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Albdrawy AI, Aleanizy FS, Eltayb EK, Aldossari AA, Alanazi MM, Alfaraj R, Eltahir E, Albasri HM, Alanazi JS, Alqahtani FY. Effect of C7-3-Peptide-Loaded Chitosan Nanoparticles Against Multi-Drug-Resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Int J Nanomedicine 2024; 19:609-631. [PMID: 38264736 PMCID: PMC10804975 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s445737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The emergence of Neisseria gonorrhoeae-resistant strains represents one of the most urgent global threats. In this regard, C7-3 peptide is one of the anti-virulence therapies that has demonstrated promising anti-gonococcal activity. Accordingly, this research aimed to formulate C7-3 peptide and its derivatives in chitosan nanoparticles. Methods The peptide loaded chitosan nanoparticles were prepared using ion gelation method, and their physicochemical characteristics were investigated. The anti-gonococcal and antibiofilm activity of prepared NPs was assessed, and their cytotoxicity in human ovarian cells was evaluated. Results All prepared NPs were optimized for the smallest particle size of 136.9 to 168.3 nm. The EE% of C7-3, C7-3m1, and C7-3m2 CNPs reached 90.2, 92.5, and 91.8%, respectively. An in vitro release study demonstrated a continuous sustained-release pattern of C7-3 peptide from NPs. The SDS-PAGE assay confirmed the integrity of C7-3 peptide after the fabrication process. When comparing each peptide alone, the generated NPs demonstrated higher anti-gonococcal and anti-biofilm effectiveness against standard and resistant bacterial strains under anaerobic conditions. The cytotoxicity experiments revealed the cytocompatibility of NPs in HeLa cell lines. Given the advantages of enhanced anti-gonococcal activity of the C7-3 peptide and its derivatives when loaded with CNPs, as well as the antimicrobial properties of chitosan NPs, the reported NPs have great potential in the treatment of gonococcal infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asma Ismail Albdrawy
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fadilah Sfouq Aleanizy
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Esraa Kamal Eltayb
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdullah A Aldossari
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed M Alanazi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rihaf Alfaraj
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Eram Eltahir
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hibah M Albasri
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Taibah University, Madinah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jouri S Alanazi
- Pharmaceutical Care Department, National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fulwah Yahya Alqahtani
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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2
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Revathi K, Vedhanayagam M, Rajagopalan R, Subrahmanya KS. Sore throat, dysuria in a promiscuous male: What is your diagnosis? Indian J Sex Transm Dis AIDS 2024; 45:78-79. [PMID: 38989082 PMCID: PMC11233053 DOI: 10.4103/ijstd.ijstd_38_24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- K. Revathi
- Assistant Professor, Department of DVL, Government Erode Medical College and Hospital, Perundurai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Mohankumar Vedhanayagam
- Associate Professor, Department of DVL, Government Erode Medical College and Hospital, Perundurai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Rajesh Rajagopalan
- Professor and HOD, Department of DVL, Government Erode Medical College and Hospital, Perundurai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - K. Sachin Subrahmanya
- 1 year Post graduate, Department of DVL, Government Erode Medical College and Hospital, Perundurai, Tamil Nadu, India
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Scheuplein NJ, Bzdyl NM, Lohr T, Kibble EA, Hasenkopf A, Herbst C, Sarkar-Tyson M, Holzgrabe U. Analysis of Structure-Activity Relationships of Novel Inhibitors of the Macrophage Infectivity Potentiator (Mip) Proteins of Neisseria meningitidis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Burkholderia pseudomallei. J Med Chem 2023; 66:8876-8895. [PMID: 37389560 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
The macrophage infectivity potentiator (Mip) protein is a promising target for developing new drugs to combat antimicrobial resistance. New rapamycin-derived Mip inhibitors have been designed that may be able to combine two binding modes to inhibit the Mip protein of Burkholderia pseudomallei (BpMip). These novel compounds are characterized by an additional substituent in the middle chain linking the lateral pyridine to the pipecoline moiety, constituting different stereoisomers. These compounds demonstrated high affinity for the BpMip protein in the nanomolar range and high anti-enzymatic activity and ultimately resulted in significantly reduced cytotoxicity of B. pseudomallei in macrophages. They also displayed strong anti-enzymatic activity against the Mip proteins of Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae and substantially improved the ability of macrophages to kill the bacteria. Hence, the new Mip inhibitors are promising, non-cytotoxic candidates for further testing against a broad spectrum of pathogens and infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas J Scheuplein
- Institute of Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Nicole M Bzdyl
- Marshall Centre for Infectious Diseases Research and Training, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, 6009 Perth, Australia
| | - Theresa Lohr
- Institute of Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Emily A Kibble
- Marshall Centre for Infectious Diseases Research and Training, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, 6009 Perth, Australia
- DMTC Limited, Level 1, 620 High Street, Kew, Victoria 3101, Australia
| | - Anja Hasenkopf
- Institute of Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Carina Herbst
- Institute of Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Mitali Sarkar-Tyson
- Marshall Centre for Infectious Diseases Research and Training, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, 6009 Perth, Australia
| | - Ulrike Holzgrabe
- Institute of Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
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Romanescu M, Oprean C, Lombrea A, Badescu B, Teodor A, Constantin GD, Andor M, Folescu R, Muntean D, Danciu C, Dalleur O, Batrina SL, Cretu O, Buda VO. Current State of Knowledge Regarding WHO High Priority Pathogens-Resistance Mechanisms and Proposed Solutions through Candidates Such as Essential Oils: A Systematic Review. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24119727. [PMID: 37298678 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24119727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is among the 10 global health issues identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2021. While AMR is a naturally occurring process, the inappropriate use of antibiotics in different settings and legislative gaps has led to its rapid progression. As a result, AMR has grown into a serious global menace that impacts not only humans but also animals and, ultimately, the entire environment. Thus, effective prophylactic measures, as well as more potent and non-toxic antimicrobial agents, are pressingly needed. The antimicrobial activity of essential oils (EOs) is supported by consistent research in the field. Although EOs have been used for centuries, they are newcomers when it comes to managing infections in clinical settings; it is mainly because methodological settings are largely non-overlapping and there are insufficient data regarding EOs' in vivo activity and toxicity. This review considers the concept of AMR and its main determinants, the modality by which the issue has been globally addressed and the potential of EOs as alternative or auxiliary therapy. The focus is shifted towards the pathogenesis, mechanism of resistance and activity of several EOs against the six high priority pathogens listed by WHO in 2017, for which new therapeutic solutions are pressingly required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirabela Romanescu
- Doctoral School, "Victor Babeş" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Street, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Faculty of Medicine, "Victor Babeş" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Street, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Camelia Oprean
- Faculty of Pharmacy, "Victor Babeş" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Street, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- OncoGen Centre, County Hospital 'Pius Branzeu', Blvd. Liviu Rebreanu 156, 300723 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Adelina Lombrea
- Doctoral School, "Victor Babeş" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Street, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Bianca Badescu
- Doctoral School, "Victor Babeş" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Street, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Ana Teodor
- Doctoral School, "Victor Babeş" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Street, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - George D Constantin
- Doctoral School, "Victor Babeş" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Street, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Minodora Andor
- Faculty of Medicine, "Victor Babeş" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Street, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Roxana Folescu
- Faculty of Medicine, "Victor Babeş" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Street, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Delia Muntean
- Faculty of Medicine, "Victor Babeş" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Street, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Multidisciplinary Research Center on Antimicrobial Resistance, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Square, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Corina Danciu
- Faculty of Pharmacy, "Victor Babeş" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Street, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Research Center for Pharmaco-Toxicological Evaluation, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Square, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Olivia Dalleur
- Louvain Drug Research Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, Avenue Emmanuel Mounier 73, 1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Stefan Laurentiu Batrina
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of Life Sciences "King Mihai I" from Timisoara, Calea Aradului 119, 300645 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Octavian Cretu
- Faculty of Medicine, "Victor Babeş" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Street, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Valentina Oana Buda
- Faculty of Pharmacy, "Victor Babeş" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Street, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Research Center for Pharmaco-Toxicological Evaluation, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Square, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Ineu City Hospital, 2 Republicii Street, 315300 Ineu, Romania
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Savitskaya VY, Monakhova MV, Iakushkina IV, Borovikova II, Kubareva EA. Neisseria gonorrhoeae: DNA Repair Systems and Their Role in Pathogenesis. BIOCHEMISTRY. BIOKHIMIIA 2022; 87:965-982. [PMID: 36180987 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297922090097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Neisseria gonorrhoeae (a Gram-negative diplococcus) is a human pathogen and causative agent of gonorrhea, a sexually transmitted infection. The bacterium uses various approaches for adapting to environmental conditions and multiplying efficiently in the human body, such as regulation of expression of gene expression of surface proteins and lipooligosaccharides (e.g., expression of various forms of pilin). The systems of DNA repair play an important role in the bacterium ability to survive in the host body. This review describes DNA repair systems of N. gonorrhoeae and their role in the pathogenicity of this bacterium. A special attention is paid to the mismatch repair system (MMR) and functioning of the MutS and MutL proteins, as well as to the role of these proteins in regulation of the pilin antigenic variation of the N. gonorrhoeae pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mayya V Monakhova
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Iuliia V Iakushkina
- Faculty of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Irina I Borovikova
- Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Elena A Kubareva
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia.
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Antibiotic Resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae: Challenges in Research and Treatment. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10091699. [PMID: 36144300 PMCID: PMC9505656 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10091699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Gonococcal infection caused by the Gram-negative bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) worldwide [...]
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Mir MA, Mir B, Kumawat M, Alkhanani M, Jan U. Manipulation and exploitation of host immune system by pathogenic Mycobacterium tuberculosis for its advantage. Future Microbiol 2022; 17:1171-1198. [PMID: 35924958 DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2022-0026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) can become a long-term infection by evading the host immune response. Coevolution of Mtb with humans has resulted in its ability to hijack the host's immune systems in a variety of ways. So far, every Mtb defense strategy is essentially dependent on a subtle balance that, if shifted, can promote Mtb proliferation in the host, resulting in disease progression. In this review, the authors summarize many important and previously unknown mechanisms by which Mtb evades the host immune response. Besides recently found strategies by which Mtb manipulates the host molecular regulatory machinery of innate and adaptive immunity, including the intranuclear regulatory machinery, costimulatory molecules, the ubiquitin system and cellular intrinsic immune components will be discussed. A holistic understanding of these immune-evasion mechanisms is of foremost importance for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis and will lead to new insights into tuberculosis pathogenesis and the development of more effective vaccines and treatment regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manzoor A Mir
- Department of Bioresources, School of Biological Sciences, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190006, India
| | - Bilkees Mir
- Department of Biochemistry & Biochemical Engineering, SHUATS, Allahabad, UP, India
| | - Manoj Kumawat
- Department of Microbiology, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-NIREH, Bhopal, MP, India
| | - Mustfa Alkhanani
- Biology Department, College of Sciences, University of Hafr Al Batin, P. O. Box 1803, Hafar Al Batin, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ulfat Jan
- Department of Bioresources, School of Biological Sciences, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190006, India
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8
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The Structures and Binding Modes of Small-Molecule Inhibitors of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Elastase LasB. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:antibiotics11081060. [PMID: 36009930 PMCID: PMC9404851 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11081060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Elastase B (LasB) is a zinc metalloprotease and a crucial virulence factor of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. As the need for new strategies to fight antimicrobial resistance (AMR) constantly rises, this protein has become a key target in the development of novel antivirulence agents. The extensive knowledge of the structure of its active site, containing two subpockets and a zinc atom, led to various structure-based medicinal chemistry programs and the optimization of several chemical classes of inhibitors. This review provides a brief reminder of the structure of the active site and a summary of the disclosed P. aeruginosa LasB inhibitors. We specifically focused on the analysis of their binding modes with a detailed representation of them, hence giving an overview of the strategies aiming at targeting LasB by small molecules.
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Mullally C, Stubbs KA, Thai VC, Anandan A, Bartley S, Scanlon MJ, Jarvis GA, John CM, Lim KYL, Sullivan CM, Sarkar-Tyson M, Vrielink A, Kahler CM. Novel small molecules that increase the susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to cationic antimicrobial peptides by inhibiting lipid A phosphoethanolamine transferase. J Antimicrob Chemother 2022; 77:2441-2447. [PMID: 35770844 PMCID: PMC9410672 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkac204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives Neisseria gonorrhoeae is an exclusively human pathogen that commonly infects the urogenital tract resulting in gonorrhoea. Empirical treatment of gonorrhoea with antibiotics has led to multidrug resistance and the need for new therapeutics. Inactivation of lipooligosaccharide phosphoethanolamine transferase A (EptA), which attaches phosphoethanolamine to lipid A, results in attenuation of the pathogen in infection models. Small molecules that inhibit EptA are predicted to enhance natural clearance of gonococci via the human innate immune response. Methods A library of small-fragment compounds was tested for the ability to enhance susceptibility of the reference strain N. gonorrhoeae FA1090 to polymyxin B. The effect of these compounds on lipid A synthesis and viability in models of infection were tested. Results Three compounds, 135, 136 and 137, enhanced susceptibility of strain FA1090 to polymyxin B by 4-fold. Pre-treatment of bacterial cells with all three compounds resulted in enhanced killing by macrophages. Only lipid A from bacterial cells exposed to compound 137 showed a 17% reduction in the level of decoration of lipid A with phosphoethanolamine by MALDI-TOF MS analysis and reduced stimulation of cytokine responses in THP-1 cells. Binding of 137 occurred with higher affinity to purified EptA than the starting material, as determined by 1D saturation transfer difference NMR. Treatment of eight MDR strains with 137 increased susceptibility to polymyxin B in all cases. Conclusions Small molecules have been designed that bind to EptA, inhibit addition of phosphoethanolamine to lipid A and can sensitize N. gonorrhoeae to killing by macrophages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Mullally
- The Marshall Center for Infectious Diseases Research and Training, School of Biomedical Science, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Keith A Stubbs
- School of Molecular Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Van C Thai
- The Marshall Center for Infectious Diseases Research and Training, School of Biomedical Science, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Anandhi Anandan
- School of Molecular Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Stephanie Bartley
- The Marshall Center for Infectious Diseases Research and Training, School of Biomedical Science, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Martin J Scanlon
- Medicinal Chemistry, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Gary A Jarvis
- Center for Immunochemistry, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, USA.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - Constance M John
- Center for Immunochemistry, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, USA.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - Katherine Y L Lim
- The Marshall Center for Infectious Diseases Research and Training, School of Biomedical Science, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Courtney M Sullivan
- The Marshall Center for Infectious Diseases Research and Training, School of Biomedical Science, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Mitali Sarkar-Tyson
- The Marshall Center for Infectious Diseases Research and Training, School of Biomedical Science, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Alice Vrielink
- School of Molecular Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Charlene M Kahler
- The Marshall Center for Infectious Diseases Research and Training, School of Biomedical Science, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.,Telethon Kids Institute, Perth Children's Hospital, Perth, Australia
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McCarthy M, Goncalves M, Powell H, Morey B, Turner M, Merrill AR. A Structural Approach to Anti-Virulence: A Discovery Pipeline. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9122514. [PMID: 34946116 PMCID: PMC8704661 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9122514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Revised: 11/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The anti-virulence strategy is designed to prevent bacterial virulence factors produced by pathogenic bacteria from initiating and sustaining an infection. One family of bacterial virulence factors is the mono-ADP-ribosyltransferase toxins, which are produced by pathogens as tools to compromise the target host cell. These toxins are bacterial enzymes that exploit host cellular NAD+ as the donor substrate to modify an essential macromolecule acceptor target in the host cell. This biochemical reaction modifies the target macromolecule (often protein or DNA) and functions in a binary fashion to turn the target activity on or off by blocking or impairing a critical process or pathway in the host. A structural biology approach to the anti-virulence method to neutralize the cytotoxic effect of these factors requires the search and design of small molecules that bind tightly to the enzyme active site and prevent catalytic function essentially disarming the pathogen. This method requires a high-resolution structure to serve as the model for small molecule inhibitor development, which illuminates the path to drug development. This alternative strategy to antibiotic therapy represents a paradigm shift that may circumvent multi-drug resistance in the offending microbe through anti-virulence therapy. In this report, the rationale for the anti-virulence structural approach will be discussed along with recent efforts to apply this method to treat honey bee diseases using natural products.
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11
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Haese EC, Thai VC, Kahler CM. Vaccine Candidates for the Control and Prevention of the Sexually Transmitted Disease Gonorrhea. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9070804. [PMID: 34358218 PMCID: PMC8310131 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9070804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The World Health Organization (WHO) has placed N. gonorrhoeae on the global priority list of antimicrobial resistant pathogens and is urgently seeking the development of new intervention strategies. N. gonorrhoeae causes 86.9 million cases globally per annum. The effects of gonococcal disease are seen predominantly in women and children and especially in the Australian Indigenous community. While economic modelling suggests that this infection alone may directly cost the USA health care system USD 11.0–20.6 billion, indirect costs associated with adverse disease and pregnancy outcomes, disease prevention, and productivity loss, mean that the overall effect of the disease is far greater still. In this review, we summate the current progress towards the development of a gonorrhea vaccine and describe the clinical trials being undertaken in Australia to assess the efficacy of the current formulation of Bexsero® in controlling disease.
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