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Niu H, Gu J, Zhang Y. Bacterial persisters: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic development. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:174. [PMID: 39013893 PMCID: PMC11252167 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01866-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2023] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Persisters refer to genetically drug susceptible quiescent (non-growing or slow growing) bacteria that survive in stress environments such as antibiotic exposure, acidic and starvation conditions. These cells can regrow after stress removal and remain susceptible to the same stress. Persisters are underlying the problems of treating chronic and persistent infections and relapse infections after treatment, drug resistance development, and biofilm infections, and pose significant challenges for effective treatments. Understanding the characteristics and the exact mechanisms of persister formation, especially the key molecules that affect the formation and survival of the persisters is critical to more effective treatment of chronic and persistent infections. Currently, genes related to persister formation and survival are being discovered and confirmed, but the mechanisms by which bacteria form persisters are very complex, and there are still many unanswered questions. This article comprehensively summarizes the historical background of bacterial persisters, details their complex characteristics and their relationship with antibiotic tolerant and resistant bacteria, systematically elucidates the interplay between various bacterial biological processes and the formation of persister cells, as well as consolidates the diverse anti-persister compounds and treatments. We hope to provide theoretical background for in-depth research on mechanisms of persisters and suggest new ideas for choosing strategies for more effective treatment of persistent infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxia Niu
- School of Basic Medical Science and Key Laboratory of Blood-stasis-toxin Syndrome of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jiaying Gu
- School of Basic Medical Science and Key Laboratory of Blood-stasis-toxin Syndrome of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, Zhejiang, China.
- Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory, Jinan, 250022, Shandong, China.
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Petersen ME, Hansen LK, Mitkin AA, Kelly NM, Wood TK, Jørgensen NP, Østergaard LJ, Meyer RL. A high-throughput assay identifies molecules with antimicrobial activity against persister cells. J Med Microbiol 2024; 73:001856. [PMID: 38995832 PMCID: PMC11316564 DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.001856] [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: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction. Persister cells are transiently non-growing antibiotic-tolerant bacteria that cause infection relapse, and there is no effective antibiotic therapy to tackle these infections.Gap statement. High-throughput assays in drug discovery are biased towards detecting drugs that inhibit bacterial growth rather than killing non-growing bacteria. A new and simple assay to discover such drugs is needed.Aim. This study aims to develop a simple and high-throughput assay to identify compounds with antimicrobial activity against persister cells and use it to identify molecular motifs with such activity.Methodology. We quantified Staphylococcus aureus persister cells by enumeration of colony forming units after 24 h ciprofloxacin treatment. We first quantified how the cell concentration, antibiotic concentration, growth phase and presence/absence of nutrients during antibiotic exposure affected the fraction of persister cells in a population. After optimizing these parameters, we screened the antimicrobial activity of compound fragments to identify molecular structures that have activity against persister cells.Results. Exponential- and stationary-phase cultures transferred to nutrient-rich media displayed a bi-phasic time-kill curve and contained 0.001-0.07% persister cells. A short rifampicin treatment resulted in 100% persister cells for 7 h, after which cells resumed activity and became susceptible. Stationary-phase cultures displayed a low but constant death rate but ultimately resulted in similarly low survival rates as the exponential-phase cultures after 24 h ciprofloxacin treatment. The persister phenotype was only maintained in most of the population for 24 h if cells were transferred to a carbon-free minimal medium before exposure to ciprofloxacin. Keeping cells starved enabled the generation of high concentrations of S. aureus cells that tolerate 50× MIC ciprofloxacin, and we used this protocol for rapid screening for biocidal antibiotics. We identified seven compounds from four structural clusters with activity against antibiotic-tolerant S. aureus. Two compounds were moderately cytotoxic, and the rest were highly cytotoxic.Conclusion. Transferring a stationary-phase culture to a carbon-free minimal medium for antimicrobial testing is a simple strategy for high-throughput screening for new antibiotics that kill persister cells. We identified molecule fragments with such activity, but further screening is needed to identify motifs with lower general cytotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Liva Kjær Hansen
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Centre (iNANO), Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | | | | | - Thomas Keith Wood
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, USA
| | - Nis Pedersen Jørgensen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - Lars Jørgen Østergaard
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - Rikke Louise Meyer
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Centre (iNANO), Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
- Department of Biology, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
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3
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Amoura A, Pistien C, Chaligné C, Dion S, Magnan M, Bridier-Nahmias A, Baron A, Chau F, Bourgogne E, Le M, Denamur E, Ingersoll MA, Fantin B, Lefort A, El Meouche I. Variability in cell division among anatomical sites shapes Escherichia coli antibiotic survival in a urinary tract infection mouse model. Cell Host Microbe 2024; 32:900-912.e4. [PMID: 38759643 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2024.04.015] [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: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
Urinary tract infection (UTI), mainly caused by Escherichia coli, are frequent and have a recurrent nature even after antibiotic treatment. Potential bacterial escape mechanisms include growth defects, but probing bacterial division in vivo and establishing its relation to the antibiotic response remain challenging. Using a synthetic reporter of cell division, we follow the temporal dynamics of cell division for different E. coli clinical strains in a UTI mouse model with and without antibiotics. We show that more bacteria are actively dividing in the kidneys and urine compared with the bladder. Bacteria that survive antibiotic treatment are consistently non-dividing in three sites of infection. Additionally, we demonstrate how both the strain in vitro persistence profile and the microenvironment impact infection and treatment dynamics. Understanding the relative contribution of the host environment, growth heterogeneity, non-dividing bacteria, and antibiotic persistence is crucial to improve therapies for recurrent infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariane Amoura
- Université Paris Cité, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Inserm, IAME, 75018 Paris, France
| | - Claire Pistien
- Université Paris Cité, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Inserm, IAME, 75018 Paris, France
| | - Camille Chaligné
- Université Paris Cité, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Inserm, IAME, 75018 Paris, France
| | - Sara Dion
- Université Paris Cité, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Inserm, IAME, 75018 Paris, France
| | - Mélanie Magnan
- Université Paris Cité, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Inserm, IAME, 75018 Paris, France
| | | | - Alexandra Baron
- Université Paris Cité, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Inserm, IAME, 75018 Paris, France
| | - Françoise Chau
- Université Paris Cité, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Inserm, IAME, 75018 Paris, France
| | - Emmanuel Bourgogne
- AP-HP, Hôpital Bichat, Laboratoire de Toxicologie Pharmacocinétique, 75018 Paris, France; Université Paris Cité, Faculté de Santé, Pharmacie, Laboratoire de Toxicologie, 75018 Paris, France
| | - Minh Le
- Université Paris Cité, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Inserm, IAME, 75018 Paris, France; AP-HP, Hôpital Bichat, Laboratoire de Toxicologie Pharmacocinétique, 75018 Paris, France
| | - Erick Denamur
- Université Paris Cité, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Inserm, IAME, 75018 Paris, France; AP-HP, Hôpital Bichat, Laboratoire de Génétique Moléculaire, 75018 Paris, France
| | - Molly A Ingersoll
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Inserm, Institut Cochin, 75014 Paris, France; Department of Immunology, Institut Pasteur, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Bruno Fantin
- Université Paris Cité, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Inserm, IAME, 75018 Paris, France
| | - Agnès Lefort
- Université Paris Cité, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Inserm, IAME, 75018 Paris, France; AP-HP, Hôpital Beaujon, Service de Médecine Interne, 92110 Clichy, France
| | - Imane El Meouche
- Université Paris Cité, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Inserm, IAME, 75018 Paris, France.
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Zheng EJ, Valeri JA, Andrews IW, Krishnan A, Bandyopadhyay P, Anahtar MN, Herneisen A, Schulte F, Linnehan B, Wong F, Stokes JM, Renner LD, Lourido S, Collins JJ. Discovery of antibiotics that selectively kill metabolically dormant bacteria. Cell Chem Biol 2024; 31:712-728.e9. [PMID: 38029756 PMCID: PMC11031330 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2023.10.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
There is a need to discover and develop non-toxic antibiotics that are effective against metabolically dormant bacteria, which underlie chronic infections and promote antibiotic resistance. Traditional antibiotic discovery has historically favored compounds effective against actively metabolizing cells, a property that is not predictive of efficacy in metabolically inactive contexts. Here, we combine a stationary-phase screening method with deep learning-powered virtual screens and toxicity filtering to discover compounds with lethality against metabolically dormant bacteria and favorable toxicity profiles. The most potent and structurally distinct compound without any obvious mechanistic liability was semapimod, an anti-inflammatory drug effective against stationary-phase E. coli and A. baumannii. Integrating microbiological assays, biochemical measurements, and single-cell microscopy, we show that semapimod selectively disrupts and permeabilizes the bacterial outer membrane by binding lipopolysaccharide. This work illustrates the value of harnessing non-traditional screening methods and deep learning models to identify non-toxic antibacterial compounds that are effective in infection-relevant contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica J Zheng
- Program in Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jacqueline A Valeri
- Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Institute for Medical Engineering & Science, Department of Biological Engineering, and Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ian W Andrews
- Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Institute for Medical Engineering & Science, Department of Biological Engineering, and Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Aarti Krishnan
- Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Institute for Medical Engineering & Science, Department of Biological Engineering, and Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Parijat Bandyopadhyay
- Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Institute for Medical Engineering & Science, Department of Biological Engineering, and Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Melis N Anahtar
- Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Institute for Medical Engineering & Science, Department of Biological Engineering, and Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Alice Herneisen
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Biology, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Fabian Schulte
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Brooke Linnehan
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Felix Wong
- Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Institute for Medical Engineering & Science, Department of Biological Engineering, and Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Jonathan M Stokes
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8N 3Z5, Canada
| | - Lars D Renner
- Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research and the Max Bergmann Center of Biomaterials, 01062 Dresden, Germany
| | - Sebastian Lourido
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Biology, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - James J Collins
- Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Institute for Medical Engineering & Science, Department of Biological Engineering, and Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
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5
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Joseph I, Risener CJ, Falk K, Northington G, Quave CL. Bacterial Persistence in Urinary Tract Infection Among Postmenopausal Population. UROGYNECOLOGY (PHILADELPHIA, PA.) 2024; 30:205-213. [PMID: 38484233 PMCID: PMC10947078 DOI: 10.1097/spv.0000000000001452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common in older-aged women. Our study examined bacterial persistence with commonly prescribed antibiotics. Bacterial growth was demonstrated despite antibiotic treatment. OBJECTIVES The aims of this study were to quantify the bacterial persister phenotype in urine collected from postmenopausal women with acute and recurrent UTI and to determine the capabilities of first-line antibiotics to effectively treat persister cells. STUDY DESIGN This was an institutional review board-approved cross-sectional analysis within a large academic referral center. Uropathogens were cultured from postmenopausal women with acute or recurrent UTI and screened for persister cells using persistence assays. Demographic and clinical variables were collected and analyzed. The entire experimental process was repeated in triplicate. Data were analyzed for significance (P < 0.05) between the persister culture and antibiotic treatments using a 1-way analysis of variance with multiple comparisons in Prism 9.3.0. RESULTS Forty participants were included: 62.5% White, 22.5% Black, 3% Asian, and 2% Hispanic with a mean age of 72.3 ± 11.62 years. The persister phenotype was demonstrated in all of Escherichia coli isolates. Treatment with fosfomycin demonstrated reduced colony-forming units per milliliter compared with control (P < 0.01). Among recurrent isolates, there was a statistically significant decrease in colony-forming units per milliliter after antibiotic treatment with all 4 antibiotics (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated in vitro bacterial persistence in uropathogens from urogynecology patients despite treatment with commonly prescribed antibiotics. Fosfomycin generated the least amount of persister cells. Results suggest that persistence may be one bacterial defense mechanism involved in UTIs. Further research is needed to understand the clinical implications.
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6
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Durrani B, Mohammad A, Ljubetic BM, Dobberfuhl AD. The Potential Role of Persister Cells in Urinary Tract Infections. Curr Urol Rep 2023; 24:541-551. [PMID: 37907771 DOI: 10.1007/s11934-023-01182-5] [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] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review explores the role of persister cells in urinary tract infections (UTIs). UTIs are one of the most common bacterial infections, affecting millions of people worldwide. Persister cells are a subpopulation of bacteria with dormant metabolic activity which allows survival in the presence of antibiotics. RECENT FINDINGS This review summarizes recent research on the pathogenesis of persister cell formation in UTIs, the impact of persister cells on the effectiveness of antibiotics, the challenges they pose for treatment, and the need for new strategies to target these cells. Furthermore, this review examines the current state of research on the identification and characterization of persister cells in UTIs, as well as the future directions for investigations in this field. This review highlights the importance of understanding the role of persister cells in UTIs and the potential impact of targeting these cells in the development of new treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Butool Durrani
- Department of Internal Medicine, Aga Khan University Hospital, National Stadium Rd, Karachi, Karachi City, Pakistan
| | - Ashu Mohammad
- Department of Urology, Center for Academic Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, 453 Quarry Road, Urology-5656, Palo Alto, CA, 94304, USA
| | - Bernardita M Ljubetic
- Department of Urology, Center for Academic Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, 453 Quarry Road, Urology-5656, Palo Alto, CA, 94304, USA
| | - Amy D Dobberfuhl
- Department of Urology, Center for Academic Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, 453 Quarry Road, Urology-5656, Palo Alto, CA, 94304, USA.
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7
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Wang Y, Liang B, Song Z, Chen W, Niu H, Xing D, Zhang Y. High antipersister activity of a promising new quinolone drug candidate in eradicating uropathogenic Escherichia coli persisters and persistent infection in mice. J Appl Microbiol 2023; 134:lxad193. [PMID: 37667517 DOI: 10.1093/jambio/lxad193] [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: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
AIMS To develop more potent drugs that eradicate persister bacteria and cure persistent urinary tract infections (rUTIs). METHODS AND RESULTS We synthesized eight novel clinifloxacin analogs and measured minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), the time-kill curves in uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) UTI89, and applied the candidate drugs and combinations against biofilm bacteria in vitro and in mice. Transcriptomic analysis was performed for UPEC after candidate drug treatment to shed light on potential mechanism of action. We identified Compound 2, named Qingdafloxacin (QDF), which was more potent than clinafloxacin and clinically used levofloxacin and moxifloxacin, with an MIC of < 0.04 μg ml-1 and an MBC of 0.08∼0.16 μg ml-1. In drug combination studies, QDF + gentamicin + nitrofuran combination but not single drugs completely eradicated all stationary phase bacteria containing persisters and biofilm bacteria, and all bacteria in a persistent UTI mouse model. Transcriptome analysis revealed that the unique antipersister activity of QDF was associated with downregulation of genes involved in bacterial stress response, DNA repair, protein misfolding repair, pyrimidine metabolism, glutamate, and glutathione metabolism, and efflux. CONCLUSIONS QDF has high antipersister activity and its drug combinations proved highly effective against biofilm bacteria in vitro and persistent UTIs in mice, which may have implications for treating rUTIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanyan Wang
- Qingdao Cancer Institute, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, School of Basic Medicine of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Bing Liang
- Qingdao Cancer Institute, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, School of Basic Medicine of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Zhengming Song
- Qingdao Cancer Institute, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, School of Basic Medicine of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Wujun Chen
- Qingdao Cancer Institute, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, School of Basic Medicine of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Hongxia Niu
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Dongming Xing
- Qingdao Cancer Institute, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, School of Basic Medicine of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Qingdao Cancer Institute, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, School of Basic Medicine of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
- State Key Laboratory for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, China
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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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Niu H, Li T, Du Y, Lv Z, Cao Q, Zhang Y. Glutamate Transporters GltS, GltP and GltI Are Involved in Escherichia coli Tolerance In Vitro and Pathogenicity in Mouse Urinary Tract Infections. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1173. [PMID: 37317147 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11051173] [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: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
To verify the roles of GltS, GltP, and GltI in E. coli tolerance and pathogenicity, we quantified and compared the relative abundance of gltS, gltP, and gltI in log-phase and stationary-phase E. coli and constructed their knockout mutant strains in E. coli BW25113 and uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) separately, followed by analysis of their abilities to tolerate antibiotics and stressors, their capacity for adhesion to and invasion of human bladder epithelial cells, and their survival ability in mouse urinary tracts. Our results showed that gltS, gltP, and gltI transcripts were higher in stationary phase E. coli than in log-phase incubation. Furthermore, deletion of gltS, gltP, and gltI genes in E. coli BW25113 results in decreased tolerance to antibiotics (levofloxacin and ofloxacin) and stressors (acid pH, hyperosmosis, and heat), and loss of gltS, gltP, and gltI in uropathogenic E. coli UTI89 caused attenuated adhesion and invasion in human bladder epithelial cells and markedly reduced survival in mice. The results showed the important roles of the glutamate transporter genes gltI, gltP, and gltS in E. coli tolerance to antibiotics (levofloxacin and ofloxacin) and stressors (acid pH, hyperosmosis, and heat) in vitro and in pathogenicity in mouse urinary tracts and human bladder epithelial cells, as shown by reduced survival and colonization, which improves our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of bacterial tolerance and pathogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxia Niu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Tuodi Li
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Yunjie Du
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Zhuoxuan Lv
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Qianqian Cao
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310053, China
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Koroleva EA, Soloveva AV, Morgunova EY, Kapotina LN, Luyksaar SI, Luyksaar SV, Bondareva NE, Nelubina SA, Lubenec NL, Zigangirova NA, Gintsburg AL. Fluorothiazinon inhibits the virulence factors of uropathogenic Escherichia coli involved in the development of urinary tract infection. J Antibiot (Tokyo) 2023; 76:279-290. [PMID: 36922636 DOI: 10.1038/s41429-023-00602-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is the most common pathogenic bacterium associated with urinary tract infection. Due to the development of antibiotic resistance and MDR, UPEC infection has become a serious problem in the last decade. In order to combat resistance, it is necessary to develop innovative antimicrobial agents that act by different mechanisms than conventional antibiotics. Among the new therapeutic strategies, suppression of pathogen virulence has become a promising alternative, since it fundamentally reduces selective pressure and the development of resistance. In our study, we showed that the compound Fluorothiazinon suppressed UPEC's ability to form biofilms and to move using the flagellum, as well as to penetrate into cells. Prophylactic use with subsequent treatment of FT in rodent models led to an improvement in survival and significantly reduced the bacterial load in the organs of the urinary system, thereby inhibiting the development of ascending infection and preventing the development of pathological changes in prostate tissues. These results suggest that FT affects several UPEC virulence factors at once and if similar results can be found in clinical trials it can potentially be used as a new drug against UPEC.
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Affiliation(s)
- E A Koroleva
- National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology n. a. N.F. Gamaleya, Russian Ministry of Health, Moscow, 123098, Russia.
| | - A V Soloveva
- National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology n. a. N.F. Gamaleya, Russian Ministry of Health, Moscow, 123098, Russia
| | - E Y Morgunova
- National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology n. a. N.F. Gamaleya, Russian Ministry of Health, Moscow, 123098, Russia
| | - L N Kapotina
- National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology n. a. N.F. Gamaleya, Russian Ministry of Health, Moscow, 123098, Russia
| | - S I Luyksaar
- National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology n. a. N.F. Gamaleya, Russian Ministry of Health, Moscow, 123098, Russia
| | - S V Luyksaar
- National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology n. a. N.F. Gamaleya, Russian Ministry of Health, Moscow, 123098, Russia
| | - N E Bondareva
- National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology n. a. N.F. Gamaleya, Russian Ministry of Health, Moscow, 123098, Russia
| | - S A Nelubina
- National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology n. a. N.F. Gamaleya, Russian Ministry of Health, Moscow, 123098, Russia
| | - N L Lubenec
- National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology n. a. N.F. Gamaleya, Russian Ministry of Health, Moscow, 123098, Russia
| | - N A Zigangirova
- National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology n. a. N.F. Gamaleya, Russian Ministry of Health, Moscow, 123098, Russia
| | - A L Gintsburg
- National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology n. a. N.F. Gamaleya, Russian Ministry of Health, Moscow, 123098, Russia.,I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, 119992, Russia
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11
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Chiu S, Hancock AM, Schofner BW, Sniezek KJ, Soto-Echevarria N, Leon G, Sivaloganathan DM, Wan X, Brynildsen MP. Causes of polymyxin treatment failure and new derivatives to fill the gap. J Antibiot (Tokyo) 2022; 75:593-609. [PMID: 36123537 DOI: 10.1038/s41429-022-00561-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Polymyxins are a class of antibiotics that were discovered in 1947 from programs searching for compounds effective in the treatment of Gram-negative infections. Produced by the Gram-positive bacterium Paenibacillus polymyxa and composed of a cyclic peptide chain with a peptide-fatty acyl tail, polymyxins exert bactericidal effects through membrane disruption. Currently, polymyxin B and colistin (polymyxin E) have been developed for clinical use, where they are reserved as "last-line" therapies for multidrug-resistant (MDR) infections. Unfortunately, the incidences of strains resistant to polymyxins have been increasing globally, and polymyxin heteroresistance has been gaining appreciation as an important clinical challenge. These phenomena, along with bacterial tolerance to this antibiotic class, constitute important contributors to polymyxin treatment failure. Here, we review polymyxins and their mechanism of action, summarize the current understanding of how polymyxin treatment fails, and discuss how the next generation of polymyxins holds promise to invigorate this antibiotic class.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selena Chiu
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Anna M Hancock
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Bob W Schofner
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Katherine J Sniezek
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | | | - Gabrielle Leon
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | | | - Xuanqing Wan
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Mark P Brynildsen
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.
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12
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Bailly C. The bacterial thiopeptide thiostrepton. An update of its mode of action, pharmacological properties and applications. Eur J Pharmacol 2022; 914:174661. [PMID: 34863996 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2021.174661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The bacterial thiopeptide thiostrepton (TS) is used as a veterinary medicine to treat bacterial infections. TS is a protein translation inhibitor, essentially active against Gram-positive bacteria and some Gram-negative bacteria. In procaryotes, TS abrogates binding of GTPase elongation factors to the 70S ribosome, by altering the structure of rRNA-L11 protein complexes. TS exerts also antimalarial effects by disrupting protein synthesis in the apicoplast genome of Plasmodium falciparum. Interestingly, the drug targets both the infectious pathogen (bacteria or parasite) and host cell, by inducing endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated autophagy which contributes to enhance the host cell defense. In addition, TS has been characterized as a potent chemical inhibitor of the oncogenic transcription factor FoxM1, frequently overexpressed in cancers or other diseases. The capacity of TS to crosslink FoxM1, and a few other proteins such as peroxiredoxin 3 (PRX3) and the 19S proteasome, contributes to the anticancer effects of the thiopeptide. The anticancer activities of TS evidenced using diverse tumor cell lines, in vivo models and drug combinations are reviewed here, together with the implicated targets and mechanisms. The difficulty to formulate TS is a drag on the pharmaceutical development of the natural product. However, the design of hemisynthetic analogues and the use of micellar drug delivery systems should facilitate a broader utilization of the compound in human and veterinary medicines. This review shed light on the many pharmacological properties of TS, with the objective to promote its use as a pharmacological tool and medicinal product.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Bailly
- OncoWitan, Scientific Consulting Office, Lille, Wasquehal, 59290, France.
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13
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Niu H, Yee R, Cui P, Zhang S, Tian L, Shi W, Sullivan D, Zhu B, Zhang W, Zhang Y. Identification and Ranking of Clinical Compounds with Activity Against Log-phase Growing Uropathogenic Escherichia coli. Curr Drug Discov Technol 2021; 17:191-196. [PMID: 30088449 DOI: 10.2174/1570163815666180808115501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2018] [Revised: 07/26/2018] [Accepted: 08/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is a major cause of Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs). Due to increasing antibiotic-resistance among UPEC bacteria, new treatment options for UTIs are urgently needed. OBJECTIVE To identify new agents targeting growing bacteria that may be used for the treatment of antibiotic-resistant UTIs. METHODS We screened a clinical compound library consisting of 1,524 compounds using a high throughput 96-well plate assay and ranked the activities of the selected agents according to their MICs against the UPEC strain UTI89. RESULTS We identified 33 antibiotics which were active against log-phase clinical UPEC strain UTI89. Among the selected antibiotics, there were 12 fluoroquinolone antibiotics (tosufloxacin, levofloxacin, sparfloxacin, clinafloxacin, pazufloxacin, gatifloxacin, enrofloxacin, lomefloxacin, norfloxacin, fleroxacin, flumequine, ciprofloxacin), 15 beta-lactam or cephalosporin antibiotics (cefmenoxime, cefotaxime, ceftizoxime, cefotiam, cefdinir, cefoperazone, cefpiramide, cefamandole, cefixime, ceftibuten, cefmetazole, cephalosporin C, aztreonam, piperacillintazobactam, mezlocillin), 3 tetracycline antibiotics (meclocycline, doxycycline, tetracycline), 2 membrane-acting agents (colistin and clofoctol), and 1 protein synthesis inhibitor (amikacin). Among them, the top 7 hits were colistin, tosufloxacin, levofloxacin, sparfloxacin, clinafloxacin, cefmenoxime and pazufloxacin, where clinafloxacin and pazufloxacin were the newly identified agents active against UPEC strain UTI89. We validated the key results obtained with UTI89 on two other UTI strains CFT073 and KTE181 and found that they all had comparable MICs for fluoroquinolones while CFT073 and KTE181 were more susceptible to cephalosporin antibiotics and tetracycline antibiotics but were less susceptible to colistin than UTI89. CONCLUSION Our findings provide possible effective drug candidates for the more effective treatment of antibiotic-resistant UTIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxia Niu
- Lanzhou Center for Tuberculosis Research and Institute of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States
| | - Rebecca Yee
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States
| | - Peng Cui
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuo Zhang
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States
| | - Lili Tian
- Beijing Research Institute for Tuberculosis Control, Beijing, China
| | - Wanliang Shi
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States
| | - David Sullivan
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States
| | - Bingdong Zhu
- Lanzhou Center for Tuberculosis Research and Institute of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Wenhong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States
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14
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Drug screening to identify compounds to act as co-therapies for the treatment of Burkholderia species. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0248119. [PMID: 33764972 PMCID: PMC7993816 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Burkholderia pseudomallei is a soil-dwelling organism present throughout the tropics. It is the causative agent of melioidosis, a disease that is believed to kill 89,000 people per year. It is naturally resistant to many antibiotics, requiring at least two weeks of intravenous treatment with ceftazidime, imipenem or meropenem followed by 6 months of orally delivered co-trimoxazole. This places a large treatment burden on the predominantly middle-income nations where the majority of disease occurs. We have established a high-throughput assay for compounds that could be used as a co-therapy to potentiate the effect of ceftazidime, using the related non-pathogenic bacterium Burkholderia thailandensis as a surrogate. Optimization of the assay gave a Z’ factor of 0.68. We screened a library of 61,250 compounds and identified 29 compounds with a pIC50 (-log10(IC50)) greater than five. Detailed investigation allowed us to down select to six “best in class” compounds, which included the licensed drug chloroxine. Co-treatment of B. thailandensis with ceftazidime and chloroxine reduced culturable cell numbers by two orders of magnitude over 48 hours, compared to treatment with ceftazidime alone. Hit expansion around chloroxine was performed using commercially available compounds. Minor modifications to the structure abolished activity, suggesting that chloroxine likely acts against a specific target. Finally, an initial study demonstrates the utility of chloroxine to act as a co-therapy to potentiate the effect of ceftazidime against B. pseudomallei. This approach successfully identified potential co-therapies for a recalcitrant Gram-negative bacterial species. Our assay could be used more widely to aid in chemotherapy to treat infections caused by these bacteria.
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15
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Abstract
Many bacterial pathogens can permanently colonize their host and establish either chronic or recurrent infections that the immune system and antimicrobial therapies fail to eradicate. Antibiotic persisters (persister cells) are believed to be among the factors that make these infections challenging. Persisters are subpopulations of bacteria which survive treatment with bactericidal antibiotics in otherwise antibiotic-sensitive cultures and were extensively studied in a hope to discover the mechanisms that cause treatment failures in chronically infected patients; however, most of these studies were conducted in the test tube. Research into antibiotic persistence has uncovered large intrapopulation heterogeneity of bacterial growth and regrowth but has not identified essential, dedicated molecular mechanisms of antibiotic persistence. Diverse factors and stresses that inhibit bacterial growth reduce killing of the bulk population and may also increase the persister subpopulation, implying that an array of mechanisms are present. Hopefully, further studies under conditions that simulate the key aspects of persistent infections will lead to identifying target mechanisms for effective therapeutic solutions.
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16
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Li T, Wang J, Cao Q, Li F, Han J, Zhu B, Zhang Y, Niu H. Identification of Novel Genes Involved in Escherichia coli Persistence to Tosufloxacin. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:581986. [PMID: 33117736 PMCID: PMC7561378 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.581986] [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: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Persisters are metabolically quiescent phenotypic variants of the wild type that are tolerant to cidal antibiotics, and the mechanisms of persister formation and survival are complex and not completely understood. To identify genes involved in persistence to tosufloxacin, which has higher activity against persisters than most other quinolones, we screened the E. coli KEIO mutant library using a different condition from most persister mutant screens (6 h) with a longer exposure of 18 h with tosufloxacin. We identified 18 mutants (acrA, acrB, ddlB, dnaG, gltI, hlpA, lpcA, recG, recN, rfaH, ruvC, surA, tatC, tolQ, uvrD, xseA, and ydfI) that failed to form tosufloxacin tolerant persisters. Among them, gltI, hlpA, ruvC, ddlB, ydfI, and tatC are unique genes involved in E. coli persistence to tosufloxacin which have not been reported before. Furthermore, deletion mutants in genes coding periplasmic proteins (surA, lpcA, hlpA, and gltI) had more defect in persistence to tosufloxacin than the other identified mutants, with surA and lpcA mutants being the most prominent. The “deep” persister phenotype of surA and lpcA mutants was further confirmed both in vitro and in vivo. Compared with the wild type strain E. coli BW25113 in vitro, the persister phenotype of the surA and lpcA mutants was decreased more than 100–1,000-fold in persistence to various antibiotics, acidic, hyperosmotic and heat conditions. In addition, in both stationary phase bacteria and biofilm bacteria infection mouse models, the surA and lpcA mutants had lower survival and persistence than the parent uropathogenic strain UTI89, suggesting that the in vitro identified persister mechanisms (surA and lpcA) are operative and valid for in vivo persistence. Our findings provide new insight into the mechanisms of persister formation and maintenance under tosufloxacin and will likely provide novel therapeutic and vaccine targets for developing more effective treatment and prevention of persistent E. coli infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuodi Li
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Juan Wang
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Qianqian Cao
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Fei Li
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jiangyuan Han
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Bingdong Zhu
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Hongxia Niu
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
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17
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Khan F, Pham DTN, Tabassum N, Oloketuyi SF, Kim YM. Treatment strategies targeting persister cell formation in bacterial pathogens. Crit Rev Microbiol 2020; 46:665-688. [DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2020.1822278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Fazlurrahman Khan
- Institute of Food Science, Pukyong National University, Busan, Korea
| | - Dung Thuy Nguyen Pham
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Pukyong National University, Busan, Korea
| | - Nazia Tabassum
- Industrial Convergence Bionix Engineering, Pukyong National University, Busan, Korea
| | | | - Young-Mog Kim
- Institute of Food Science, Pukyong National University, Busan, Korea
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Pukyong National University, Busan, Korea
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18
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Sun J, Deering RW, Peng Z, Najia L, Khoo C, Cohen PS, Seeram NP, Rowley DC. Pectic Oligosaccharides from Cranberry Prevent Quiescence and Persistence in the Uropathogenic Escherichia coli CFT073. Sci Rep 2019; 9:19590. [PMID: 31862919 PMCID: PMC6925298 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-56005-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by Escherichia coli create a large burden on healthcare and frequently lead to recurrent infections. Part of the success of E. coli as an uropathogenic bacterium can be attributed to its ability to form quiescent intracellular reservoirs in bladder cells and its persistence after antibiotic treatment. Cranberry juice and related products have been used for the prevention of UTIs with varying degrees of success. In this study, a group of cranberry pectic oligosaccharides (cPOS) were found to both inhibit quiescence and reduce the population of persister cells formed by the uropathogenic strain, CFT073. This is the first report detailing constituents of cranberry with the ability to modulate these important physiological aspects of uropathogenic E. coli. Further studies investigating cranberry should be keen to include oligosaccharides as part of the ‘active’ cocktail of chemical compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiadong Sun
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 02881, USA.,Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Robert W Deering
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 02881, USA
| | - Zhiyuan Peng
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 02881, USA
| | - Laila Najia
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 02881, USA
| | - Christina Khoo
- Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc., One Ocean Spray Drive, Lakeville-Middleboro, MA, 02349, USA
| | - Paul S Cohen
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 02881, USA
| | - Navindra P Seeram
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 02881, USA
| | - David C Rowley
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 02881, USA.
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19
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Zinc Acetate Potentiates the Action of Tosufloxacin against Escherichia coli Biofilm Persisters. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2019; 63:AAC.00069-19. [PMID: 30936108 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00069-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2019] [Accepted: 03/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Formation of bacterial biofilms is a major health threat due to their high levels of tolerance to multiple antibiotics and the presence of persisters responsible for infection relapses. We previously showed that a combination of starvation and induction of SOS response in biofilm led to increased levels of persisters and biofilm tolerance to fluoroquinolones. In this study, we hypothesized that inhibition of the SOS response may be an effective strategy to target biofilms and fluoroquinolone persister cells. We tested the survival of Escherichia coli biofilms to different classes of antibiotics in starved and nonstarved conditions and in the presence of zinc acetate, a SOS response inhibitor. We showed that zinc acetate potentiates, albeit moderately, the activity of fluoroquinolones against E. coli persisters in starved biofilms. The efficacy of zinc acetate to increase fluoroquinolone activity, particularly that of tosufloxacin, suggests that such a combination may be a potential strategy for treating biofilm-related bacterial infections.
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20
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Fighting bacterial persistence: Current and emerging anti-persister strategies and therapeutics. Drug Resist Updat 2018; 38:12-26. [DOI: 10.1016/j.drup.2018.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2018] [Revised: 03/07/2018] [Accepted: 03/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
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21
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Octodrine: New Questions and Challenges in Sport Supplements. Brain Sci 2018; 8:brainsci8020034. [PMID: 29461475 PMCID: PMC5836053 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci8020034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2018] [Revised: 02/16/2018] [Accepted: 02/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Octodrine is the trade name for Dimethylhexylamine (DMHA), a central nervous stimulant that increases the uptake of dopamine and noradrenaline. Originally developed as a nasal decongestant in the 1950’s, it has recently been re-introduced on the market as a pre-workout and ‘fat-burner’ product but its use remains unregulated. Our work provides the first observational cross-sectional analytic study on Octodrine as a new drug trend and its associated harms after a gap spanning seven decades. Methods: A comprehensive multilingual assessment of literature, websites, drug fora and other online resources was carried out with no time restriction in English, German, Russian and Arabic. Keywords included Octodrine’s synonyms and chemical isomers. Results: Only five relevant publications emerged from the literature search, with most of the available data on body building websites and fora. Since 2015, Octodrine has been advertised online as “the next big thing” and “the god of stimulants,” with captivating marketing strategies directed at athletes and a wider cohort of users. Reported side-effects include hypertension, dyspnoea and hyperthermia. Conclusions: The uncontrolled use of Octodrine, its physiological and psychoactive effects raise serious health implications with possible impact on athletes and doping practices. This new phenomenon needs to be thoroughly studied and monitored.
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22
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Niu H, Yee R, Cui P, Tian L, Zhang S, Shi W, Sullivan D, Zhu B, Zhang W, Zhang Y. Identification of Agents Active against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus USA300 from a Clinical Compound Library. Pathogens 2017; 6:pathogens6030044. [PMID: 28930155 PMCID: PMC5618001 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens6030044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2017] [Revised: 09/12/2017] [Accepted: 09/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) poses a significant threat for effective treatment of several difficult-to-treat infections in humans. To identify potential new treatment options for MRSA infections, we screened a clinical compound library consisting of 1524 compounds using a growth inhibition assay in 96-well plates. We identified 34 agents which are either bacteriostatic or bactericidal against log-phase clinical MRSA strain USA300. Among them, 9 candidates (thonzonium, cetylpyridinium, trilocarban, benzododecinium, bithionol, brilliant green, chlorquinaldol, methylbenzethonium and green violet) are known antiseptics, 11 candidates are known antibiotics currently recommended for the treatment of MRSA. We identified 9 new drug candidates, 5 of which (thiostrepton, carbomycin, spiramycin, clofazimine and chloroxine) are antibiotics used for treating other infections than S. aureus infections; 4 of which (quinaldine blue, closantel, dithiazanine iodide and pyrvinium pamoate) are drugs used for treating parasitic diseases or cancer. We ranked these new drug candidates according to their MICs against the MRSA strain USA300. Our findings may have implications for more effective treatment of MRSA infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxia Niu
- Lanzhou Center for Tuberculosis Research and Institute of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - Rebecca Yee
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - Peng Cui
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China.
| | - Lili Tian
- Beijing Research Institute for Tuberculosis Control, Beijing 100035, China.
| | - Shuo Zhang
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - Wanliang Shi
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - David Sullivan
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - Bingdong Zhu
- Lanzhou Center for Tuberculosis Research and Institute of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.
| | - Wenhong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China.
| | - Ying Zhang
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
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23
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Active efflux in dormant bacterial cells - New insights into antibiotic persistence. Drug Resist Updat 2016; 30:7-14. [PMID: 28363336 DOI: 10.1016/j.drup.2016.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2016] [Revised: 10/14/2016] [Accepted: 11/02/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial persisters are phenotypic variants of an isogenic cell population that can survive antibiotic treatment and resume growth after the antibiotics have been removed. Cell dormancy has long been considered the principle mechanism underlying persister formation. However, dormancy alone is insufficient to explain the full range of bacterial persistence. Our recent work revealed that in addition to 'passive defense' via dormancy, persister cells employ 'active defense' via enhanced efflux activity to expel drugs. This finding suggests that persisters combine two seemingly contradictory mechanisms to tolerate antibiotic attack. Here, we review the passive and active aspects of persister formation, discuss new insights into the process, and propose new techniques that can facilitate the study of bacterial persistence.
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24
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Disruption of Membrane by Colistin Kills Uropathogenic Escherichia coli Persisters and Enhances Killing of Other Antibiotics. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2016; 60:6867-6871. [PMID: 27600051 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01481-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2016] [Accepted: 08/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Persisters are small populations of quiescent bacterial cells that survive exposure to bactericidal antibiotics and are responsible for many persistent infections and posttreatment relapses. However, little is known about how to effectively kill persister bacteria. In the work presented here, we found that colistin, a membrane-active antibiotic, was highly active against Escherichia coli persisters at high concentrations (25 or 50 μg/ml). At a clinically relevant lower concentration (10 μg/ml), colistin alone had no apparent effect on E. coli persisters. In combination with other drugs, this concentration of colistin enhanced the antipersister activity of gentamicin and ofloxacin but not that of ampicillin, nitrofurans, and sulfa drugs in vitro The colistin enhancement effect was most likely due to increased uptake of the other antibiotics, as demonstrated by increased accumulation of fluorescence-labeled gentamicin. Interestingly, colistin significantly enhanced the activity of ofloxacin and nitrofurantoin but not that of gentamicin or sulfa drugs in the murine model of urinary tract infection. Our findings suggest that targeting bacterial membranes is a valuable approach to eradicating persisters and should have implications for more effective treatment of persistent bacterial infections.
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Mandakhalikar KD, Chua RR, Tambyah PA. New Technologies for Prevention of Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infection. CURRENT TREATMENT OPTIONS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s40506-016-0069-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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Feng J, Weitner M, Shi W, Zhang S, Sullivan D, Zhang Y. Identification of Additional Anti-Persister Activity against Borrelia burgdorferi from an FDA Drug Library. Antibiotics (Basel) 2015; 4:397-410. [PMID: 27025631 PMCID: PMC4790293 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics4030397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2015] [Revised: 09/09/2015] [Accepted: 09/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Lyme disease is a leading vector-borne disease in the United States. Although the majority of Lyme patients can be cured with standard 2–4 week antibiotic treatment, 10%–20% of patients continue to suffer from prolonged post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS). While the cause for this is unclear, persisting organisms not killed by current Lyme antibiotics may be involved. In our previous study, we screened an FDA drug library and reported 27 top hits that showed high activity against Borrelia persisters. In this study, we present the results of an additional 113 active hits that have higher activity against the stationary phase B. burgdorferi than the currently used Lyme antibiotics. Many antimicrobial agents (antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, anthelmintics or antiparasitics) used for treating other infections were found to have better activity than the current Lyme antibiotics. These include antibacterials such as rifamycins (3-formal-rifamycin, rifaximin, rifamycin SV), thiostrepton, quinolone drugs (sarafloxacin, clinafloxacin, tosufloxacin), and cell wall inhibitors carbenicillin, tazobactam, aztreonam; antifungal agents such as fluconazole, mepartricin, bifonazole, climbazole, oxiconazole, nystatin; antiviral agents zanamivir, nevirapine, tilorone; antimalarial agents artemisinin, methylene blue, and quidaldine blue; antihelmintic and antiparasitic agents toltrazuril, tartar emetic, potassium antimonyl tartrate trihydrate, oxantel, closantel, hycanthone, pyrimethamine, and tetramisole. Interestingly, drugs used for treating other non-infectious conditions including verteporfin, oltipraz, pyroglutamic acid, pidolic acid, and dextrorphan tartrate, that act on the glutathione/γ-glutamyl pathway involved in protection against free radical damage, and also the antidepressant drug indatraline, were found to have high activity against stationary phase B. burgdorferi. Among the active hits, agents that affect cell membranes, energy production, and reactive oxygen species production are more active against the B. burgdorferi persisters than the commonly used antibiotics that inhibit macromolecule biosynthesis. Future studies are needed to evaluate and optimize the promising active hits in drug combination studies in vitro and also in vivo in animal models. These studies may have implications for developing more effective treatments of Lyme disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Feng
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - Megan Weitner
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - Wanliang Shi
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - Shuo Zhang
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - David Sullivan
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - Ying Zhang
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
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A Clinical Drug Library Screen Identifies Tosufloxacin as Being Highly Active against Staphylococcus aureus Persisters. Antibiotics (Basel) 2015; 4:329-36. [PMID: 27025627 PMCID: PMC4790289 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics4030329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2015] [Revised: 07/05/2015] [Accepted: 07/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
To identify effective compounds that are active against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) persisters, we screened a clinical drug library consisting of 1524 compounds and identified six drug candidates that had anti-persister activity: tosufloxacin, clinafloxacin, sarafloxacin, doxycycline, thiostrepton, and chlorosalicylanilide. Among them, tosufloxacin had the highest anti-persister activity, which could completely eradicate S. aureus persisters within 2 days in vitro. Clinafloxacin ranked the second with very few persisters surviving the drug exposure. Interestingly, we found that both tosufloxacin and trovafloxacin that had high activity against persisters contained at the N-1 position the 2,4-difluorophenyl group, which is absent in other less active quinolones and may be associated with the high anti-persister activity. Further studies are needed to evaluate tosufloxacin in animal models and to explain its unique activity against bacterial persisters. Our findings may have implications for improved treatment of persistent bacterial infections.
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