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Chaganti T, Tsai CY, Juang YP, Abdelalim M, Cernak T. Medicinal Chemistry Gone Wild. J Med Chem 2024. [PMID: 38662285 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c02334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Earth is currently experiencing a mass extinction event. The flora and fauna of our planet are experiencing mass die-offs from a multitude of factors, with wildlife disease emerging as one parameter where medicinal chemists are equipped to intervene. While contemporary medicinal chemistry focuses on human health, many traditional pharmaceutical companies have historic roots in human health, animal health, and plant health. This trifecta of health sciences perfectly maps to the current field of One Health, which recognizes that optimal health outcomes can only be achieved through the health of humans, plants, animals, and their shared environments. This Perspective imagines a world where state-of-the-art medicinal chemistry tactics are used to prevent the extinction of endangered species and points to preliminary work in the emerging area of conservation medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tesko Chaganti
- Canton High School, Canton, Michigan 48187, United States
| | - Chun-Yi Tsai
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Yu-Pu Juang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Mohamed Abdelalim
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Tim Cernak
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
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McDougall FK, Boardman WS, Speight N, Stephenson T, Funnell O, Smith I, Graham PL, Power ML. Carriage of antibiotic resistance genes to treatments for chlamydial disease in koalas ( Phascolarctos cinereus): A comparison of occurrence before and during catastrophic wildfires. One Health 2023; 17:100652. [PMID: 38024267 PMCID: PMC10665209 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2023.100652] [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: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Growing reports of diverse antibiotic resistance genes in wildlife species around the world symbolises the extent of this global One Health issue. The health of wildlife is threatened by antimicrobial resistance in situations where wildlife species develop disease and require antibiotics. Chlamydial disease is a key threat for koalas in Australia, with infected koalas frequently entering wildlife hospitals and requiring antibiotic therapy, typically with chloramphenicol or doxycycline. This study investigated the occurrence and diversity of target chloramphenicol and doxycycline resistance genes (cat and tet respectively) in koala urogenital and faecal microbiomes. DNA was extracted from 394 urogenital swabs and 91 faecal swabs collected from koalas in mainland Australia and on Kangaroo Island (KI) located 14 km off the mainland, before (n = 145) and during (n = 340) the 2019-2020 wildfires. PCR screening and DNA sequencing determined 9.9% of samples (95%CI: 7.5% to 12.9%) carried cat and/or tet genes, with the highest frequency in fire-affected KI koalas (16.8%) and the lowest in wild KI koalas sampled prior to fires (6.5%). The diversity of cat and tet was greater in fire-affected koalas (seven variants detected), compared to pre-fire koalas (two variants detected). Fire-affected koalas in care that received antibiotics had a significantly higher proportion (p < 0.05) of cat and/or tet genes (37.5%) compared to koalas that did not receive antibiotics (9.8%). Of the cat and/or tet positive mainland koalas, 50.0% were Chlamydia-positive by qPCR test. Chloramphenicol and doxycycline resistance genes in koala microbiomes may contribute to negative treatment outcomes for koalas receiving anti-chlamydial antibiotics. Thus a secondary outcome of wildfires is increased risk of acquisition of cat and tet genes in fire-affected koalas that enter care, potentially exacerbating the already significant threat of chlamydial disease on Australia's koalas. This study highlights the importance of considering impacts to wildlife health within the One Health approach to AMR and identifies a need for greater understanding of AMR ecology in wildlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona K. McDougall
- School of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Wayne S.J. Boardman
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, SA 5371, Australia
| | - Natasha Speight
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, SA 5371, Australia
| | - Tamsyn Stephenson
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, SA 5371, Australia
| | - Oliver Funnell
- Zoos South Australia, Frome Rd, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia
| | - Ian Smith
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, SA 5371, Australia
- Zoos South Australia, Frome Rd, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia
| | - Petra L. Graham
- School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Michelle L. Power
- School of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
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Simpson SJ, Higgins DP, Timms P, Mella VSA, Crowther MS, Fernandez CM, McArthur C, Phillips S, Krockenberger MB. Efficacy of a synthetic peptide Chlamydia pecorum major outer membrane protein vaccine in a wild koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) population. Sci Rep 2023; 13:15087. [PMID: 37699951 PMCID: PMC10497537 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-42296-7] [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: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Chlamydiosis is a significant disease affecting Eastern Australian koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) populations, impacting individual animal welfare and fecundity and therefore influencing population dynamics. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a synthetic peptide vaccine based on 4 components of the Chlamydia pecorum major outer membrane protein (MOMP), over an 18-month period in a koala population severely impacted by chlamydiosis. Wild koalas were recruited into a vaccination or a placebo treatment group on a random allocation, then followed through a period of 18 months, with recapture at 6 monthly intervals. Vaccination did not alter clinical disease expression or chlamydial shedding from the ocular or urogenital sites. Vaccination did not stimulate a significant plasma anti-MOMP IgG response, when compared to the placebo group. There was no significant effect of vaccination on IFN-γ and IL-17A mRNA expression of peripheral blood lymphocytes when stimulated with rMOMP. We have demonstrated that a synthetic peptide vaccination against chlamydiosis is not an effective management tool in a koala population with a high prevalence of C. pecorum infection and related disease. The lack of antigenic response found in this study suggests that further research utilising a larger, full-length antigen is an avenue worth investigation if we are to consider vaccination as a part of a management strategy in diseased koala populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J Simpson
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
| | - Damien P Higgins
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Peter Timms
- Centre for Bioinnovation, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, 4556, Australia
| | - Valentina S A Mella
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Mathew S Crowther
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Cristina M Fernandez
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Clare McArthur
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Samuel Phillips
- Centre for Bioinnovation, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, 4556, Australia
| | - Mark B Krockenberger
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
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Chen CJ, Casteriano A, Green AC, Govendir M. A retrospective study on antibacterial treatments for koalas infected with Chlamydia pecorum. Sci Rep 2023; 13:12670. [PMID: 37542093 PMCID: PMC10403558 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39832-w] [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: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Chlamydiosis remains the leading infectious disease and is one of the key factors responsible for the dramatic reduction of koala populations in South-East Queensland (SEQ) and New South Wales (NSW) regions of Australia. Possible infection outcomes include blindness, infertility, painful cystitis, and death if left untreated. Studies have reported the treatment efficacy of chloramphenicol and doxycycline, which are the two most commonly administered treatments in diseased koalas, in clinical settings. However, none have directly compared the treatment efficacy of these antibacterials on koala survival. A retrospective study was essential to identify any relationships between the demographical information, and the animals' responses to the current treatment regimens. Associations were explored between six explanatory (sex; maturity; location; clinical signs, treatment; treatment duration) and two outcome variables (survival; post-treatment PCR). Results showed that female koalas had a statistical trend of lower odds of surviving when compared to males (OR = 0.36, p = 0.05). Koalas treated with chloramphenicol for ≥ 28 days had greater odds of surviving than when treated for < 28 days (OR = 8.8, p = 0.02), and those koalas administered doxycycline had greater odds of testing PCR negative when compared to chloramphenicol treatments (OR = 5.45, p = 0.008). There was no difference between the antibacterial treatments (chloramphenicol, doxycycline, and mixed/other) and the survival of koalas. Female koalas had greater odds of exhibiting UGT signs only (OR = 4.86, p < 0.001), and also greater odds of having both ocular and UGT clinical signs (OR = 5.29, p < 0.001) when compared to males. Of the koalas, 28.5% initially had no clinical signs but were PCR positive for C. pecorum. This study enables further understanding of the complex nature between chlamydial infection and response to antibacterial treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chien-Jung Chen
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| | - Andrea Casteriano
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Alexandra Clare Green
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Merran Govendir
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Shu M, Bu J, Lei W, Chen L, Zhou Z, Lu C, Chen C, Li Z. Pgp3 protein of Chlamydia trachomatis inhibits apoptosis via HO-1 upregulation mediated by PI3K/Akt activation. Microb Pathog 2023; 178:106056. [PMID: 36893904 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2023.106056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
As an obligate intracellular pathogen, Chlamydia trachomatis assumes various strategies to inhibit host cells apoptosis, thereby providing a suitable intracellular environment to ensure completion of the development cycle. In the current study, we revealed that Pgp3 protein, one of eight plasmid proteins of C. trachomatis that has been illustrated as the key virulence factor, increased HO-1 expression to suppress apoptosis, and downregulation of HO-1 with siRNA-HO-1 failed to exert anti-apoptosis activity of Pgp3 protein. Moreover, treatment of PI3K/Akt pathway inhibitor and Nrf2 inhibitor evidently reduced HO-1 expression and Nrf2 nuclear translocation was blocked by PI3K/Akt pathway inhibitor. These findings highlight that induction of HO-1 expression by Pgp3 protein is probably due to regulation of Nrf2 nuclear translocation activated by PI3K/Akt pathway, which provide clues on how C. trachomatis adjusts apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingyi Shu
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, PR China
| | - Jichang Bu
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, PR China
| | - Wenbo Lei
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, PR China
| | - Lili Chen
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, PR China
| | - Zhou Zhou
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, PR China
| | - Chunxue Lu
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, PR China
| | - Chaoqun Chen
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, PR China
| | - Zhongyu Li
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, PR China.
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Chen CJ, Gillett A, Booth R, Kimble B, Govendir M. Pharmacokinetic Profile of Doxycycline in Koala Plasma after Weekly Subcutaneous Injections for the Treatment of Chlamydiosis. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12030250. [PMID: 35158574 PMCID: PMC8833767 DOI: 10.3390/ani12030250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Doxycycline is an antimicrobial used for treating chlamydial infections in various species, including the koala. The dose and route of administration used initially are based on first principles. Therefore, this study investigates the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of subcutaneous doxycycline injections, and evaluates the suitability of the current dosage regimen for inhibiting chlamydial pathogens. The results suggest that the current doxycycline dosage remained therapeutically effective for up to six days after each dose, with some accumulation over successive doses. All koalas in the study improved clinically and tested negative for chlamydial pathogens post-treatment before being released. This study contributes to determining the optimal dosage of doxycycline to treat chlamydiosis safely and effectively in infected koalas. Abstract Six mature, male koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus), with clinical signs of chlamydiosis, were administered doxycycline as a 5 mg/kg subcutaneous injection, once a week for four weeks. Blood was collected at standardised time points (T = 0 to 672 h) to quantify the plasma doxycycline concentrations through high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). In five koalas, the doxycycline plasma concentration over the first 48 h appeared to have two distinct elimination gradients; therefore, a two-compartmental analysis was undertaken to describe the pharmacokinetic (PK) profile. The average ± SD maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) was 312.30 ± 107.74 ng/mL, while the average time ± SD taken to reach the maximum plasma concentration (Tmax) was 1.68 ± 1.49 h. The mean ± SD half-life of the distribution phase (T1/2 α) and the elimination phase (T1/2 β) were 10.51 ± 7.15 h and 82.93 ± 37.76 h, respectively. The average ± SD percentage of doxycycline binding to koala plasma protein was 83.65 ± 4.03% at three different concentrations, with a mean unbound fraction (fu) of 0.16. Using probability of target attainment modelling, doxycycline plasma concentrations were likely to inhibit 90% of pathogens with the doxycycline minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 8.0–31.0 ng/mL, and the reported doxycycline MIC to inhibit Chlamydia pecorum isolates at the area under the curve/minimum inhibitory concentration (AUC/MIC) target of ≥24. All koalas were confirmed to be negative for Chlamydia pecorum using loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), from ocular and penile urethra swabs, three weeks after the last doxycycline injection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chien-Jung Chen
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; (B.K.); (M.G.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Amber Gillett
- Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, Beerwah, QLD 4519, Australia; (A.G.); (R.B.)
| | - Rosemary Booth
- Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, Beerwah, QLD 4519, Australia; (A.G.); (R.B.)
| | - Benjamin Kimble
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; (B.K.); (M.G.)
| | - Merran Govendir
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; (B.K.); (M.G.)
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