scholarly journals In VitroandIn VivoActivity of Peptidomimetic Compounds That Target the Periodontal PathogenPorphyromonas gingivalis

2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinlian Tan ◽  
Pravin C. Patil ◽  
Frederick A. Luzzio ◽  
Donald R. Demuth
Keyword(s):  
Oral Cavity ◽  
Cell Line ◽  
Alveolar Bone ◽  
Potent Inhibitor ◽  
Protein A ◽  
Periodontal Pathogen ◽  
Oral Streptococci ◽  
Content Type

ABSTRACTThe interaction of the periodontal pathogenPorphyromonas gingivaliswith oral streptococci is important for initial colonization of the oral cavity byP. gingivalisand is mediated by a discrete motif of the streptococcal antigen I/II protein. A synthetic peptide encompassing this motif functions as a potent inhibitor ofP. gingivalisadherence, but the use of peptides as topically applied therapeutic agents in the oral cavity has limitations arising from the relatively high cost of peptide synthesis and their susceptibility to degradation by proteases expressed by oral organisms. In this study, we demonstrate thein vitroandin vivoactivity of five small-molecule mimetic compounds of the streptococcal peptide. Using a three-species biofilm model, all five compounds were shown to effectively inhibit the incorporation ofP. gingivalisintoin vitrobiofilms and exhibited 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) of 10 to 20 μM. Four of the five compounds also significantly reduced maxillary alveolar bone resorption induced byP. gingivalisinfection in a mouse model of periodontitis. All of the compounds were nontoxic toward a human telomerase immortalized gingival keratinocyte cell line. Three compounds exhibited slight toxicity against the murine macrophage J774A.1 cell line at the highest concentration tested. Compound PCP-III-201 was nontoxic to both cell lines and the most potent inhibitor ofP. gingivalisvirulence and thus may represent a novel potential therapeutic agent that targetsP. gingivalisby preventing its colonization of the oral cavity.

scholarly journals Identification of Small-Molecule Inhibitors Targeting Porphyromonas gingivalis Interspecies Adherence and Determination of Their In Vitro and In Vivo Efficacies

2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Roky ◽  
Jinlian Tan ◽  
Maryta N. Sztukowska ◽  
John O. Trent ◽  
Donald R. Demuth
Keyword(s):  
Oral Cavity ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Porphyromonas Gingivalis ◽  
Small Molecule ◽  
Small Molecule Inhibitors ◽  
Alveolar Bone ◽  
Structural Similarity ◽  
Content Type

ABSTRACT Porphyromonas gingivalis is one of the primary causative agents of periodontal disease and initially colonizes the oral cavity by adhering to commensal streptococci. Adherence requires the interaction of a minor fimbrial protein (Mfa1) of P. gingivalis with streptococcal antigen I/II (AgI/II). Our previous work identified an AgI/II peptide that potently inhibited adherence and significantly reduced P. gingivalis virulence in vivo, suggesting that this interaction represents a potential target for drug discovery. To develop targeted small-molecule inhibitors of this protein-protein interaction, we performed a virtual screen of the ZINC databases to identify compounds that exhibit structural similarity with the two functional motifs (NITVK and VQDLL) of the AgI/II peptide. Thirty three compounds were tested for in vitro inhibition of P. gingivalis adherence and the three most potent compounds, namely, N7, N17, and V8, were selected for further analysis. The in vivo efficacy of these compounds was evaluated in a murine model of periodontitis. Treatment of mice with each of the compounds significantly reduced maxillary alveolar bone resorption in infected animals. Finally, a series of cytotoxicity tests were performed against human and murine cell lines. Compounds N17 and V8 exhibited no significant cytotoxic activity toward any of the cell lines, whereas compound N7 was cytotoxic at the highest concentrations that were tested (20 and 40 μM). These results identify compounds N17 and V8 as potential lead compounds that will facilitate the design of more potent therapeutic agents that may function to limit or prevent P. gingivalis colonization of the oral cavity.

scholarly journals Cell-Fusing Agent Virus Reduces Arbovirus Dissemination in Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes In Vivo

2019 ◽  
Vol 93 (18) ◽  
Author(s):  
Artem Baidaliuk ◽  
Elliott F. Miot ◽  
Sebastian Lequime ◽  
Isabelle Moltini-Conclois ◽  
Fanny Delaigue ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aedes Aegypti ◽  
Dengue Virus ◽  
Cell Line ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cells In Culture ◽  
Mosquito Cells ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Natural Hosts

ABSTRACT Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are the main vectors of arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) of public health significance, such as the flaviviruses dengue virus (DENV) and Zika virus (ZIKV). Mosquitoes are also the natural hosts of a wide range of viruses that are insect specific, raising the question of their influence on arbovirus transmission in nature. Cell-fusing agent virus (CFAV) was the first described insect-specific flavivirus, initially discovered in an A. aegypti cell line and subsequently detected in natural A. aegypti populations. It was recently shown that DENV and the CFAV strain isolated from the A. aegypti cell line have mutually beneficial interactions in mosquito cells in culture. However, whether natural strains of CFAV and DENV interact in live mosquitoes is unknown. Using a wild-type CFAV isolate recently derived from Thai A. aegypti mosquitoes, we found that CFAV negatively interferes with both DENV type 1 and ZIKV in vitro and in vivo. For both arboviruses, prior infection by CFAV reduced the dissemination titer in mosquito head tissues. Our results indicate that the interactions observed between arboviruses and the CFAV strain derived from the cell line might not be a relevant model of the viral interference that we observed in vivo. Overall, our study supports the hypothesis that insect-specific flaviviruses may contribute to reduce the transmission of human-pathogenic flaviviruses. IMPORTANCE The mosquito Aedes aegypti carries several arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) that are pathogenic to humans, including dengue and Zika viruses. Interestingly, A. aegypti is also naturally infected with insect-only viruses, such as cell-fusing agent virus. Although interactions between cell-fusing agent virus and dengue virus have been documented in mosquito cells in culture, whether wild strains of cell-fusing agent virus interfere with arbovirus transmission by live mosquitoes was unknown. We used an experimental approach to demonstrate that cell-fusing agent virus infection reduces the propagation of dengue and Zika viruses in A. aegypti mosquitoes. These results support the idea that insect-only viruses in nature can modulate the ability of mosquitoes to carry arboviruses of medical significance and that they could possibly be manipulated to reduce arbovirus transmission.

scholarly journals Efficacy of Azithromycin in a Mouse Pneumonia Model against Hospital-Acquired Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

2019 ◽  
Vol 63 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Yamashita ◽  
Kentaro Nagaoka ◽  
Hiroki Kimura ◽  
Masaru Suzuki ◽  
Satoshi Konno ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Protein A ◽  
Lavage Fluid ◽  
Suppressive Effect ◽  
The Other ◽  
Staphylococcal Protein A ◽  
Methicillin Resistant ◽  
Content Type

ABSTRACT The use of macrolides against pneumonia has been reported to improve survival; however, little is known about their efficacy against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) pneumonia. In this study, we investigated the effect of azithromycin (AZM) and compared it with that of vancomycin (VCM) and daptomycin (DAP) in a murine model of MRSA pneumonia. Mice were infected with MRSA by intratracheal injection and then treated with AZM, VCM, or DAP. The therapeutic effect of AZM, in combination or not with the other drugs, was compared in vivo, whereas the effect of AZM on MRSA growth and toxin mRNA expression was evaluated in vitro. In vivo, the AZM-treated group showed significantly longer survival and fewer bacteria in the lungs 24 h after infection than the untreated group, as well as the other anti-MRSA drug groups. No significant decrease in cytokine levels (interleukin-6 [IL-6] and macrophage inflammatory protein-2 [MIP-2]) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid or toxin expression levels (α-hemolysin [Hla] and staphylococcal protein A [Spa]) was observed following AZM treatment. In vitro, AZM suppressed the growth of MRSA in late log phase but not in stationary phase. No suppressive effect against toxin production was observed following AZM treatment in vitro. In conclusion, contrary to the situation in vitro, AZM was effective against MRSA growth in vivo in our pneumonia model, substantially improving survival. The suppressive effect on MRSA growth at the initial stage of pneumonia could underlie the potential mechanism of AZM action against MRSA pneumonia.

scholarly journals Serine Lipids of Porphyromonas gingivalis Are Human and Mouse Toll-Like Receptor 2 Ligands

2013 ◽  
Vol 81 (9) ◽  
pp. 3479-3489 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert B. Clark ◽  
Jorge L. Cervantes ◽  
Mark W. Maciejewski ◽  
Vahid Farrokhi ◽  
Reza Nemati ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Activation ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Periodontal Pathogen ◽  
Toll Like Receptor ◽  
Dendritic Cell Activation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Hek Cells ◽  
Toll Like Receptor 2

ABSTRACTThe total cellular lipids ofPorphyromas gingivalis, a known periodontal pathogen, were previously shown to promote dendritic cell activation and inhibition of osteoblasts through engagement of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2). The purpose of the present investigation was to fractionate all lipids ofP. gingivalisand define which lipid classes account for the TLR2 engagement, based on bothin vitrohuman cell assays andin vivostudies in mice. Specific serine-containing lipids ofP. gingivalis, called lipid 654 and lipid 430, were identified in specific high-performance liquid chromatography fractions as the TLR2-activating lipids. The structures of these lipids were defined using tandem mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance methods.In vitro, both lipid 654 and lipid 430 activated TLR2-expressing HEK cells, and this activation was inhibited by anti-TLR2 antibody. In contrast, TLR4-expressing HEK cells failed to be activated by either lipid 654 or lipid 430. Wild-type (WT) or TLR2-deficient (TLR2−/−) mice were injected with either lipid 654 or lipid 430, and the effects on serum levels of the chemokine CCL2 were measured 4 h later. Administration of either lipid 654 or lipid 430 to WT mice resulted in a significant increase in serum CCL2 levels; in contrast, the administration of lipid 654 or lipid 430 to TLR2−/−mice resulted in no increase in serum CCL2. These results thus identify a new class of TLR2 ligands that are produced byP. gingivalisthat likely play a significant role in mediating inflammatory responses both at periodontal sites and, potentially, in other tissues where these lipids might accumulate.

scholarly journals Quercetin Preserves Oral Cavity Health by Mitigating Inflammation and Microbial Dysbiosis

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin C. Mooney ◽  
Sara E. Holden ◽  
Xia-Juan Xia ◽  
Yajie Li ◽  
Min Jiang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oral Cavity ◽  
Alveolar Bone ◽  
Treated Group ◽  
Oral Bacteria ◽  
Inflammatory Cell Infiltrate ◽  
Microbial Composition ◽  
Tlr Agonists ◽  
Microbial Dysbiosis

Failure to attenuate inflammation coupled with consequent microbiota changes drives the development of bone-destructive periodontitis. Quercetin, a plant-derived polyphenolic flavonoid, has been linked with health benefits in both humans and animals. Using a systematic approach, we investigated the effect of orally delivered Quercetin on host inflammatory response, oral microbial composition and periodontal disease phenotype. In vivo, quercetin supplementation diminished gingival cytokine expression, inflammatory cell infiltrate and alveolar bone loss. Microbiome analyses revealed a healthier oral microbial composition in Quercetin-treated versus vehicle-treated group characterized by reduction in the number of pathogenic species including Enterococcus, Neisseria and Pseudomonas and increase in the number of non-pathogenic Streptococcus sp. and bacterial diversity. In vitro, Quercetin diminished inflammatory cytokine production through modulating NF-κB:A20 axis in human macrophages following challenge with oral bacteria and TLR agonists. Collectively, our findings reveal that Quercetin supplement instigates a balanced periodontal tissue homeostasis through limiting inflammation and fostering an oral cavity microenvironment conducive of symbiotic microbiota associated with health. This proof of concept study provides key evidence for translational studies to improve overall health.

Sensitization of rat glioblastoma multiforme to cisplatin in vivo following restoration of wild-type p53 function

1998 ◽  
Vol 88 (3) ◽  
pp. 535-540 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oliver Dorigo ◽  
Sally T. Turla ◽  
Svetlana Lebedeva ◽  
Ruth A. Gjerset
Keyword(s):  
Glioblastoma Multiforme ◽  
Cell Line ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fischer 344 ◽  
Cisplatin Sensitivity ◽  
Wild Type P53 ◽  
Fine Print

Object. To study the combined potential of wild-type p53 gene transfer and administration of cisplatin for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme, the authors used the 9L rat glioblastoma cell line, which expresses a mutant p53. Methods. Stable expression of wild-type p53 in 9L cells was achieved by transfection of the cells with a wild-type p53—expressing plasmid (pCEP4p53). The resultant cell line, 9LpCEP4p53, was found to be more sensitive to cisplatin treatment in vitro than control (9LpCEP4) cells. The in vitro growth rates of control cells and wild-type p53—modified cells were similar in the absence of cisplatin. Fischer 344 rats were implanted intracerebrally with 9LpCEP4p53 cells and intraperitoneally administered 4 mg/kg cisplatin weekly for 7 weeks. These animals survived significantly longer than animals that were implanted with 9LpCEP4p53 cells but were given no cisplatin treatment. In contrast, concurrent cisplatin treatment provided no benefit for animals implanted with 9LpCEP4 cells. Tumors that developed in animals that had been implanted with 9LpCEP4p53 cells and treated with cisplatin had lost expression of wild-type p53, indicating a correlation between expression of wild-type p53 and cisplatin sensitivity in vivo. Conclusions. The findings of this study suggest that p53-based gene therapy in combination with cisplatin-based chemotherapy may be superior to single-modality treatment in dealing with glioblastoma multiforme.

scholarly journals A Novel Dual-creMotif Enables Two-Way Autoregulation of CcpA inClostridium acetobutylicum

2018 ◽  
Vol 84 (8) ◽  
pp. e00114-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lu Zhang ◽  
Yanqiang Liu ◽  
Yunpeng Yang ◽  
Weihong Jiang ◽  
Yang Gu
Keyword(s):  
Regulatory Network ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Protein A ◽  
Cell Physiology ◽  
Coding Region ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Gram Positive Bacteria

ABSTRACTThe master regulator CcpA (catabolite control protein A) manages a large and complex regulatory network that is essential for cellular physiology and metabolism in Gram-positive bacteria. Although CcpA can affect the expression of target genes by binding to acis-acting catabolite-responsive element (cre), whether and how the expression of CcpA is regulated remain poorly explored. Here, we report a novel dual-cremotif that is employed by the CcpA inClostridium acetobutylicum, a typical solventogenicClostridiumspecies, for autoregulation. Twocresites are involved in CcpA autoregulation, and they reside in the promoter and coding regions of CcpA. In this dual-cremotif,creP, in the promoter region, positively regulatesccpAtranscription, whereascreORF, in the coding region, negatively regulates this transcription, thus enabling two-way autoregulation of CcpA. Although CcpA boundcrePmore strongly thancreORFin vitro, thein vivoassay showed thatcreORF-based repression dominates CcpA autoregulation during the entire fermentation. Finally, a synonymous mutation ofcreORFwas made within the coding region, achieving an increased intracellular CcpA expression and improved cellular performance. This study provides new insights into the regulatory role of CcpA inC. acetobutylicumand, moreover, contributes a new engineering strategy for this industrial strain.IMPORTANCECcpA is known to be a key transcription factor in Gram-positive bacteria. However, it is still unclear whether and how the intracellular CcpA level is regulated, which may be essential for maintaining normal cell physiology and metabolism. We discovered here that CcpA employs a dual-cremotif to autoregulate, enabling dynamic control of its own expression level during the entire fermentation process. This finding answers the questions above and fills a void in our understanding of the regulatory network of CcpA. Interference in CcpA autoregulation leads to improved cellular performance, providing a new useful strategy in genetic engineering ofC. acetobutylicum. Since CcpA is widespread in Gram-positive bacteria, including pathogens, this dual-cre-based CcpA autoregulation would be valuable for increasing our understanding of CcpA-based global regulation in bacteria.

scholarly journals Role of Fibronectin-Binding Proteins A and B inIn VitroCellular Infections andIn VivoSeptic Infections by Staphylococcus aureus

2011 ◽  
Vol 79 (6) ◽  
pp. 2215-2223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hitomi Shinji ◽  
Yukio Yosizawa ◽  
Akiko Tajima ◽  
Tadayuki Iwase ◽  
Shinya Sugimoto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Protein A ◽  
Severe Infection ◽  
Nuclear Factor Κb ◽  
Phagocytic Cells ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fibronectin Binding

ABSTRACTFibronectin-binding protein A (FnBPA) and FnBPB are important adhesins forStaphylococcus aureusinfection. We constructedfnbAand/orfnbBmutant strains fromS. aureusSH1000, which possesses intactrsbU, and studied the role of these adhesins inin vitroandin vivoinfections. In intravenous infection, allfnbmutants caused a remarkable reduction in the colonization rate in kidneys and the mortality rate of mice.fnbBmutant caused a more severe decrease in body weight than that caused byfnbAmutant. Serum levels of interleukin-6 and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) activation in spleen cells were remarkably reduced infnbAorfnbA fnbBmutant infections; however, there was no significant reduction infnbBmutant infections. Inin vitrocellular infection, FnBPA was shown to be indispensable for adhesion to and internalization by nonprofessional phagocytic cells upon ingestion by inflammatory macrophages and NF-κB activation. However, both FnBPs were required for efficient cellular responses. The results showed that FnBPA is more important forin vitroandin vivoinfections; however, cooperation between FnBPA and FnBPB is indispensable for the induction of severe infection resulting in septic death.

scholarly journals Immunization against Anaplasma phagocytophilum Adhesin Binding Domains Confers Protection against Infection in the Mouse Model

2020 ◽  
Vol 88 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Waheeda A. Naimi ◽  
Jacob J. Gumpf ◽  
Ryan S. Green ◽  
Jerilyn R. Izac ◽  
Matthew P. Zellner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Peripheral Blood ◽  
Anaplasma Phagocytophilum ◽  
Protein A ◽  
Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Binding Domains ◽  
Granulocytic Anaplasmosis

ABSTRACT Anaplasma phagocytophilum causes granulocytic anaplasmosis, a debilitating infection that can be fatal in the immunocompromised. It also afflicts animals, including dogs, horses, and sheep. No granulocytic anaplasmosis vaccine exists. Because A. phagocytophilum is an obligate intracellular bacterium, inhibiting microbe-host cell interactions that facilitate invasion can disrupt infection. The binding domains of A. phagocytophilum adhesins A. phagocytophilum invasion protein A (AipA), A. phagocytophilum surface protein (Asp14), and outer membrane protein A (OmpA) are essential for optimal bacterial entry into host cells, but their relevance to infection in vivo is undefined. In this study, C57BL/6 mice were immunized with a cocktail of keyhole limpet hemocyanin-conjugated peptides corresponding to the AipA, Asp14, and OmpA binding domains in alum followed by challenge with A. phagocytophilum. The bacterial peripheral blood burden was pronouncedly reduced in immunized mice compared to controls. Examination of pre- and postchallenge sera from these mice revealed that immunization elicited antibodies against AipA and Asp14 peptides but not OmpA peptide. Nonetheless, pooled sera from pre- and postchallenge groups, but not from control groups, inhibited A. phagocytophilum infection of HL-60 cells. Adhesin domain immunization also elicited interferon gamma (IFN-γ)-producing CD8-positive (CD8+) T cells. A follow-up study confirmed that immunization against only the AipA or Asp14 binding domain was sufficient to reduce the bacterial peripheral blood load in mice following challenge and elicit antibodies that inhibit A. phagocytophilum cellular infection in vitro. These data demonstrate that AipA and Asp14 are critical for A. phagocytophilum to productively infect mice, and immunization against their binding domains elicits a protective immune response.

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