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Santos AL, Liu D, van Venrooy A, Beckham JL, Oliver A, Tegos GP, Tour JM. Nonlethal Molecular Nanomachines Potentiate Antibiotic Activity Against Gram-Negative Bacteria by Increasing Cell Permeability and Attenuating Efflux. ACS Nano 2024; 18:3023-3042. [PMID: 38241477 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c08041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance is a pressing public health threat. Despite rising resistance, antibiotic development, especially for Gram-negative bacteria, has stagnated. As the traditional antibiotic research and development pipeline struggles to address this growing concern, alternative solutions become imperative. Synthetic molecular nanomachines (MNMs) are molecular structures that rotate unidirectionally in a controlled manner in response to a stimulus, such as light, resulting in a mechanical action that can propel molecules to drill into cell membranes, causing rapid cell death. Due to their broad destructive capabilities, clinical translation of MNMs remains challenging. Hence, here, we explore the ability of nonlethal visible-light-activated MNMs to potentiate conventional antibiotics against Gram-negative bacteria. Nonlethal MNMs enhanced the antibacterial activity of various classes of conventional antibiotics against Gram-negative bacteria, including those typically effective only against Gram-positive strains, reducing the antibiotic concentration required for bactericidal action. Our study also revealed that MNMs bind to the negatively charged phospholipids of the bacterial inner membrane, leading to permeabilization of the cell envelope and impairment of efflux pump activity following light activation of MNMs. The combined effects of MNMs on membrane permeability and efflux pumps resulted in increased antibiotic accumulation inside the cell, reversing antibiotic resistance and attenuating its development. These results identify nonlethal MNMs as pleiotropic antibiotic enhancers or adjuvants. The combination of MNMs with traditional antibiotics is a promising strategy against multidrug-resistant Gram-negative infections. This approach can reduce the amount of antibiotics needed and slow down antibiotic resistance development, thereby preserving the effectiveness of our current antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana L Santos
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- IdISBA - Fundación de Investigación Sanitaria de las Islas Baleares, 07120 Palma, Spain
| | - Dongdong Liu
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Alexis van Venrooy
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Jacob L Beckham
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Antonio Oliver
- IdISBA - Fundación de Investigación Sanitaria de las Islas Baleares, 07120 Palma, Spain
- Servicio de Microbiologia, Hospital Universitari Son Espases, 07120 Palma, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red, Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Av. Monforte de Lemos 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - George P Tegos
- Office of Research, Faxton St. Luke's Healthcare, Mohawk Valley Health System, 1676 Sunset Avenue, Utica, New York 13502, United States
| | - James M Tour
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- Smalley-Curl Institute, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- NanoCarbon Center and Rice Advanced Materials Institute, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
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2
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Pal R, Athamneh AI, Deshpande R, Ramirez JAR, Adu KT, Muthuirulan P, Pawar S, Biazzo M, Apidianakis Y, Sundekilde UK, de la Fuente-Nunez C, Martens MG, Tegos GP, Seleem MN. Probiotics: insights and new opportunities for Clostridioides difficile intervention. Crit Rev Microbiol 2023; 49:414-434. [PMID: 35574602 PMCID: PMC9743071 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2022.2072705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a life-threatening disease caused by the Gram-positive, opportunistic intestinal pathogen C. difficile. Despite the availability of antimicrobial drugs to treat CDI, such as vancomycin, metronidazole, and fidaxomicin, recurrence of infection remains a significant clinical challenge. The use of live commensal microorganisms, or probiotics, is one of the most investigated non-antibiotic therapeutic options to balance gastrointestinal (GI) microbiota and subsequently tackle dysbiosis. In this review, we will discuss major commensal probiotic strains that have the potential to prevent and/or treat CDI and its recurrence, reassess the efficacy of probiotics supplementation as a CDI intervention, delve into lessons learned from probiotic modulation of the immune system, explore avenues like genome-scale metabolic network reconstructions, genome sequencing, and multi-omics to identify novel strains and understand their functionality, and discuss the current regulatory framework, challenges, and future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rusha Pal
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Ahmad I.M. Athamneh
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | | | - Jose A. R Ramirez
- ProbioWorld Consulting Group, James Cook University, 4811, Queensland, Australia
| | - Kayode T. Adu
- ProbioWorld Consulting Group, James Cook University, 4811, Queensland, Australia
- Cann Group, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, La Trobe University, Victoria 3083, Australia
| | | | - Shrikant Pawar
- The Anlyan Center Yale Center for Genomic Analysis, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven CT USA
| | - Manuele Biazzo
- The Bioarte Ltd Laboratories at Life Science Park, San Gwann, Malta
| | | | | | - Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Mark G. Martens
- Reading Hospital, Tower Health, West Reading, PA 19611, USA
- Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA
| | - George P. Tegos
- Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA
| | - Mohamed N. Seleem
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
- Center for Emerging, Zoonotic and Arthropod-borne Pathogens, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
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Santos AL, Beckham JL, Liu D, Li G, van Venrooy A, Oliver A, Tegos GP, Tour JM. Visible-Light-Activated Molecular Machines Kill Fungi by Necrosis Following Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Calcium Overload. Adv Sci (Weinh) 2023; 10:e2205781. [PMID: 36715588 PMCID: PMC10074111 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202205781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Invasive fungal infections are a growing public health threat. As fungi become increasingly resistant to existing drugs, new antifungals are urgently needed. Here, it is reported that 405-nm-visible-light-activated synthetic molecular machines (MMs) eliminate planktonic and biofilm fungal populations more effectively than conventional antifungals without resistance development. Mechanism-of-action studies show that MMs bind to fungal mitochondrial phospholipids. Upon visible light activation, rapid unidirectional drilling of MMs at ≈3 million cycles per second (MHz) results in mitochondrial dysfunction, calcium overload, and ultimately necrosis. Besides their direct antifungal effect, MMs synergize with conventional antifungals by impairing the activity of energy-dependent efflux pumps. Finally, MMs potentiate standard antifungals both in vivo and in an ex vivo porcine model of onychomycosis, reducing the fungal burden associated with infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana L. Santos
- Department of ChemistryRice UniversityHoustonTX77005USA
- IdISBA – Fundación de Investigación Sanitaria de las Islas BalearesPalma07120Spain
| | | | - Dongdong Liu
- Department of ChemistryRice UniversityHoustonTX77005USA
| | - Gang Li
- Department of ChemistryRice UniversityHoustonTX77005USA
| | | | - Antonio Oliver
- IdISBA – Fundación de Investigación Sanitaria de las Islas BalearesPalma07120Spain
- Servicio de MicrobiologiaHospital Universitari Son EspasesPalma07120Spain
| | - George P. Tegos
- Office of ResearchReading HospitalTower Health, 420 S. Fifth AvenueWest ReadingPA19611USA
| | - James M. Tour
- Department of ChemistryRice UniversityHoustonTX77005USA
- Smalley‐Curl InstituteRice UniversityHoustonTX77005USA
- Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineeringRice UniversityHoustonTX77005USA
- NanoCarbon Center and the Welch Institute for Advanced MaterialsRice UniversityHoustonTX77005USA
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4
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Santos AL, van Venrooy A, Reed AK, Wyderka AM, García‐López V, Alemany LB, Oliver A, Tegos GP, Tour JM. Hemithioindigo-Based Visible Light-Activated Molecular Machines Kill Bacteria by Oxidative Damage. Adv Sci (Weinh) 2022; 9:e2203242. [PMID: 36002317 PMCID: PMC9596824 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202203242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance is a growing health threat. There is an urgent and critical need to develop new antimicrobial modalities and therapies. Here, a set of hemithioindigo (HTI)-based molecular machines capable of specifically killing Gram-positive bacteria within minutes of activation with visible light (455 nm at 65 mW cm-2 ) that are safe for mammalian cells is described. Importantly, repeated exposure of bacteria to HTI does not result in detectable development of resistance. Visible light-activated HTI kill both exponentially growing bacterial cells and antibiotic-tolerant persister cells of various Gram-positive strains, including methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Visible light-activated HTI also eliminate biofilms of S. aureus and B. subtilis in as little as 1 h after light activation. Quantification of reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and protein carbonyls, as well as assays with various ROS scavengers, identifies oxidative damage as the underlying mechanism for the antibacterial activity of HTI. In addition to their direct antibacterial properties, HTI synergize with conventional antibiotics in vitro and in vivo, reducing the bacterial load and mortality associated with MRSA infection in an invertebrate burn wound model. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first report on the antimicrobial activity of HTI-based molecular machines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana L. Santos
- Department of ChemistryRice UniversityHoustonTX77005USA
- IdISBA – Fundación de Investigación Sanitaria de las Islas BalearesPalma07120Spain
| | | | - Anna K. Reed
- Department of ChemistryRice UniversityHoustonTX77005USA
| | | | | | - Lawrence B. Alemany
- Department of ChemistryRice UniversityHoustonTX77005USA
- Shared Equipment AuthorityRice UniversityHoustonTX77005USA
| | - Antonio Oliver
- IdISBA – Fundación de Investigación Sanitaria de las Islas BalearesPalma07120Spain
- Servicio de MicrobiologiaHospital Universitari Son EspasesPalma07120Spain
| | - George P. Tegos
- Office of ResearchReading HospitalTower Health420 S. Fifth AvenueWest ReadingPA19611USA
| | - James M. Tour
- Department of ChemistryRice UniversityHoustonTX77005USA
- Smalley‐Curl InstituteRice UniversityHoustonTX77005USA
- Department of Materials Science and NanoengineeringRice UniversityHoustonTX77005USA
- NanoCarbon Center and the Welch Institute for Advanced MaterialsRice UniversityHoustonTX77005USA
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5
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Ozonoff A, Schaenman J, Jayavelu ND, Milliren CE, Calfee CS, Cairns CB, Kraft M, Baden LR, Shaw AC, Krammer F, van Bakel H, Esserman DA, Liu S, Sesma AF, Simon V, Hafler DA, Montgomery RR, Kleinstein SH, Levy O, Bime C, Haddad EK, Erle DJ, Pulendran B, Nadeau KC, Davis MM, Hough CL, Messer WB, Higuita NIA, Metcalf JP, Atkinson MA, Brakenridge SC, Corry D, Kheradmand F, Ehrlich LI, Melamed E, McComsey GA, Sekaly R, Diray-Arce J, Peters B, Augustine AD, Reed EF, Altman MC, Becker PM, Rouphael N, Ozonoff A, Schaenman J, Jayavelu ND, Milliren CE, Calfee CS, Cairns CB, Kraft M, Baden LR, Shaw AC, Krammer F, van Bakel H, Esserman DA, Liu S, Sesma AF, Simon V, Hafler DA, Montgomery RR, Kleinstein SH, Levy O, Bime C, Haddad EK, Erle DJ, Pulendran B, Nadeau KC, Davis MM, Hough CL, Messer WB, Higuita NIA, Metcalf JP, Atkinson MA, Brakenridge SC, Corry D, Kheradmand F, Ehrlich LI, Melamed E, McComsey GA, Sekaly R, Diray-Arce J, Peters B, Augustine AD, Reed EF, McEnaney K, Barton B, Lentucci C, Saluvan M, Chang AC, Hoch A, Albert M, Shaheen T, Kho AT, Thomas S, Chen J, Murphy MD, Cooney M, Presnell S, Fragiadakis GK, Patel R, Guan L, Gygi J, Pawar S, Brito A, Khalil Z, Maguire C, Fourati S, Overton JA, Vita R, Westendorf K, Salehi-Rad R, Leligdowicz A, Matthay MA, Singer JP, Kangelaris KN, Hendrickson CM, Krummel MF, Langelier CR, Woodruff PG, Powell DL, Kim JN, Simmons B, Goonewardene IM, Smith CM, Martens M, Mosier J, Kimura H, Sherman AC, Walsh SR, Issa NC, Dela Cruz C, Farhadian S, Iwasaki A, Ko AI, Chinthrajah S, Ahuja N, Rogers AJ, Artandi M, Siegel SA, Lu Z, Drevets DA, Brown BR, Anderson ML, Guirgis FW, Thyagarajan RV, Rousseau JF, Wylie D, Busch J, Gandhi S, Triplett TA, Yendewa G, Giddings O, Anderson EJ, Mehta AK, Sevransky JE, Khor B, Rahman A, Stadlbauer D, Dutta J, Xie H, Kim-Schulze S, Gonzalez-Reiche AS, van de Guchte A, Farrugia K, Khan Z, Maecker HT, Elashoff D, Brook J, Ramires-Sanchez E, Llamas M, Rivera A, Perdomo C, Ward DC, Magyar CE, Fulcher JA, Abe-Jones Y, Asthana S, Beagle A, Bhide S, Carrillo SA, Chak S, Fragiadakis GK, Ghale R, Gonzalez A, Jauregui A, Jones N, Lea T, Lee D, Lota R, Milush J, Nguyen V, Pierce L, Prasad PA, Rao A, Samad B, Shaw C, Sigman A, Sinha P, Ward A, Willmore A, Zhan J, Rashid S, Rodriguez N, Tang K, Altamirano LT, Betancourt L, Curiel C, Sutter N, Paz MT, Tietje-Ulrich G, Leroux C, Connors J, Bernui M, Kutzler MA, Edwards C, Lee E, Lin E, Croen B, Semenza NC, Rogowski B, Melnyk N, Woloszczuk K, Cusimano G, Bell MR, Furukawa S, McLin R, Marrero P, Sheidy J, Tegos GP, Nagle C, Mege N, Ulring K, Seyfert-Margolis V, Conway M, Francisco D, Molzahn A, Erickson H, Wilson CC, Schunk R, Sierra B, Hughes T, Smolen K, Desjardins M, van Haren S, Mitre X, Cauley J, Li X, Tong A, Evans B, Montesano C, Licona JH, Krauss J, Chang JBP, Izaguirre N, Chaudhary O, Coppi A, Fournier J, Mohanty S, Muenker MC, Nelson A, Raddassi K, Rainone M, Ruff WE, Salahuddin S, Schulz WL, Vijayakumar P, Wang H, Wunder Jr. E, Young HP, Zhao Y, Saksena M, Altman D, Kojic E, Srivastava K, Eaker LQ, Bermúdez-González MC, Beach KF, Sominsky LA, Azad AR, Carreño JM, Singh G, Raskin A, Tcheou J, Bielak D, Kawabata H, Mulder LCF, Kleiner G, Lee AS, Do ED, Fernandes A, Manohar M, Hagan T, Blish CA, Din HN, Roque J, Yang S, Brunton A, Sullivan PE, Strnad M, Lyski ZL, Coulter FJ, Booth JL, Sinko LA, Moldawer LL, Borresen B, Roth-Manning B, Song LZ, Nelson E, Lewis-Smith M, Smith J, Tipan PG, Siles N, Bazzi S, Geltman J, Hurley K, Gabriele G, Sieg S, Vaysman T, Bristow L, Hussaini L, Hellmeister K, Samaha H, Cheng A, Spainhour C, Scherer EM, Johnson B, Bechnak A, Ciric CR, Hewitt L, Carter E, Mcnair N, Panganiban B, Huerta C, Usher J, Ribeiro SP, Altman MC, Becker PM, Rouphael N. Phenotypes of disease severity in a cohort of hospitalized COVID-19 patients: Results from the IMPACC study. EBioMedicine 2022; 83:104208. [PMID: 35952496 PMCID: PMC9359694 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2022.104208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Better understanding of the association between characteristics of patients hospitalized with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and outcome is needed to further improve upon patient management. METHODS Immunophenotyping Assessment in a COVID-19 Cohort (IMPACC) is a prospective, observational study of 1164 patients from 20 hospitals across the United States. Disease severity was assessed using a 7-point ordinal scale based on degree of respiratory illness. Patients were prospectively surveyed for 1 year after discharge for post-acute sequalae of COVID-19 (PASC) through quarterly surveys. Demographics, comorbidities, radiographic findings, clinical laboratory values, SARS-CoV-2 PCR and serology were captured over a 28-day period. Multivariable logistic regression was performed. FINDINGS The median age was 59 years (interquartile range [IQR] 20); 711 (61%) were men; overall mortality was 14%, and 228 (20%) required invasive mechanical ventilation. Unsupervised clustering of ordinal score over time revealed distinct disease course trajectories. Risk factors associated with prolonged hospitalization or death by day 28 included age ≥ 65 years (odds ratio [OR], 2.01; 95% CI 1.28-3.17), Hispanic ethnicity (OR, 1.71; 95% CI 1.13-2.57), elevated baseline creatinine (OR 2.80; 95% CI 1.63- 4.80) or troponin (OR 1.89; 95% 1.03-3.47), baseline lymphopenia (OR 2.19; 95% CI 1.61-2.97), presence of infiltrate by chest imaging (OR 3.16; 95% CI 1.96-5.10), and high SARS-CoV2 viral load (OR 1.53; 95% CI 1.17-2.00). Fatal cases had the lowest ratio of SARS-CoV-2 antibody to viral load levels compared to other trajectories over time (p=0.001). 589 survivors (51%) completed at least one survey at follow-up with 305 (52%) having at least one symptom consistent with PASC, most commonly dyspnea (56% among symptomatic patients). Female sex was the only associated risk factor for PASC. INTERPRETATION Integration of PCR cycle threshold, and antibody values with demographics, comorbidities, and laboratory/radiographic findings identified risk factors for 28-day outcome severity, though only female sex was associated with PASC. Longitudinal clinical phenotyping offers important insights, and provides a framework for immunophenotyping for acute and long COVID-19. FUNDING NIH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Al Ozonoff
- Clinical & Data Coordinating Center (CDCC); Precision Vaccines Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Joanna Schaenman
- David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | | | - Carly E. Milliren
- Clinical & Data Coordinating Center (CDCC); Precision Vaccines Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Carolyn S. Calfee
- University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Charles B. Cairns
- Drexel University/Tower Health Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Monica Kraft
- University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Lindsey R. Baden
- Boston Clinical Site: Precision Vaccines Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Albert C. Shaw
- Yale School of Medicine, and Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Florian Krammer
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Harm van Bakel
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Denise A. Esserman
- Yale School of Medicine, and Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Shanshan Liu
- Clinical & Data Coordinating Center (CDCC); Precision Vaccines Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | | | - Viviana Simon
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - David A. Hafler
- Yale School of Medicine, and Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Ruth R. Montgomery
- Yale School of Medicine, and Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Steven H. Kleinstein
- Yale School of Medicine, and Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Ofer Levy
- Boston Clinical Site: Precision Vaccines Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | | | - Elias K. Haddad
- Drexel University/Tower Health Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - David J. Erle
- University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Jordan P. Metcalf
- Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma, OK, United States
| | - Mark A. Atkinson
- University of Florida, Gainesville and University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Scott C. Brakenridge
- University of Florida, Gainesville and University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - David Corry
- Baylor College of Medicine, and the Center for Translational Research on Inflammatory Diseases, Michael E. DeBakey, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Farrah Kheradmand
- Baylor College of Medicine, and the Center for Translational Research on Inflammatory Diseases, Michael E. DeBakey, Houston, TX, United States
| | | | - Esther Melamed
- The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
| | | | - Rafick Sekaly
- Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Joann Diray-Arce
- Clinical & Data Coordinating Center (CDCC); Precision Vaccines Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Bjoern Peters
- La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Alison D. Augustine
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Elaine F. Reed
- David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | | | - Patrice M. Becker
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
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6
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Santos AL, Liu D, Reed AK, Wyderka AM, van Venrooy A, Li JT, Li VD, Misiura M, Samoylova O, Beckham JL, Ayala-Orozco C, Kolomeisky AB, Alemany LB, Oliver A, Tegos GP, Tour JM. Light-activated molecular machines are fast-acting broad-spectrum antibacterials that target the membrane. Sci Adv 2022; 8:eabm2055. [PMID: 35648847 PMCID: PMC9159576 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abm2055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The increasing occurrence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and the dwindling antibiotic research and development pipeline have created a pressing global health crisis. Here, we report the discovery of a distinctive antibacterial therapy that uses visible (405 nanometers) light-activated synthetic molecular machines (MMs) to kill Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, in minutes, vastly outpacing conventional antibiotics. MMs also rapidly eliminate persister cells and established bacterial biofilms. The antibacterial mode of action of MMs involves physical disruption of the membrane. In addition, by permeabilizing the membrane, MMs at sublethal doses potentiate the action of conventional antibiotics. Repeated exposure to antibacterial MMs is not accompanied by resistance development. Finally, therapeutic doses of MMs mitigate mortality associated with bacterial infection in an in vivo model of burn wound infection. Visible light-activated MMs represent an unconventional antibacterial mode of action by mechanical disruption at the molecular scale, not existent in nature and to which resistance development is unlikely.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana L. Santos
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
- IdISBA–Fundación de Investigación Sanitaria de las Islas Baleares, Palma, Spain
| | - Dongdong Liu
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | - Anna K. Reed
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | - Aaron M. Wyderka
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | | | - John T. Li
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | - Victor D. Li
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | - Mikita Misiura
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | - Olga Samoylova
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | - Jacob L. Beckham
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | | | | | - Lawrence B. Alemany
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
- Shared Equipment Authority, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | - Antonio Oliver
- IdISBA–Fundación de Investigación Sanitaria de las Islas Baleares, Palma, Spain
- Servicio de Microbiologia, Hospital Universitari Son Espases, Palma, Spain
| | - George P. Tegos
- Office of Research, Reading Hospital, Tower Health, 420 S. Fifth Avenue, West Reading, PA 19611, USA
| | - James M. Tour
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
- Smalley-Curl Institute, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
- Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
- NanoCarbon Center and the Welch Institute for Advanced Materials, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
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7
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Sabino CP, Ball AR, Baptista MS, Dai T, Hamblin MR, Ribeiro MS, Santos AL, Sellera FP, Tegos GP, Wainwright M. Light-based technologies for management of COVID-19 pandemic crisis. J Photochem Photobiol B 2020; 212:111999. [PMID: 32855026 PMCID: PMC7435279 DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2020.111999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The global dissemination of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has accelerated the need for the implementation of effective antimicrobial strategies to target the causative agent SARS-CoV-2. Light-based technologies have a demonstrable broad range of activity over standard chemotherapeutic antimicrobials and conventional disinfectants, negligible emergence of resistance, and the capability to modulate the host immune response. This perspective article identifies the benefits, challenges, and pitfalls of repurposing light-based strategies to combat the emergence of COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caetano P Sabino
- Department of Clinical Analysis, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, SP, Brazil; BioLambda, Scientific and Commercial LTD, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
| | - Anthony R Ball
- GAMA Therapeutics LLC, Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives, Worcester, USA
| | - Mauricio S Baptista
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil..
| | - Tianhong Dai
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael R Hamblin
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Science, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein, South Africa
| | - Martha S Ribeiro
- Center for Lasers and Applications, Nuclear, and Energy Research Institute, National Commission for Nuclear Energy, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Ana L Santos
- GAMA Therapeutics LLC, Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives, Worcester, USA; Department of Chemistry Rice University, Houston, TX, USA; IdISBA - Fundación de Investigación Sanitaria de las Islas Baleares, Palma, Spain
| | - Fábio P Sellera
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; School of Veterinary Medicine, Metropolitan University of Santos, Santos, Brazil
| | - George P Tegos
- GAMA Therapeutics LLC, Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives, Worcester, USA; Micromoria LLC, Marlborough, USA
| | - Mark Wainwright
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
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8
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Magana M, Pushpanathan M, Santos AL, Leanse L, Fernandez M, Ioannidis A, Giulianotti MA, Apidianakis Y, Bradfute S, Ferguson AL, Cherkasov A, Seleem MN, Pinilla C, de la Fuente-Nunez C, Lazaridis T, Dai T, Houghten RA, Hancock REW, Tegos GP. The value of antimicrobial peptides in the age of resistance. Lancet Infect Dis 2020; 20:e216-e230. [PMID: 32653070 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(20)30327-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 486] [Impact Index Per Article: 121.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2019] [Revised: 03/29/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Accelerating growth and global expansion of antimicrobial resistance has deepened the need for discovery of novel antimicrobial agents. Antimicrobial peptides have clear advantages over conventional antibiotics which include slower emergence of resistance, broad-spectrum antibiofilm activity, and the ability to favourably modulate the host immune response. Broad bacterial susceptibility to antimicrobial peptides offers an additional tool to expand knowledge about the evolution of antimicrobial resistance. Structural and functional limitations, combined with a stricter regulatory environment, have hampered the clinical translation of antimicrobial peptides as potential therapeutic agents. Existing computational and experimental tools attempt to ease the preclinical and clinical development of antimicrobial peptides as novel therapeutics. This Review identifies the benefits, challenges, and opportunities of using antimicrobial peptides against multidrug-resistant pathogens, highlights advances in the deployment of novel promising antimicrobial peptides, and underlines the needs and priorities in designing focused development strategies taking into account the most advanced tools available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Magana
- Department of Biopathology and Clinical Microbiology, Aeginition Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Ana L Santos
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA; Investigación Sanitaria de las Islas Baleares, Palma, Spain
| | - Leon Leanse
- Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael Fernandez
- Department of Urologic Sciences, Vancouver Prostate Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | | | | | | | - Steven Bradfute
- Department of Internal Medicine, Center for Global Health, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Andrew L Ferguson
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Artem Cherkasov
- Department of Urologic Sciences, Vancouver Prostate Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Mohamed N Seleem
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Clemencia Pinilla
- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, Port St Lucie, FL, USA
| | - Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, Penn Institute for Computational Science, and Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Themis Lazaridis
- Department of Chemistry, The City College of New York, New York, NY, USA; Graduate Programs in Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Physics, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, NY, USA
| | - Tianhong Dai
- Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Robert E W Hancock
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Centre for Microbial Diseases and Immunity Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - George P Tegos
- Reading Hospital, Tower Health, West Reading, PA, USA; Micromoria, Venture X Marlborough, Marlborough, MA, USA.
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9
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Rivas AL, Febles JL, Smith SD, Hoogesteijn AL, Tegos GP, Fasina FO, Hittner JB. Early network properties of the COVID-19 pandemic - The Chinese scenario. Int J Infect Dis 2020; 96:519-523. [PMID: 32470603 PMCID: PMC7250076 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2020.05.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To control epidemics, sites more affected by mortality should be identified. METHODS Defining epidemic nodes as areas that included both most fatalities per time unit and connections, such as highways, geo-temporal Chinese data on the COVID-19 epidemic were investigated with linear, logarithmic, power, growth, exponential, and logistic regression models. A z-test compared the slopes observed. RESULTS Twenty provinces suspected to act as epidemic nodes were empirically investigated. Five provinces displayed synchronicity, long-distance connections, directionality and assortativity - network properties that helped discriminate epidemic nodes. The rank I node included most fatalities and was activated first. Fewer deaths were reported, later, by rank II and III nodes, while the data from rank I-III nodes exhibited slopes, the data from the remaining provinces did not. The power curve was the best fitting model for all slopes. Because all pairs (rank I vs. rank II, rank I vs. rank III, and rank II vs. rank III) of epidemic nodes differed statistically, rank I-III epidemic nodes were geo-temporally and statistically distinguishable. CONCLUSIONS The geo-temporal progression of epidemics seems to be highly structured. Epidemic network properties can distinguish regions that differ in mortality. This real-time geo-referenced analysis can inform both decision-makers and clinicians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariel L Rivas
- Center for Global Health, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, USA
| | - José L Febles
- Department of Human Ecology, CINVESTAV-IPN, Mérida, Mexico
| | - Stephen D Smith
- Institute for Resource Information Science, College of Agriculture, Cornell University, Ithaca, USA
| | | | | | - Folorunso O Fasina
- Food and Agriculture Organization, Dar es Salam, Tanzania & Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
| | - James B Hittner
- Department of Psychology, College of Charleston, Charleston, USA
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10
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Rivas AL, Hoogesteijn AL, Antoniades A, Tomazou M, Buranda T, Perkins DJ, Fair JM, Durvasula R, Fasina FO, Tegos GP, van Regenmortel MHV. Assessing the Dynamics and Complexity of Disease Pathogenicity Using 4-Dimensional Immunological Data. Front Immunol 2019; 10:1258. [PMID: 31249569 PMCID: PMC6582751 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2019] [Accepted: 05/17/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Investigating disease pathogenesis and personalized prognostics are major biomedical needs. Because patients sharing the same diagnosis can experience different outcomes, such as survival or death, physicians need new personalized tools, including those that rapidly differentiate several inflammatory phases. To address these topics, a pattern recognition-based method (PRM) that follows an inverse problem approach was designed to assess, in <10 min, eight concepts: synergy, pleiotropy, complexity, dynamics, ambiguity, circularity, personalized outcomes, and explanatory prognostics (pathogenesis). By creating thousands of secondary combinations derived from blood leukocyte data, the PRM measures synergic, pleiotropic, complex and dynamic data interactions, which provide personalized prognostics while some undesirable features-such as false results and the ambiguity associated with data circularity-are prevented. Here, this method is compared to Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and evaluated with data collected from hantavirus-infected humans and birds that appeared to be healthy. When human data were examined, the PRM predicted 96.9 % of all surviving patients while PCA did not distinguish outcomes. Demonstrating applications in personalized prognosis, eight PRM data structures sufficed to identify all but one of the survivors. Dynamic data patterns also distinguished survivors from non-survivors, as well as one subset of non-survivors, which exhibited chronic inflammation. When the PRM explored avian data, it differentiated immune profiles consistent with no, early, or late inflammation. Yet, PCA did not recognize patterns in avian data. Findings support the notion that immune responses, while variable, are rather deterministic: a low number of complex and dynamic data combinations may be enough to, rapidly, unmask conditions that are neither directly observable nor reliably forecasted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariel L. Rivas
- School of Medicine, Center for Global Health-Division of Infectious Diseases, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
- *Correspondence: Ariel L. Rivas
| | - Almira L. Hoogesteijn
- Human Ecology, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados (CINVESTAV), Mérida, Mexico
| | | | | | - Tione Buranda
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Douglas J. Perkins
- School of Medicine, Center for Global Health-Division of Infectious Diseases, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Jeanne M. Fair
- Biosecurity and Public Health, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, United States
| | - Ravi Durvasula
- Loyola University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Folorunso O. Fasina
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | | | - Marc H. V. van Regenmortel
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), School of Biotechnology, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
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11
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Magana M, Sereti C, Ioannidis A, Mitchell CA, Ball AR, Magiorkinis E, Chatzipanagiotou S, Hamblin MR, Hadjifrangiskou M, Tegos GP. Options and Limitations in Clinical Investigation of Bacterial Biofilms. Clin Microbiol Rev 2018; 31:e00084-16. [PMID: 29618576 PMCID: PMC6056845 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00084-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteria can form single- and multispecies biofilms exhibiting diverse features based upon the microbial composition of their community and microenvironment. The study of bacterial biofilm development has received great interest in the past 20 years and is motivated by the elegant complexity characteristic of these multicellular communities and their role in infectious diseases. Biofilms can thrive on virtually any surface and can be beneficial or detrimental based upon the community's interplay and the surface. Advances in the understanding of structural and functional variations and the roles that biofilms play in disease and host-pathogen interactions have been addressed through comprehensive literature searches. In this review article, a synopsis of the methodological landscape of biofilm analysis is provided, including an evaluation of the current trends in methodological research. We deem this worthwhile because a keyword-oriented bibliographical search reveals that less than 5% of the biofilm literature is devoted to methodology. In this report, we (i) summarize current methodologies for biofilm characterization, monitoring, and quantification; (ii) discuss advances in the discovery of effective imaging and sensing tools and modalities; (iii) provide an overview of tailored animal models that assess features of biofilm infections; and (iv) make recommendations defining the most appropriate methodological tools for clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Magana
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Athens Medical School, Aeginition Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Christina Sereti
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Athens Medical School, Aeginition Hospital, Athens, Greece
- Department of Microbiology, Thriassio General Hospital, Attiki, Greece
| | - Anastasios Ioannidis
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Athens Medical School, Aeginition Hospital, Athens, Greece
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Human Movement and Quality of Life Sciences, University of Peloponnese, Sparta, Greece
| | - Courtney A Mitchell
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Anthony R Ball
- Gliese 623b, Mendon, Massachusetts, USA
- GAMA Therapeutics LLC, Pepperell, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Emmanouil Magiorkinis
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, University of Athens, Athens-Goudi, Greece
| | | | - Michael R Hamblin
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Science and Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Maria Hadjifrangiskou
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - George P Tegos
- Gliese 623b, Mendon, Massachusetts, USA
- GAMA Therapeutics LLC, Pepperell, Massachusetts, USA
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12
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Rineh A, Bremner JB, Hamblin MR, Ball AR, Tegos GP, Kelso MJ. Attaching NorA efflux pump inhibitors to methylene blue enhances antimicrobial photodynamic inactivation of Escherichia coli and Acinetobacter baumannii in vitro and in vivo. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2018. [PMID: 29519734 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2018.02.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Resistance of bacteria to antibiotics is a public health concern worldwide due to the increasing failure of standard antibiotic therapies. Antimicrobial photodynamic inactivation (aPDI) is a promising non-antibiotic alternative for treating localized bacterial infections that uses non-toxic photosensitizers and harmless visible light to produce reactive oxygen species and kill microbes. Phenothiazinium photosensitizers like methylene blue (MB) and toluidine blue O are hydrophobic cations that are naturally expelled from bacterial cells by multidrug efflux pumps, which reduces their effectiveness. We recently reported the discovery of a NorA efflux pump inhibitor-methylene blue (EPI-MB) hybrid compound INF55-(Ac)en-MB that shows enhanced photodynamic inactivation of the Gram-positive bacterium methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) relative to MB, both in vitro and in vivo. Here, we report the surprising observation that INF55-(Ac)en-MB and two related hybrids bearing the NorA efflux pump inhibitors INF55 and INF271 also show enhanced aPDI activity in vitro (relative to MB) against the Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli and Acinetobacter baumannii, despite neither species expressing the NorA pump. Two of the hybrids showed superior effects to MB in murine aPDI infection models. The findings motivate wider exploration of aPDI with EPI-MB hybrids against Gram-negative pathogens and more detailed studies into the molecular mechanisms underpinning their activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ardeshir Rineh
- School of Chemistry and Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia
| | - John B Bremner
- School of Chemistry and Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia
| | - Michael R Hamblin
- The Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, MA 02114, USA
| | | | | | - Michael J Kelso
- School of Chemistry and Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia.
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13
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Haynes MK, Garcia M, Peters R, Waller A, Tedesco P, Ursu O, Bologa CG, Santos RG, Pinilla C, Wu TH, Lovchik JA, Oprea TI, Sklar LA, Tegos GP. High-Throughput Flow Cytometry Screening of Multidrug Efflux Systems. Methods Mol Biol 2018; 1700:293-318. [PMID: 29177837 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7454-2_16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The resistance nodulation cell division (RND) family of proteins are inner membrane transporters that associate with periplasmic adaptor proteins and outer membrane porins to affect substrate transport from the cytosol and periplasm in Gram-negative bacteria. Various structurally diverse compounds are substrates of RND transporters. Along with their notable role in antibiotic resistance, these transporters are essential for niche colonization, quorum sensing, and virulence as well as for the removal of fatty acids and bile salts. As such, RNDs are an attractive target for antimicrobial development. However, while enhancing the utility of antibiotics with an RND inhibitor is an appealing concept, only a small core of chemotypes has been identified as efflux pump inhibitors (EPIs). Thus, our key objective is the development and validation of an efflux profiling and discovery strategy for RND model systems. Here we describe a flow cytometric dye accumulation assay that uses fluorescein diacetate (FDA) to interrogate the model Gram-negative pathogens Escherichia coli, Franscisella tularensis, and Burkholderia pseudomallei. Fluorochrome retention is increased in the presence of known efflux inhibitors and in RND deletion strains. The assay can be used in a high-throughput format to evaluate efflux of dye-substrate candidates and to screen chemical libraries for novel EPIs. Triaged compounds that inhibit efflux in pathogenic strains are tested for growth inhibition and antibiotic potentiation using microdilution culture plates in a select agent Biosafety Level-3 (BSL3) environment. This combined approach demonstrates the utility of flow cytometric analysis for efflux activity and provides a useful platform in which to characterize efflux in pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria. Screening small molecule libraries for novel EPI candidates offers the potential for the discovery of new classes of antibacterial compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark K Haynes
- Center for Molecular Discovery, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
- Department of Pathology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
| | - Matthew Garcia
- Center for Molecular Discovery, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Ryan Peters
- Center for Infectious Disease and Immunity, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Anna Waller
- Center for Molecular Discovery, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Pietro Tedesco
- Institute of Protein Biochemistry, National Research Council, Naples, Italy
- Department of Chemical Sciences and School of Biotechnological Sciences, University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Oleg Ursu
- Division of Translational Informatics, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Cristian G Bologa
- Division of Translational Informatics, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Radleigh G Santos
- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, Port St Lucie, FL, USA
| | | | - Terry H Wu
- Center for Infectious Disease and Immunity, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Julie A Lovchik
- Center for Infectious Disease and Immunity, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Tudor I Oprea
- Division of Translational Informatics, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Larry A Sklar
- Center for Molecular Discovery, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - George P Tegos
- Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
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14
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Rineh A, Dolla NK, Ball AR, Magana M, Bremner JB, Hamblin MR, Tegos GP, Kelso MJ. Attaching the NorA Efflux Pump Inhibitor INF55 to Methylene Blue Enhances Antimicrobial Photodynamic Inactivation of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Vitro and in Vivo. ACS Infect Dis 2017; 3:756-766. [PMID: 28799332 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.7b00095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Antimicrobial photodynamic inactivation (aPDI) uses photosensitizers (PSs) and harmless visible light to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and kill microbes. Multidrug efflux systems can moderate the phototoxic effects of PSs by expelling the compounds from cells. We hypothesized that increasing intracellular concentrations of PSs by inhibiting efflux with a covalently attached efflux pump inhibitor (EPI) would enhance bacterial cell phototoxicity and reduce exposure of neighboring host cells to damaging ROS. In this study, we tested the hypothesis by linking NorA EPIs to methylene blue (MB) and examining the photoantimicrobial activity of the EPI-MB hybrids against the human pathogen methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Photochemical/photophysical and in vitro microbiological evaluation of 16 hybrids carrying four different NorA EPIs attached to MB via four linker types identified INF55-(Ac)en-MB 12 as a lead. Compound 12 showed increased uptake into S. aureus cells and enhanced aPDI activity and wound healing effects (relative to MB) in a murine model of an abrasion wound infected by MRSA. The study supports a new approach for treating localized multidrug-resistant MRSA infections and paves the way for wider exploration of the EPI-PS hybrid strategy in aPDI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ardeshir Rineh
- Illawarra Health
and Medical Research Institute and School of Chemistry, University of Wollongong, Northfields Ave., Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia
| | - Naveen K. Dolla
- Illawarra Health
and Medical Research Institute and School of Chemistry, University of Wollongong, Northfields Ave., Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia
| | | | - Maria Magana
- Department
of Biopathology and Clinical Microbiology, Athens Medical School, Aeginition Hospital, Athens 115 28, Greece
| | - John B. Bremner
- Illawarra Health
and Medical Research Institute and School of Chemistry, University of Wollongong, Northfields Ave., Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia
| | - Michael R. Hamblin
- The Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
- Department
of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02114, United States
| | | | - Michael J. Kelso
- Illawarra Health
and Medical Research Institute and School of Chemistry, University of Wollongong, Northfields Ave., Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia
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15
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Wainwright M, Maisch T, Nonell S, Plaetzer K, Almeida A, Tegos GP, Hamblin MR. Photoantimicrobials-are we afraid of the light? Lancet Infect Dis 2016; 17:e49-e55. [PMID: 27884621 PMCID: PMC5280084 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(16)30268-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 405] [Impact Index Per Article: 50.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2016] [Revised: 06/28/2016] [Accepted: 07/14/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Although conventional antimicrobial drugs have been viewed as miraculous cure-alls for the past 80 years, increasing antimicrobial drug resistance requires a major and rapid intervention. However, the development of novel but still conventional systemic antimicrobial agents, having only a single mode or site of action, will not alleviate the situation because it is probably only a matter of time until any such agents will also become ineffective. To continue to produce new agents based on this notion is unacceptable, and there is an increasing need for alternative approaches to the problem. By contrast, light-activated molecules called photoantimicrobials act locally via the in-situ production of highly reactive oxygen species, which simultaneously attack various biomolecular sites in the pathogenic target and therefore offer both multiple and variable sites of action. This non-specificity at the target circumvents conventional mechanisms of resistance and inhibits the development of resistance to the agents themselves. Photoantimicrobial therapy is safe and easy to implement and, unlike conventional agents, the activity spectrum of photoantimicrobials covers bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoa. However, clinical trials of these new, truly broad-spectrum, and minimally toxic agents have been few, and the funding for research and development is almost non-existent. Photoantimicrobials constitute one of the few ways forward through the morass of drug-resistant infectious disease and should be fully explored. In this Personal View, we raise awareness of the novel photoantimicrobial technologies that offer a viable alternative to conventional drugs in many relevant application fields, and could thus slow the pace of resistance development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Wainwright
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK.
| | - Tim Maisch
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Santi Nonell
- Institut Químic de Sarrià, Universitat Ramon Llull, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Kristjan Plaetzer
- Laboratory of Photodynamic Inactivation of Microorganisms, Department of Materials Science and Physics, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Adelaide Almeida
- Department of Biology, and Centre for Environmental and Marine (CESAM) Studies, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - George P Tegos
- The Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael R Hamblin
- The Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
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16
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Chaini E, Chainis ND, Ioannidis A, Magana M, Nikolaou C, Papaparaskevas J, Liakata MV, Katopodis P, Papastavrou L, Tegos GP, Chatzipanagiotou S. Pneumonia and Pleural Empyema due to a Mixed Lactobacillus spp. Infection as a Possible Early Esophageal Carcinoma Signature. Front Med (Lausanne) 2016; 3:42. [PMID: 27734016 PMCID: PMC5039211 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2016.00042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2016] [Accepted: 09/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Lactobacilli are human commensals found in the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tract. Although generally conceived as non-pathogenic microorganisms, the existence of several reports implicating them in certain severe pathological entities renders this species as opportunistic pathogens. The case of a 58-year-old woman with mixed Lactobacillus infection is described. The patient was admitted in an outpatient clinic with community acquired pneumonia, and on the third day of hospitalization she presented rapid pneumonia deterioration. Subsequent imaging techniques revealed increased pleural empyema in alignment with the general deterioration of her clinical condition. Pleural fluid culture revealed the presence of Lactobacillus delbrueckii and Lactobacillus gasseri and the infection was successfully treated with clindamycin. Five months after hospital discharge and an overall good condition, the patient developed signs of dysphagia and upon re-admission an inoperable esophageal carcinoma was diagnosed. The patient succumbed to the cancer 11 months later. Herein, we report for the first time a mixed respiratory infection due to lactobacilli, possibly associated with a formerly unveiled esophageal malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nikolaos D Chainis
- Pulmonary Department, Athens Medical Center - Peristeri , Peristeri , Greece
| | - Anastasios Ioannidis
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Human Movement and Quality of Life Sciences, University of Peloponnese, Sparta, Greece; Department of Biopathology and Clinical Microbiology, Aeginition Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Magana
- Department of Biopathology and Clinical Microbiology, Aeginition Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens , Athens , Greece
| | - Chryssoula Nikolaou
- Department of Biopathology and Clinical Microbiology, Aeginition Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens , Athens , Greece
| | - Joseph Papaparaskevas
- Department of Microbiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens , Athens , Greece
| | - Melina-Vassiliki Liakata
- Department of Biopathology and Clinical Microbiology, Athens Medical Center - Peristeri , Peristeri , Greece
| | | | | | - George P Tegos
- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Stylianos Chatzipanagiotou
- Department of Biopathology and Clinical Microbiology, Aeginition Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens , Athens , Greece
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17
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Iandiorio MJ, Fair JM, Chatzipanagiotou S, Ioannidis A, Trikka-Graphakos E, Charalampaki N, Sereti C, Tegos GP, Hoogesteijn AL, Rivas AL. Preventing Data Ambiguity in Infectious Diseases with Four-Dimensional and Personalized Evaluations. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0159001. [PMID: 27411058 PMCID: PMC4943638 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0159001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2016] [Accepted: 06/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Diagnostic errors can occur, in infectious diseases, when anti-microbial immune responses involve several temporal scales. When responses span from nanosecond to week and larger temporal scales, any pre-selected temporal scale is likely to miss some (faster or slower) responses. Hoping to prevent diagnostic errors, a pilot study was conducted to evaluate a four-dimensional (4D) method that captures the complexity and dynamics of infectious diseases. Methods Leukocyte-microbial-temporal data were explored in canine and human (bacterial and/or viral) infections, with: (i) a non-structured approach, which measures leukocytes or microbes in isolation; and (ii) a structured method that assesses numerous combinations of interacting variables. Four alternatives of the structured method were tested: (i) a noise-reduction oriented version, which generates a single (one data point-wide) line of observations; (ii) a version that measures complex, three-dimensional (3D) data interactions; (iii) a non-numerical version that displays temporal data directionality (arrows that connect pairs of consecutive observations); and (iv) a full 4D (single line-, complexity-, directionality-based) version. Results In all studies, the non-structured approach revealed non-interpretable (ambiguous) data: observations numerically similar expressed different biological conditions, such as recovery and lack of recovery from infections. Ambiguity was also found when the data were structured as single lines. In contrast, two or more data subsets were distinguished and ambiguity was avoided when the data were structured as complex, 3D, single lines and, in addition, temporal data directionality was determined. The 4D method detected, even within one day, changes in immune profiles that occurred after antibiotics were prescribed. Conclusions Infectious disease data may be ambiguous. Four-dimensional methods may prevent ambiguity, providing earlier, in vivo, dynamic, complex, and personalized information that facilitates both diagnostics and selection or evaluation of anti-microbial therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle J. Iandiorio
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, United States of America
| | - Jeanne M. Fair
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Global Security, Mailstop M888, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, United States of America
| | - Stylianos Chatzipanagiotou
- Department of Biopathology and Clinical Microbiology, Aeginition Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Anastasios Ioannidis
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Human Movement and Quality of Life Sciences, University of Peloponnese, Sparta, Greece
| | | | | | - Christina Sereti
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, "Thriasio" General Hospital, Magoula, Greece
| | - George P. Tegos
- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, Port St. Lucie, FL, United States of America
- Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston MA, United States of America
| | | | - Ariel L. Rivas
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, United States of America
- Center for Global Health-Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Chatzipanagiotou S, Ioannidis A, Trikka-Graphakos E, Charalampaki N, Sereti C, Piccinini R, Higgins AM, Buranda T, Durvasula R, Hoogesteijn AL, Tegos GP, Rivas AL. Detecting the Hidden Properties of Immunological Data and Predicting the Mortality Risks of Infectious Syndromes. Front Immunol 2016; 7:217. [PMID: 27375617 PMCID: PMC4901050 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2016.00217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2015] [Accepted: 05/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To extract more information, the properties of infectious disease data, including hidden relationships, could be considered. Here, blood leukocyte data were explored to elucidate whether hidden information, if uncovered, could forecast mortality. METHODS Three sets of individuals (n = 132) were investigated, from whom blood leukocyte profiles and microbial tests were conducted (i) cross-sectional analyses performed at admission (before bacteriological tests were completed) from two groups of hospital patients, randomly selected at different time periods, who met septic criteria [confirmed infection and at least three systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria] but lacked chronic conditions (study I, n = 36; and study II, n = 69); (ii) a similar group, tested over 3 days (n = 7); and (iii) non-infected, SIRS-negative individuals, tested once (n = 20). The data were analyzed by (i) a method that creates complex data combinations, which, based on graphic patterns, partitions the data into subsets and (ii) an approach that does not partition the data. Admission data from SIRS+/infection+ patients were related to 30-day, in-hospital mortality. RESULTS The non-partitioning approach was not informative: in both study I and study II, the leukocyte data intervals of non-survivors and survivors overlapped. In contrast, the combinatorial method distinguished two subsets that, later, showed twofold (or larger) differences in mortality. While the two subsets did not differ in gender, age, microbial species, or antimicrobial resistance, they revealed different immune profiles. Non-infected, SIRS-negative individuals did not express the high-mortality profile. Longitudinal data from septic patients displayed the pattern associated with the highest mortality within the first 24 h post-admission. Suggesting inflammation coexisted with immunosuppression, one high-mortality sub-subset displayed high neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio values and low lymphocyte percents. A second high-mortality subset showed monocyte-mediated deficiencies. Numerous within- and between-subset comparisons revealed statistically significantly different immune profiles. CONCLUSION While the analysis of non-partitioned data can result in information loss, complex (combinatorial) data structures can uncover hidden patterns, which guide data partitioning into subsets that differ in mortality rates and immune profiles. Such information can facilitate diagnostics, monitoring of disease dynamics, and evaluation of subset-specific, patient-specific therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Chatzipanagiotou
- Department of Biopathology and Clinical Microbiology, Aeginition Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens , Athens , Greece
| | - A Ioannidis
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Human Movement and Quality of Life Sciences, University of Peloponnese , Sparta , Greece
| | - E Trikka-Graphakos
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, "Thriasio" General Hospital , Magoula , Greece
| | - N Charalampaki
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, "Thriasio" General Hospital , Magoula , Greece
| | - C Sereti
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, "Thriasio" General Hospital , Magoula , Greece
| | - R Piccinini
- Department of Veterinary Science and Public Health, University of Milan , Milan , Italy
| | - A M Higgins
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Center for Global Health, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico , Albuquerque, NM , USA
| | - T Buranda
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico , Albuquerque, NM , USA
| | - R Durvasula
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Center for Global Health, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico , Albuquerque, NM , USA
| | - A L Hoogesteijn
- Human Ecology Department, Cinvestav , Unidad Merida , Mexico
| | - G P Tegos
- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ariel L Rivas
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Center for Global Health, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico , Albuquerque, NM , USA
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Agrawal T, Avci P, Gupta GK, Rineh A, Lakshmanan S, Batwala V, Tegos GP, Hamblin MR. Harnessing the power of light to treat staphylococcal infections focusing on MRSA. Curr Pharm Des 2016; 21:2109-21. [PMID: 25760339 DOI: 10.2174/1381612821666150310102318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2015] [Accepted: 03/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become the most important drug-resistant microbial pathogen in countries throughout the world. Morbidity and mortality due to MRSA infections continue to increase despite efforts to improve infection control measures and to develop new antibiotics. Therefore alternative antimicrobial strategies that do not give rise to development of resistance are urgently required. A group of therapeutic interventions has been developed in the field of photomedicine with the common theme that they rely on electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths between 200 and 1000 nm broadly called "light". These techniques all use simple absorption of photons by specific chromophores to deliver the killing blow to microbial cells while leaving the surrounding host mammalian cells relatively unharmed. Photodynamic inactivation uses dyes called photosensitizers (PS) that bind specifically to MRSA cells and not host cells, and generate reactive oxygen species including singlet oxygen and singlet oxygen upon illumination. Sophisticated molecular strategies to target the PS to MRSA cells have been designed. Ultraviolet C radiation can damage microbial DNA without unduly harming host DNA. Blue light can excite endogenous porphyrins and flavins in MRSA cells that are not present in host cells. Near-infrared lasers can interfere with microbial membrane potentials without raising the temperature of the tissue. Taken together these innovative approaches towards harnessing the power of light suggest that the ongoing threat of MRSA may eventually be defeated.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Michael R Hamblin
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114.
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20
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Tegos GP, Evangelisti AM, Strouse JJ, Ursu O, Bologa C, Sklar LA. A high throughput flow cytometric assay platform targeting transporter inhibition. Drug Discov Today Technol 2015; 12:e95-103. [PMID: 25027381 DOI: 10.1016/j.ddtec.2014.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
This review highlights the concepts, recent applications and limitations of High Throughput Screening (HTS) flow cytometry-based efflux inhibitory assays. This platform has been employed in mammalian and yeast efflux systems leading to the identification of small molecules with transporter inhibitory capabilities. This technology offers the possibility of substrate multiplexing and may promote novel strategies targeting microbial efflux systems. This platform can generate a comprehensive dataset that may support efforts to map the interface between chemistry and transporter biology in a variety of pathogenic systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- George P Tegos
- Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, United States
| | - Annette M Evangelisti
- Center for Molecular Discovery, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States
| | - J Jacob Strouse
- Center for Molecular Discovery, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States
| | - Oleg Ursu
- Division of Translational Informatics, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States
| | - Cristian Bologa
- Division of Translational Informatics, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States
| | - Larry A Sklar
- Department of Pathology, University of New Mexico, School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States
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21
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Ioannidis A, Magana M, Bologa CG, Oprea TI, Paulsen IT, Tegos GP. Defining the microbial effluxome in the content of the host-microbiome interaction. Front Pharmacol 2015; 6:31. [PMID: 25745401 PMCID: PMC4333769 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2015.00031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2014] [Accepted: 02/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Anastasios Ioannidis
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Human Movement and Quality of Life Sciences, University of Peloponnese Sparta, Greece ; Department of Clinical Microbiology, Athens Medical School, Aeginition Hospital Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Magana
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Human Movement and Quality of Life Sciences, University of Peloponnese Sparta, Greece
| | - Cristian G Bologa
- Translational Informatics Division, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Tudor I Oprea
- Translational Informatics Division, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center Albuquerque, NM, USA ; Department of Systems Biology, Center for Biological Sequence Analysis, Technical University of Denmark Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Ian T Paulsen
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, Macquarie University NSW, Australia
| | - George P Tegos
- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, Port St. Lucie FL, USA ; Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School Boston, MA, USA ; Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital Boston MA, USA
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22
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Rineh A, Kelso MJ, Vatansever F, Tegos GP, Hamblin MR. Clostridium difficile infection: molecular pathogenesis and novel therapeutics. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2014; 12:131-50. [PMID: 24410618 DOI: 10.1586/14787210.2014.866515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The Gram-positive anaerobic bacterium Clostridium difficile produces toxins A and B, which can cause a spectrum of diseases from pseudomembranous colitis to C. difficile-associated diarrhea. A limited number of C. difficile strains also produce a binary toxin that exhibits ADP ribosyltransferase activity. Here, the structure and the mechanism of action of these toxins as well as their role in disease are reviewed. Nosocomial C. difficile infection is often contracted in hospital when patients treated with antibiotics suffer a disturbance in normal gut microflora. C. difficile spores can persist on dry, inanimate surface for months. Metronidazole and oral vancomycin are clinically used for treatment of C. difficile infection but clinical failure and concern about promotion of resistance are motivating the search for novel non-antibiotic therapeutics. Methods for controlling both toxins and spores, replacing gut microflora by probiotics or fecal transplant, and killing bacteria in the anaerobic gut by photodynamic therapy are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ardeshir Rineh
- The Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
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23
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de Melo WCMA, Avci P, de Oliveira MN, Gupta A, Vecchio D, Sadasivam M, Chandran R, Huang YY, Yin R, Perussi LR, Tegos GP, Perussi JR, Dai T, Hamblin MR. Photodynamic inactivation of biofilm: taking a lightly colored approach to stubborn infection. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2014; 11:669-93. [PMID: 23879608 DOI: 10.1586/14787210.2013.811861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Microbial biofilms are responsible for a variety of microbial infections in different parts of the body, such as urinary tract infections, catheter infections, middle-ear infections, gingivitis, caries, periodontitis, orthopedic implants, and so on. The microbial biofilm cells have properties and gene expression patterns distinct from planktonic cells, including phenotypic variations in enzymic activity, cell wall composition and surface structure, which increase the resistance to antibiotics and other antimicrobial treatments. There is consequently an urgent need for new approaches to attack biofilm-associated microorganisms, and antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) may be a promising candidate. aPDT involves the combination of a nontoxic dye and low-intensity visible light which, in the presence of oxygen, produces cytotoxic reactive oxygen species. It has been demonstrated that many biofilms are susceptible to aPDT, particularly in dental disease. This review will focus on aspects of aPDT that are designed to increase efficiency against biofilms modalities to enhance penetration of photosensitizer into biofilm, and a combination of aPDT with biofilm-disrupting agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanessa C M A de Melo
- The Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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24
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Affiliation(s)
- George P Tegos
- Center for Molecular Discovery; University of New Mexico; Albuquerque, NM USA; Department of Pathology; University of New Mexico; Albuquerque, NM USA; Wellman Center for Photomedicine; Massachusetts General Hospital; Boston, MA USA; Department of Dermatology; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA USA
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25
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Chibebe Junior J, Sabino CP, Tan X, Junqueira JC, Wang Y, Fuchs BB, Jorge AOC, Tegos GP, Hamblin MR, Mylonakis E. Selective photoinactivation of Candida albicans in the non-vertebrate host infection model Galleria mellonella. BMC Microbiol 2013; 13:217. [PMID: 24083556 PMCID: PMC3849975 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2180-13-217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2013] [Accepted: 09/17/2013] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Candida spp. are recognized as a primary agent of severe fungal infection in immunocompromised patients, and are the fourth most common cause of bloodstream infections. Our study explores treatment with photodynamic therapy (PDT) as an innovative antimicrobial technology that employs a nontoxic dye, termed a photosensitizer (PS), followed by irradiation with harmless visible light. After photoactivation, the PS produces either singlet oxygen or other reactive oxygen species (ROS) that primarily react with the pathogen cell wall, promoting permeabilization of the membrane and cell death. The emergence of antifungal-resistant Candida strains has motivated the study of antimicrobial PDT (aPDT) as an alternative treatment of these infections. We employed the invertebrate wax moth Galleria mellonella as an in vivo model to study the effects of aPDT against C. albicans infection. The effects of aPDT combined with conventional antifungal drugs were also evaluated in G. mellonella. Results We verified that methylene blue-mediated aPDT prolonged the survival of C. albicans infected G. mellonella larvae. The fungal burden of G. mellonella hemolymph was reduced after aPDT in infected larvae. A fluconazole-resistant C. albicans strain was used to test the combination of aPDT and fluconazole. Administration of fluconazole either before or after exposing the larvae to aPDT significantly prolonged the survival of the larvae compared to either treatment alone. Conclusions G. mellonella is a useful in vivo model to evaluate aPDT as a treatment regimen for Candida infections. The data suggests that combined aPDT and antifungal therapy could be an alternative approach to antifungal-resistant Candida strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Chibebe Junior
- Department of Biosciences and Oral Diagnosis, Univ Estadual Paulista/UNESP, São José dos Campos, SP 12245000, Brazil.
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Vatansever F, de Melo WCMA, Avci P, Vecchio D, Sadasivam M, Gupta A, Chandran R, Karimi M, Parizotto NA, Yin R, Tegos GP, Hamblin MR. Antimicrobial strategies centered around reactive oxygen species--bactericidal antibiotics, photodynamic therapy, and beyond. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2013; 37:955-89. [PMID: 23802986 DOI: 10.1111/1574-6976.12026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 563] [Impact Index Per Article: 51.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2012] [Revised: 05/15/2013] [Accepted: 05/16/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) can attack a diverse range of targets to exert antimicrobial activity, which accounts for their versatility in mediating host defense against a broad range of pathogens. Most ROS are formed by the partial reduction in molecular oxygen. Four major ROS are recognized comprising superoxide (O2•-), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), hydroxyl radical (•OH), and singlet oxygen ((1)O2), but they display very different kinetics and levels of activity. The effects of O2•- and H2O2 are less acute than those of •OH and (1)O2, because the former are much less reactive and can be detoxified by endogenous antioxidants (both enzymatic and nonenzymatic) that are induced by oxidative stress. In contrast, no enzyme can detoxify •OH or (1)O2, making them extremely toxic and acutely lethal. The present review will highlight the various methods of ROS formation and their mechanism of action. Antioxidant defenses against ROS in microbial cells and the use of ROS by antimicrobial host defense systems are covered. Antimicrobial approaches primarily utilizing ROS comprise both bactericidal antibiotics and nonpharmacological methods such as photodynamic therapy, titanium dioxide photocatalysis, cold plasma, and medicinal honey. A brief final section covers reactive nitrogen species and related therapeutics, such as acidified nitrite and nitric oxide-releasing nanoparticles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatma Vatansever
- The Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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27
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Bologa CG, Ursu O, Oprea TI, Melançon CE, Tegos GP. Emerging trends in the discovery of natural product antibacterials. Curr Opin Pharmacol 2013; 13:678-87. [PMID: 23890825 DOI: 10.1016/j.coph.2013.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2013] [Revised: 06/11/2013] [Accepted: 07/01/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
This article highlights current trends and advances in exploiting natural sources for the deployment of novel and potent anti-infective countermeasures. The key challenge is to therapeutically target bacterial pathogens that exhibit a variety of puzzling and evolutionarily complex resistance mechanisms. Special emphasis is given to the strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities in the natural product antibacterial drug discovery arena, and to emerging applications driven by advances in bioinformatics, chemical biology, and synthetic biology in concert with exploiting bacterial phenotypes. These efforts have identified a critical mass of natural product antibacterial lead compounds and discovery technologies with high probability of successful implementation against emerging bacterial pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristian G Bologa
- Center for Molecular Discovery, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, USA; Translational Informatics Division, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA
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Kourtesi C, Ball AR, Huang YY, Jachak SM, Vera DMA, Khondkar P, Gibbons S, Hamblin MR, Tegos GP. Microbial efflux systems and inhibitors: approaches to drug discovery and the challenge of clinical implementation. Open Microbiol J 2013; 7:34-52. [PMID: 23569468 PMCID: PMC3617545 DOI: 10.2174/1874285801307010034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2012] [Revised: 01/22/2013] [Accepted: 01/23/2013] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Conventional antimicrobials are increasingly ineffective due to the emergence of multidrug-resistance among pathogenic microorganisms. The need to overcome these deficiencies has triggered exploration for novel and unconventional approaches to controlling microbial infections. Multidrug efflux systems (MES) have been a profound obstacle in the successful deployment of antimicrobials. The discovery of small molecule efflux system blockers has been an active and rapidly expanding research discipline. A major theme in this platform involves efflux pump inhibitors (EPIs) from natural sources. The discovery methodologies and the available number of natural EPI-chemotypes are increasing. Advances in our understanding of microbial physiology have shed light on a series of pathways and phenotypes where the role of efflux systems is pivotal. Complementing existing antimicrobial discovery platforms such as photodynamic therapy (PDT) with efflux inhibition is a subject under investigation. This core information is a stepping stone in the challenge of highlighting an effective drug development path for EPIs since the puzzle of clinical implementation remains unsolved. This review summarizes advances in the path of EPI discovery, discusses potential avenues of EPI implementation and development, and underlines the need for highly informative and comprehensive translational approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Kourtesi
- Department of Pathology, University of New Mexico, School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA ; Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
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Chibebe Junior J, Fuchs BB, Sabino CP, Junqueira JC, Jorge AOC, Ribeiro MS, Gilmore MS, Rice LB, Tegos GP, Hamblin MR, Mylonakis E. Photodynamic and antibiotic therapy impair the pathogenesis of Enterococcus faecium in a whole animal insect model. PLoS One 2013; 8:e55926. [PMID: 23457486 PMCID: PMC3573038 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0055926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2012] [Accepted: 01/03/2013] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Enterococcus faecium has emerged as one of the most important pathogens in healthcare-associated infections worldwide due to its intrinsic and acquired resistance to many antibiotics, including vancomycin. Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) is an alternative therapeutic platform that is currently under investigation for the control and treatment of infections. PDT is based on the use of photoactive dye molecules, widely known as photosensitizer (PS). PS, upon irradiation with visible light, produces reactive oxygen species that can destroy lipids and proteins causing cell death. We employed Galleria mellonella (the greater wax moth) caterpillar fatally infected with E. faecium to develop an invertebrate host model system that can be used to study the antimicrobial PDT (alone or combined with antibiotics). In the establishment of infection by E. faecium in G. mellonella, we found that the G. mellonella death rate was dependent on the number of bacterial cells injected into the insect hemocoel and all E. faecium strains tested were capable of infecting and killing G. mellonella. Antibiotic treatment with ampicillin, gentamicin or the combination of ampicillin and gentamicin prolonged caterpillar survival infected by E. faecium (P = 0.0003, P = 0.0001 and P = 0.0001, respectively). In the study of antimicrobial PDT, we verified that methylene blue (MB) injected into the insect followed by whole body illumination prolonged the caterpillar survival (P = 0.0192). Interestingly, combination therapy of larvae infected with vancomycin-resistant E. faecium, with antimicrobial PDT followed by vancomycin, significantly prolonged the survival of the caterpillars when compared to either antimicrobial PDT (P = 0.0095) or vancomycin treatment alone (P = 0.0025), suggesting that the aPDT made the vancomycin resistant E. faecium strain more susceptible to vancomycin action. In summary, G. mellonella provides an invertebrate model host to study the antimicrobial PDT and to explore combinatorial aPDT-based treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Chibebe Junior
- Department of Biosciences and Oral Diagnosis, Univ Estadual Paulista/UNESP, São José dos Campos, São Paulo, Brazil
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Restorative Dentistry, Faculty of Pindamonhangaba, Pindamonhangaba, São Paulo, Brazil
- * E-mail: (JCJ); (EM)
| | - Beth B. Fuchs
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Caetano P. Sabino
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Center for Lasers and Applications, Nuclear and Energy Research Institute, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Juliana C. Junqueira
- Department of Biosciences and Oral Diagnosis, Univ Estadual Paulista/UNESP, São José dos Campos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Antonio O. C. Jorge
- Department of Biosciences and Oral Diagnosis, Univ Estadual Paulista/UNESP, São José dos Campos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Martha S. Ribeiro
- Center for Lasers and Applications, Nuclear and Energy Research Institute, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Michael S. Gilmore
- Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Louis B. Rice
- Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University/Rhode Island and Miriam Hospitals, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - George P. Tegos
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Pathology and Center for Molecular Discovery, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Michael R. Hamblin
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Harvard-Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Eleftherios Mylonakis
- Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University/Rhode Island and Miriam Hospitals, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
- * E-mail: (JCJ); (EM)
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Prates RA, Fuchs BB, Mizuno K, Naqvi Q, Kato IT, Ribeiro MS, Mylonakis E, Tegos GP, Hamblin MR. Effect of virulence factors on the photodynamic inactivation of Cryptococcus neoformans. PLoS One 2013; 8:e54387. [PMID: 23349872 PMCID: PMC3548784 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0054387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2012] [Accepted: 12/11/2012] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Opportunistic fungal pathogens may cause an array of superficial infections or serious invasive infections, especially in immunocompromised patients. Cryptococcus neoformans is a pathogen causing cryptococcosis in HIV/AIDS patients, but treatment is limited due to the relative lack of potent antifungal agents. Photodynamic inactivation (PDI) uses the combination of non-toxic dyes called photosensitizers and harmless visible light, which produces singlet oxygen and other reactive oxygen species that produce cell inactivation and death. We report the use of five structurally unrelated photosensitizers (methylene blue, Rose Bengal, selenium derivative of a Nile blue dye, a cationic fullerene and a conjugate between poly-L-lysine and chlorin(e6)) combined with appropriate wavelengths of light to inactivate C. neoformans. Mutants lacking capsule and laccase, and culture conditions that favoured melanin production were used to probe the mechanisms of PDI and the effect of virulence factors. The presence of cell wall, laccase and melanin tended to protect against PDI, but the choice of the appropriate photosensitizers and dosimetry was able to overcome this resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renato A. Prates
- Center for Lasers and Applications, Nuclear and Energy Research Institute, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
- School of Dentistry, Health Department, Universidade Nove de Julho, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Wellman Center of Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Beth Burgwyn Fuchs
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Kazue Mizuno
- Wellman Center of Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Qurat Naqvi
- Wellman Center of Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Ilka T. Kato
- Center for Lasers and Applications, Nuclear and Energy Research Institute, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Martha S. Ribeiro
- Center for Lasers and Applications, Nuclear and Energy Research Institute, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Eleftherios Mylonakis
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - George P. Tegos
- Wellman Center of Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Pathology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, New Mexico, United States of America
- * E-mail: (GPT); (MH)
| | - Michael R. Hamblin
- Wellman Center of Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Harvard-Massachusetts Institute of Technology Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail: (GPT); (MH)
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Kato IT, Prates RA, Sabino CP, Fuchs BB, Tegos GP, Mylonakis E, Hamblin MR, Ribeiro MS. Antimicrobial photodynamic inactivation inhibits Candida albicans virulence factors and reduces in vivo pathogenicity. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2013; 57:445-51. [PMID: 23129051 PMCID: PMC3535901 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01451-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2012] [Accepted: 10/29/2012] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate whether Candida albicans exhibits altered pathogenicity characteristics following sublethal antimicrobial photodynamic inactivation (APDI) and if such alterations are maintained in the daughter cells. C. albicans was exposed to sublethal APDI by using methylene blue (MB) as a photosensitizer (0.05 mM) combined with a GaAlAs diode laser (λ 660 nm, 75 mW/cm(2), 9 to 27 J/cm(2)). In vitro, we evaluated APDI effects on C. albicans growth, germ tube formation, sensitivity to oxidative and osmotic stress, cell wall integrity, and fluconazole susceptibility. In vivo, we evaluated C. albicans pathogenicity with a mouse model of systemic infection. Animal survival was evaluated daily. Sublethal MB-mediated APDI reduced the growth rate and the ability of C. albicans to form germ tubes compared to untreated cells (P < 0.05). Survival of mice systemically infected with C. albicans pretreated with APDI was significantly increased compared to mice infected with untreated yeast (P < 0.05). APDI increased C. albicans sensitivity to sodium dodecyl sulfate, caffeine, and hydrogen peroxide. The MIC for fluconazole for C. albicans was also reduced following sublethal MB-mediated APDI. However, none of those pathogenic parameters was altered in daughter cells of C. albicans submitted to APDI. These data suggest that APDI may inhibit virulence factors and reduce in vivo pathogenicity of C. albicans. The absence of alterations in daughter cells indicates that APDI effects are transitory. The MIC reduction for fluconazole following APDI suggests that this antifungal could be combined with APDI to treat C. albicans infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilka Tiemy Kato
- Center for Lasers and Applications, IPEN-CNEN/SP, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Renato Araujo Prates
- Center for Lasers and Applications, IPEN-CNEN/SP, São Paulo, Brazil
- Dentistry School, Health Division and Biophotonics Program of UNINOVE, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Beth Burgwyn Fuchs
- Harvard Medical School, Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - George P. Tegos
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, and Center for Molecular Discovery, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Eleftherios Mylonakis
- Harvard Medical School, Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Michael R. Hamblin
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard—MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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Strouse JJ, Ivnitski-Steele I, Khawaja HM, Perez D, Ricci J, Yao T, Weiner WS, Schroeder CE, Simpson DS, Maki BE, Li K, Golden JE, Foutz TD, Waller A, Evangelisti AM, Young SM, Chavez SE, Garcia MJ, Ursu O, Bologa CG, Carter MB, Salas VM, Gouveia K, Tegos GP, Oprea TI, Edwards BS, Aubé J, Larson RS, Sklar LA. A selective ATP-binding cassette subfamily G member 2 efflux inhibitor revealed via high-throughput flow cytometry. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 18:26-38. [PMID: 22923785 DOI: 10.1177/1087057112456875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Chemotherapeutics tumor resistance is a principal reason for treatment failure, and clinical and experimental data indicate that multidrug transporters such as ATP-binding cassette (ABC) B1 and ABCG2 play a leading role by preventing cytotoxic intracellular drug concentrations. Functional efflux inhibition of existing chemotherapeutics by these pumps continues to present a promising approach for treatment. A contributing factor to the failure of existing inhibitors in clinical applications is limited understanding of specific substrate/inhibitor/pump interactions. We have identified selective efflux inhibitors by profiling multiple ABC transporters against a library of small molecules to find molecular probes to further explore such interactions. In our primary screening protocol using JC-1 as a dual-pump fluorescent reporter substrate, we identified a piperazine-substituted pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine substructure with promise for selective efflux inhibition. As a result of a focused structure-activity relationship (SAR)-driven chemistry effort, we describe compound 1 (CID44640177), an efflux inhibitor with selectivity toward ABCG2 over ABCB1. Compound 1 is also shown to potentiate the activity of mitoxantrone in vitro as well as preliminarily in vivo in an ABCG2-overexpressing tumor model. At least two analogues significantly reduce tumor size in combination with the chemotherapeutic topotecan. To our knowledge, low nanomolar chemoreversal activity coupled with direct evidence of efflux inhibition for ABCG2 is unprecedented.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Jacob Strouse
- Cytometry, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA
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Polireddy K, Khan MMT, Chavan H, Young S, Ma X, Waller A, Garcia M, Perez D, Chavez S, Strouse JJ, Haynes MK, Bologa CG, Oprea TI, Tegos GP, Sklar LA, Krishnamurthy P. A novel flow cytometric HTS assay reveals functional modulators of ATP binding cassette transporter ABCB6. PLoS One 2012; 7:e40005. [PMID: 22808084 PMCID: PMC3393737 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0040005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2011] [Accepted: 05/30/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
ABCB6 is a member of the adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-binding cassette family of transporter proteins that is increasingly recognized as a relevant physiological and therapeutic target. Evaluation of modulators of ABCB6 activity would pave the way toward a more complete understanding of the significance of this transport process in tumor cell growth, proliferation and therapy-related drug resistance. In addition, this effort would improve our understanding of the function of ABCB6 in normal physiology with respect to heme biosynthesis, and cellular adaptation to metabolic demand and stress responses. To search for modulators of ABCB6, we developed a novel cell-based approach that, in combination with flow cytometric high-throughput screening (HTS), can be used to identify functional modulators of ABCB6. Accumulation of protoporphyrin, a fluorescent molecule, in wild-type ABCB6 expressing K562 cells, forms the basis of the HTS assay. Screening the Prestwick Chemical Library employing the HTS assay identified four compounds, benzethonium chloride, verteporfin, tomatine hydrochloride and piperlongumine, that reduced ABCB6 mediated cellular porphyrin levels. Validation of the identified compounds employing the hemin-agarose affinity chromatography and mitochondrial transport assays demonstrated that three out of the four compounds were capable of inhibiting ABCB6 mediated hemin transport into isolated mitochondria. However, only verteporfin and tomatine hydrochloride inhibited ABCB6's ability to compete with hemin as an ABCB6 substrate. This assay is therefore sensitive, robust, and suitable for automation in a high-throughput environment as demonstrated by our identification of selective functional modulators of ABCB6. Application of this assay to other libraries of synthetic compounds and natural products is expected to identify novel modulators of ABCB6 activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kishore Polireddy
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutics, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, United States of America
| | - Mohiuddin Md. Taimur Khan
- Center for Molecular Discovery, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
- Division of Biocomputing, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
- Department of Pathology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Hemantkumar Chavan
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutics, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, United States of America
| | - Susan Young
- Center for Molecular Discovery, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Xiaochao Ma
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutics, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, United States of America
| | - Anna Waller
- Center for Molecular Discovery, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Matthew Garcia
- Center for Molecular Discovery, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Dominique Perez
- Center for Molecular Discovery, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Stephanie Chavez
- Center for Molecular Discovery, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Jacob J. Strouse
- Center for Molecular Discovery, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Mark K. Haynes
- Center for Molecular Discovery, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Cristian G. Bologa
- Center for Molecular Discovery, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
- Division of Biocomputing, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Tudor I. Oprea
- Center for Molecular Discovery, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
- Division of Biocomputing, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - George P. Tegos
- Center for Molecular Discovery, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
- Department of Pathology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Larry A. Sklar
- Center for Molecular Discovery, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
- Division of Biocomputing, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
- Department of Pathology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Partha Krishnamurthy
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutics, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, United States of America
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Abstract
Prevention and control of infectious diseases remains a major public health challenge and a number of highly virulent pathogens are emerging both in and beyond the hospital setting. Despite beneficial aspects such as use in biocontrol and bioremediation exhibited by members of the Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) some members of this group have recently gained attention as significant bacterial pathogens due to their high levels of intrinsic antibiotic resistance, transmissibility in nosocomial settings, persistence in the presence of antimicrobials and intracellular survival capabilities. The Bcc are opportunistic pathogens and their arsenal of virulence factors includes proteases, lipases and other secreted exoproducts, including secretion system-associated effectors. Deciphering the function of virulence factors and assessment of novel therapeutic strategies has been facilitated by use of diverse non-vertebrate hosts (the fly Drosophila melanogaster, the microscopic nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, the zebrafish and the greater Galleria mellonella wax moth caterpillar larvae). Researchers are now employing sophisticated approaches to dissect the virulence determinants of Bcc with the ultimate goal being the development of novel anti-infective countermeasures. This editorial will highlight selected recent research endeavors aimed at dissecting adaptive responses and the virulence factor portfolio of Burkholderia species.
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Affiliation(s)
- George P Tegos
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
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Dai T, Fuchs BB, Coleman JJ, Prates RA, Astrakas C, St Denis TG, Ribeiro MS, Mylonakis E, Hamblin MR, Tegos GP. Concepts and principles of photodynamic therapy as an alternative antifungal discovery platform. Front Microbiol 2012; 3:120. [PMID: 22514547 PMCID: PMC3322354 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2012.00120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 145] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2012] [Accepted: 03/13/2012] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Opportunistic fungal pathogens may cause superficial or serious invasive infections, especially in immunocompromised and debilitated patients. Invasive mycoses represent an exponentially growing threat for human health due to a combination of slow diagnosis and the existence of relatively few classes of available and effective antifungal drugs. Therefore systemic fungal infections result in high attributable mortality. There is an urgent need to pursue and deploy novel and effective alternative antifungal countermeasures. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) was established as a successful modality for malignancies and age-related macular degeneration but photodynamic inactivation has only recently been intensively investigated as an alternative antimicrobial discovery and development platform. The concept of photodynamic inactivation requires microbial exposure to either exogenous or endogenous photosensitizer molecules, followed by visible light energy, typically wavelengths in the red/near infrared region that cause the excitation of the photosensitizers resulting in the production of singlet oxygen and other reactive oxygen species that react with intracellular components, and consequently produce cell inactivation and death. Antifungal PDT is an area of increasing interest, as research is advancing (i) to identify the photochemical and photophysical mechanisms involved in photoinactivation; (ii) to develop potent and clinically compatible photosensitizers; (iii) to understand how photoinactivation is affected by key microbial phenotypic elements multidrug resistance and efflux, virulence and pathogenesis determinants, and formation of biofilms; (iv) to explore novel photosensitizer delivery platforms; and (v) to identify photoinactivation applications beyond the clinical setting such as environmental disinfectants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianhong Dai
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital Boston, MA, USA
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Vera DMA, Haynes MH, Ball AR, Dai T, Astrakas C, Kelso MJ, Hamblin MR, Tegos GP. Strategies to potentiate antimicrobial photoinactivation by overcoming resistant phenotypes. Photochem Photobiol 2012; 88:499-511. [PMID: 22242675 DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-1097.2012.01087.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Conventional antimicrobial strategies have become increasingly ineffective due to the emergence of multidrug resistance among pathogenic microorganisms. The need to overcome these deficiencies has triggered the exploration of alternative treatments and unconventional approaches towards controlling microbial infections. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) was originally established as an anticancer modality and is currently used in the treatment of age-related macular degeneration. The concept of photodynamic inactivation requires cell exposure to light energy, typically wavelengths in the visible region that causes the excitation of photosensitizer molecules either exogenous or endogenous, which results in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS produce cell inactivation and death through modification of intracellular components. The versatile characteristics of PDT prompted its investigation as an anti-infective discovery platform. Advances in understanding of microbial physiology have shed light on a series of pathways, and phenotypes that serve as putative targets for antimicrobial drug discovery. Investigations of these phenotypic elements in concert with PDT have been reported focused on multidrug efflux systems, biofilms, virulence and pathogenesis determinants. In many instances the results are promising but only preliminary and require further investigation. This review discusses the different antimicrobial PDT strategies and highlights the need for highly informative and comprehensive discovery approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domingo Mariano Adolfo Vera
- Department of Chemistry, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Mar del Plata, Argentina
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Tegos GP, Haynes M, Strouse JJ, Khan MMT, Bologa CG, Oprea TI, Sklar LA. Microbial efflux pump inhibition: tactics and strategies. Curr Pharm Des 2011; 17:1291-302. [PMID: 21470111 DOI: 10.2174/138161211795703726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2011] [Accepted: 03/21/2011] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Traditional antimicrobials are increasingly suffering from the emergence of multidrug resistance among pathogenic microorganisms. To overcome these deficiencies, a range of novel approaches to control microbial infections are under investigation as potential alternative treatments. Multidrug efflux is a key target of these efforts. Efflux mechanisms are broadly recognized as major components of resistance to many classes of chemotherapeutic agents as well as antimicrobials. Efflux occurs due to the activity of membrane transporter proteins widely known as Multidrug Efflux Systems (MES). They are implicated in a variety of physiological roles other than efflux and identifying natural substrates and inhibitors is an active and expanding research discipline. One plausible alternative is the combination of conventional antimicrobial agents/antibiotics with small molecules that block MES known as multidrug efflux pump inhibitors (EPIs). An array of approaches in academic and industrial research settings, varying from high-throughput screening (HTS) ventures to bioassay guided purification and determination, have yielded a number of promising EPIs in a series of pathogenic systems. This synergistic discovery platform has been exploited in translational directions beyond the potentiation of conventional antimicrobial treatments. This venture attempts to highlight different tactical elements of this platform, identifying the need for highly informative and comprehensive EPI-discovery strategies. Advances in assay development genomics, proteomics as well as the accumulation of bioactivity and structural information regarding MES facilitates the basis for a new discovery era. This platform is expanding drastically. A combination of chemogenomics and chemoinformatics approaches will integrate data mining with virtual and physical HTS ventures and populate the chemical-biological interface with a plethora of novel chemotypes. This comprehensive step will expedite the preclinical development of lead EPIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- George P Tegos
- Center for Molecular Discovery, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA.
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St Denis TG, Dai T, Izikson L, Astrakas C, Anderson RR, Hamblin MR, Tegos GP. All you need is light: antimicrobial photoinactivation as an evolving and emerging discovery strategy against infectious disease. Virulence 2011; 2:509-20. [PMID: 21971183 DOI: 10.4161/viru.2.6.17889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 171] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The story of prevention and control of infectious diseases remains open and a series of highly virulent pathogens are emerging both in and beyond the hospital setting. Antibiotics were an absolute success story for a previous era. The academic and industrial biomedical communities have now come together to formulate consensus beliefs regarding the pursuit of novel and effective alternative anti-infective countermeasures. Photodynamic therapy was established and remains a successful modality for malignancies but photodynamic inactivation has been transformed recently to an antimicrobial discovery and development platform. The concept of photodynamic inactivation is quite straightforward and requires microbial exposure to visible light energy, typically wavelengths in the visible region, that causes the excitation of photosensitizer molecules (either exogenous or endogenous), which results in the production of singlet oxygen and other reactive oxygen species that react with intracellular components, and consequently produce cell inactivation. It is an area of increasing interest, as research is advancing i) to identify the photochemical and photophysical mechanisms involved in inactivation; ii) to develop potent and clinically compatible photosensitizer; iii) to understand how photoinactivation is affected by key microbial phenotypic elements (multidrug resistance and efflux, virulence and pathogenesis determinants, biofilms); iv) to explore novel delivery platforms inspired by current trends in pharmacology and nanotechnology; and v) to identify photoinactivation applications beyond the clinical setting such as environmental disinfectants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler G St Denis
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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39
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Apidianakis Y, Que YA, Xu W, Tegos GP, Zimniak P, Hamblin MR, Tompkins RG, Xiao W, Rahme LG. Down-regulation of glutatione S-transferase α 4 (hGSTA4) in the muscle of thermally injured patients is indicative of susceptibility to bacterial infection. FASEB J 2011; 26:730-7. [PMID: 22038048 DOI: 10.1096/fj.11-192484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Patients with severe burns are highly susceptible to bacterial infection. While immunosuppression facilitates infection, the contribution of soft tissues to infection beyond providing a portal for bacterial entry remains unclear. We showed previously that glutathione S-transferase S1 (gstS1), an enzyme with conjugating activity against the lipid peroxidation byproduct 4-hydroxynonenal (4HNE), is important for resistance against wound infection in Drosophila muscle. The importance of the mammalian functional counterpart of GstS1 in the context of wounds and infection has not been investigated. Here we demonstrate that the presence of a burn wound dramatically affects expression of both human (hGSTA4) and mouse (mGsta4) 4HNE scavengers. hGSTA4 is down-regulated significantly within 1 wk of thermal burn injury in the muscle and fat tissues of patients from the large-scale collaborative Inflammation and the Host Response to Injury multicentered study. Similarly, mGsta4, the murine GST with the highest catalytic efficiency for 4HNE, is down-regulated to approximately half of normal levels in mouse muscle immediately postburn. Consequently, 4HNE protein adducts are increased 4- to 5-fold in mouse muscle postburn. Using an open wound infection model, we show that deletion of mGsta4 renders mice more susceptible to infection with the prevalent wound pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, while muscle hGSTA4 expression negatively correlates with burn wound infection episodes per patient. Our data suggest that hGSTA4 down-regulation and the concomitant increase in 4HNE adducts in human muscle are indicative of susceptibility to infection in individuals with severely thermal injuries.
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K. Sharma S, Dai T, B. Kharkwal G, Huang YY, Huang L, J. Bil De Arce V, P. Tegos G, R. Hamblin M. Drug Discovery of Antimicrobial Photosensitizers Using Animal Models. Curr Pharm Des 2011; 17:1303-19. [DOI: 10.2174/138161211795703735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2011] [Accepted: 04/19/2011] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Prates RA, Kato IT, Ribeiro MS, Tegos GP, Hamblin MR. Influence of multidrug efflux systems on methylene blue-mediated photodynamic inactivation of Candida albicans. J Antimicrob Chemother 2011; 66:1525-32. [PMID: 21525022 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkr160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To investigate whether the major fungal multidrug efflux systems (MESs) affect the efficiency of methylene blue (MB)-mediated antimicrobial photodynamic inactivation (APDI) in pathogenic fungi and test specific inhibitors of these efflux systems to potentiate APDI. METHODS Candida albicans wild-type and mutants that overexpressed two classes of MESs [ATP-binding cassette (ABC) and major facilitator superfamily (MFS)] were tested for APDI using MB as the photosensitizer with and without addition of MES inhibitors. The uptake and cytoplasm localization of photosensitizer were achieved using laser confocal microscopy. RESULTS ABC MES overexpression reduced MB accumulation and APDI killing more than MFS MES overexpression. Furthermore, by combining MB APDI with the ABC inhibitor verapamil, fungal killing and MB uptake were potentiated, while by combining MB APDI with the MFS inhibitor INF(271), fungal killing and MB uptake were inhibited. This latter surprising finding may be explained by the hypothesis that the MFS channel can also serve as an uptake mechanism for MB. CONCLUSIONS The ABC pumps are directly implicated in MB efflux from the cell cytoplasm. Both the influx and efflux of MB may be regulated by MFS systems, and blocking this gate before incubation with MB can decrease the uptake and APDI effects. An ABC inhibitor could be usefully combined with MB APDI for treating C. albicans infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renato A Prates
- Center for Lasers and Applications, IPEN-CNEN/SP, São Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil
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Fiamegos YC, Kastritis PL, Exarchou V, Han H, Bonvin AMJJ, Vervoort J, Lewis K, Hamblin MR, Tegos GP. Antimicrobial and efflux pump inhibitory activity of caffeoylquinic acids from Artemisia absinthium against gram-positive pathogenic bacteria. PLoS One 2011; 6:e18127. [PMID: 21483731 PMCID: PMC3070693 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0018127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2010] [Accepted: 02/25/2011] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Traditional antibiotics are increasingly suffering from the emergence of multidrug resistance amongst pathogenic bacteria leading to a range of novel approaches to control microbial infections being investigated as potential alternative treatments. One plausible antimicrobial alternative could be the combination of conventional antimicrobial agents/antibiotics with small molecules which block multidrug efflux systems known as efflux pump inhibitors. Bioassay-driven purification and structural determination of compounds from plant sources have yielded a number of pump inhibitors which acted against gram positive bacteria. Methodology/Principal Findings In this study we report the identification and characterization of 4′,5′-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid (4′,5′-ODCQA) from Artemisia absinthium as a pump inhibitor with a potential of targeting efflux systems in a wide panel of Gram-positive human pathogenic bacteria. Separation and identification of phenolic compounds (chlorogenic acid, 3′,5′-ODCQA, 4′,5′-ODCQA) was based on hyphenated chromatographic techniques such as liquid chromatography with post column solid-phase extraction coupled with nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectroscopy. Microbial susceptibility testing and potentiation of well know pump substrates revealed at least two active compounds; chlorogenic acid with weak antimicrobial activity and 4′,5′-ODCQA with pump inhibitory activity whereas 3′,5′-ODCQA was ineffective. These intitial findings were further validated with checkerboard, berberine accumulation efflux assays using efflux-related phenotypes and clinical isolates as well as molecular modeling methodology. Conclusions/Significance These techniques facilitated the direct analysis of the active components from plant extracts, as well as dramatically reduced the time needed to analyze the compounds, without the need for prior isolation. The calculated energetics of the docking poses supported the biological information for the inhibitory capabilities of 4′,5′-ODCQA and furthermore contributed evidence that CQAs show a preferential binding to Major Facilitator Super family efflux systems, a key multidrug resistance determinant in gram-positive bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiannis C. Fiamegos
- Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Panagiotis L. Kastritis
- Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research, Science Faculty, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Haley Han
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Alexandre M. J. J. Bonvin
- Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research, Science Faculty, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jacques Vervoort
- Wageningen NMR Center, Laboratory of Biophysics, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Kim Lewis
- Department of Biology and Antimicrobial Drug Discovery Center, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Michael R. Hamblin
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - George P. Tegos
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Mizuno K, Zhiyentayev T, Huang L, Khalil S, Nasim F, Tegos GP, Gali H, Jahnke A, Wharton T, Hamblin MR. Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy with Functionalized Fullerenes: Quantitative Structure-activity Relationships. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 2:1-9. [PMID: 21743839 DOI: 10.4172/2157-7439.1000109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Photosensitive dyes or photo sensitizers (PS) in combination with visible light and oxygen produce reactive oxygen species that kill cells in the process known as photodynamic therapy (PDT). Antimicrobial PDT employs PS that is selective for microbial cells and is a new treatment for infections. Most antimicrobial PS is based on tetrapyrrole or phenothiazinium structures that have been synthesized to carry quaternary cationic charges or basic amino groups. However we recently showed that cationic-substituted fullerene derivative were highly effective in killing a broad spectrum of microbial cells after illumination with white light. In the present report we compared a new group of synthetic fullerene derivatives that possessed either basic or quaternary amino groups as antimicrobial PS against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus), Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli) and fungi (Candida albicans). Quantitative structure-function relationships were derived with LogP and hydrophilic lipophilic balance parameters. Compounds with non-quaternary amino groups tended to form nanoaggregates in water and were only effective against S. aureus. The most important determinant of effectiveness was an increased number of quaternary cationic groups that were widely dispersed around the fullerene cage to minimize aggregation. S. aureus was most susceptible; E. coli was intermediate, while C. albicans was the most resistant species tested. The high effectiveness of antimicrobial PDT with quaternized fullerenes suggest they may have applications in treatment of superficial infections (for instance in wounds and burns) where light penetration into tissue is not problematic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazue Mizuno
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
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Lu Z, Dai T, Huang L, Kurup DB, Tegos GP, Jahnke A, Wharton T, Hamblin MR. Photodynamic therapy with a cationic functionalized fullerene rescues mice from fatal wound infections. Nanomedicine (Lond) 2010; 5:1525-33. [PMID: 21143031 PMCID: PMC3047412 DOI: 10.2217/nnm.10.98] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS Fullerenes are under intensive study for potential biomedical applications. We have previously reported that a C60 fullerene functionalized with three dimethylpyrrolidinium groups (BF6) is a highly active broad-spectrum antimicrobial photosensitizer in vitro when combined with white-light illumination. We asked whether this high degree of in vitro activity would translate into an in vivo therapeutic effect in two potentially lethal mouse models of infected wounds. MATERIALS & METHODS We used stable bioluminescent bacteria and a low light imaging system to follow the progress of the infection noninvasively in real time. An excisional wound on the mouse back was contaminated with one of two bioluminescent Gram-negative species, Proteus mirabilis (2.5 × 10(7) cells) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (5 × 10(6) cells). A solution of BF6 was placed into the wound followed by delivery of up to 180 J/cm(2) of broadband white light (400-700 nm). RESULTS In both cases there was a light-dose-dependent reduction of bioluminescence from the wound not observed in control groups (light alone or BF6 alone). Fullerene-mediated photodynamic therapy of mice infected with P. mirabilis led to 82% survival compared with 8% survival without treatment (p < 0.001). Photodynamic therapy of mice infected with highly virulent P. aeruginosa did not lead to survival, but when photodynamic therapy was combined with a suboptimal dose of the antibiotic tobramycin (6 mg/kg for 1 day) there was a synergistic therapeutic effect with a survival of 60% compared with a survival of 20% with tobramycin alone (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION These data suggest that cationic fullerenes have clinical potential as an antimicrobial photosensitizer for superficial infections where red light is not needed to penetrate tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zongshun Lu
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, 40 Blossom Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Tianhong Dai
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, 40 Blossom Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Liyi Huang
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, 40 Blossom Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- First Affiliated College & Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Divya B Kurup
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, 40 Blossom Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - George P Tegos
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, 40 Blossom Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Ashlee Jahnke
- Lynntech Inc., College Station, TX, USA
- University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Tim Wharton
- Lynntech Inc., College Station, TX, USA
- Texas Biochemicals, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Michael R Hamblin
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, 40 Blossom Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences & Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
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Ragàs X, Dai T, Tegos GP, Agut M, Nonell S, Hamblin MR. Photodynamic inactivation of Acinetobacter baumannii using phenothiazinium dyes: in vitro and in vivo studies. Lasers Surg Med 2010; 42:384-90. [PMID: 20583252 DOI: 10.1002/lsm.20922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Phenothiazinium dyes have been reported to be effective photosensitizers inactivating a wide range of microorganisms in vitro after illumination with red light. However, their application in vivo has not extensively been explored. This study evaluates the bactericidal activity of phenothiazinium dyes against multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii both in vitro and in vivo. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS We report the investigation of toluidine blue O, methylene blue, 1,9-dimethylmethylene blue, and new methylene blue for photodynamic inactivation of multidrug-resistant A. baumannii in vitro. The most effective dye was selected to carry out in vivo studies using third-degree mouse burns infected with a bioluminescent A. baumannii strain, upon irradiation with a 652 nm noncoherent light source. The mice were imaged daily for 2 weeks to observe differences in the bioluminescence-time curve between the photodynamic therapy (PDT)-treated mice in comparison with untreated burns. RESULTS All the dyes were effective in vitro against A. baumannii after 30 J/cm(2) irradiation of 635 or 652 nm red light had been delivered, with more effective killing when the dye remained in solution. New methylene blue was the most effective of the four dyes, achieving a 3.2-log reduction of the bacterial luminescence during PDT in vivo after 360 J/cm(2) and an 800 microM dye dose. Moreover, a statistically significant reduction of the area under the bioluminescence-time curve of PDT-treated mice was observed showing that the infection did not recur after PDT. CONCLUSIONS Phenothiazinium dyes, and especially new methylene blue, are potential photosensitizers for PDT to treat burns infected with multidrug-resistant A. baumannii in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Ragàs
- Institut Químic de Sarrià, Universitat Ramon Llull, Barcelona, Spain
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Dai T, Tegos GP, St Denis TG, Anderson D, Sinofsky E, Hamblin MR. Ultraviolet-C irradiation for prevention of central venous catheter-related infections: an in vitro study. Photochem Photobiol 2010; 87:250-5. [PMID: 21073470 DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-1097.2010.00819.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Central venous catheters (CVC) are widely used in the United States and are associated with 250,000 to 500,000 CVC-related infections in hospitals annually. We used a catheter made from ultraviolet-C (UVC) transmissive material to test whether delivery of UVC from the lumen would allow inactivation of microorganisms on the outer surface of CVC. When the catheter was exposed to UVC irradiation from a cold cathode fluorescent lamp inside the catheter lumen at a radiant exposure of 3.6 mJ cm(-2) , more than 6-log(10) of drug-resistant Gram-positive bacteria adhered to the outer surface of the catheter were inactivated. Three to 7-log(10) of drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria and 2.80-log(10) of fungi were inactivated at a radiant exposure of 11 mJ cm(-2).UVC irradiation also offered a highly selective inactivation of bacteria over keratinocytes under exactly comparable conditions. After 11 mJ cm(-2) UVC light had been delivered, over 6-log(10) of bacteria were inactivated while the viability loss of the keratinocytes was only about 57%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianhong Dai
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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Kishen A, Upadya M, Tegos GP, Hamblin MR. Efflux pump inhibitor potentiates antimicrobial photodynamic inactivation of Enterococcus faecalis biofilm. Photochem Photobiol 2010; 86:1343-9. [PMID: 20860692 DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-1097.2010.00792.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Microbial biofilm architecture contains numerous protective features, including extracellular polymeric material that render biofilms impermeable to conventional antimicrobial agents. This study evaluated the efficacy of antimicrobial photodynamic inactivation (aPDI) of Enterococcus faecalis biofilms. The ability of a cationic, phenothiazinium photosensitizer, methylene blue (MB) and an anionic, xanthene photosensitizer, rose bengal (RB) to inactivate biofilms of E. faecalis (OG1RF and FA 2-2) and disrupt the biofilm structure was evaluated. Bacterial cells were tested as planktonic suspensions, intact biofilms and biofilm-derived suspensions obtained by the mechanical disruption of biofilms. The role of a specific microbial efflux pump inhibitor (EPI), verapamil hydrochloride in the MB-mediated aPDI of E. faecalis biofilms was also investigated. The results showed that E. faecalis biofilms exhibited significantly higher resistance to aPDI when compared with E. faecalis in suspension (P < 0.001). aPDI with cationic MB produced superior inactivation of E. faecalis strains in a biofilm along with significant destruction of biofilm structure when compared with anionic RB (P < 0.05). The ability to inactivate biofilm bacteria was further enhanced when the EPI was used with MB (P < 0.001). These experiments demonstrated the advantage of a cationic phenothiazinium photosensitizer combined with an EPI to inactivate biofilm bacteria and disrupt biofilm structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anil Kishen
- Endodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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Dai T, Tegos GP, Zhiyentayev T, Mylonakis E, Hamblin MR. Photodynamic therapy for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection in a mouse skin abrasion model. Lasers Surg Med 2010; 42:38-44. [PMID: 20077489 DOI: 10.1002/lsm.20887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 157] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) skin infections are now known to be a common and important problem in the Unites States. The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) for the treatment of MRSA infection in skin abrasion wounds using a mouse model. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS A mouse model of skin abrasion wound infected with MRSA was developed. Bioluminescent strain of MRSA, a derivative of ATCC 33591, was used to allow the real-time monitoring of the extent of infection in mouse wounds. PDT was performed with the combination of a polyethylenimine (PEI)-ce6 photosensitizer (PS) and non-coherent red light. In vivo fluorescence imaging was carried out to evaluate the effect of photobleaching of PS during PDT. RESULTS In vivo fluorescence imaging of conjugate PEI-ce6 applied in mice indicated the photobleaching effect of the PS during PDT. PDT induced on average 2.7 log(10) of inactivation of MRSA as judged by loss of bioluminescence in mouse skin abrasion wounds and accelerated the wound healing on average by 8.6 days in comparison to the untreated infected wounds. Photobleaching of PS in the wound was overcome by adding the PS solution in aliquots. CONCLUSION PDT may represent an alternative approach for the treatment of MRSA skin infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianhong Dai
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA
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Coleman JJ, Okoli I, Tegos GP, Holson EB, Wagner FF, Hamblin MR, Mylonakis E. Characterization of plant-derived saponin natural products against Candida albicans. ACS Chem Biol 2010; 5:321-32. [PMID: 20099897 DOI: 10.1021/cb900243b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Candida albicans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen capable of life-threatening disseminated infections particularly in immunocompromised patients. Resistance to many clinically used antifungal agents has created a need to identify and develop a new generation of compounds for therapeutic use. A compound screen to identify potential antifungal natural products was undertaken, identifying 12 saponins, some of which have not been previously described. In the Caenorhabditis elegans model, some saponins conferred nematode survival comparable to that of amphotericin B. Of the 12 antifungal saponins identified, two were selected for further analysis. C. albicans isolates were inhibited by these compounds at relatively low concentrations (16 and 32 microg mL(-1)) including isolates resistant to clinically used antifungal agents. C. albicans hyphae and biofilm formation were also disrupted in the presence of these natural products, and studies demonstrate that fungal cells in the presence of saponins are more susceptible to salt-induced osmotic stress. Although saponins are known for their hemolytic activity, no hemolysis of erythrocytes was observed at three times the minimal inhibitory concentration for C. albicans, suggesting the saponins may have a preference for binding to fungal ergosterol when compared to cholesterol. Importantly, when used in combination with photosensitizer compounds, the fungus displayed increased susceptibility to photodynamic inactivation due to the ability of the saponins to increase cell permeability, thereby facilitating penetration of the photosensitizers. The large proportion of compounds identified as antifungal agents containing saponin structural features suggests it may be a suitable chemical scaffold for a new generation of antifungal compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey J. Coleman
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ikechukwu Okoli
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - George P. Tegos
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Edward B. Holson
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Florence F. Wagner
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Michael R. Hamblin
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Eleftherios Mylonakis
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
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Huang L, Terakawa M, Zhiyentayev T, Huang YY, Sawayama Y, Jahnke A, Tegos GP, Wharton T, Hamblin MR. Innovative cationic fullerenes as broad-spectrum light-activated antimicrobials. Nanomedicine 2009; 6:442-52. [PMID: 19914400 DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2009.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2009] [Revised: 10/08/2009] [Accepted: 10/23/2009] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Photodynamic inactivation is a rapidly developing antimicrobial technology that combines a nontoxic photoactivatable dye or photosensitizer in combination with harmless visible light of the correct wavelength to excite the dye to its reactive-triplet state that will then generate reactive oxygen species that are highly toxic to cells. Buckminsterfullerenes are closed-cage molecules entirely composed of sp2-hybridized carbon atoms, and although their main absorption is in the UV, they also absorb visible light and have a long-lived triplet state. When C(60) fullerene is derivatized with cationic functional groups it forms molecules that are more water-soluble and can mediate photodynamic therapy efficiently upon illumination; moreover, cationic fullerenes can selectively bind to microbial cells. In this report we describe the synthesis and characterization of several new cationic fullerenes. Their relative effectiveness as broad-spectrum antimicrobial photosensitizers against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, and a fungal yeast was determined by quantitative structure-function relationships. FROM THE CLINICAL EDITOR Photodynamic inactivation (PDI) is a rapidly developing antimicrobial technology in which a non-toxic photoactivatable dye or photosensitizer is excited with harmless visible light to its reactive state, where it will generate highly toxic reactive oxygen species. Buckminsterfullerenes derivatized with cationic functional groups form molecules that are water-soluble and mediate PDI efficiently. These fullerenes can also selectively bind to microbial cells. Several new cationic fullerenes are presented in this paper, and their efficacy against Gram-positive, Gram-negative bacteria, and a fungal yeast is also demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liyi Huang
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114-2696, USA
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