling in polymicrobial biofilms and the specific drug resistance responses to secreted molecules may lead to the identification of novel targets for drug development.
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