scholarly journals Rifabutin Is Bactericidal against Intracellular and Extracellular Forms of Mycobacterium abscessus

2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Matt D. Johansen ◽  
Wassim Daher ◽  
Françoise Roquet-Banères ◽  
Clément Raynaud ◽  
Matthéo Alcaraz ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Mycobacterium abscessus is increasingly recognized as an emerging opportunistic pathogen causing severe lung diseases. As it is intrinsically resistant to most conventional antibiotics, there is an unmet medical need for effective treatments. Repurposing of clinically validated pharmaceuticals represents an attractive option for the development of chemotherapeutic alternatives against M. abscessus infections. In this context, rifabutin (RFB) has been shown to be active against M. abscessus and has raised renewed interest in using rifamycins for the treatment of M. abscessus pulmonary diseases. Here, we compared the in vitro and in vivo activity of RFB against the smooth and rough variants of M. abscessus, differing in their susceptibility profiles to several drugs and physiopathologial characteristics. While the activity of RFB is greater against rough strains than in smooth strains in vitro, suggesting a role of the glycopeptidolipid layer in susceptibility to RFB, both variants were equally susceptible to RFB inside human macrophages. RFB treatment also led to a reduction in the number and size of intracellular and extracellular mycobacterial cords. Furthermore, RFB was highly effective in a zebrafish model of infection and protected the infected larvae from M. abscessus-induced killing. This was corroborated by a significant reduction in the overall bacterial burden, as well as decreased numbers of abscesses and cords, two major pathophysiological traits in infected zebrafish. This study indicates that RFB is active against M. abscessus both in vitro and in vivo, further supporting its potential usefulness as part of combination regimens targeting this difficult-to-treat mycobacterium.

2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Dupont ◽  
Albertus Viljoen ◽  
Sangeeta Thomas ◽  
Françoise Roquet-Banères ◽  
Jean-Louis Herrmann ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Pulmonary infections caused by Mycobacterium abscessus are emerging as a global threat, especially in cystic fibrosis patients. Further intensifying the concern of M. abscessus infection is the recent evidence of human-to-human transmission of the infection. M. abscessus is a naturally multidrug-resistant fast-growing pathogen for which pharmacological options are limited. Repurposing antitubercular drugs represents an attractive option for the development of chemotherapeutic alternatives against M. abscessus infections. Bedaquiline (BDQ), an ATP synthase inhibitor, has recently been approved for the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. Herein, we show that BDQ has a very low MIC against a vast panel of clinical isolates. Despite being bacteriostatic in vitro, BDQ was highly efficacious in a zebrafish model of M. abscessus infection. Remarkably, a very short period of treatment was sufficient to protect the infected larvae from M. abscessus-induced killing. This was corroborated with reduced numbers of abscesses and cords, considered to be major pathophysiological signs in infected zebrafish. Mode-of-action studies revealed that BDQ triggered a rapid depletion of ATP in M. abscessus in vitro, consistent with the drug targeting the FoF1 ATP synthase. Importantly, despite a failure to select in vitro for spontaneous mutants that are highly resistant to BDQ, the transfer of single nucleotide polymorphisms leading to D29V or A64P substitutions in atpE conferred high resistance, thus resolving the target of BDQ in M. abscessus. Overall, this study indicates that BDQ is active against M. abscessus in vitro and in vivo and should be considered for clinical use against the difficult-to-manage M. abscessus pulmonary infections.


2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
James D. Blanchard ◽  
Valerie Elias ◽  
David Cipolla ◽  
Igor Gonda ◽  
Luiz E. Bermudez

ABSTRACT Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) affect an increasing number of individuals worldwide. Infection with these organisms is more common in patients with chronic lung conditions, and treatment is challenging. Quinolones, such as ciprofloxacin, have been used to treat patients, but the results have not been encouraging. In this report, we evaluate novel formulations of liposome-encapsulated ciprofloxacin (liposomal ciprofloxacin) in vitro and in vivo. Its efficacy against Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium abscessus was examined in macrophages, in biofilms, and in vivo using intranasal instillation mouse models. Liposomal ciprofloxacin was significantly more active than free ciprofloxacin against both pathogens in macrophages and biofilms. When evaluated in vivo, treatment with the liposomal ciprofloxacin formulations was associated with significant decreases in the bacterial loads in the lungs of animals infected with M. avium and M. abscessus. In summary, topical delivery of liposomal ciprofloxacin in the lung at concentrations greater than those achieved in the serum can be effective in the treatment of NTM, and further evaluation is warranted.


2019 ◽  
Vol 202 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hector Gabriel Morales-Filloy ◽  
Yaqing Zhang ◽  
Gabriele Nübel ◽  
Shilpa Elizabeth George ◽  
Natalya Korn ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Nicotinamide adenosine dinucleotide (NAD) has been found to be covalently attached to the 5′ ends of specific RNAs in many different organisms, but the physiological consequences of this modification are largely unknown. Here, we report the occurrence of several NAD-RNAs in the opportunistic pathogen Staphylococcus aureus. Most prominently, RNAIII, a central quorum-sensing regulator of this bacterium’s physiology, was found to be 5′ NAD capped in a range from 10 to 35%. NAD incorporation efficiency into RNAIII was found to depend in vivo on the −1 position of the P3 promoter. An increase in RNAIII’s NAD content led to a decreased expression of alpha- and delta-toxins, resulting in reduced cytotoxicity of the modified strains. These effects seem to be caused neither by changes in RNAIII’s secondary structure nor by a different translatability upon NAD attachment, as indicated by unaltered patterns in in vitro chemical probing and toeprinting experiments. Even though we did not observe any effect of this modification on RNAIII’s secondary structure or translatability in vitro, additional unidentified factors might account for the modulation of exotoxins in vivo. Ultimately, the study constitutes a step forward in the discovery of new roles of the NAD molecule in bacteria. IMPORTANCE Numerous organisms, including bacteria, are endowed with a 5′ NAD cap in specific RNAs. While the presence of the 5′ NAD cap modulates the stability of the modified RNA species, a significant biological function and phenotype have not been assigned so far. Here, we show the presence of a 5′ NAD cap in RNAIII from S. aureus, a dual-function regulatory RNA involved in quorum-sensing processes and regulation of virulence factor expression. We also demonstrate that altering the natural NAD modification ratio of RNAIII leads to a decrease in exotoxin production, thereby modulating the bacterium’s virulence. Our work unveils a new layer of regulation of RNAIII and the agr system that might be linked to the redox state of the NAD molecule in the cell.


2014 ◽  
Vol 82 (5) ◽  
pp. 1755-1765 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dilini Chandrapala ◽  
Kyumson Kim ◽  
Younho Choi ◽  
Amal Senevirathne ◽  
Dong-Hyun Kang ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTCronobacter sakazakiiis an opportunistic pathogen that causes neonatal meningitis and necrotizing enterocolitis. Its interaction with intestinal epithelium is important in the pathogenesis of enteric infections. In this study, we investigated the involvement of theinvgene in the virulence ofC. sakazakiiATCC 29544in vitroandin vivo. Sequence analysis ofC. sakazakiiATCC 29544invrevealed that it is different from otherC. sakazakiiisolates. In various cell culture models, an Δinvdeletion mutant showed significantly lowered invasion efficiency, which was restored upon genetic complementation. Studying invasion potentials using tight-junction-disrupted Caco-2 cells suggested that theinvgene product mediates basolateral invasion ofC. sakazakiiATCC 29544. In addition, comparison of invasion potentials of double mutant (ΔompA Δinv) and single mutants (ΔompAand Δinv) provided evidence for an additive effect of the two putative outer membrane proteins. Finally, the importance ofinvand the additive effect of putative Inv and OmpA were also proven in anin vivorat pup model. This report is the first to demonstrate two proteins working synergisticallyin vitro, as well asin vivoinC. sakazakiipathogenesis.


2011 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 658-665 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie Crisel B. Erfe ◽  
Consuelo V. David ◽  
Cher Huang ◽  
Victoria Lu ◽  
Ana Claudia Maretti-Mira ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTHost defense peptides are naturally occurring molecules that play essential roles in innate immunity to infection. Based on prior structure-function knowledge, we tested two synthetic peptides (RP-1 and AA-RP-1) modeled on the conserved, microbicidal α-helical domain of mammalian CXCL4 platelet kinocidins. These peptides were evaluated for efficacy againstLeishmaniaspecies, the causative agents of the group of diseases known as leishmaniasis.In vitroantileishmanial activity was assessed against three distinctLeishmaniastrains by measuring proliferation, metabolic activity and parasite viability after exposure to various concentrations of peptides. We demonstrate that micromolar concentrations of RP-1 and AA-RP-1 caused dose-dependent growth inhibition ofLeishmaniapromastigotes. This antileishmanial activity correlated with rapid membrane disruption, as well as with a loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential. In addition, RP-1 and AA-RP-1 demonstrated distinct and significantin vivoantileishmanial activities in a mouse model of experimental visceral leishmaniasis after intravenous administration. These results establish efficacy of RP-1 lineage synthetic peptides againstLeishmaniaspeciesin vitroand after intravenous administrationin vivoand provide further validation of proof of concept for the development of these and related systemic anti-infective peptides targeting pathogens that are resistant to conventional antibiotics.


2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaoyan Zhang ◽  
Yuzhen Zou ◽  
Qi Guo ◽  
Jianhui Chen ◽  
Liyun Xu ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Therapeutic options for Mycobacterium abscessus infections are extremely limited. New or repurposed drugs are needed. The anti-M. abscessus activity of AR-12 (OSU-03012), reported to express broad-spectrum antimicrobial effects, was investigated in vitro and in vivo. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed on 194 clinical isolates. Minimum bactericidal concentration and time-kill kinetics assays were conducted to distinguish the bactericidal versus bacteriostatic activity of AR-12. Synergy between AR-12 and five clinically important antibiotics was determined using a checkerboard synergy assay. The activity of AR-12 against intracellular M. abscessus residing within macrophage was also evaluated. Finally, the potency of AR-12 in vivo was determined in a neutropenic mouse model that mimics pulmonary M. abscessus infection. AR-12 exhibited high anti-M. abscessus activity in vitro, with an MIC50 of 4 mg/liter (8.7 μM) and an MIC90 of 8 mg/liter (17.4 μM) for both subsp. abscessus and subsp. massiliense. AR-12 and amikacin exhibited comparable bactericidal activity against extracellular M. abscessus in culture. AR-12, however, exhibited significantly greater intracellular antibacterial activity than amikacin and caused a significant reduction in the bacterial load in the lungs of neutropenic mice infected with M. abscessus. No antagonism between AR-12 and clarithromycin, amikacin, imipenem, cefoxitin, or tigecycline was evident. In conclusion, AR-12 is active against M. abscessus in vitro and in vivo and does not antagonize the most frequently used anti-M. abscessus drugs. As such, AR-12 is a potential candidate to include in novel strategies to treat M. abscessus infections.


2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tae Sung Kim ◽  
Jin Ho Choe ◽  
Young Jae Kim ◽  
Chul-Su Yang ◽  
Hyun-Jin Kwon ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Mycobacterium abscessus is a highly pathogenic drug-resistant rapidly growing mycobacterium. In this study, we evaluated the in vitro, intracellular, and in vivo activities of LCB01-0371, a novel and safe oxazolidinone derivative, for the treatment of M. abscessus infection and compared its resistance to that of other oxazolidinone drugs. LCB01-0371 was effective against several M. abscessus strains in vitro and in a macrophage model of infection. In the murine model, a similar efficacy to linezolid was achieved, especially in the lungs. We induced laboratory-generated resistance to LCB01-0371; sequencing analysis revealed mutations in rplC of T424C and G419A and a nucleotide insertion at the 503 position. Furthermore, LCB01-0371 inhibited the growth of amikacin-, cefoxitin-, and clarithromycin-resistant strains. Collectively, our data indicate that LCB01-0371 might represent a promising new class of oxazolidinones with improved safety, which may replace linezolid for the treatment of M. abscessus.


2015 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 1097-1105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beatriz E. Ferro ◽  
Joseph Meletiadis ◽  
Melanie Wattenberg ◽  
Arjan de Jong ◽  
Dick van Soolingen ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTMultidrug therapy is a standard practice when treating infections by nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), but few treatment options exist. We conducted this study to define the drug-drug interaction between clofazimine and both amikacin and clarithromycin and its contribution to NTM treatment.Mycobacterium abscessusandMycobacterium aviumtype strains were used. Time-kill assays for clofazimine alone and combined with amikacin or clarithromycin were performed at concentrations of 0.25× to 2× MIC. Pharmacodynamic interactions were assessed by response surface model of Bliss independence (RSBI) and isobolographic analysis of Loewe additivity (ISLA), calculating the percentage of statistically significant Bliss interactions and interaction indices (I), respectively. Monte Carlo simulations with predicted human lung concentrations were used to calculate target attainment rates for combination and monotherapy regimens. Clofazimine alone was bacteriostatic for both NTM. Clofazimine-amikacin was synergistic againstM. abscessus(I = 0.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.29 to 0.55) andM. avium(I = 0.027; 95% CI, 0.007 to 0.048). Based on RSBI analysis, synergistic interactions of 28.4 to 29.0% and 23.2 to 56.7% were observed at 1× to 2× MIC and 0.25× to 2× MIC forM. abscessusandM. avium, respectively. Clofazimine-clarithromycin was also synergistic againstM. abscessus(I = 0.53; 95% CI, 0.35 to 0.72) andM. avium(I = 0.16; 95% CI, 0.04 to 0.35), RSBI analysis showed 23.5% and 23.3 to 53.3% at 2× MIC and 0.25× to 0.5× MIC forM. abscessusandM. avium, respectively. Clofazimine prevented the regrowth observed with amikacin or clarithromycin alone. Target attainment rates of combination regimens were >60% higher than those of monotherapy regimens forM. abscessusandM. avium. The combination of clofazimine with amikacin or clarithromycin was synergisticin vitro. This suggests a potential role for clofazimine in treatment regimens that warrants further evaluation.


2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulami Rudra ◽  
Kelley Hurst-Hess ◽  
Pascal Lappierre ◽  
Pallavi Ghosh

ABSTRACTTetracyclines have been one of the most successful classes of antibiotics. However, its extensive use has led to the emergence of widespread drug resistance, resulting in discontinuation of use against several bacterial infections. Prominent resistance mechanisms include drug efflux and the use of ribosome protection proteins. Infrequently, tetracyclines can be inactivated by the TetX class of enzymes, also referred to as tetracycline destructases. Low levels of tolerance to tetracycline inMycobacterium smegmatisandMycobacterium tuberculosishave been previously attributed to the WhiB7-dependent TetV/Tap efflux pump. However,Mycobacterium abscessusis ∼500-fold more resistant to tetracycline thanM. smegmatisandM. tuberculosis. In this report, we show that this high level of resistance to tetracycline and doxycycline inM. abscessusis conferred by a WhiB7-independent tetracycline-inactivating monooxygenase, MabTetX (MAB_1496c). The presence of sublethal doses of tetracycline and doxycycline results in a >200-fold induction of MabTetX, and an isogenic deletion strain is highly sensitive to both antibiotics. Further, purified MabTetX can rapidly monooxygenate both antibiotics. We also demonstrate that expression of MabTetX is repressed by MabTetRx, by binding to an inverted repeat sequence upstream of MabTetRx; the presence of either antibiotic relieves this repression. Moreover, anhydrotetracycline (ATc) can effectively inhibit MabTetX activityin vitroand decreases the MICs of both tetracycline and doxycyclinein vivo. Finally, we show that tigecycline, a glycylcycline tetracycline, not only is a poor substrate of MabTetX but also is incapable of inducing the expression of MabTetX. This is therefore the first demonstration of a tetracycline-inactivating enzyme in mycobacteria. It (i) elucidates the mechanism of tetracycline resistance inM. abscessus, (ii) demonstrates the use of an inhibitor that can potentially reclaim the use of tetracycline and doxycycline, and (iii) identifies two sequential bottlenecks—MabTetX and MabTetRx—for acquiring resistance to tigecycline, thereby reiterating its use againstM. abscessus.


2011 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 1215-1222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisabetta Spreghini ◽  
Fiorenza Orlando ◽  
Maurizio Sanguinetti ◽  
Brunella Posteraro ◽  
Daniele Giannini ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTThe aim of this study was to compare thein vitroandin vivoactivities of micafungin, caspofungin, and anidulafungin againstCandida glabrata. The MICs against 28 clinical isolates showed that the overall susceptibilities to caspofungin and to micafungin were not statistically different in the absence of human serum, whereas the isolates were less susceptible to micafungin than to caspofungin in its presence. Minimum fungicidal concentrations, as well as time-kill experiments, showed that caspofungin was more active than anidulafungin, while micafungin was superior to either caspofungin or anidulafungin without serum; its addition rendered caspofungin and micafungin equally effective. A murine model of systemic candidiasis against aC. glabrata-susceptible isolate was performed to study the effects of all three echinocandins, and kidney burden counts showed that caspofungin, micafungin, and anidulafungin were active starting from 0.25, 1, and 5 mg/kg of body weight/day, respectively. Two echinocandin-resistant strains ofC. glabratawere selected:C. glabrata30, a laboratory strain harboring the mutation Fks2p-P667T, andC. glabrata51, a clinical isolate harboring the mutation Fks2p-D666G. Micafungin activity was shown to be as effective as or more effective than that of caspofungin or anidulafungin in terms of MICs.In vivostudies against these resistant strains showed that micafungin was active starting from 1 mg/kg/day, while caspofungin was effective only when administrated at higher doses of 5 or 10 mg/kg/day. Although a trend toward colony reduction was observed with the highest doses of anidulafungin, a significant statistical difference was never reached.


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