scholarly journals Disruption of Membrane by Colistin Kills Uropathogenic Escherichia coli Persisters and Enhances Killing of Other Antibiotics

2016 ◽  
Vol 60 (11) ◽  
pp. 6867-6871 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peng Cui ◽  
Hongxia Niu ◽  
Wanliang Shi ◽  
Shuo Zhang ◽  
Hao Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Enhancement Effect ◽  
Bacterial Cells ◽  
Sulfa Drugs ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Bacterial Membranes ◽  
Highly Active ◽  
High Concentrations

ABSTRACTPersisters are small populations of quiescent bacterial cells that survive exposure to bactericidal antibiotics and are responsible for many persistent infections and posttreatment relapses. However, little is known about how to effectively kill persister bacteria. In the work presented here, we found that colistin, a membrane-active antibiotic, was highly active againstEscherichia colipersisters at high concentrations (25 or 50 μg/ml). At a clinically relevant lower concentration (10 μg/ml), colistin alone had no apparent effect onE. colipersisters. In combination with other drugs, this concentration of colistin enhanced the antipersister activity of gentamicin and ofloxacin but not that of ampicillin, nitrofurans, and sulfa drugsin vitro. The colistin enhancement effect was most likely due to increased uptake of the other antibiotics, as demonstrated by increased accumulation of fluorescence-labeled gentamicin. Interestingly, colistin significantly enhanced the activity of ofloxacin and nitrofurantoin but not that of gentamicin or sulfa drugs in the murine model of urinary tract infection. Our findings suggest that targeting bacterial membranes is a valuable approach to eradicating persisters and should have implications for more effective treatment of persistent bacterial infections.

scholarly journals Characterization of the Highly Active Polyhydroxyalkanoate Synthase of Chromobacterium sp. Strain USM2

2011 ◽  
Vol 77 (9) ◽  
pp. 2926-2933 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kesaven Bhubalan ◽  
Jo-Ann Chuah ◽  
Fumi Shozui ◽  
Christopher J. Brigham ◽  
Seiichi Taguchi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Specific Activity ◽  
Weight Percent ◽  
Pha Synthase ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Highly Active ◽  
Key Enzyme ◽  
Polyhydroxyalkanoate Synthase

ABSTRACTThe synthesis of bacterial polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) is very much dependent on the expression and activity of a key enzyme, PHA synthase (PhaC). Many efforts are being pursued to enhance the activity and broaden the substrate specificity of PhaC. Here, we report the identification of a highly active wild-type PhaC belonging to the recently isolatedChromobacteriumsp. USM2 (PhaCCs). PhaCCsshowed the ability to utilize 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB), 3-hydroxyvalerate (3HV), and 3-hydroxyhexanoate (3HHx) monomers in PHA biosynthesis. Anin vitroassay of recombinant PhaCCsexpressed inEscherichia colishowed that its polymerization of 3-hydroxybutyryl-coenzyme A activity was nearly 8-fold higher (2,462 ± 80 U/g) than that of the synthase from the model strainC. necator(307 ± 24 U/g). Specific activity using a Strep2-tagged, purified PhaCCswas 238 ± 98 U/mg, almost 5-fold higher than findings of previous studies using purified PhaC fromC. necator. Efficient poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB)] accumulation inEscherichia coliexpressing PhaCCsof up to 76 ± 2 weight percent was observed within 24 h of cultivation. To date, this is the highest activity reported for a purified PHA synthase. PhaCCsis a naturally occurring, highly active PHA synthase with superior polymerizing ability.

scholarly journals UVC Light Prophylaxis for Cutaneous Wound Infections in Mice

2012 ◽  
Vol 56 (7) ◽  
pp. 3841-3848 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tianhong Dai ◽  
Barbara Garcia ◽  
Clinton K. Murray ◽  
Mark S. Vrahas ◽  
Michael R. Hamblin
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Light Exposure ◽  
Dna Lesions ◽  
Bacterial Cells ◽  
Wound Infections ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cutaneous Wound ◽  
Thickness Skin

ABSTRACTUVC light has long been known to be highly germicidal but has not been much developed as a therapy for infections. This study investigated the potential of UVC light for the prophylaxis of infections developing in highly contaminated superficial cutaneous wounds.In vitrostudies demonstrated that the pathogenic bacteriaPseudomonas aeruginosaandStaphylococcus aureuswere inactivated at UVC light exposures much lower than those needed for a similar effect on mammalian keratinocytes. Mouse models of partial-thickness skin abrasions infected with bioluminescentP. aeruginosaandS. aureuswere developed. Approximately 107bacterial cells were inoculated onto wounds measuring 1.2 by1.2 cm on the dorsal surfaces of mice. UVC light was delivered at 30 min after bacterial inoculation. It was found that for both bacterial infections, UVC light at a single radiant exposure of 2.59 J/cm2reduced the bacterial burden in the infected mouse wounds by approximately 10-fold in comparison to those in untreated mouse wounds (P< 0.00001). Furthermore, UVC light increased the survival rate of mice infected withP. aeruginosaby 58.3% (P= 0.0023) and increased the wound healing rate in mice infected withS. aureusby 31.2% (P< 0.00001). DNA lesions were observed in the UVC light-treated mouse wounds; however, the lesions were extensively repaired by 48 h after UVC light exposure. These results suggested that UVC light may be used for the prophylaxis of cutaneous wound infections.

scholarly journals Synthetic Porcine Hepcidin Exhibits Different Roles in Escherichia coli and Salmonella Infections

2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan Liu ◽  
Zhen-Shun Gan ◽  
Wan Ma ◽  
Hai-Tao Xiong ◽  
Yun-Qing Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Iron Status ◽  
Iron Chelator ◽  
Intracellular Iron ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Defense Strategies ◽  
Salmonella Infections

ABSTRACT Hepcidin, an antimicrobial peptide, was discovered to integrate diverse signals from iron status and an infection threat and orchestrate a series of host-protective responses. Several studies have investigated the antimicrobial role of hepcidin, but the results have been controversial. Here, we aimed to examine the role of hepcidin in bacterial adherence and invasion in vitro. We found that porcine hepcidin could decrease the amount of the extracellular pathogen enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) K88 that adhered to cells because it caused the aggregation of the bacteria. However, addition of hepcidin to macrophages infected with the intracellular pathogen Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium enhanced the intracellular growth of the pathogen through the degradation of ferroportin, an iron export protein, and then the sequestration of intracellular iron. Intracellular iron was unavailable by use of the iron chelator deferiprone (DFO), which reduced intracellular bacterial growth. These results demonstrate that hepcidin exhibits different functions in extracellular and intracellular bacterial infections, which suggests that different defense strategies should be taken to prevent bacterial infection.

scholarly journals Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 Targets and Restrains Mouse B16 Melanoma and 4T1 Breast Tumors through Expression of Azurin Protein

2012 ◽  
Vol 78 (21) ◽  
pp. 7603-7610 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yunlei Zhang ◽  
Youming Zhang ◽  
Liqiu Xia ◽  
Xiangli Zhang ◽  
Xuezhi Ding ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Breast Tumors ◽  
B16 Melanoma ◽  
Content Type ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Immunocompetent Mice

ABSTRACTMany studies have demonstrated that intravenously administered bacteria can target and proliferate in solid tumors and then quickly be released from other organs. Here, we employed the tumor-targeting property ofEscherichia coliNissle 1917 to inhibit mouse B16 melanoma and 4T1 breast tumors through the expression of azurin protein. For this purpose, recombinant azurin-expressingE. coliNissle 1917 was developed. The levels ofin vitroandin vivoazurin secretion in the engineered bacterium were determined by immunochemistry. Our results demonstrated that B16 melanoma and orthotopic 4T1 breast tumor growth were remarkably restrained and pulmonary metastasis was prevented in immunocompetent mice. It is worth noting that this therapeutic effect partially resulted from the antitumor activity of neutrophils and lymphocytes due to inflammatory responses caused by bacterial infections. No toxicity was observed in the animal during the experiments. This study indicates thatE. coliNissle 1917 could be a potential carrier to deliver antitumor drugs effectively for cancer therapy.

scholarly journals Evidence for Escherichia coli Diguanylate Cyclase DgcZ Interlinking Surface Sensing and Adhesion via Multiple Regulatory Routes

2016 ◽  
Vol 198 (18) ◽  
pp. 2524-2535 ◽  
Author(s):  
Egidio Lacanna ◽  
Colette Bigosch ◽  
Volkhard Kaever ◽  
Alex Boehm ◽  
Anke Becker
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Primary Role ◽  
Bacterial Cells ◽  
Diguanylate Cyclase ◽  
Surface Attachment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Surface Sensing

ABSTRACTDgcZ is the main cyclic dimeric GMP (c-di-GMP)-producing diguanylate cyclase (DGC) controlling biosynthesis of the exopolysaccharide poly-β-1,6-N-acetylglucosamine (poly-GlcNAc or PGA), which is essential for surface attachment ofEscherichia coli. Although the complex regulation of DgcZ has previously been investigated, its primary role and the physiological conditions under which the protein is active are not fully understood. Transcription ofdgcZis regulated by the two-component system CpxAR activated by the lipoprotein NlpE in response to surface sensing. Here, we show that the negative effect of acpxRmutation and the positive effect ofnlpEoverexpression on biofilm formation both depend on DgcZ. Coimmunoprecipitation data suggest several potential interaction partners of DgcZ. Interaction with FrdB, a subunit of the fumarate reductase complex (FRD) involved in anaerobic respiration and in control of flagellum assembly, was further supported by a bacterial-two-hybrid assay. Furthermore, the FRD complex was required for the increase in DgcZ-mediated biofilm formation upon induction of oxidative stress by addition of paraquat. A DgcZ-mVENUS fusion protein was found to localize at one bacterial cell pole in response to alkaline pH and carbon starvation. Based on our data and previous knowledge, an integrative role of DgcZ in regulation of surface attachment is proposed. We speculate that both DgcZ-stimulated PGA biosynthesis and interaction of DgcZ with the FRD complex contribute to impeding bacterial escape from the surface.IMPORTANCEBacterial cells can grow by clonal expansion to surface-associated biofilms that are ubiquitous in the environment but also constitute a pervasive problem related to bacterial infections. Cyclic dimeric GMP (c-di-GMP) is a widespread bacterial second messenger involved in regulation of motility and biofilm formation, and plays a primary role in bacterial surface attachment.E. colipossesses a plethora of c-di-GMP-producing diguanylate cyclases, including DgcZ. Our study expands the knowledge on the role of DgcZ in regulation of surface attachment and suggests that it interconnects surface sensing and adhesion via multiple routes.

scholarly journals In Vitro Evaluation of a Phage Cocktail Controlling Infections with Escherichia coli

Viruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 1470
Author(s):  
Imke H. E. Korf ◽  
Sophie Kittler ◽  
Anna Bierbrodt ◽  
Ruth Mengden ◽  
Christine Rohde ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
High Specificity ◽  
Resistant Mutant ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Bacterial Cells ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Phage Cocktail

Worldwide, poultry industry suffers from infections caused by avian pathogenic Escherichia coli. Therapeutic failure due to resistant bacteria is of increasing concern and poses a threat to human and animal health. This causes a high demand to find alternatives to fight bacterial infections in animal farming. Bacteriophages are being especially considered for the control of multi-drug resistant bacteria due to their high specificity and lack of serious side effects. Therefore, the study aimed on characterizing phages and composing a phage cocktail suitable for the prevention of infections with E. coli. Six phages were isolated or selected from our collections and characterized individually and in combination with regard to host range, stability, reproduction, and efficacy in vitro. The cocktail consisting of six phages was able to inhibit formation of biofilms by some E. coli strains but not by all. Phage-resistant variants arose when bacterial cells were challenged with a single phage but not when challenged by a combination of four or six phages. Resistant variants arising showed changes in carbon metabolism and/or motility. Genomic comparison of wild type and phage-resistant mutant E28.G28R3 revealed a deletion of several genes putatively involved in phage adsorption and infection.

Mechanisms involved in effects of antimicrobial peptides, bactenectins ChBac3.4, ChBac5, and mini-ChBac7.5Nb, on bacterial cells

2017 ◽  
pp. 43-50
Author(s):  
О.В. Шамова ◽  
М.С. Жаркова ◽  
П.М. Копейкин ◽  
Д.С. Орлов ◽  
Е.А. Корнева
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Antimicrobial Activity ◽  
Innate Immunity ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Metabolic Activity ◽  
Capra Hircus ◽  
Bacterial Cells ◽  
Antibiotic Resistant ◽  
Resistant Strains

Антимикробные пептиды (АМП) системы врожденного иммунитета - соединения, играющие важную роль в патогенезе инфекционных заболеваний, так как обладают свойством инактивировать широкий спектр патогенных бактерий, обеспечивая противомикробную защиту живых организмов. В настоящее время АМП рассматриваются как потенциальные соединения-корректоры инфекционной патологии, вызываемой антибиотикорезистентными бактериями (АБР). Цель данной работы состояла в изученим механизмов антибактериального действия трех пептидов, принадлежащих к семейству бактенецинов - ChBac3.4, ChBac5 и mini-ChBac7.5Nb. Эти химически синтезированные пептиды являются аналогами природных пролин-богатых АМП, обнаруженных в лейкоцитах домашней козы Capra hircus и проявляющих высокую антимикробную активность, в том числе и в отношении грамотрицательных АБР. Методы. Минимальные ингибирующие и минимальные бактерицидные концентрации пептидов (МИК и МБК) определяли методом серийных разведений в жидкой питательной среде с последующим высевом на плотную питательную среду. Эффекты пептидов на проницаемость цитоплазматической мембраны бактерий для хромогенного маркера исследовали с использованием генетически модифицированного штамма Escherichia coli ML35p. Действие бактенецинов на метаболическую активность бактерий изучали с применением маркера резазурина. Результаты. Показано, что все исследованные пептиды проявляют высокую антимикробную активность в отношении Escherichia coli ML35p и антибиотикоустойчивых штаммов Escherichia coli ESBL и Acinetobacter baumannii in vitro, но их действие на бактериальные клетки разное. Использован комплекс методик, позволяющих наблюдать в режиме реального времени динамику действия бактенецинов в различных концентрациях (включая их МИК и МБК) на барьерную функцию цитоплазматической мембраны и на интенсивность метаболизма бактериальных клеток, что дало возможность выявить различия в характере воздействия бактенецинов, отличающихся по структуре молекулы, на исследуемые микроорганизмы. Установлено, что действие каждого из трех исследованных бактенецинов в бактерицидных концентрациях отличается по эффективности нарушения целостности бактериальных мембран и в скорости подавления метаболизма клеток. Заключение. Полученная информация дополнит существующие фундаментальные представления о механизмах действия пролин-богатых пептидов врожденного иммунитета, а также послужит основой для биотехнологических исследований, направленных на разработку на базе этих соединений новых антибиотических препаратов для коррекции инфекционных заболеваний, вызываемых АБР и являющимися причинами тяжелых внутрибольничных инфекций. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) of the innate immunity are compounds that play an important role in pathogenesis of infectious diseases due to their ability to inactivate a broad array of pathogenic bacteria, thereby providing anti-microbial host defense. AMPs are currently considered promising compounds for treatment of infectious diseases caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The aim of this study was to investigate molecular mechanisms of the antibacterial action of three peptides from the bactenecin family, ChBac3.4, ChBac5, and mini-ChBac7.5Nb. These chemically synthesized peptides are analogues of natural proline-rich AMPs previously discovered by the authors of the present study in leukocytes of the domestic goat, Capra hircus. These peptides exhibit a high antimicrobial activity, in particular, against antibiotic-resistant gram-negative bacteria. Methods. Minimum inhibitory and minimum bactericidal concentrations of the peptides (MIC and MBC) were determined using the broth microdilution assay followed by subculturing on agar plates. Effects of the AMPs on bacterial cytoplasmic membrane permeability for a chromogenic marker were explored using a genetically modified strain, Escherichia coli ML35p. The effect of bactenecins on bacterial metabolic activity was studied using a resazurin marker. Results. All the studied peptides showed a high in vitro antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli ML35p and antibiotic-resistant strains, Escherichia coli ESBL and Acinetobacter baumannii, but differed in features of their action on bacterial cells. The used combination of techniques allowed the real-time monitoring of effects of bactenecin at different concentrations (including their MIC and MBC) on the cell membrane barrier function and metabolic activity of bacteria. The differences in effects of these three structurally different bactenecins on the studied microorganisms implied that these peptides at bactericidal concentrations differed in their capability for disintegrating bacterial cell membranes and rate of inhibiting bacterial metabolism. Conclusion. The obtained information will supplement the existing basic concepts on mechanisms involved in effects of proline-rich peptides of the innate immunity. This information will also stimulate biotechnological research aimed at development of new antibiotics for treatment of infectious diseases, such as severe in-hospital infections, caused by antibiotic-resistant strains.

scholarly journals How Insertion of a Single Tryptophan in the N-Terminus of a Cecropin A-Melittin Hybrid Peptide Changes Its Antimicrobial and Biophysical Profile

Membranes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 48
Author(s):  
Ana Rita Ferreira ◽  
Cátia Teixeira ◽  
Carla F. Sousa ◽  
Lucinda J. Bessa ◽  
Paula Gomes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electrostatic Interactions ◽  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Electron System ◽  
Bacterial Membranes ◽  
Highly Active ◽  
Large Unilamellar Vesicles ◽  
Biophysical Profile ◽  
N Terminus ◽  
Lysine Residues ◽  
Preferential Location

In the era of antibiotic resistance, there is an urgent need for efficient antibiotic therapies to fight bacterial infections. Cationic antimicrobial peptides (CAMP) are promising lead compounds given their membrane-targeted mechanism of action, and high affinity towards the anionic composition of bacterial membranes. We present a new CAMP, W-BP100, derived from the highly active BP100, holding an additional tryptophan at the N-terminus. W-BP100 showed a broader antibacterial activity, demonstrating a potent activity against Gram-positive strains. Revealing a high partition constant towards anionic over zwitterionic large unilamellar vesicles and inducing membrane saturation at a high peptide/lipid ratio, W-BP100 has a preferential location for hydrophobic environments. Contrary to BP100, almost no aggregation of anionic vesicles is observed around saturation conditions and at higher concentrations no aggregation is observed. With these results, it is possible to state that with the incorporation of a single tryptophan to the N-terminus, a highly active peptide was obtained due to the π–electron system of tryptophan, resulting in negatively charged clouds, that participate in cation–π interactions with lysine residues. Furthermore, we propose that W-BP100 action can be achieved by electrostatic interactions followed by peptide translocation.

scholarly journals Long-term effects of the proline-rich antimicrobial peptide Oncocin112 on the Escherichia coli translation machinery

2020 ◽  
Vol 295 (38) ◽  
pp. 13314-13325
Author(s):  
Yanyu Zhu ◽  
James C. Weisshaar ◽  
Mainak Mustafi
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Antimicrobial Peptides ◽  
Binding Site ◽  
Elongation Factor ◽  
Microscopy Study ◽  
Single Step ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Bacterial Membranes

Proline-rich antimicrobial peptides (PrAMPs) are cationic antimicrobial peptides unusual for their ability to penetrate bacterial membranes and kill cells without causing membrane permeabilization. Structural studies show that many such PrAMPs bind deep in the peptide exit channel of the ribosome, near the peptidyl transfer center. Biochemical studies of the particular synthetic PrAMP oncocin112 (Onc112) suggest that on reaching the cytoplasm, the peptide occupies its binding site prior to the transition from initiation to the elongation phase of translation, thus blocking further initiation events. We present a superresolution fluorescence microscopy study of the long-term effects of Onc112 on ribosome, elongation factor-Tu (EF-Tu), and DNA spatial distributions and diffusive properties in intact Escherichia coli cells. The new data corroborate earlier mechanistic inferences from studies in vitro. Comparisons with the diffusive behavior induced by the ribosome-binding antibiotics chloramphenicol and kasugamycin show how the specific location of each agent's ribosomal binding site affects the long-term distribution of ribosomal species between 30S and 50S subunits versus 70S polysomes. Analysis of the single-step displacements from ribosome and EF-Tu diffusive trajectories before and after Onc112 treatment suggests that the act of codon testing of noncognate ternary complexes (TCs) at the ribosomal A-site enhances the dissociation rate of such TCs from their L7/L12 tethers. Testing and rejection of noncognate TCs on a sub-ms timescale is essential to enable incorporation of the rare cognate amino acids into the growing peptide chain at a rate of ∼20 aa/s.

scholarly journals In VitroAntibacterial Activity of NB-003 against Propionibacterium acnes

2011 ◽  
Vol 55 (9) ◽  
pp. 4211-4217 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Pannu ◽  
A. McCarthy ◽  
A. Martin ◽  
T. Hamouda ◽  
S. Ciotti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Propionibacterium Acnes ◽  
Resistant Mutant ◽  
Microtiter Plate ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Oil In Water ◽  
Complete Disruption ◽  
Kinetics Of ◽  
Gel Formulations

ABSTRACTNB-003 and NB-003 gel formulations are oil-in-water nanoemulsions designed for use in bacterial infections.In vitrosusceptibility ofPropionibacterium acnesto NB-003 formulations and comparator drugs was evaluated. Both NB-003 formulations were bactericidal against allP. acnesisolates, including those that were erythromycin, clindamycin, and/or tetracycline resistant. In the absence of sebum, the MIC90s/minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC90s) for NB-003, NB-003 gel, salicylic acid (SA), and benzoyl peroxide (BPO) were 0.5/2.0, 1.0/2.0, 1,000/2,000, and 50/200 μg/ml, respectively. In the presence of 50% sebum, the MIC90s/MBC90s of NB003 and BPOs increased to 128/1,024 and 400/1,600 μg/ml, respectively. The MIC90s/MBC90s of SA were not significantly impacted by the presence of sebum. A reduction in the MBC90s for NB-003 and BPO was observed when 2% SA or 0.5% BPO was integrated into the formulation, resulting in MIC90s/MBC90s of 128/256 μg/ml for NB003 and 214/428 μg/ml for BPO. The addition of EDTA enhanced thein vitroefficacy of 0.5% NB-003 in the presence or absence of 25% sebum. The addition of 5 mM EDTA to each well of the microtiter plate resulted in a >16- and >256-fold decrease in MIC90and MBC90, yielding a more potent MIC90/MBC90of ≤1/<1 μg/ml. The kinetics of bactericidal activity of NB-003 againstP. acneswere compared to those of a commercially available product of BPO. Electron micrographs ofP. acnestreated with NB-003 showed complete disruption of bacteria. Assessment of spontaneous resistance ofP. acnesrevealed no stably resistant mutant strains.

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