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Hanpaibool C, Ounjai P, Yotphan S, Mulholland AJ, Spencer J, Ngamwongsatit N, Rungrotmongkol T. Enhancement by pyrazolones of colistin efficacy against mcr-1-expressing E. coli: an in silico and in vitro investigation. J Comput Aided Mol Des 2023; 37:479-489. [PMID: 37488458 DOI: 10.1007/s10822-023-00519-z] [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: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023]
Abstract
Owing to the emergence of antibiotic resistance, the polymyxin colistin has been recently revived to treat acute, multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections. Positively charged colistin binds to negatively charged lipids and damages the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. However, the MCR-1 protein, encoded by the mobile colistin resistance (mcr) gene, is involved in bacterial colistin resistance by catalysing phosphoethanolamine (PEA) transfer onto lipid A, neutralising its negative charge, and thereby reducing its interaction with colistin. Our preliminary results showed that treatment with a reference pyrazolone compound significantly reduced colistin minimal inhibitory concentrations in Escherichia coli expressing mcr-1 mediated colistin resistance (Hanpaibool et al. in ACS Omega, 2023). A docking-MD combination was used in an ensemble-based docking approach to identify further pyrazolone compounds as candidate MCR-1 inhibitors. Docking simulations revealed that 13/28 of the pyrazolone compounds tested are predicted to have lower binding free energies than the reference compound. Four of these were chosen for in vitro testing, with the results demonstrating that all the compounds tested could lower colistin MICs in an E. coli strain carrying the mcr-1 gene. Docking of pyrazolones into the MCR-1 active site reveals residues that are implicated in ligand-protein interactions, particularly E246, T285, H395, H466, and H478, which are located in the MCR-1 active site and which participate in interactions with MCR-1 in ≥ 8/10 of the lowest energy complexes. This study establishes pyrazolone-induced colistin susceptibility in E. coli carrying the mcr-1 gene, providing a method for the development of novel treatments against colistin-resistant bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chonnikan Hanpaibool
- Center of Excellence in Biocatalyst and Sustainable Biotechnology, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Puey Ounjai
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
- Center of Excellence On Environmental Health and Toxicology, Office of Higher Education Commission, Ministry of Education, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Sirilata Yotphan
- Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry (PERCH-CIC), Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Adrian J Mulholland
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK
| | - James Spencer
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Natharin Ngamwongsatit
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, 73170, Thailand.
- Laboratory of Bacteria, Veterinary Diagnostic Center, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, 73170, Thailand.
| | - Thanyada Rungrotmongkol
- Center of Excellence in Biocatalyst and Sustainable Biotechnology, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.
- Program in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Graduate School, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.
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2
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Lembke HK, Espinasse A, Hanson MG, Grimme CJ, Tan Z, Reineke TM, Carlson EE. Cationic Polymers Enable Internalization of Negatively Charged Chemical Probes into Bacteria. ACS Chem Biol 2023; 18:2063-2072. [PMID: 37671702 PMCID: PMC10947785 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.3c00351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/07/2023]
Abstract
The bacterial cell envelope provides a protective barrier that is challenging for small molecules and biomolecules to cross. Given the anionic nature of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial cell envelopes, negatively charged molecules are particularly difficult to deliver into these organisms. Many strategies have been employed to penetrate bacteria, ranging from reagents such as cell-penetrating peptides, enzymes, and metal-chelating compounds to physical perturbations. While cationic polymers are known antimicrobial agents, polymers that promote the permeabilization of bacterial cells without causing high levels of toxicity and cell lysis have not yet been described. Here, we investigate four polymers that display a cationic poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (D) block for the internalization of an anionic adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-based chemical probe into Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis. We evaluated two polymer architectures, linear and micellar, to determine how shape and hydrophobicity affect internalization efficiency. We found that, in addition to these reagents successfully promoting probe internalization, the probe-labeled cells were able to continue to grow and divide. The micellar structures in particular were highly effective for the delivery of the negatively charged chemical probe. Finally, we demonstrated that these cationic polymers could act as general permeabilization reagents, promoting the entry of other molecules, such as antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah K Lembke
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Adeline Espinasse
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Mckenna G Hanson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Christian J Grimme
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Zhe Tan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Theresa M Reineke
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Erin E Carlson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
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Rogga V, Kosalec I. Untying the anchor for the lipopolysaccharide: lipid A structural modification systems offer diagnostic and therapeutic options to tackle polymyxin resistance. Arh Hig Rada Toksikol 2023; 74:145-166. [PMID: 37791675 PMCID: PMC10549895 DOI: 10.2478/aiht-2023-74-3717] [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: 01/01/2023] [Revised: 01/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Polymyxin antibiotics are the last resort for treating patients in intensive care units infected with multiple-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. Due to their polycationic structure, their mode of action is based on an ionic interaction with the negatively charged lipid A portion of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The most prevalent polymyxin resistance mechanisms involve covalent modifications of lipid A: addition of the cationic sugar 4-amino-L-arabinose (L-Ara4N) and/or phosphoethanolamine (pEtN). The modified structure of lipid A has a lower net negative charge, leading to the repulsion of polymyxins and bacterial resistance to membrane disruption. Genes encoding the enzymatic systems involved in these modifications can be transferred either through chromosomes or mobile genetic elements. Therefore, new approaches to resistance diagnostics have been developed. On another note, interfering with these enzymatic systems might offer new therapeutic targets for drug discovery. This literature review focuses on diagnostic approaches based on structural changes in lipid A and on the therapeutic potential of molecules interfering with these changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Rogga
- University of Zagreb Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Department of Microbiology, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ivan Kosalec
- University of Zagreb Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Department of Microbiology, Zagreb, Croatia
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Thai VC, Stubbs KA, Sarkar-Tyson M, Kahler CM. Phosphoethanolamine Transferases as Drug Discovery Targets for Therapeutic Treatment of Multi-Drug Resistant Pathogenic Gram-Negative Bacteria. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:1382. [PMID: 37760679 PMCID: PMC10525099 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12091382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria is a major challenge to global public health. Polymyxins are increasingly being used as last-in-line antibiotics to treat MDR Gram-negative bacterial infections, but resistance development renders them ineffective for empirical therapy. The main mechanism that bacteria use to defend against polymyxins is to modify the lipid A headgroups of the outer membrane by adding phosphoethanolamine (PEA) moieties. In addition to lipid A modifying PEA transferases, Gram-negative bacteria possess PEA transferases that decorate proteins and glycans. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the function, structure, and mechanism of action of PEA transferases identified in pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria. It also summarizes the current drug development progress targeting this enzyme family, which could reverse antibiotic resistance to polymyxins to restore their utility in empiric therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Van C. Thai
- The Marshall Center for Infectious Diseases Research and Training, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia; (V.C.T.); (M.S.-T.)
| | - Keith A. Stubbs
- School of Molecular Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia;
| | - Mitali Sarkar-Tyson
- The Marshall Center for Infectious Diseases Research and Training, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia; (V.C.T.); (M.S.-T.)
| | - Charlene M. Kahler
- The Marshall Center for Infectious Diseases Research and Training, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia; (V.C.T.); (M.S.-T.)
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Kadeřábková N, Mahmood AJS, Furniss RCD, Mavridou DAI. Making a chink in their armor: Current and next-generation antimicrobial strategies against the bacterial cell envelope. Adv Microb Physiol 2023; 83:221-307. [PMID: 37507160 PMCID: PMC10517717 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ampbs.2023.05.003] [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] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Gram-negative bacteria are uniquely equipped to defeat antibiotics. Their outermost layer, the cell envelope, is a natural permeability barrier that contains an array of resistance proteins capable of neutralizing most existing antimicrobials. As a result, its presence creates a major obstacle for the treatment of resistant infections and for the development of new antibiotics. Despite this seemingly impenetrable armor, in-depth understanding of the cell envelope, including structural, functional and systems biology insights, has promoted efforts to target it that can ultimately lead to the generation of new antibacterial therapies. In this article, we broadly overview the biology of the cell envelope and highlight attempts and successes in generating inhibitors that impair its function or biogenesis. We argue that the very structure that has hampered antibiotic discovery for decades has untapped potential for the design of novel next-generation therapeutics against bacterial pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikol Kadeřábková
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
| | - Ayesha J S Mahmood
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
| | - R Christopher D Furniss
- MRC Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Despoina A I Mavridou
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States; John Ring LaMontagne Center for Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States.
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Jia Y, Liu J, Yang Q, Zhang W, Efferth T, Liu S, Hua X. Cajanin stilbene acid: A direct inhibitor of colistin resistance protein MCR-1 that restores the efficacy of polymyxin B against resistant Gram-negative bacteria. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2023; 114:154803. [PMID: 37058946 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2023.154803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The resistance of Gram-negative bacteria to polymyxin B, caused by the plasmid-mediated colistin resistance gene mcr-1, which encodes a phosphoethanolamine transferase (MCR-1), is a serious threat to global public health. Therefore, it is urgent to find new drugs that can effectively alleviate polymyxin B resistance. Through the screening of 78 natural compounds, we found that cajanin stilbene acid (CSA) can significantly restore the susceptibility of polymyxin B to mcr-1 positive Escherichia coli (E. coli). PURPOSE In this study, we tried to evaluate the ability of CSA to restore the susceptibility of polymyxin B towards the E. coli, and explore the mechanism of sensitivity recovery. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS Checkerboard MICs, time-killing curves, scanning electron microscope, lethal and semi-lethal models of infection in mice were used to assess the ability of CSA to restore the susceptibility of polymyxyn to E. coli. The interaction between CSA and MCR-1 was evaluated using surface plasmon resonance (SPR), and molecular docking experiments. RESULTS Here, we find that CSA, a potential direct inhibitor of MCR-1, effectively restores the sensitivity of E. coli to polymyxin B. CSA can restore the sensitivity of polymyxin B to drug-resistant E. coli, and the MIC value can be reduced to 1 μg/ml. The time killing curve and scanning electron microscopy results also showed that CSA can effectively restore polymyxin B sensitivity. In vivo experiments showed that the simultaneous use of CSA and polymyxin B can effectively reduce the infection of drug-resistant E. coli in mice. SPR and molecular docking experiments confirmed that CSA strongly bound to MCR-1. The 17-carbonyl oxygen and 12- and 18‑hydroxyl oxygens of CSA were the key sites binding to MCR-1. CONCLUSION CSA is able to significantly restore the sensitivity of polymyxin B to E. coli in vivo and in vitro. CSA inhibits the enzymatic activity of the MCR-1 protein by binding to key amino acids at the active center of the MCR-1 protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Jia
- Division of Bacterial Diseases, State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences Harbin, China
| | - Juzhao Liu
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qin Yang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Detection Technology for Animal-Derived Food Safety and Beijing Laboratory for Food Quality and Safety, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Wanjiang Zhang
- Division of Bacterial Diseases, State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences Harbin, China
| | - Thomas Efferth
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz 55128, Germany.
| | - Siguo Liu
- Division of Bacterial Diseases, State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences Harbin, China.
| | - Xin Hua
- Key Laboratory of Saline-Alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration, Northeast Forestry University, Ministry of Education Harbin, China; College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University Harbin, China.
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Synergistic antibacterial activity of baicalin and EDTA in combination with colistin against colistin-resistant Salmonella. Poult Sci 2022; 102:102346. [PMID: 36493546 PMCID: PMC9731884 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2022.102346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence and rapid spread of multidrug resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria have posed a serious threat to global health and security. Because of the time-consuming, high cost and high risk of developing new antibiotics, a significant method is to use antibiotic adjuvants to revitalize the existing antibiotics. The purpose of the study is to research the traditional Chinese medicine baicalin with the function of inhibiting the efflux pump and EDTA whether their single or combination can increase the activity of colistin against colistin-resistant Salmonella in vitro and in vivo, and to explore its molecular mechanisms. In vitro antibacterial experiments, we have observed that baicalin and EDTA alone could enhance the antibacterial activity of colistin. At the same time, the combination of baicalin and EDTA also showed a stronger synergistic effect on colistin, reversing the colistin resistance of all Salmonella strains. Molecular docking and RT-PCR results showed that the combination of baicalin and EDTA not only affected the expression of mcr-1, but also was an effective inhibitor of MCR-1. In-depth synergistic mechanism analysis revealed that baicalin and EDTA enhanced colistin activity through multiple pathways, including accelerating the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA cycle), inhibiting the bacterial antioxidant system and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) modification, depriving multidrug efflux pump functions and attenuating bacterial virulence. In addition, the combinational therapy of colistin, baicalin and EDTA displayed an obvious reduction in bacterial loads cfus of liver and spleen compared with monotherapy and 2-drug combination therapy. In conclusion, our study indicates that the combination of baicalin and EDTA as a novel colistin adjuvant can provide a reliable basis for formulating the therapeutic regimen for colistin resistant bacterial infection.
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Structure-Activity Relationship Studies of [1,2,5]Oxadiazolo[3,4-b]pyrazine-Containing Polymyxin-Selective Resistance-Modifying Agents. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2022; 72:128878. [PMID: 35788034 PMCID: PMC10101151 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2022.128878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria are an urgent and rapidly spreading threat to human health with limited treatment options. Previously, we discovered a novel [1,2,5]oxadiazolo[3,4-b]pyrazine-containing compound (1) that selectively re-sensitized a variety of MDR Gram-negative bacteria to colistin, one of the last-resort antibiotic. Herein, we report the structure-activity relationship studies of compound 1 that led to the discovery of several more potent and/or less toxic resistance-modifying agents (RMAs). Further evaluation of these RMAs showed that they were effective in a wide range of MDR bacteria. These results demonstrated these compounds as a novel class of RMAs and may be further developed as therapeutic agents.
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Sundaramoorthy NS, Shankaran P, Gopalan V, Nagarajan S. New tools to mitigate drug resistance in Enterobacteriaceae - Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Crit Rev Microbiol 2022:1-20. [PMID: 35649163 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2022.2080525] [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: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Treatment to common bacterial infections are becoming ineffective of late, owing to the emergence and dissemination of antibiotic resistance globally. Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae are the most notorious microorganisms and are among the critical priority pathogens listed by WHO in 2017. These pathogens are the predominant cause of sepsis, urinary tract infections (UTIs), pneumonia, meningitis and pyogenic liver abscess. Concern arises due to the resistance of bacteria to most of the beta lactam antibiotics like penicillin, cephalosporin, monobactams and carbapenems, even to the last resort antibiotics like colistin. Preventing influx by modulation of porins, extruding the antibiotics by overexpression of efflux pumps, mutations of drug targets/receptors, biofilm formation, altering the drug molecules and rendering them ineffective are few resistance mechanisms that are adapted by Enterobacteriaeceae upon exposure to antibiotics. The situation is exacerbated due to the process of horizontal gene transfer (HGT), wherein the genes encoding resistance mechanisms are transferred to the neighbouring bacteria through plasmids/phages/uptake of free DNA. Carbapenemases, other beta lactamases and mcr genes coding for colistin resistance are widely disseminated leading to limited/no therapeutic options against those infections. Development of new antibiotics can be viewed as a possible solution but it involves major investment, time and labour despite which, the bacteria can easily adapt to the new antibiotic and evolve resistance in a relatively short time. Targeting the resistance mechanisms can be one feasible alternative to tackle these multidrug resistant (MDR) pathogens. Removal of plasmid (plasmid curing) causing resistance, use of bacteriophages and bacteriotherapy can be other potential approaches to combat infections caused by MDR E. coli and K. pneumoniae. The present review discusses the efficacies of these therapies in mitigating these infections, which can be potentially used as an adjuvant therapy along with existing antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niranjana Sri Sundaramoorthy
- Center for Research on Infectious Diseases, School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA deemed University, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Prakash Shankaran
- Center for Research on Infectious Diseases, School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA deemed University, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Vidhya Gopalan
- Department of Virology, Kings Institute of Preventative Medicine, Guindy, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Saisubramanian Nagarajan
- Center for Research on Infectious Diseases, School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA deemed University, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India
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Gao Y, Dutta S, Wang X. Serendipitous Discovery of a Highly Active and Selective Resistance-Modifying Agent for Colistin-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:12442-12446. [PMID: 35449921 PMCID: PMC9016814 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c01530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance is a growing global health concern. Colistin is one of the last-resort antibiotics that treats multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacterial infection. However, bacteria resistant to colistin have become increasingly prevalent. Using a bacterial whole-cell screen of a fragment-based library, one compound was discovered to resensitize MDR Escherichia coli AR-0493 to colistin with low mammalian toxicity. Interestingly, postscreening validation studies identified a highly related yet distinct compound as the actual substance responsible for the activity. Further studies showed that this novel resistance-modifying agent is not only very potent but also highly selective to potentiate the activity of polymyxin family antibiotics in a wide range of MDR Gram-negative bacteria. Thus, it may be further developed as a combination therapy to prolong the life span of colistin in the clinic.
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11
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Du R, Lv Q, Hu W, Hou X, Zhou Y, Deng X, Sun L, Li L, Deng Y, Wang J. Phloretin potentiates polymyxin E activity against gram-negative bacteria. Life Sci 2021; 287:120085. [PMID: 34699905 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.120085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
AIMS The spread of plasmid-mediated polymyxin resistance has jeopardized the use of polymyxin, the last defender that combats infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) gram-negative pathogens. MAIN METHODS In this study, phloretin, as a monomeric compound extracted from natural plants, showed a good synergistic effect with polymyxin E against gram-negative bacteria, as evaluated by minimal inhibit concentration (MIC) assay and a series of assays, including growth curve, time-killing, and Western blot assays. A model of mice infected by Salmonella sp. stain HYM2 was established to further identify the synergistic effect of phloretin with polymyxin E. KEY FINDINGS The results suggested that phloretin had the potential ability to recover the antibacterial sensitivity of polymyxin E from 64 μg/mL to no more than 2 μg/mL in E. coli ZJ478 or in Salmonella sp. stain HYM2 with a 32-fold decrease. A series of strains, including mcr-1-positive and mcr-1-negative strains, were treated with a combination of phloretin and polymyxin E, and the fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) values were all found to be below 0.5. However, the combination of phloretin and polymyxin E did not lead to bacterial resistance. In vivo, the survival rate of infected mice reached nearly 80% with the combination treatment, and the cecal colony value also decreased significantly. SIGNIFICANCE All the above results indicated that phloretin is a potential polymyxin potentiator to combat gram-negative stains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Runbao Du
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Qianghua Lv
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Wei Hu
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xiaoning Hou
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yonglin Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xuming Deng
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Liping Sun
- Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin 130117, China
| | - Li Li
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yanhong Deng
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China..
| | - Jianfeng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China..
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12
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Sheng Q, Du R, Ma C, Zhou Y, Shen X, Hou X, Xu L, Li L, Deng X, Wang J. NMPA-approved traditional Chinese medicine-Pingwei Pill: new indication for colistin recovery against MCR-positive bacteria infection. Chin Med 2021; 16:106. [PMID: 34663394 PMCID: PMC8524834 DOI: 10.1186/s13020-021-00518-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The wide spread of plasmid-mediated colistin resistance by mobile colistin resistance (MCR) in Enterobacteriaceae severely limits the clinical application of colistin as a last-line drug against bacterial infection. The identification of colistin potentiator from natural plants or their compound preparation as antibiotic adjuncts is a new promising strategy to meet this challenge. METHODS Herein, the synergistic activity, as well as the potential mechanism, of Pingwei pill plus antibiotics against MCR-positive Gram-negative pathogens was examined using checkerboard assay, time-killing curves, combined disk test, western blot assay, and microscope analysis. Additionally, the Salmonella sp. HYM2 infection models of mouse and chick were employed to examine the in vivo efficacy of Pingwei pill in combination with colistin against bacteria infection. Finally, network pharmacology and molecular docking assay were used to predicate other actions of Pingwei pill for Salmonella infection. RESULTS Our results revealed that Pingwei Pill synergistically potentiated the antibacterial activity of colistin against MCR-1-positive bacteria by accelerating the damage and permeability of the bacterial outer membrane with an FIC (Fractional Inhibitory Concentration) index less than 0.5. The treatment of Pingwei Pill neither inhibited bacterial growth nor affected MCR production. Notably, Pingwei Pill in combination with colistin significantly prolonged the median survival in mouse and chick models of infection using the Salmonella sp. strain HYM2, decreased bacteria burden and organ index of infected animal, alleviated pathological damage of cecum, which suggest that Pingwei Pill recovered the therapeutic performance of colistin for MCR-1- positive Salmonella infection in mice and the naturally infected host chick. Pharmacological network topological analysis, molecular docking, bacterial adhesion, and invasion pathway verification assays were performed to identify the other molecular mechanisms of Pingwei Pill as a colistin potentiator against Gram-negative bacteria infection. CONCLUSION Taken together, NMPA (National Medical Products Administration)-approved Pingwei Pill is a promising adjuvant with colistin for MCR-positive bacterial infection with a shortened R&D (research and development) cycle and affordable R&D cost and risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiushuang Sheng
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Runbao Du
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Cunhui Ma
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yonglin Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xue Shen
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xiaoning Hou
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Lei Xu
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Li Li
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xuming Deng
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China.
| | - Jianfeng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China.
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Gogry FA, Siddiqui MT, Sultan I, Haq QMR. Current Update on Intrinsic and Acquired Colistin Resistance Mechanisms in Bacteria. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:677720. [PMID: 34476235 PMCID: PMC8406936 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.677720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Colistin regained global interest as a consequence of the rising prevalence of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative Enterobacteriaceae. In parallel, colistin-resistant bacteria emerged in response to the unregulated use of this antibiotic. However, some Gram-negative species are intrinsically resistant to colistin activity, such as Neisseria meningitides, Burkholderia species, and Proteus mirabilis. Most identified colistin resistance usually involves modulation of lipid A that decreases or removes early charge-based interaction with colistin through up-regulation of multistep capsular polysaccharide expression. The membrane modifications occur by the addition of cationic phosphoethanolamine (pEtN) or 4-amino-l-arabinose on lipid A that results in decrease in the negative charge on the bacterial surface. Therefore, electrostatic interaction between polycationic colistin and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is halted. It has been reported that these modifications on the bacterial surface occur due to overexpression of chromosomally mediated two-component system genes (PmrAB and PhoPQ) and mutation in lipid A biosynthesis genes that result in loss of the ability to produce lipid A and consequently LPS chain, thereafter recently identified variants of plasmid-borne genes (mcr-1 to mcr-10). It was hypothesized that mcr genes derived from intrinsically resistant environmental bacteria that carried chromosomal pmrC gene, a part of the pmrCAB operon, code three proteins viz. pEtN response regulator PmrA, sensor kinase protein PmrAB, and phosphotransferase PmrC. These plasmid-borne mcr genes become a serious concern as they assist in the dissemination of colistin resistance to other pathogenic bacteria. This review presents the progress of multiple strategies of colistin resistance mechanisms in bacteria, mainly focusing on surface changes of the outer membrane LPS structure and other resistance genetic determinants. New handier and versatile methods have been discussed for rapid detection of colistin resistance determinants and the latest approaches to revert colistin resistance that include the use of new drugs, drug combinations and inhibitors. Indeed, more investigations are required to identify the exact role of different colistin resistance determinants that will aid in developing new less toxic and potent drugs to treat bacterial infections. Therefore, colistin resistance should be considered a severe medical issue requiring multisectoral research with proper surveillance and suitable monitoring systems to report the dissemination rate of these resistant genes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Insha Sultan
- Department of Biosciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India
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14
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Ghirga F, Stefanelli R, Cavinato L, Lo Sciuto A, Corradi S, Quaglio D, Calcaterra A, Casciaro B, Loffredo MR, Cappiello F, Morelli P, Antonelli A, Rossolini GM, Mangoni M, Mancone C, Botta B, Mori M, Ascenzioni F, Imperi F. A novel colistin adjuvant identified by virtual screening for ArnT inhibitors. J Antimicrob Chemother 2021; 75:2564-2572. [PMID: 32514531 PMCID: PMC7443731 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkaa200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Revised: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Colistin is a last-resort treatment option for many MDR Gram-negative bacteria. The covalent addition of l-aminoarabinose to the lipid A moiety of LPS is the main colistin resistance mechanism in the human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Objectives Identification (by in silico screening of a chemical library) of potential inhibitors of ArnT, which catalyses the last committed step of lipid A aminoarabinosylation, and their validation in vitro as colistin adjuvants. Methods The available ArnT crystal structure was used for a docking-based virtual screening of an in-house library of natural products. The resulting putative ArnT inhibitors were tested in growth inhibition assays using a reference colistin-resistant P. aeruginosa strain. The most promising compound was further characterized for its range of activity, specificity and cytotoxicity. Additionally, the effect of the compound on lipid A aminoarabinosylation was verified by MS analyses of lipid A. Results A putative ArnT inhibitor (BBN149) was discovered by molecular docking and demonstrated to specifically potentiate colistin activity in colistin-resistant P. aeruginosa isolates, without relevant effect on colistin-susceptible strains. BBN149 also showed adjuvant activity against colistin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae and low toxicity to bronchial epithelial cells. Lipid A aminoarabinosylation was reduced in BBN149-treated cells, although only partially. Conclusions This study demonstrates that in silico screening targeting ArnT can successfully identify inhibitors of colistin resistance and provides a promising lead compound for the development of colistin adjuvants for the treatment of MDR bacterial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Ghirga
- Center for Life Nano Science@Sapienza, Italian Institute of Technology, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Stefanelli
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology Charles Darwin, Sapienza University of Rome, Laboratory affiliated to Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy.,Department of Sciences, 'Department of Excellence 2018 - 2022', Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy
| | - Luca Cavinato
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology Charles Darwin, Sapienza University of Rome, Laboratory affiliated to Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Lo Sciuto
- Department of Sciences, 'Department of Excellence 2018 - 2022', Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Corradi
- Center for Life Nano Science@Sapienza, Italian Institute of Technology, Rome, Italy.,Department of Chemistry and Technology of Drugs, 'Department of Excellence 2018 - 2022', Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Deborah Quaglio
- Department of Chemistry and Technology of Drugs, 'Department of Excellence 2018 - 2022', Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Calcaterra
- Department of Chemistry and Technology of Drugs, 'Department of Excellence 2018 - 2022', Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Bruno Casciaro
- Center for Life Nano Science@Sapienza, Italian Institute of Technology, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Rosa Loffredo
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Laboratory affiliated to Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Floriana Cappiello
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Laboratory affiliated to Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Patrizia Morelli
- Microbiology Laboratory, Giannina Gaslini Institute, Genoa, Italy
| | - Alberto Antonelli
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Clinical Microbiology and Virology Unit, Florence Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Gian Maria Rossolini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Clinical Microbiology and Virology Unit, Florence Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Marialuisa Mangoni
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Laboratory affiliated to Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Carmine Mancone
- Department of Molecular Medicine, 'Department of Excellence 2018 - 2022', Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Bruno Botta
- Department of Chemistry and Technology of Drugs, 'Department of Excellence 2018 - 2022', Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Mattia Mori
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, 'Department of Excellence 2018 - 2022', University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Fiorentina Ascenzioni
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology Charles Darwin, Sapienza University of Rome, Laboratory affiliated to Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Imperi
- Department of Sciences, 'Department of Excellence 2018 - 2022', Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy
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15
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Antibiotic Resistance by Enzymatic Modification of Antibiotic Targets. Trends Mol Med 2020; 26:768-782. [PMID: 32493628 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2020.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Revised: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance remains a significant threat to modern medicine. Modification of the antibiotic target is a resistance strategy that is increasingly prevalent among pathogens. Examples include resistance to glycopeptide and polymyxin antibiotics that occurs via chemical modification of their molecular targets in the cell envelope. Similarly, many ribosome-targeting antibiotics are impaired by methylation of the rRNA. In these cases, the antibiotic target is subjected to enzymatic modification rather than genetic mutation, and in many instances the resistance enzymes are readily mobilized among pathogens. Understanding the enzymes responsible for these modifications is crucial to combat resistance. Here, we review our current understanding of enzymatic modification of antibiotic targets as well as discuss efforts to combat these resistance mechanisms.
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Recent progress on elucidating the molecular mechanism of plasmid-mediated colistin resistance and drug design. Int Microbiol 2019; 23:355-366. [PMID: 31872322 PMCID: PMC7347692 DOI: 10.1007/s10123-019-00112-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2019] [Revised: 10/29/2019] [Accepted: 12/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance is a growing global challenge to public health. Polymyxin is considered to be the last-resort antibiotic against most gram-negative bacteria. Recently, discoveries of a plasmid-mediated, transferable mobilized polymyxin resistance gene (mcr-1) in many countries have heralded the increased threat of the imminent emergence of pan-drug-resistant super bacteria. MCR-1 is an inner membrane protein that enables bacteria to develop resistance to polymyxin by transferring phosphoethanolamine to lipid A. However, the mechanism associated with polymyxin resistance has yet to be elucidated, and few drugs exist to address this issue. Here, we review our current understanding regarding MCR-1 and small molecule inhibitors to provide a detailed enzymatic mechanism of MCR-1 and the associated implications for drug design.
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