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Zhu L, Yang X, Fu X, Yang P, Lin X, Wang F, Shen Z, Wang J, Sun F, Qiu Z. Pheromone cCF10 inhibits the antibiotic persistence of Enterococcus faecalis by modulating energy metabolism. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1408701. [PMID: 39040910 PMCID: PMC11260814 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1408701] [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: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Bacterial resistance presents a major challenge to both the ecological environment and human well-being, with persistence playing a key role. Multiple studies were recently undertaken to examine the factors influencing the formation of persisters and the underlying process, with a primary focus on Gram-negative bacteria and Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive bacteria). Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) is capable of causing a variety of infectious diseases, but there have been few studies of E. faecalis persisters. Previous studies have shown that the sex pheromone cCF10 secreted by E. faecalis induces conjugative plasmid transfer. However, whether the pheromone cCF10 regulates the persistence of E. faecalis has not been investigated. Methods As a result, we investigated the effect and potential molecular mechanism of pheromone cCF10 in regulating the formation of persisters in E. faecalis OG1RF using a persistent bacteria model. Results and discussion The metabolically active E. faecalis OG1RF reached a persistence state and temporarily tolerated lethal antibiotic concentrations after 8 h of levofloxacin hydrochloride (20 mg/mL) exposure, exhibiting a persistence rate of 0.109 %. During the growth of E. faecalis OG1RF, biofilm formation was a critical factor contributing to antibiotic persistence, whereas 10 ng/mL cCF10 blocked persister cell formation. Notably, cCF10 mediated the antibiotic persistence of E. faecalis OG1RF via regulating metabolic activity rather than suppressing biofilm formation. The addition of cCF10 stimulated the Opp system and entered bacterial cells, inhibiting (p)ppGpp accumulation, thus maintaining the metabolically active state of bacteria and reducing persister cell generation. These findings offer valuable insights into the formation, as well as the control mechanism of E. faecalis persisters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Zhu
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Xi’an Polytechnic University, Xi’an, China
- Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control for Environment and Food Safety, Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiaobo Yang
- Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control for Environment and Food Safety, Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Xinyue Fu
- Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control for Environment and Food Safety, Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin, China
- College of Oceanography and Ecological Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
| | - Panpan Yang
- Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control for Environment and Food Safety, Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin, China
- School of Public Health, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, China
| | - Xiaoli Lin
- Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control for Environment and Food Safety, Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin, China
- Key Laboratory of Karst Geological Resources and Environment, Guizhou University, Guizhou, China
| | - Feng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control for Environment and Food Safety, Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin, China
- College of Oceanography and Ecological Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhiqiang Shen
- Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control for Environment and Food Safety, Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Jingfeng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control for Environment and Food Safety, Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Feilong Sun
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Xi’an Polytechnic University, Xi’an, China
| | - Zhigang Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control for Environment and Food Safety, Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin, China
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Vieira TF, Leitão MM, Cerqueira NMFSA, Sousa SF, Borges A, Simões M. Montelukast and cefoperazone act as antiquorum sensing and antibiofilm agents against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. J Appl Microbiol 2024; 135:lxae088. [PMID: 38587815 DOI: 10.1093/jambio/lxae088] [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: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
AIMS Drug repurposing is an attractive strategy to control biofilm-related infectious diseases. In this study, two drugs (montelukast and cefoperazone) with well-established therapeutic applications were tested on Pseudomonas aeruginosa quorum sensing (QS) inhibition and biofilm control. METHODS AND RESULTS The activity of montelukast and cefoperazone was evaluated for Pqs signal inhibition, pyocyanin synthesis, and prevention and eradication of Ps. aeruginosa biofilms. Cefoperazone inhibited the Pqs system by hindering the production of the autoinducer molecules 2-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline (HHQ) and 2-heptyl-3-hydroxy-4(1H)-quinolone (the Pseudomonas quinolone signal or PQS), corroborating in silico results. Pseudomonas aeruginosa pyocyanin production was reduced by 50%. The combination of the antibiotics cefoperazone and ciprofloxacin was synergistic for Ps. aeruginosa biofilm control. On the other hand, montelukast had no relevant effects on the inhibition of the Pqs system and against Ps. aeruginosa biofilm. CONCLUSION This study provides for the first time strong evidence that cefoperazone interacts with the Pqs system, hindering the formation of the autoinducer molecules HHQ and PQS, reducing Ps. aeruginosa pathogenicity and virulence. Cefoperazone demonstrated a potential to be used in combination with less effective antibiotics (e.g. ciprofloxacin) to potentiate the biofilm control action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana F Vieira
- Faculty of Medicine, LAQV/REQUIMTE, BioSIM, Departamento de Medicina, University of Porto, Alameda Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
| | - Miguel M Leitão
- Faculty of Engineering, LEPABE Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, University of Porto, Rua Dr Roberto Frias, s/n, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
- Faculty of Engineering, ALiCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
- Faculty of Sciences, CIQUP-IMS - Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Porto, Rua Campo Alegre 687, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Nuno M F S A Cerqueira
- Faculty of Medicine, LAQV/REQUIMTE, BioSIM, Departamento de Medicina, University of Porto, Alameda Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
| | - Sérgio F Sousa
- Faculty of Medicine, LAQV/REQUIMTE, BioSIM, Departamento de Medicina, University of Porto, Alameda Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
| | - Anabela Borges
- Faculty of Engineering, LEPABE Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, University of Porto, Rua Dr Roberto Frias, s/n, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
- Faculty of Engineering, ALiCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | - Manuel Simões
- Faculty of Engineering, LEPABE Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, University of Porto, Rua Dr Roberto Frias, s/n, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
- Faculty of Engineering, ALiCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
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Alasiri A, Soltane R, Taha MN, Abd El-Aleam RH, Alshehri F, Sayed AM. Bakuchiol inhibits Pseudomonas aeruginosa's quorum sensing-dependent biofilm formation by selectively inhibiting its transcriptional activator protein LasR. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 255:128025. [PMID: 37979739 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.128025] [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: 08/06/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
In the present study, we characterized Bakuchiol (Bak) as a new potent quorum sensing (QS) inhibitor against Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm formation. Upon extensive in vitro investigations, Bak was found to suppress the P. aeruginosa biofilm formation (75.5 % inhibition) and its associated virulence factor e.g., pyocyanin and rhamnolipids (% of inhibition = 71.5 % and 66.9 %, respectively). Upon LuxR-type receptors assay, Bak was found to selectively inhibit P. aeruginosa's LasR in a dose-dependent manner. Further in-depth molecular investigations (e.g., sedimentation velocity and thermal shift assays) revealed that Bak destabilized LasR upon binding and disrupted its functioning quaternary structure (i.e., the functioning dimeric form). The subsequent modeling and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations explained in more molecular detail how Bak interacts with LasR and how it can induce its dimeric form disruption. In conclusion, our study identified Bak as a potent and specific LasR antagonist that should be widely used as a chemical probe of QS in P. aeruginosa, offering new insights into LasR antagonism processes. The new findings shed light on the cryptic world of LuxR-type QS in this important opportunistic pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahlam Alasiri
- Department of Biology, Adham University College, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 21955, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Raya Soltane
- Department of Biology, Adham University College, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 21955, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Mostafa N Taha
- Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Nahda University, Beni-Suef, Egypt.
| | - Rehab H Abd El-Aleam
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Modern University for Technology and Information MTI, Cairo 11571, Egypt.
| | - Fatma Alshehri
- Department of Biology, College of Sciences, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Ahmed M Sayed
- Pharmacognosy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Nahda University, Beni Suef, Egypt; Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, Almaaqal University, 61014 Basra, Iraq.
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Soltane R, Alasiri A, Taha MN, Abd El-Aleam RH, Alghamdi KS, Ghareeb MA, Keshek DEG, Cardoso SM, Sayed AM. Norlobaridone Inhibits Quorum Sensing-Dependent Biofilm Formation and Some Virulence Factors in Pseudomonas aeruginosa by Disrupting Its Transcriptional Activator Protein LasR Dimerization. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1573. [PMID: 38002255 PMCID: PMC10669572 DOI: 10.3390/biom13111573] [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: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
In the present study, norlobaridone (NBD) was isolated from Parmotrema and then evaluated as a new potent quorum sensing (QS) inhibitor against Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm development. This phenolic natural product was found to reduce P. aeruginosa biofilm formation (64.6% inhibition) and its related virulence factors, such as pyocyanin and rhamnolipids (% inhibition = 61.1% and 55%, respectively). In vitro assays inhibitory effects against a number of known LuxR-type receptors revealed that NBD was able to specifically block P. aeruginosa's LasR in a dose-dependent manner. Further molecular studies (e.g., sedimentation velocity and thermal shift assays) demonstrated that NBD destabilized LasR upon binding and damaged its functional quaternary structure (i.e., the functional dimeric form). The use of modelling and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations also allowed us to further understand its interaction with LasR, and how this can disrupt its dimeric form. Finally, our findings show that NBD is a powerful and specific LasR antagonist that should be widely employed as a chemical probe in QS of P. aeruginosa, providing new insights into LasR antagonism processes. The new discoveries shed light on the mysterious world of LuxR-type QS in this key opportunistic pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raya Soltane
- Department of Basic Sciences, Adham University College, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 21955, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Ahlam Alasiri
- Department of Basic Sciences, Adham University College, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 21955, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Mostafa N. Taha
- Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Nahda University, Beni-Suef 62764, Egypt;
| | - Rehab H. Abd El-Aleam
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Modern University for Technology and Information (MTI), Cairo 11571, Egypt;
| | - Kawthar Saad Alghamdi
- Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Hafr Al Batin, Hafar Al Batin 39511, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Mosad A. Ghareeb
- Medicinal Chemistry Department, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute Kornaish El Nile, Warrak El-Hadar, Imbaba, P.O. Box 30, Giza 12411, Egypt;
| | - Doaa El-Ghareeb Keshek
- Department of Biology, Jumum College University, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 21955, Saudi Arabia;
- Agriculture Genetic Engineering Research Institute (AGERI), Agriculture Research Center, Giza 11571, Egypt
| | - Susana M. Cardoso
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal;
| | - Ahmed M. Sayed
- Pharmacognosy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Nahda University, Beni-Suef 62513, Egypt
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Bollen C, Louwagie E, Verstraeten N, Michiels J, Ruelens P. Environmental, mechanistic and evolutionary landscape of antibiotic persistence. EMBO Rep 2023; 24:e57309. [PMID: 37395716 PMCID: PMC10398667 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202357309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Recalcitrant infections pose a serious challenge by prolonging antibiotic therapies and contributing to the spread of antibiotic resistance, thereby threatening the successful treatment of bacterial infections. One potential contributing factor in persistent infections is antibiotic persistence, which involves the survival of transiently tolerant subpopulations of bacteria. This review summarizes the current understanding of antibiotic persistence, including its clinical significance and the environmental and evolutionary factors at play. Additionally, we discuss the emerging concept of persister regrowth and potential strategies to combat persister cells. Recent advances highlight the multifaceted nature of persistence, which is controlled by deterministic and stochastic elements and shaped by genetic and environmental factors. To translate in vitro findings to in vivo settings, it is crucial to include the heterogeneity and complexity of bacterial populations in natural environments. As researchers continue to gain a more holistic understanding of this phenomenon and develop effective treatments for persistent bacterial infections, the study of antibiotic persistence is likely to become increasingly complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celien Bollen
- Centre of Microbial and Plant GeneticsKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- Center for Microbiology, VIBLeuvenBelgium
| | - Elen Louwagie
- Centre of Microbial and Plant GeneticsKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- Center for Microbiology, VIBLeuvenBelgium
| | - Natalie Verstraeten
- Centre of Microbial and Plant GeneticsKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- Center for Microbiology, VIBLeuvenBelgium
| | - Jan Michiels
- Centre of Microbial and Plant GeneticsKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- Center for Microbiology, VIBLeuvenBelgium
| | - Philip Ruelens
- Centre of Microbial and Plant GeneticsKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- Center for Microbiology, VIBLeuvenBelgium
- Laboratory of Socioecology and Social EvolutionKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
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Zhou Y, Liao H, Pei L, Pu Y. Combatting persister cells: The daunting task in post-antibiotics era. CELL INSIGHT 2023; 2:100104. [PMID: 37304393 PMCID: PMC10250163 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellin.2023.100104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Over the years, much attention has been drawn to antibiotic resistance bacteria, but drug inefficacy caused by a subgroup of special phenotypic variants - persisters - has been largely neglected in both scientific and clinical field. Interestingly, this subgroup of phenotypic variants displayed their power of withstanding sufficient antibiotics exposure in a mechanism different from antibiotic resistance. In this review, we summarized the clinical importance of bacterial persisters, the evolutionary link between resistance, tolerance, and persistence, redundant mechanisms of persister formation as well as methods of studying persister cells. In the light of our recent findings of membrane-less organelle aggresome and its important roles in regulating bacterial dormancy depth, we propose an alternative approach for anti-persister therapy. That is, to force a persister into a deeper dormancy state to become a VBNC (viable but non-culturable) cell that is incapable of regrowth. We hope to provide the latest insights on persister studies and call upon more research interest into this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yidan Zhou
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei- MOST) & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430079, China
- Medical Research Institute, School of Medicine, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430079, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430079, China
| | - Hebin Liao
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei- MOST) & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430079, China
- Medical Research Institute, School of Medicine, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430079, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430079, China
| | - Linsen Pei
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei- MOST) & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430079, China
- Medical Research Institute, School of Medicine, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430079, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430079, China
| | - Yingying Pu
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei- MOST) & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430079, China
- Medical Research Institute, School of Medicine, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430079, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430079, China
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Lima EMF, Winans SC, Pinto UM. Quorum sensing interference by phenolic compounds - A matter of bacterial misunderstanding. Heliyon 2023; 9:e17657. [PMID: 37449109 PMCID: PMC10336516 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past decade, numerous publications have emerged in the literature focusing on the inhibition of quorum sensing (QS) by plant extracts and phenolic compounds. However, there is still a scarcity of studies that delve into the specific mechanisms by which these compounds inhibit QS. Thus, our question is whether phenolic compounds can inhibit QS in a specific or indirect manner and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms involved. This study is focused on the most studied QS system, namely, autoinducer type 1 (AI-1), represented by N-acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) signals and the AHL-mediated QS responses. Here, we analyzed the recent literature in order to understand how phenolic compounds act at the cellular level, at sub-inhibitory concentrations, and evaluated by which QS inhibition mechanisms they may act. The biotechnological application of QS inhibitors holds promising prospects for the pharmaceutical and food industries, serving as adjunct therapies and in the prevention of biofilms on various surfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emília Maria França Lima
- Department of Food and Experimental Nutrition, Food Research Center, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Stephen C. Winans
- Department of Microbiology, 361A Wing Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Uelinton Manoel Pinto
- Department of Food and Experimental Nutrition, Food Research Center, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Yang F, Zhou Y, Bai Y, Pan X, Ha UH, Cheng Z, Wu W, Jin Y, Bai F. MvfR Controls Tolerance to Polymyxin B by Regulating rfaD in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0042623. [PMID: 37039709 PMCID: PMC10269820 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00426-23] [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: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Polymyxins are currently the last-resort antibiotics for the treatment of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections. To expand the understanding of the intrinsic resistance mechanism against polymyxins, a laboratory strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 was subjected to serial passage in the presence of sublethal doses of polymyxin B over a period of 30 days. By whole-genome sequencing of successively isolated polymyxin B-resistant isolates, we identified a frameshift mutation (L183fs) in the mvfR gene that further increased polymyxin resistance in the pmrB mutant background. A ΔmvfR mutation alone showed higher tolerance to polymyxin B due to altered lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the surface of bacterial cells, which decreases its outer membrane permeability. In the ΔmvfR mutant, polymyxin B treatment caused the upregulation of rfaD, the gene involved in LPS core oligosaccharide synthesis, which is responsible for polymyxin tolerance. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of mvfR mutation conferring polymyxin resistance in P. aeruginosa via increased integrity of bacterial outer membrane. IMPORTANCE Antibiotic resistance imposes a considerable challenge for the treatment of P. aeruginosa infections. Polymyxins are the last-resort antibiotics for the treatment of multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa infections. Understanding the development and mechanisms of bacterial resistance to polymyxins may provide clues for the development of new or improved therapeutic strategies effective against P. aeruginosa. In this study, using an in vitro evolution assay in combination with whole-genome sequencing, we demonstrated that MvfR controls tolerance to polymyxin B by regulating the rfaD gene in P. aeruginosa. Our results reveal a novel mechanism employed by P. aeruginosa in the defense against polymyxin antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yuchen Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yuxi Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiaolei Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Un-Hwan Ha
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Korea University, Sejong, Republic of Korea
| | - Zhihui Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Weihui Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yongxin Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Fang Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
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Beenker WAG, Hoeksma J, Bannier-Hélaouët M, Clevers H, den Hertog J. Paecilomycone Inhibits Quorum Sensing in Gram-Negative Bacteria. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0509722. [PMID: 36920212 PMCID: PMC10100902 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.05097-22] [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: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that causes major health care concerns due to its virulence and high intrinsic resistance to antimicrobial agents. Therefore, new treatments are greatly needed. An interesting approach is to target quorum sensing (QS). QS regulates the production of a wide variety of virulence factors and biofilm formation in P. aeruginosa. This study describes the identification of paecilomycone as an inhibitor of QS in both Chromobacterium violaceum and P. aeruginosa. Paecilomycone strongly inhibited the production of virulence factors in P. aeruginosa, including various phenazines, and biofilm formation. In search of the working mechanism, we found that paecilomycone inhibited the production of 4-hydroxy-2-heptylquinoline (HHQ) and 3,4-dihydroxy-2-heptylquinoline (PQS), but not 2'-aminoacetophenone (2-AA). Therefore, we suggest that paecilomycone affects parts of QS in P. aeruginosa by targeting the PqsBC complex and alternative targets or alters processes that influence the enzymatic activity of the PqsBC complex. The toxicity of paecilomycone toward eukaryotic cells and organisms was low, making it an interesting lead for further clinical research. IMPORTANCE Antibiotics are becoming less effective against bacterial infections due to the evolution of resistance among bacteria. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a Gram-negative pathogen that causes major health care concerns and is difficult to treat due to its high intrinsic resistance to antimicrobial agents. Therefore, new targets are needed, and an interesting approach is to target quorum sensing (QS). QS is the communication system in bacteria that regulates multiple pathways, including the production of virulence factors and biofilm formation, which leads to high toxicity in the host and low sensitivity to antibiotics, respectively. We found a compound, named paecilomycone, that inhibited biofilm formation and the production of various virulence factors in P. aeruginosa. The toxicity of paecilomycone toward eukaryotic cells and organisms was low, making it an interesting lead for further clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wouter A. G. Beenker
- Hubrecht Institute-KNAW and University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jelmer Hoeksma
- Hubrecht Institute-KNAW and University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Marie Bannier-Hélaouët
- Hubrecht Institute-KNAW and University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Hubrecht Institute-KNAW and University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Hans Clevers
- Hubrecht Institute-KNAW and University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Hubrecht Institute-KNAW and University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen den Hertog
- Hubrecht Institute-KNAW and University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Institute Biology Leiden, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE This work addressing complexities in wound infection, seeks to test the reliance of bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) on host skin lipids to form biofilm with pathological consequences. BACKGROUND PA biofilm causes wound chronicity. Both CDC as well as NIH recognizes biofilm infection as a threat leading to wound chronicity. Chronic wounds on lower extremities often lead to surgical limb amputation. METHODS An established preclinical porcine chronic wound biofilm model, infected with PA or Pseudomonas aeruginosa ceramidase mutant (PA ∆Cer ), was used. RESULTS We observed that bacteria drew resource from host lipids to induce PA ceramidase expression by three orders of magnitude. PA utilized product of host ceramide catabolism to augment transcription of PA ceramidase. Biofilm formation was more robust in PA compared to PA ∆Cer . Downstream products of such metabolism such as sphingosine and sphingosine-1-phosphate were both directly implicated in the induction of ceramidase and inhibition of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)δ, respectively. PA biofilm, in a ceram-idastin-sensitive manner, also silenced PPARδ via induction of miR-106b. Low PPARδ limited ABCA12 expression resulting in disruption of skin lipid homeostasis. Barrier function of the wound-site was thus compromised. CONCLUSIONS This work demonstrates that microbial pathogens must co-opt host skin lipids to unleash biofilm pathogenicity. Anti-biofilm strategies must not necessarily always target the microbe and targeting host lipids at risk of infection could be productive. This work may be viewed as a first step, laying fundamental mechanistic groundwork, toward a paradigm change in biofilm management.
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11
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Hamed MM, Abdelsamie AS, Rox K, Schütz C, Kany AM, Röhrig T, Schmelz S, Blankenfeldt W, Arce‐Rodriguez A, Borrero‐de Acuña JM, Jahn D, Rademacher J, Ringshausen FC, Cramer N, Tümmler B, Hirsch AKH, Hartmann RW, Empting M. Towards Translation of PqsR Inverse Agonists: From In Vitro Efficacy Optimization to In Vivo Proof-of-Principle. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2204443. [PMID: 36596691 PMCID: PMC9929129 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202204443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) is an opportunistic human pathogen, which is involved in a wide range of dangerous infections. It develops alarming resistances toward antibiotic treatment. Therefore, alternative strategies, which suppress pathogenicity or synergize with antibiotic treatments are in great need to combat these infections more effectively. One promising approach is to disarm the bacteria by interfering with their quorum sensing (QS) system, which regulates the release of various virulence factors as well as biofilm formation. Herein, this work reports the rational design, optimization, and in-depth profiling of a new class of Pseudomonas quinolone signaling receptor (PqsR) inverse agonists. The resulting frontrunner compound features a pyrimidine-based scaffold, high in vitro and in vivo efficacy, favorable pharmacokinetics as well as clean safety pharmacology characteristics, which provide the basis for potential pulmonary as well as systemic routes of administration. An X-ray crystal structure in complex with PqsR facilitated further structure-guided lead optimization. The compound demonstrates potent pyocyanin suppression, synergizes with aminoglycoside antibiotic tobramycin against PA biofilms, and is active against a panel of clinical isolates from bronchiectasis patients. Importantly, this in vitro effect translated into in vivo efficacy in a neutropenic thigh infection model in mice providing a proof-of-principle for adjunctive treatment scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mostafa M. Hamed
- Helmholtz‐Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS)Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) Campus E8.166123SaarbrückenGermany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF)Partner Site Hannover‐Braunschweig Saarbrücken66123SaarbrückenGermany
| | - Ahmed S. Abdelsamie
- Helmholtz‐Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS)Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) Campus E8.166123SaarbrückenGermany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF)Partner Site Hannover‐Braunschweig Saarbrücken66123SaarbrückenGermany
- Department of Chemistry of Natural and Microbial ProductsInstitute of Pharmaceutical and Drug Industries ResearchNational Research CentreEl‐Buhouth St.DokkiCairo12622Egypt
| | - Katharina Rox
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF)Partner Site Hannover‐Braunschweig Saarbrücken66123SaarbrückenGermany
- Department of Chemical Biology (CBIO)Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI)Inhoffenstr. 7 Braunschweig38124SaarbrückenGermany
| | - Christian Schütz
- Helmholtz‐Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS)Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) Campus E8.166123SaarbrückenGermany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF)Partner Site Hannover‐Braunschweig Saarbrücken66123SaarbrückenGermany
| | - Andreas M. Kany
- Helmholtz‐Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS)Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) Campus E8.166123SaarbrückenGermany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF)Partner Site Hannover‐Braunschweig Saarbrücken66123SaarbrückenGermany
| | - Teresa Röhrig
- Helmholtz‐Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS)Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) Campus E8.166123SaarbrückenGermany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF)Partner Site Hannover‐Braunschweig Saarbrücken66123SaarbrückenGermany
| | - Stefan Schmelz
- Department of Structure and Function of Proteins (SFPR)Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI)Inhoffenstr. 7 Braunschweig38124SaarbrückenGermany
| | - Wulf Blankenfeldt
- Department of Structure and Function of Proteins (SFPR)Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI)Inhoffenstr. 7 Braunschweig38124SaarbrückenGermany
- Institute for BiochemistryBiotechnology and BioinformaticsTechnische Universität BraunschweigBraunschweigGermany
| | | | - José Manuel Borrero‐de Acuña
- Institute of MicrobiologyTechnische Universität Braunschweig38106BraunschweigGermany
- Braunschweig Integrated Centre of Systems Biology (BRICS)Technische Universität Braunschweig38106BraunschweigGermany
- Departamento de MicrobiologíaFacultad de BiologíaUniversidad de SevillaAv. de la Reina Mercedesno. 6SevillaCP 41012Spain
| | - Dieter Jahn
- Institute of MicrobiologyTechnische Universität Braunschweig38106BraunschweigGermany
- Braunschweig Integrated Centre of Systems Biology (BRICS)Technische Universität Braunschweig38106BraunschweigGermany
| | - Jessica Rademacher
- Department for Respiratory MedicineMedizinische Hochschule HannoverCarl‐Neuberg‐Str. 130625HannoverGermany
- Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease (BREATH)German Center for Lung Research (DZL)30625HannoverGermany
| | - Felix C. Ringshausen
- Department for Respiratory MedicineMedizinische Hochschule HannoverCarl‐Neuberg‐Str. 130625HannoverGermany
- Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease (BREATH)German Center for Lung Research (DZL)30625HannoverGermany
- European Reference Network on Rare and Complex Respiratory Diseases (ERN‐ LUNG)FrankfurtGermany
| | - Nina Cramer
- Department for Pediatric PneumologyAllergology and NeonatologyMedizinische Hochschule HannoverCarl‐Neuberg‐Str. 130625HannoverGermany
| | - Burkhard Tümmler
- Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease (BREATH)German Center for Lung Research (DZL)30625HannoverGermany
- Department for Pediatric PneumologyAllergology and NeonatologyMedizinische Hochschule HannoverCarl‐Neuberg‐Str. 130625HannoverGermany
| | - Anna K. H. Hirsch
- Helmholtz‐Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS)Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) Campus E8.166123SaarbrückenGermany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF)Partner Site Hannover‐Braunschweig Saarbrücken66123SaarbrückenGermany
- Department of PharmacySaarland University Campus E8.166123SaarbrückenGermany
| | - Rolf W. Hartmann
- Helmholtz‐Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS)Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) Campus E8.166123SaarbrückenGermany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF)Partner Site Hannover‐Braunschweig Saarbrücken66123SaarbrückenGermany
- Department of PharmacySaarland University Campus E8.166123SaarbrückenGermany
| | - Martin Empting
- Helmholtz‐Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS)Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) Campus E8.166123SaarbrückenGermany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF)Partner Site Hannover‐Braunschweig Saarbrücken66123SaarbrückenGermany
- Department of PharmacySaarland University Campus E8.166123SaarbrückenGermany
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12
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Feng Y, Liang J, Liu X, Gao K, Zhang Y, Li A, Chen C, Hou LA, Yang Y. Graphene oxide/methyl anthranilate modified anti-biofouling membrane possesses dual functions of anti-adhesion and quorum quenching. J Memb Sci 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2022.121265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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13
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Alruhaili MH, Almuhayawi MS, Gattan HS, Alharbi MT, Nagshabandi MK, Jaouni SKA, Selim S, AbdElgawad H. Insight into the phytochemical profile and antimicrobial activities of Amomum subulatum and Amomum xanthioides: an in vitro and in silico study. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1136961. [PMID: 37152127 PMCID: PMC10157186 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1136961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Medicinal plants have been considered as potential source of therapeutics or as starting materials in drugs formulation. Methods The current study aims to shed light on the therapeutic potential of the Amomum subulatom and Amomum xanthioides Fruits by analyzing the phytochemical composition of their seeds and fruits using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) techniques to determine the presence of bioactive components such as flavonoids, phenols, vitamins, steroids, and essential oils. Results and Discussion The protein content is usually higher than the total lipids in both species except the fruit of A. subulatum which contain more lipids than proteins. The total protein contents for A. subulatum were 235.03 ± 21.49 and 227.49 ± 25.82 mg/g dry weight while for A. xanthioides were 201.9 ± 37.79 and 294.99 ± 37.93 mg/g dry weight for seeds and fruit, respectively. The Carvacrol levels in A. subulatum is 20 times higher than that in A. xanthioides. Lower levels of α-Thujene, Phyllanderenes, Ascaridole, and Pinocarvone were also observed in both species. According to DPPH (2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl) assay, seed the extract of A. subulatum exhibited the highest antioxidant activity (78.26±9.27 %) followed by the seed extract of A. xanthioides (68.21±2.56 %). Similarly, FRAP (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power) assay showed that the highest antioxidant activity was exhibited by the seed extract of the two species; 20.14±1.11 and 21.18±1.04 µmol trolox g-1 DW for A. subulatum and A. xanthioides, respectively. In terms of anti-lipid peroxidation, relatively higher values were obtained for the fruit extract of A. subulatum (6.08±0.35) and the seed extract of A. xanthioides (6.11±0.55). Ethanolic seed extracts of A. subulatum had the highest efficiency against four Gram-negative bacterial species which causes serious human diseases, namely Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris, Enterobacter aerogenes, and Salmonella typhimurium. In addition, P. aeruginosa was also inhibited by the fruit extract of both A. subulatum and A. xanthioides. For the seed extract of A. xanthioides, large inhibition zones were formed against P. vulgaris and the fungus Candida albicans. Finally, we have in silico explored the mode of action of these plants by performing detailed molecular modeling studies and showed that the antimicrobial activities of these plants could be attributed to the high binding affinity of their bioactive compounds to bind to the active sites of the sterol 14-alpha demethylase and the transcriptional regulator MvfR. Conclusion These findings demonstrate the two species extracts possess high biological activities and therapeutical values, which increases their potential value in a number of therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed H. Alruhaili
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology Faculty of Medicine, King AbdulAziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahad Medical Research Center, King AbdulAziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- *Correspondence: Mohammed H. Alruhaili, ; Samy Selim, ; Hamada AbdElgawad,
| | - Mohammed S. Almuhayawi
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology Faculty of Medicine, King AbdulAziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hattan S. Gattan
- Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahad Medical Research Center, King AbdulAziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohanned Talal Alharbi
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed K. Nagshabandi
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Soad K. Al Jaouni
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Yousef Abdulatif Jameel Scientific Chair of Prophetic Medicine Application, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Samy Selim
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jouf University, Sakaka, Saudi Arabia
- *Correspondence: Mohammed H. Alruhaili, ; Samy Selim, ; Hamada AbdElgawad,
| | - Hamada AbdElgawad
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt
- *Correspondence: Mohammed H. Alruhaili, ; Samy Selim, ; Hamada AbdElgawad,
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14
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Shi X, Zarkan A. Bacterial survivors: evaluating the mechanisms of antibiotic persistence. MICROBIOLOGY (READING, ENGLAND) 2022; 168. [PMID: 36748698 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.001266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Bacteria withstand antibiotic onslaughts by employing a variety of strategies, one of which is persistence. Persistence occurs in a bacterial population where a subpopulation of cells (persisters) survives antibiotic treatment and can regrow in a drug-free environment. Persisters may cause the recalcitrance of infectious diseases and can be a stepping stone to antibiotic resistance, so understanding persistence mechanisms is critical for therapeutic applications. However, current understanding of persistence is pervaded by paradoxes that stymie research progress, and many aspects of this cellular state remain elusive. In this review, we summarize the putative persister mechanisms, including toxin-antitoxin modules, quorum sensing, indole signalling and epigenetics, as well as the reasons behind the inconsistent body of evidence. We highlight present limitations in the field and underscore a clinical context that is frequently neglected, in the hope of supporting future researchers in examining clinically important persister mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyi Shi
- Cambridge Centre for International Research, Cambridge CB4 0PZ, UK
| | - Ashraf Zarkan
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EH, UK
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15
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Singh VK, Almpani M, Maura D, Kitao T, Ferrari L, Fontana S, Bergamini G, Calcaterra E, Pignaffo C, Negri M, de Oliveira Pereira T, Skinner F, Gkikas M, Andreotti D, Felici A, Déziel E, Lépine F, Rahme LG. Tackling recalcitrant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in critical illness via anti-virulence monotherapy. Nat Commun 2022; 13:5103. [PMID: 36042245 PMCID: PMC9428149 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32833-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Intestinal barrier derangement allows intestinal bacteria and their products to translocate to the systemic circulation. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) superimposed infection in critically ill patients increases gut permeability and leads to gut-driven sepsis. PA infections are challenging due to multi-drug resistance (MDR), biofilms, and/or antibiotic tolerance. Inhibition of the quorum-sensing transcriptional regulator MvfR(PqsR) is a desirable anti-PA anti-virulence strategy as MvfR controls multiple acute and chronic virulence functions. Here we show that MvfR promotes intestinal permeability and report potent anti-MvfR compounds, the N-Aryl Malonamides (NAMs), resulting from extensive structure-activity-relationship studies and thorough assessment of the inhibition of MvfR-controlled virulence functions. This class of anti-virulence non-native ligand-based agents has a half-maximal inhibitory concentration in the nanomolar range and strong target engagement. Using a NAM lead in monotherapy protects murine intestinal barrier function, abolishes MvfR-regulated small molecules, ameliorates bacterial dissemination, and lowers inflammatory cytokines. This study demonstrates the importance of MvfR in PA-driven intestinal permeability. It underscores the utility of anti-MvfR agents in maintaining gut mucosal integrity, which should be part of any successful strategy to prevent/treat PA infections and associated gut-derived sepsis in critical illness settings. NAMs provide for the development of crucial preventive/therapeutic monotherapy options against untreatable MDR PA infections. Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections are increasingly difficult to treat due to the development of antimicrobial resistance. Here, the authors describe the synthesis, characterisation and efficacy of a quorum sensing inhibitor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vijay K Singh
- Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.,Shriners Hospitals for Children, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.,Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Marianna Almpani
- Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.,Shriners Hospitals for Children, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.,Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Damien Maura
- Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.,Shriners Hospitals for Children, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.,Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.,Voyager Therapeutics, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Tomoe Kitao
- Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.,Shriners Hospitals for Children, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.,Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.,T. Kitao, Department of Microbiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, Gifu, 501-1194, Japan
| | - Livia Ferrari
- Translational Biology Department, Aptuit (Verona) S.rl, an Evotec Company, 37135 Via A. Fleming 4, Verona, Italy
| | - Stefano Fontana
- DMPK Department, Aptuit (Verona) S.rl, an Evotec Company, 37135 Via A. Fleming 4, Verona, Italy
| | - Gabriella Bergamini
- Translational Biology Department, Aptuit (Verona) S.rl, an Evotec Company, 37135 Via A. Fleming 4, Verona, Italy
| | - Elisa Calcaterra
- Translational Biology Department, Aptuit (Verona) S.rl, an Evotec Company, 37135 Via A. Fleming 4, Verona, Italy
| | - Chiara Pignaffo
- DMPK Department, Aptuit (Verona) S.rl, an Evotec Company, 37135 Via A. Fleming 4, Verona, Italy
| | - Michele Negri
- In vitro Chemotherapy Laboratory, Aptuit (Verona) S.r.l., an Evotec Company, 37135 Via A. Fleming 4, Verona, Italy
| | - Thays de Oliveira Pereira
- Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Laval, Quebec, H7V 1B7, Canada
| | - Frances Skinner
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA, 01854, USA
| | - Manos Gkikas
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA, 01854, USA
| | - Danielle Andreotti
- Global Synthetic Chemistry Department, Aptuit (Verona) S.r.l., an Evotec Company, 37135 Via A. Fleming 4, Verona, Italy
| | - Antonio Felici
- Department of Microbiology Discovery, In Vitro Biology, Aptuit (Verona) S.r.l., an Evotec Company, 37135 Via A. Fleming 4, Verona, Italy.,A Felici, Academic Partnership, Evotec SE, 37135 Via A. Fleming 4, Verona, Italy
| | - Eric Déziel
- Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Laval, Quebec, H7V 1B7, Canada
| | - Francois Lépine
- Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Laval, Quebec, H7V 1B7, Canada
| | - Laurence G Rahme
- Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA. .,Shriners Hospitals for Children, Boston, MA, 02114, USA. .,Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
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16
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“Omic” Approaches to Bacteria and Antibiotic Resistance Identification. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23179601. [PMID: 36077000 PMCID: PMC9455953 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23179601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The quick and accurate identification of microorganisms and the study of resistance to antibiotics is crucial in the economic and industrial fields along with medicine. One of the fastest-growing identification methods is the spectrometric approach consisting in the matrix-assisted laser ionization/desorption using a time-of-flight analyzer (MALDI-TOF MS), which has many advantages over conventional methods for the determination of microorganisms presented. Thanks to the use of a multiomic approach in the MALDI-TOF MS analysis, it is possible to obtain a broad spectrum of data allowing the identification of microorganisms, understanding their interactions and the analysis of antibiotic resistance mechanisms. In addition, the literature data indicate the possibility of a significant reduction in the time of the sample preparation and analysis time, which will enable a faster initiation of the treatment of patients. However, it is still necessary to improve the process of identifying and supplementing the existing databases along with creating new ones. This review summarizes the use of “-omics” approaches in the MALDI TOF MS analysis, including in bacterial identification and antibiotic resistance mechanisms analysis.
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17
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Kaviya M, Balasubramanian B, Bharathi K, Malaisamy A, Al-Dhabi NA, Mariadhas VA, Anand AV, Liu W. Evaluation of Nutritional Substances and Investigation of Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Potentials of Boerhavia diffusa with in Silico Molecular Docking. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 27:molecules27041280. [PMID: 35209067 PMCID: PMC8880713 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27041280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Boerhavia diffusa L. Nyctanginaceae (B. diffusa) is a medicinal herb commonly considered as a weed. The exploration of phytochemicals in different parts of B. diffusa with different solvents will create awareness, along with the suitable solvent and method for extraction of pharmaceutical compounds. Hence, the present study focuses on phytochemical analysis of B. diffusa leaves, stems, and roots in various solvents with hot and cold extraction. The decoctions performed well in most of the qualitative and quantitative tests, along with the DPPH assay. The aqueous extract showed a good result in the FRAP assay and ABTS assay. In the antimicrobial test, the B. diffusa root ethanol extract inhibited the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus with zones of inhibition of about 8 mm and 20 mm at 200 µg concentration, respectively. Using a molecular docking approach, the top four ranked molecules from the crude extract of B. diffusa profiled from GC–MS spectroscopy in terms of growth inhibition of the pathogenic bacterium P. aeruginosa were selected; among them, 2-(1,2 dihydroxyethyl)-5-[[2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)-3,4-dihydrochromen-6-yl]oxy]oxolane-3,4-diol exhibited the minimum binding score, revealing high affinity in complex. B. diffusa is highly nutritious, and the maceration and decoction extracts were similar except for the chloroform extract that was found to be weak.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohandass Kaviya
- Medical Genetics and Epigenetics Laboratory, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, Bharthiar University, Coimbatore 641046, India; (M.K.); (K.B.)
| | | | - Kathirvel Bharathi
- Medical Genetics and Epigenetics Laboratory, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, Bharthiar University, Coimbatore 641046, India; (M.K.); (K.B.)
| | - Arunkumar Malaisamy
- Transcription Regulation Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi 110067, India;
| | - Naif Abdullah Al-Dhabi
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; (N.A.A.-D.); (V.A.M.)
| | - Valan Arasu Mariadhas
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; (N.A.A.-D.); (V.A.M.)
| | - Arumugam Vijaya Anand
- Medical Genetics and Epigenetics Laboratory, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, Bharthiar University, Coimbatore 641046, India; (M.K.); (K.B.)
- Correspondence: (A.V.A.); (W.L.)
| | - Wenchao Liu
- College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
- Correspondence: (A.V.A.); (W.L.)
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18
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Drug Repurposing Targeting Pseudomonas aeruginosa MvfR Using Docking, Virtual Screening, Molecular Dynamics, and Free-Energy Calculations. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:antibiotics11020185. [PMID: 35203788 PMCID: PMC8868191 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11020185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic Gram-negative bacterium responsible for acute and chronic infections in planktonic state or in biofilms. The sessile structures are known to confer physical stability, increase virulence, and work as a protective armor against antimicrobial compounds. P. aeruginosa can control the expression of genes, population density, and biofilm formation through a process called quorum sensing (QS), a rather complex and hierarchical system of communication. A recent strategy to try and overcome bacterial resistance is to target QS proteins. In this study, a combined multi-level computational approach was applied to find possible inhibitors against P. aeruginosa QS regulator protein MvfR, also known as PqsR, using a database of approved FDA drugs, as a repurposing strategy. Fifteen compounds were identified as highly promising putative MvfR inhibitors. On those 15 MvfR ligand complexes, molecular dynamic simulations and MM/GBSA free-energy calculations were performed to confirm the docking predictions and elucidate on the mode of interaction. Ultimately, the five compounds that presented better binding free energies of association than the reference molecules (a known antagonist, M64 and a natural inducer, 2-nonyl-4-hydroxyquinoline) were highlighted as very promising MvfR inhibitors.
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19
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Duplantier M, Lohou E, Sonnet P. Quorum Sensing Inhibitors to Quench P. aeruginosa Pathogenicity. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:1262. [PMID: 34959667 PMCID: PMC8707152 DOI: 10.3390/ph14121262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence and the dissemination of multidrug-resistant bacteria constitute a major public health issue. Among incriminated Gram-negative bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been designated by the WHO as a critical priority threat. During the infection process, this pathogen secretes various virulence factors in order to adhere and colonize host tissues. Furthermore, P. aeruginosa has the capacity to establish biofilms that reinforce its virulence and intrinsic drug resistance. The regulation of biofilm and virulence factor production of this micro-organism is controlled by a specific bacterial communication system named Quorum Sensing (QS). The development of anti-virulence agents targeting QS that could attenuate P. aeruginosa pathogenicity without affecting its growth seems to be a promising new therapeutic strategy. This could prevent the selective pressure put on bacteria by the conventional antibiotics that cause their death and promote resistant strain survival. This review describes the QS-controlled pathogenicity of P. aeruginosa and its different specific QS molecular pathways, as well as the recent advances in the development of innovative QS-quenching anti-virulence agents to fight anti-bioresistance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Pascal Sonnet
- AGIR, UR4294, UFR of Pharmacy, Jules Verne University of Picardie, 80037 Amiens, France; (M.D.); (E.L.)
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20
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Dobiáš R, Škríba A, Pluháček T, Petřík M, Palyzová A, Káňová M, Čubová E, Houšť J, Novák J, Stevens DA, Mitulovič G, Krejčí E, Hubáček P, Havlíček V. Noninvasive Combined Diagnosis and Monitoring of Aspergillus and Pseudomonas Infections: Proof of Concept. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7090730. [PMID: 34575768 PMCID: PMC8471143 DOI: 10.3390/jof7090730] [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: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In acutely ill patients, particularly in intensive care units or in mixed infections, time to a microbe-specific diagnosis is critical to a successful outcome of therapy. We report the application of evolving technologies involving mass spectrometry to diagnose and monitor a patient’s course. As proof of this concept, we studied five patients and used two rat models of mono-infection and coinfection. We report the noninvasive combined monitoring of Aspergillus fumigatus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. The invasive coinfection was detected by monitoring the fungal triacetylfusarinine C and ferricrocin siderophore levels and the bacterial metabolites pyoverdin E, pyochelin, and 2-heptyl-4-quinolone, studied in the urine, endotracheal aspirate, or breath condensate. The coinfection was monitored by mass spectrometry followed by isotopic data filtering. In the rat infection model, detection indicated 100-fold more siderophores in urine compared to sera, indicating the diagnostic potential of urine sampling. The tools utilized in our studies can now be examined in large clinical series, where we could expect the accuracy and speed of diagnosis to be competitive with conventional methods and provide advantages in unraveling the complexities of mixed infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radim Dobiáš
- Department of Bacteriology and Mycology, Public Health Institute in Ostrava, 702 00 Ostrava, Czech Republic; (R.D.); (E.K.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, 703 00 Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Anton Škríba
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 142 20 Prague, Czech Republic; (A.Š.); (T.P.); (A.P.); (J.H.); (J.N.)
| | - Tomáš Pluháček
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 142 20 Prague, Czech Republic; (A.Š.); (T.P.); (A.P.); (J.H.); (J.N.)
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, 771 46 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Miloš Petřík
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University, 779 00 Olomouc, Czech Republic;
| | - Andrea Palyzová
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 142 20 Prague, Czech Republic; (A.Š.); (T.P.); (A.P.); (J.H.); (J.N.)
| | - Marcela Káňová
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Ostrava, 708 00 Ostrava, Czech Republic;
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, 701 03 Ostrava, Czech Republic
- Department of Intensive Medicine, Emergency Medicine and Forensic Studies, University of Ostrava, 701 03 Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Eva Čubová
- Department of Internal Medicine, Ostrava City Hospital, 728 80 Ostrava, Czech Republic;
| | - Jiří Houšť
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 142 20 Prague, Czech Republic; (A.Š.); (T.P.); (A.P.); (J.H.); (J.N.)
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, 771 46 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Novák
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 142 20 Prague, Czech Republic; (A.Š.); (T.P.); (A.P.); (J.H.); (J.N.)
| | - David A. Stevens
- Infectious Disease Research Laboratory, California Institute for Medical Research, San Jose, CA 95128, USA;
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 95128, USA
| | - Goran Mitulovič
- Clinical Department of Laboratory Medicine Proteomics Core Facility, Medical University of Vienna, A-1090 Wien, Austria;
| | - Eva Krejčí
- Department of Bacteriology and Mycology, Public Health Institute in Ostrava, 702 00 Ostrava, Czech Republic; (R.D.); (E.K.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, 703 00 Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Hubáček
- Department of Medical Microbiology, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, 150 06 Prague, Czech Republic;
| | - Vladimír Havlíček
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 142 20 Prague, Czech Republic; (A.Š.); (T.P.); (A.P.); (J.H.); (J.N.)
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, 771 46 Olomouc, Czech Republic
- Correspondence:
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21
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Schütz C, Hodzic A, Hamed M, Abdelsamie AS, Kany AM, Bauer M, Röhrig T, Schmelz S, Scrima A, Blankenfeldt W, Empting M. Divergent synthesis and biological evaluation of 2-(trifluoromethyl)pyridines as virulence-attenuating inverse agonists targeting PqsR. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 226:113797. [PMID: 34520957 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
A short and divergent route towards new derivatives of 2-(trifluoromethyl)pyridines as potent inverse agonists of the bacterial target PqsR against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) infections is described. This Gram-negative pathogen causes severe nosocomial infections and common antibiotic treatment options are rendered ineffective due to resistance issues. Based on an earlier identified optimized hit, we conducted derivatization and rigidification attempts employing two central building blocks. The western part of the molecule is built up via a 2-(trifluoromethyl)pyridine head group equipped with a terminal alkyne. The eastern section is then introduced through aryliode motifs exploiting Sonogashira as well as Suzuki-type chemistry. Subsequent modification provided quick access to an array of compounds, allowed for deep SAR insights, and enabled to optimize the hit scaffold into a lead structure of nanomolar potency combined with favorable in vitro ADME/T features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Schütz
- Department of Drug Design and Optimization (DDOP), Helmholtz-Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) - Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Campus E8.1, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany; Department of Pharmacy, Saarland University, Campus E8.1, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Amir Hodzic
- Department of Drug Design and Optimization (DDOP), Helmholtz-Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) - Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Campus E8.1, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Mostafa Hamed
- Department of Drug Design and Optimization (DDOP), Helmholtz-Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) - Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Campus E8.1, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany; Department of Pharmacy, Saarland University, Campus E8.1, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Ahmed S Abdelsamie
- Department of Drug Design and Optimization (DDOP), Helmholtz-Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) - Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Campus E8.1, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany; Department of Pharmacy, Saarland University, Campus E8.1, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany; Chemistry of Natural and Microbial Products Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, 12622, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Andreas M Kany
- Department of Drug Design and Optimization (DDOP), Helmholtz-Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) - Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Campus E8.1, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany; Department of Pharmacy, Saarland University, Campus E8.1, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Maximilian Bauer
- Department of Drug Design and Optimization (DDOP), Helmholtz-Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) - Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Campus E8.1, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Teresa Röhrig
- Department of Drug Design and Optimization (DDOP), Helmholtz-Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) - Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Campus E8.1, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany; Department of Pharmacy, Saarland University, Campus E8.1, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Stefan Schmelz
- Department of Structure and Function of Proteins (SFPR), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Inhoffenstr. 7, 38124, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Andrea Scrima
- Department of Structure and Function of Proteins (SFPR), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Inhoffenstr. 7, 38124, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Wulf Blankenfeldt
- Department of Structure and Function of Proteins (SFPR), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Inhoffenstr. 7, 38124, Braunschweig, Germany; Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Institute for Biochemistry, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Spielmannstr. 7, 38106, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Martin Empting
- Department of Drug Design and Optimization (DDOP), Helmholtz-Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) - Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Campus E8.1, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany; Department of Pharmacy, Saarland University, Campus E8.1, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany.
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22
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Pyranoanthocyanins Interfering with the Quorum Sensing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22168559. [PMID: 34445281 PMCID: PMC8395250 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial quorum sensing (QS) is a cell-cell communication system that regulates several bacterial mechanisms, including the production of virulence factors and biofilm formation. Thus, targeting microbial QS is seen as a plausible alternative strategy to antibiotics, with potentiality to combat multidrug-resistant pathogens. Many phytochemicals with QS interference activity are currently being explored. Herein, an extract and a compound of bioinspired origin were tested for their ability to inhibit biofilm formation and interfere with the expression of QS-related genes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. The extract, a carboxypyranoanthocyanins red wine extract (carboxypyrano-ant extract), and the pure compound, carboxypyranocyanidin-3-O-glucoside (carboxypyCy-3-glc), did not cause a visible effect on the biofilm formation of the P. aeruginosa biofilms; however, both significantly affected the formation of biofilms by the S. aureus strains, as attested by the crystal violet assay and fluorescence microscopy. Both the extract and the pure compound significantly interfered with the expression of several QS-related genes in the P. aeruginosa and S. aureus biofilms, as per reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) results. Indeed, it was possible to conclude that these molecules interfere with QS at distinct stages and in a strain-specific manner. An extract with anti-QS properties could be advantageous because it is easily obtained and could have broad, antimicrobial therapeutic applications if included in topical formulations.
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23
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The Role of Common Solvents against Pseudomonas aeruginosa-Induced Pathogenicity in a Murine Burn Site Infection Model. Microbiol Spectr 2021; 9:e0023321. [PMID: 34346751 PMCID: PMC8552656 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00233-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and polyethylene glycols (PEGs) are frequently used as potent excipients in pharmaceutical formulations. However, these agents also have an interesting antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory profile that could interfere with the efficacy testing of anti-infective compounds when the latter are solubilized in DMSO or PEGs. Here, we demonstrate the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects of DMSO-PEG400 in a murine Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection model, aiming to draw attention to the appropriate selection of solvents for difficult-to-solubilize anti-infectives. IMPORTANCE Our study demonstrates the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects of the combination of DMSO and PEG400 against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in vitro and in vivo in a murine infection model of heightened intestinal permeability. The aim of this study is to draw attention to the appropriate selection of solvents for difficult-to-solubilize anti-infective compounds, to avoid interference with the assay or system tested. This is an extremely important consideration, since potential antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects of the solvent vehicle are detrimental to research studies on the efficacy of new anti-infective agents, given that the vehicle effect can mask the effect of the tested compounds. Our results can therefore be of great value to the scientific community, as they can guide researchers in the future to avoid this significant pitfall that can cost substantial amounts of money and valuable time during investigations of the effects of novel, difficult-to-solubilize antimicrobial compounds.
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24
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McGill SL, Yung Y, Hunt KA, Henson MA, Hanley L, Carlson RP. Pseudomonas aeruginosa reverse diauxie is a multidimensional, optimized, resource utilization strategy. Sci Rep 2021; 11:1457. [PMID: 33446818 PMCID: PMC7809481 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-80522-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a globally-distributed bacterium often found in medical infections. The opportunistic pathogen uses a different, carbon catabolite repression (CCR) strategy than many, model microorganisms. It does not utilize a classic diauxie phenotype, nor does it follow common systems biology assumptions including preferential consumption of glucose with an 'overflow' metabolism. Despite these contradictions, P. aeruginosa is competitive in many, disparate environments underscoring knowledge gaps in microbial ecology and systems biology. Physiological, omics, and in silico analyses were used to quantify the P. aeruginosa CCR strategy known as 'reverse diauxie'. An ecological basis of reverse diauxie was identified using a genome-scale, metabolic model interrogated with in vitro omics data. Reverse diauxie preference for lower energy, nonfermentable carbon sources, such as acetate or succinate over glucose, was predicted using a multidimensional strategy which minimized resource investment into central metabolism while completely oxidizing substrates. Application of a common, in silico optimization criterion, which maximizes growth rate, did not predict the reverse diauxie phenotypes. This study quantifies P. aeruginosa metabolic strategies foundational to its wide distribution and virulence including its potentially, mutualistic interactions with microorganisms found commonly in the environment and in medical infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Lee McGill
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
| | - Yeni Yung
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
| | - Kristopher A Hunt
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA.,Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98115, USA
| | - Michael A Henson
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Institute for Applied Life Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Luke Hanley
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
| | - Ross P Carlson
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA. .,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA.
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25
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Hemmati F, Salehi R, Ghotaslou R, Samadi Kafil H, Hasani A, Gholizadeh P, Nouri R, Ahangarzadeh Rezaee M. Quorum Quenching: A Potential Target for Antipseudomonal Therapy. Infect Drug Resist 2020; 13:2989-3005. [PMID: 32922047 PMCID: PMC7457774 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s263196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
There has been excessive rate of use of antibiotics to fight Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) infections worldwide, which has consequently caused the increased resistance to multiple antibiotics in this pathogen. Due to the widespread resistance and the current poor effect of antibiotics consumed to treat P. aeruginosa infections, finding some novel alternative therapeutic methods are necessary for the treatment of infections. The P. aeruginosa biofilms can cause severe infections leading to the increased antibiotic resistance and mortality rate among the patients. In this regard, there are no approaches that can efficiently manage these infections; therefore, novel and effective antimicrobial and antibiofilm agents are needed to control and treat these bacterial infections. Quorum sensing inhibitors (QSIs) or quorum quenchings (QQs) are now considered as potential therapeutic alternatives and/or adjuvants to the current failing antibiotics, which can control the virulence traits of the pathogens, so as a result, the host immune system can quickly eliminate bacteria. Thus, the aims of this review article were presenting a brief explanation of the research reports on the natural and synthetic QSIs of P. aeruginosa, and the assessment of the current understanding on the QS mechanisms and various QQ strategies in P. aeruginosa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Hemmati
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Roya Salehi
- Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Reza Ghotaslou
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Hossein Samadi Kafil
- Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran.,Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Alka Hasani
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Pourya Gholizadeh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Roghayeh Nouri
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Ahangarzadeh Rezaee
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
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26
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Salcedo-Sora JE, Kell DB. A Quantitative Survey of Bacterial Persistence in the Presence of Antibiotics: Towards Antipersister Antimicrobial Discovery. Antibiotics (Basel) 2020; 9:E508. [PMID: 32823501 PMCID: PMC7460088 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics9080508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Revised: 08/08/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Bacterial persistence to antibiotics relates to the phenotypic ability to survive lethal concentrations of otherwise bactericidal antibiotics. The quantitative nature of the time-kill assay, which is the sector's standard for the study of antibiotic bacterial persistence, is an invaluable asset for global, unbiased, and cross-species analyses. Methods: We compiled the results of antibiotic persistence from antibiotic-sensitive bacteria during planktonic growth. The data were extracted from a sample of 187 publications over the last 50 years. The antibiotics used in this compilation were also compared in terms of structural similarity to fluorescent molecules known to accumulate in Escherichia coli. Results: We reviewed in detail data from 54 antibiotics and 36 bacterial species. Persistence varies widely as a function of the type of antibiotic (membrane-active antibiotics admit the fewest), the nature of the growth phase and medium (persistence is less common in exponential phase and rich media), and the Gram staining of the target organism (persistence is more common in Gram positives). Some antibiotics bear strong structural similarity to fluorophores known to be taken up by E. coli, potentially allowing competitive assays. Some antibiotics also, paradoxically, seem to allow more persisters at higher antibiotic concentrations. Conclusions: We consolidated an actionable knowledge base to support a rational development of antipersister antimicrobials. Persistence is seen as a step on the pathway to antimicrobial resistance, and we found no organisms that failed to exhibit it. Novel antibiotics need to have antipersister activity. Discovery strategies should include persister-specific approaches that could find antibiotics that preferably target the membrane structure and permeability of slow-growing cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesus Enrique Salcedo-Sora
- Department of Biochemistry and Systems Biology, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, Biosciences Building, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK;
| | - Douglas B. Kell
- Department of Biochemistry and Systems Biology, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, Biosciences Building, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK;
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Centre for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Building 220, Kemitorvet, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
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27
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Depke T, Thöming JG, Kordes A, Häussler S, Brönstrup M. Untargeted LC-MS Metabolomics Differentiates Between Virulent and Avirulent Clinical Strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10071041. [PMID: 32668735 PMCID: PMC7407980 DOI: 10.3390/biom10071041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 06/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a facultative pathogen that can cause, inter alia, acute or chronic pneumonia in predisposed individuals. The gram-negative bacterium displays considerable genomic and phenotypic diversity that is also shaped by small molecule secondary metabolites. The discrimination of virulence phenotypes is highly relevant to the diagnosis and prognosis of P. aeruginosa infections. In order to discover small molecule metabolites that distinguish different virulence phenotypes of P. aeruginosa, 35 clinical strains were cultivated under standard conditions, characterized in terms of virulence and biofilm phenotype, and their metabolomes were investigated by untargeted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The data was both mined for individual candidate markers as well as used to construct statistical models to infer the virulence phenotype from metabolomics data. We found that clinical strains that differed in their virulence and biofilm phenotype also had pronounced divergence in their metabolomes, as underlined by 332 features that were significantly differentially abundant with fold changes greater than 1.5 in both directions. Important virulence-associated secondary metabolites like rhamnolipids, alkyl quinolones or phenazines were found to be strongly upregulated in virulent strains. In contrast, we observed little change in primary metabolism. A hitherto novel cationic metabolite with a sum formula of C12H15N2 could be identified as a candidate biomarker. A random forest model was able to classify strains according to their virulence and biofilm phenotype with an area under the Receiver Operation Characteristics curve of 0.84. These findings demonstrate that untargeted metabolomics is a valuable tool to characterize P. aeruginosa virulence, and to explore interrelations between clinically important phenotypic traits and the bacterial metabolome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Depke
- Department of Chemical Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany;
| | - Janne Gesine Thöming
- Institute of Molecular Bacteriology, Twincore, Centre for Clinical and Experimental Infection Research, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (J.G.T.); (A.K.); (S.H.)
| | - Adrian Kordes
- Institute of Molecular Bacteriology, Twincore, Centre for Clinical and Experimental Infection Research, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (J.G.T.); (A.K.); (S.H.)
| | - Susanne Häussler
- Institute of Molecular Bacteriology, Twincore, Centre for Clinical and Experimental Infection Research, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (J.G.T.); (A.K.); (S.H.)
- Department of Molecular Bacteriology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Mark Brönstrup
- Department of Chemical Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany;
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
- Correspondence:
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28
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Park H, McGill SL, Arnold AD, Carlson RP. Pseudomonad reverse carbon catabolite repression, interspecies metabolite exchange, and consortial division of labor. Cell Mol Life Sci 2020; 77:395-413. [PMID: 31768608 PMCID: PMC7015805 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-019-03377-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2019] [Revised: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Microorganisms acquire energy and nutrients from dynamic environments, where substrates vary in both type and abundance. The regulatory system responsible for prioritizing preferred substrates is known as carbon catabolite repression (CCR). Two broad classes of CCR have been documented in the literature. The best described CCR strategy, referred to here as classic CCR (cCCR), has been experimentally and theoretically studied using model organisms such as Escherichia coli. cCCR phenotypes are often used to generalize universal strategies for fitness, sometimes incorrectly. For instance, extremely competitive microorganisms, such as Pseudomonads, which arguably have broader global distributions than E. coli, have achieved their success using metabolic strategies that are nearly opposite of cCCR. These organisms utilize a CCR strategy termed 'reverse CCR' (rCCR), because the order of preferred substrates is nearly reverse that of cCCR. rCCR phenotypes prefer organic acids over glucose, may or may not select preferred substrates to optimize growth rates, and do not allocate intracellular resources in a manner that produces an overflow metabolism. cCCR and rCCR have traditionally been interpreted from the perspective of monocultures, even though most microorganisms live in consortia. Here, we review the basic tenets of the two CCR strategies and consider these phenotypes from the perspective of resource acquisition in consortia, a scenario that surely influenced the evolution of cCCR and rCCR. For instance, cCCR and rCCR metabolism are near mirror images of each other; when considered from a consortium basis, the complementary properties of the two strategies can mitigate direct competition for energy and nutrients and instead establish cooperative division of labor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heejoon Park
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, USA
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, USA
| | - S Lee McGill
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, USA
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, USA
| | - Adrienne D Arnold
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, USA
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, USA
| | - Ross P Carlson
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, USA.
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, USA.
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, USA.
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29
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Hollenhorst MI, Jurastow I, Nandigama R, Appenzeller S, Li L, Vogel J, Wiederhold S, Althaus M, Empting M, Altmüller J, Hirsch AKH, Flockerzi V, Canning BJ, Saliba A, Krasteva‐Christ G. Tracheal brush cells release acetylcholine in response to bitter tastants for paracrine and autocrine signaling. FASEB J 2019; 34:316-332. [DOI: 10.1096/fj.201901314rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2019] [Revised: 10/20/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Innokentij Jurastow
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology Justus‐Liebig‐University of Giessen Giessen Germany
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine (CS) University Hospital Charité Humboldt University of Berlin Berlin Germany
| | - Rajender Nandigama
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology University of Würzburg Würzburg Germany
| | - Silke Appenzeller
- Comprehensive Cancer Centre Mainfranken University of Würzburg Würzburg Germany
| | - Lei Li
- Core Unit SysMed University of Würzburg Würzburg Germany
| | - Jörg Vogel
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA‐based Infection Research (HIRI) Helmholtz‐Centre for Infection Research (HZI) Würzburg Germany
| | - Stephanie Wiederhold
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology Justus‐Liebig‐University of Giessen Giessen Germany
| | - Mike Althaus
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences Newcastle University Newcastle upon Tyne United Kingdom
| | - Martin Empting
- Department of Drug Design and Optimization (DDOP) Helmholtz‐Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS)‐Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) Saarbrücken Germany
- Department of Pharmacy Saarland University Saarbrücken Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF) Saarbrücken Germany
| | - Janine Altmüller
- Cologne Centre for Genomics University of Cologne Cologne Germany
| | - Anna K. H. Hirsch
- Department of Drug Design and Optimization (DDOP) Helmholtz‐Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS)‐Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) Saarbrücken Germany
- Department of Pharmacy Saarland University Saarbrücken Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF) Saarbrücken Germany
| | - Veit Flockerzi
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology/PZMS Saarland University Homburg Germany
| | - Brendan J. Canning
- Department of Medicine Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology School of Medicine Johns Hopkins University Baltimore MD USA
| | - Antoine‐Emmanuel Saliba
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA‐based Infection Research (HIRI) Helmholtz‐Centre for Infection Research (HZI) Würzburg Germany
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30
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Reen FJ, McGlacken GP, O'Gara F. The expanding horizon of alkyl quinolone signalling and communication in polycellular interactomes. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2019; 365:4953739. [PMID: 29718276 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fny076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2017] [Accepted: 03/25/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Population dynamics within natural ecosystems is underpinned by microbial diversity and the heterogeneity of host-microbe and microbe-microbe interactions. Small molecule signals that intersperse between species have been shown to govern many virulence-related processes in established and emerging pathogens. Understanding the capacity of microbes to decode diverse languages and adapt to the presence of 'non-self' cells will provide an important new direction to the understanding of the 'polycellular' interactome. Alkyl quinolones (AQs) have been described in the ESKAPE pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the primary agent associated with mortality in patients with cystic fibrosis and the third most prevalent nosocomial pathogen worldwide. The role of these molecules in governing the physiology and virulence of P. aeruginosa and other pathogens has received considerable attention, while a role in interspecies and interkingdom communication has recently emerged. Herein we discuss recent advances in our understanding of AQ signalling and communication in the context of microbe-microbe and microbe-host interactions. The integrated knowledge from these systems-based investigations will facilitate the development of new therapeutics based on the AQ framework that serves to disarm the pathogenesis of P. aeruginosa and competing pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Jerry Reen
- School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Gerard P McGlacken
- School of Chemistry and Analytical & Biological Chemistry Research Facility (ABCRF), University College Cork, Ireland
| | - Fergal O'Gara
- BIOMERIT Research Centre, School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- Human Microbiome Programme, School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6102, USA
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31
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Quorum Sensing as Antivirulence Target in Cystic Fibrosis Pathogens. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20081838. [PMID: 31013936 PMCID: PMC6515091 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20081838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Revised: 04/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder which leads to the secretion of a viscous mucus layer on the respiratory epithelium that facilitates colonization by various bacterial pathogens. The problem of drug resistance has been reported for all the species able to colonize the lung of CF patients, so alternative treatments are urgently needed. In this context, a valid approach is to investigate new natural and synthetic molecules for their ability to counteract alternative pathways, such as virulence regulating quorum sensing (QS). In this review we describe the pathogens most commonly associated with CF lung infections: Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, species of the Burkholderia cepacia complex and the emerging pathogens Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Haemophilus influenzae and non-tuberculous Mycobacteria. For each bacterium, the QS system(s) and the molecules targeting the different components of this pathway are described. The amount of investigations published in the last five years clearly indicate the interest and the expectations on antivirulence therapy as an alternative to classical antibiotics.
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32
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Fleitas Martínez O, Cardoso MH, Ribeiro SM, Franco OL. Recent Advances in Anti-virulence Therapeutic Strategies With a Focus on Dismantling Bacterial Membrane Microdomains, Toxin Neutralization, Quorum-Sensing Interference and Biofilm Inhibition. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2019; 9:74. [PMID: 31001485 PMCID: PMC6454102 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2019.00074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 152] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2018] [Accepted: 03/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance constitutes one of the major challenges facing humanity in the Twenty-First century. The spread of resistant pathogens has been such that the possibility of returning to a pre-antibiotic era is real. In this scenario, innovative therapeutic strategies must be employed to restrict resistance. Among the innovative proposed strategies, anti-virulence therapy has been envisioned as a promising alternative for effective control of the emergence and spread of resistant pathogens. This review presents some of the anti-virulence strategies that are currently being developed, it will cover strategies focused on quench pathogen quorum sensing (QS) systems, disassemble of bacterial functional membrane microdomains (FMMs), disruption of biofilm formation and bacterial toxin neutralization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Osmel Fleitas Martínez
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Patologia Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil.,Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Marlon Henrique Cardoso
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Patologia Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil.,Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil.,S-inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Brazil
| | - Suzana Meira Ribeiro
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados, Dourados, Brazil
| | - Octavio Luiz Franco
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Patologia Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil.,Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil.,S-inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Brazil
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33
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Anti-PqsR compounds as next-generation antibacterial agents against Pseudomonas aeruginosa: A review. Eur J Med Chem 2019; 172:26-35. [PMID: 30939351 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.03.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2018] [Revised: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Nowadays, due to spreading antibiotic resistance among clinically relevant pathogens, the requirement of novel therapeutic approaches is felt more than ever. One of the alternative strategies is anti-virulence therapy without affecting bacterial growth or viability. In Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an opportunistic human pathogen that exhibits intrinsic multi-drug resistance, both virulence factors' production and biofilm formation depends on its quorum sensing (QS) network. Therefore, targeting the key proteins involved in QS system is an attractive method to overcome P. aeruginosa pathogenicity and resistance. The transcriptional regulator PqsR, also called MvfR, is one of these major proteins which employs 3,4-dihydroxy-2-heptylquinoline (PQS) and 4-hydroxy-2-heptylquinoline (HHQ) as signaling molecules. Reviewing the advances in development of small molecules inhibit this protein, assist to open a new window to smart molecule design that may revolutionize treatment of P. aeruginosa infections.
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34
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Adiliaghdam F, Almpani M, Gharedaghi MH, Najibi M, Hodin RA, Rahme LG. Targeting bacterial quorum sensing shows promise in improving intestinal barrier function following burn‑site infection. Mol Med Rep 2019; 19:4057-4066. [PMID: 30896813 PMCID: PMC6472113 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2019.10071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2018] [Accepted: 12/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Burn-site infections, commonly due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa, have been associated with deranged intestinal integrity, allowing bacteria and their products to translocate from the gut to the circulatory system. The P. aeruginosa quorum sensing (QS) transcription factor MvfR (PqsR) controls the expression of numerous virulence factors, and the synthesis of several toxic products. However, the role of QS in intestinal integrity alterations, to the best of our knowledge, has not been previously investigated. Using a proven anti-MvfR, anti-virulence agent, the in vivo results of the present study revealed that inhibition of MvfR function significantly decreased Fluorescein Isothiocyanate-Dextran (FITC-Dextran) flow from the intestine to the systemic circulation, diminished bacterial translocation from the intestine to mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs), and improved tight junction integrity in thermally injured and infected mice. In addition, the MvfR antagonist administration alleviates the intestinal inflammation, as demonstrated by reduced ileal TNF-α and fecal lipocalin-2 concentrations. In addition, it is associated with lower levels of circulating endotoxin and decreased P. aeruginosa dissemination from the burn wound to the ileum. Collectively, these results hold great promise that the inhibition of this QS system mitigates gut hyperpermeability by attenuating the derangement of morphological and immune aspects of the intestinal barrier, suggesting that MvfR function is crucial in the deterioration of intestinal integrity following P. aeruginosa burn-site infection. Therefore, an anti-virulence approach targeting MvfR, could potentially offer a novel therapeutic approach against multi-drug resistant P. aeruginosa infections following thermal injuries. Since this approach is targeting virulence pathways that are non-essential for growth or viability, our strategy is hypothesized to minimize the development of bacterial resistance, and preserve the beneficial enteric microbes, while improving intestinal integrity that is deranged as a result of burn and infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Adiliaghdam
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Marianna Almpani
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Mohammad Hadi Gharedaghi
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Mehran Najibi
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Richard A Hodin
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Laurence G Rahme
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
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35
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Fleitas Martínez O, Rigueiras PO, Pires ÁDS, Porto WF, Silva ON, de la Fuente-Nunez C, Franco OL. Interference With Quorum-Sensing Signal Biosynthesis as a Promising Therapeutic Strategy Against Multidrug-Resistant Pathogens. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2019; 8:444. [PMID: 30805311 PMCID: PMC6371041 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2018.00444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2018] [Accepted: 12/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Faced with the global health threat of increasing resistance to antibiotics, researchers are exploring interventions that target bacterial virulence factors. Quorum sensing is a particularly attractive target because several bacterial virulence factors are controlled by this mechanism. Furthermore, attacking the quorum-sensing signaling network is less likely to select for resistant strains than using conventional antibiotics. Strategies that focus on the inhibition of quorum-sensing signal production are especially attractive because the enzymes involved are expressed in bacterial cells but are not present in their mammalian counterparts. We review here various approaches that are being taken to interfere with quorum-sensing signal production via the inhibition of autoinducer-2 synthesis, PQS synthesis, peptide autoinducer synthesis, and N-acyl-homoserine lactone synthesis. We expect these approaches will lead to the discovery of new quorum-sensing inhibitors that can help to stem the tide of antibiotic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Osmel Fleitas Martínez
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Patologia Molecular, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil.,Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Pietra Orlandi Rigueiras
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Állan da Silva Pires
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - William Farias Porto
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil.,S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Brazil.,Porto Reports, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Osmar Nascimento Silva
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Brazil
| | - Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez
- Synthetic Biology Group, MIT Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States.,Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States.,Department of Biological Engineering, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States.,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, United States.,The Center for Microbiome Informatics and Therapeutics, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Octavio Luiz Franco
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Patologia Molecular, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil.,Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil.,S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Brazil
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36
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Schütz C, Empting M. Targeting the Pseudomonas quinolone signal quorum sensing system for the discovery of novel anti-infective pathoblockers. Beilstein J Org Chem 2018; 14:2627-2645. [PMID: 30410625 PMCID: PMC6204780 DOI: 10.3762/bjoc.14.241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2018] [Accepted: 09/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The Gram-negative opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes severe nosocomial infections. It uses quorum sensing (QS) to regulate and coordinate population-wide group behaviours in the infection process like concerted secretion of virulence factors. One very important signalling network is the Pseudomonas quinolone signal (PQS) QS. With the aim to devise novel and innovative anti-infectives, inhibitors have been designed to address the various potential drug targets present within pqs QS. These range from enzymes within the biosynthesis cascade of the signal molecules PqsABCDE to the receptor of these autoinducers PqsR (MvfR). This review shortly introduces P. aeruginosa and its pathogenicity traits regulated by the pqs system and highlights the published drug discovery efforts providing insights into the compound binding modes if available. Furthermore, suitability of the individual targets for pathoblocker design is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Schütz
- Helmholtz-Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) - Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Department of Drug Design and Optimization (DDOP), Campus E8.1, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany.,Department of Pharmacy, Saarland University, Campus E8.1, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Martin Empting
- Helmholtz-Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) - Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Department of Drug Design and Optimization (DDOP), Campus E8.1, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany.,Department of Pharmacy, Saarland University, Campus E8.1, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany.,German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, Saarbrücken, Germany
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37
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Soukarieh F, Williams P, Stocks MJ, Cámara M. Pseudomonas aeruginosa Quorum Sensing Systems as Drug Discovery Targets: Current Position and Future Perspectives. J Med Chem 2018; 61:10385-10402. [PMID: 29999316 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b00540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a serious threat to public health globally, manifested by the frequent emergence of multidrug resistant pathogens that render current chemotherapy inadequate. Health organizations worldwide have recognized the severity of this crisis and implemented action plans to contain its adverse consequences and prolong the utility of conventional antibiotics. Hence, there is a pressing need for new classes of antibacterial agents with novel modes of action. Quorum sensing (QS), a communication system employed by bacterial populations to coordinate virulence gene expression, is a potential target that has been intensively investigated over the past decade. This Perspective will focus on recent advances in targeting the three main quorum sensing systems ( las, rhl, and pqs) of a major opportunistic human pathogen, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and will specifically evaluate the medicinal chemistry strategies devised to develop QS inhibitors from a drug discovery perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fadi Soukarieh
- School of Life Sciences, Centre for Biomolecular Sciences , University of Nottingham , Nottingham , NG7 2RD , U.K
| | - Paul Williams
- School of Life Sciences, Centre for Biomolecular Sciences , University of Nottingham , Nottingham , NG7 2RD , U.K
| | - Michael J Stocks
- School of Pharmacy, Centre for Biomolecular Sciences , University of Nottingham , Nottingham , NG7 2RD , U.K
| | - Miguel Cámara
- School of Life Sciences, Centre for Biomolecular Sciences , University of Nottingham , Nottingham , NG7 2RD , U.K
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38
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Goswami M, Espinasse A, Carlson EE. Disarming the virulence arsenal of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by blocking two-component system signaling. Chem Sci 2018; 9:7332-7337. [PMID: 30542536 PMCID: PMC6237130 DOI: 10.1039/c8sc02496k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2018] [Accepted: 07/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections have reached a “critical” threat status making novel therapeutic approaches required.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections have reached a “critical” threat status making novel therapeutic approaches required. Inhibiting key signaling enzymes known as the histidine kinases (HKs), which are heavily involved with its pathogenicity, has been postulated to be an effective new strategy for treatment. Herein, we demonstrate the potential of this approach with benzothiazole-based HK inhibitors that perturb multiple virulence pathways in the burn wound P. aeruginosa isolate, PA14. Specifically, our compounds significantly reduce the level of toxic metabolites generated by this organism that are involved in quorum-sensing and redox-balancing mechanisms. They also decrease the ability of this organism to swarm and attach to surfaces, likely by influencing their motility appendages. Quantitative transcription analysis of inhibitor-treated cultures showed substantial perturbations to multiple pathways including expression of response regulator GacA, the cognate partner of the “super regulator” of virulence, HK GacS, as well as flagella and pili formation. These promising results establish that blocking of bacterial signaling in P. aeruginosa has dramatic consequences on virulence behaviours, especially in the context of surface-associated infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manibarsha Goswami
- Department of Chemistry , University of Minnesota , 225 Pleasant St. SE , Minneapolis , MN 55454 , USA .
| | - Adeline Espinasse
- Department of Chemistry , University of Minnesota , 225 Pleasant St. SE , Minneapolis , MN 55454 , USA .
| | - Erin E Carlson
- Department of Chemistry , University of Minnesota , 225 Pleasant St. SE , Minneapolis , MN 55454 , USA . .,Department of Medicinal Chemistry , University of Minnesota , USA.,Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics , University of Minnesota , USA
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39
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Witzgall F, Depke T, Hoffmann M, Empting M, Brönstrup M, Müller R, Blankenfeldt W. The Alkylquinolone Repertoire of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is Linked to Structural Flexibility of the FabH-like 2-Heptyl-3-hydroxy-4(1H)-quinolone (PQS) Biosynthesis Enzyme PqsBC. Chembiochem 2018; 19:1531-1544. [PMID: 29722462 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201800153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a bacterial pathogen that causes life-threatening infections in immunocompromised patients. It produces a large armory of saturated and mono-unsaturated 2-alkyl-4(1H)-quinolones (AQs) and AQ N-oxides (AQNOs) that serve as signaling molecules to control the production of virulence factors and that are involved in membrane vesicle formation and iron chelation; furthermore, they also have, for example, antibiotic properties. It has been shown that the β-ketoacyl-acyl-carrier protein synthase III (FabH)-like heterodimeric enzyme PqsBC catalyzes the last step in the biosynthesis of the most abundant AQ congener, 2-heptyl-4(1H)-quinolone (HHQ), by condensing octanoyl-coenzyme A (CoA) with 2-aminobenzoylacetate (2-ABA), but the basis for the large number of other AQs/AQNOs produced by P. aeruginosa is not known. Here, we demonstrate that PqsBC uses different medium-chain acyl-CoAs to produce various saturated AQs/AQNOs and that it also biosynthesizes mono-unsaturated congeners. Further, we determined the structures of PqsBC in four different crystal forms at 1.5 to 2.7 Å resolution. Together with a previous report, the data reveal that PqsBC adopts open, intermediate, and closed conformations that alter the shape of the acyl-binding cavity and explain the promiscuity of PqsBC. The different conformations also allow us to propose a model for structural transitions that accompany the catalytic cycle of PqsBC that might have broader implications for other FabH-enzymes, for which such structural transitions have been postulated but have never been observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Witzgall
- Department Structure and Function of Proteins, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Inhoffenstrasse 7, 38124, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Tobias Depke
- Department Chemical Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Inhoffenstrasse 7, 38124, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Michael Hoffmann
- Department Microbial Natural Products, Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Campus E8.1, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany.,Department of Pharmacy, Saarland University, Campus E8.1, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Martin Empting
- Department Drug Design and Optimization, Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Campus E8.1, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany.,Department of Pharmacy, Saarland University, Campus E8.1, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Mark Brönstrup
- Department Chemical Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Inhoffenstrasse 7, 38124, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Rolf Müller
- Department Microbial Natural Products, Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Campus E8.1, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany.,Department of Pharmacy, Saarland University, Campus E8.1, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Wulf Blankenfeldt
- Department Structure and Function of Proteins, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Inhoffenstrasse 7, 38124, Braunschweig, Germany.,Institute for Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Spielmannstrasse 7, 38106, Braunschweig, Germany
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40
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Szamosvári D, Rütschlin S, Böttcher T. From pirates and killers: does metabolite diversity drive bacterial competition? Org Biomol Chem 2018. [DOI: 10.1039/c8ob00150b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
This article discusses interspecies competition by sets of closely related metabolites with significantly different biological activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dávid Szamosvári
- Department of Chemistry
- Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology
- University of Konstanz
- 78457 Konstanz
- Germany
| | - Sina Rütschlin
- Department of Chemistry
- Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology
- University of Konstanz
- 78457 Konstanz
- Germany
| | - Thomas Böttcher
- Department of Chemistry
- Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology
- University of Konstanz
- 78457 Konstanz
- Germany
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