Generating Robust and Informative NonclinicalIn VitroandIn VivoBacterial Infection Model Efficacy Data To Support Translation to Humans

ABSTRACTIn June 2017, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, organized a workshop entitled “Pharmacokinetics-Pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) for Development of Therapeutics against Bacterial Pathogens.” The aims were to discuss details of various PK/PD models and identify sound practices for deriving and utilizing PK/PD relationships to design optimal dosage regimens for patients. Workshop participants encompassed individuals from academia, industry, and government, including the United States Food and Drug Administration. This and the accompanying review on clinical PK/PD summarize the workshop discussions and recommendations. Nonclinical PK/PD models play a critical role in designing human dosage regimens and are essential tools for drug development. These includein vitroandin vivoefficacy models that provide valuable and complementary information for dose selection and translation from the laboratory to human. It is crucial that studies be designed, conducted, and interpreted appropriately. For antibacterial PK/PD, extensive published data and expertise are available. These have been leveraged to develop recommendations, identify common pitfalls, and describe the applications, strengths, and limitations of various nonclinical infection models and translational approaches. Despite these robust tools and published guidance, characterizing nonclinical PK/PD relationships may not be straightforward, especially for a new drug or new class. Antimicrobial PK/PD is an evolving discipline that needs to adapt to future research and development needs. Open communication between academia, pharmaceutical industry, government, and regulatory bodies is essential to share perspectives and collectively solve future challenges.

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Analysis of Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus Capsid Protein Function in the Inhibition of Cellular Transcription

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.01576-07 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 81 (24) ◽

pp. 13552-13565 ◽

Cited By ~ 89

Author(s):

Natalia Garmashova ◽

Svetlana Atasheva ◽

Wenli Kang ◽

Scott C. Weaver ◽

Elena Frolova ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Capsid Protein ◽

Protein Function ◽

Sindbis Virus ◽

New World ◽

Critical Role ◽

The United States ◽

Nuclear Pore ◽

Cellular Transcription

ABSTRACT The encephalitogenic New World alphaviruses, including Venezuelan (VEEV), eastern (EEEV), and western equine encephalitis viruses, constitute a continuing public health threat in the United States. They circulate in Central, South, and North America and have the ability to cause fatal disease in humans and in horses and other domestic animals. We recently demonstrated that these viruses have developed the ability to interfere with cellular transcription and use it as a means of downregulating a cellular antiviral response. The results of the present study suggest that the N-terminal, ∼35-amino-acid-long peptide of VEEV and EEEV capsid proteins plays the most critical role in the downregulation of cellular transcription and development of a cytopathic effect. The identified VEEV-specific peptide CVEE33-68 includes two domains with distinct functions: the α-helix domain, helix I, which is critically involved in supporting the balance between the presence of the protein in the cytoplasm and nucleus, and the downstream peptide, which might contain a functional nuclear localization signal(s). The integrity of both domains not only determines the intracellular distribution of the VEEV capsid but is also essential for direct capsid protein functioning in the inhibition of transcription. Our results suggest that the VEEV capsid protein interacts with the nuclear pore complex, and this interaction correlates with the protein's ability to cause transcriptional shutoff and, ultimately, cell death. The replacement of the N-terminal fragment of the VEEV capsid by its Sindbis virus-specific counterpart in the VEEV TC-83 genome does not affect virus replication in vitro but reduces cytopathogenicity and results in attenuation in vivo. These findings can be used in designing a new generation of live, attenuated, recombinant vaccines against the New World alphaviruses.

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Cryptosporidium parvum Pyruvate Kinase Inhibitors With in vivo Anti-cryptosporidial Efficacy

Frontiers in Microbiology ◽

10.3389/fmicb.2021.800293 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Shahbaz M. Khan ◽

Xuejin Zhang ◽

William H. Witola

Keyword(s):

Pyruvate Kinase ◽

Cryptosporidium Parvum ◽

Diarrheal Disease ◽

Severe Disease ◽

The United States ◽

Metabolic Energy ◽

Host Cells ◽

Infection Model

Cryptosporidium parvum is a highly prevalent protozoan parasite that causes a diarrheal disease in humans and animals worldwide. Thus far, the moderately effective nitazoxanide is the only drug approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for treating cryptosporidiosis in immunocompetent humans. However, no effective drug exists for the severe disease seen in young children, immunocompromised individuals and neonatal livestock. C. parvum lacks the Krebs cycle and the oxidative phosphorylation steps, making it dependent solely on glycolysis for metabolic energy production. Within its glycolytic pathway, C. parvum possesses two unique enzymes, the bacterial-type lactate dehydrogenase (CpLDH) and the plant-like pyruvate kinase (CpPyK), that catalyze two sequential steps for generation of essential metabolic energy. We have previously reported that inhibitors of CpLDH are effective against C. parvum, both in vitro and in vivo. Herein, we developed an in vitro assay for the enzymatic activity of recombinant CpPyK protein and used it to screen a chemical compound library for inhibitors of CpPyK’s activity. The identified inhibitors were tested (at non-toxic concentrations) for efficacy against C. parvum using in vitro assays, and an in vivo mouse infection model. We identified six CpPyK inhibitors that blocked in vitro growth and proliferation of C. parvum at low micromolar concentrations (EC50 values ranging from 10.29 to 86.01 μM) that were non-toxic to host cells. Among those six compounds, two (NSC252172 and NSC234945) were found to be highly efficacious against cryptosporidiosis in immunocompromised mice at a dose of 10 mg/kg body weight, with very significant reduction in parasite load and amelioration of intestinal pathologies. Together, these findings have unveiled inhibitors for an essential molecular target in C. parvum and demonstrated their efficacy against the parasite in vitro and in vivo. These inhibitors are, therefore, potential lead-compounds for developing efficacious treatments for cryptosporidiosis.

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Postantibiotic and Sub-MIC Effects of Exebacase (Lysin CF-301) Enhance Antimicrobial Activity againstStaphylococcus aureus

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy ◽

10.1128/aac.02616-18 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 63 (6) ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Jun Taek Oh ◽

Cara Cassino ◽

Raymond Schuch

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Activity ◽

Cell Wall ◽

The United States ◽

Infection Model ◽

Postantibiotic Effect ◽

Content Type ◽

Wall Ultrastructure ◽

Bacterial Fitness

ABSTRACTCF-301 (exebacase) is a recombinantly produced bacteriophage-derived lysin (cell wall hydrolase) and is the first agent of this class to enter clinical development in the United States for treating bacteremia including endocarditis due toStaphylococcus aureus. Whereas rapid bactericidal activity is the hallmarkin vitroandin vivoresponse to CF-301 at exposures higher than the MIC, prolonged antimicrobial activity, mediated by cell wall damage, is predicted at concentrations less than the MIC. In the current study, a series ofin vitropharmacodynamic parameters, including the postantibiotic effect (PAE), postantibiotic sub-MIC effect (PA-SME), and sub-MIC effect (SME), were studied to determine how short-duration and sub-MIC CF-301 exposures affect the growth of surviving staphylococci and extend its antimicrobial activity. Mean PAE, PA-SME, and SME values up to 4.8, 9.3, and 9.8 h, respectively, were observed against 14 staphylococcal strains tested in human serum; growth delays were extended by 6 h in the presence of daptomycin. Exposures to CF-301 at sub-MIC levels as low as 0.001× to 0.01× MIC (∼1 to 10 ng/ml) resulted in aberrant cell wall ultrastructure, increased membrane permeability, dissipation of membrane potential, and inhibition of virulence phenotypes, including agglutination and biofilm formation. A mouse thigh infection model designed to study the PAE was used to confirm our findings and demonstratein vivogrowth delays of ≥19.3 h. Our findings suggest that at CF-301 concentrations less than the MIC during therapeutic use, sustained reductions in bacterial fitness and virulence may substantially enhance efficacy.

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Pharmacodynamic Evaluation of the Activities of Six Parenteral Vancomycin Products Available in the United States

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy ◽

10.1128/aac.03710-14 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 59 (1) ◽

pp. 622-632 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Arnold Louie ◽

Michael T. Boyne ◽

Vikram Patel ◽

Clayton Huntley ◽

Weiguo Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Drug Exposure ◽

The United States ◽

Mouse Serum ◽

Infection Model ◽

Population Pharmacokinetic ◽

Bacterial Killing ◽

The Impact

ABSTRACTA recent report found that generic parenteral vancomycin products may not havein vivoefficacies equivalent to those of the innovator in a neutropenic murine thigh infection model despite having similarin vitromicrobiological activities and murine serum pharmacokinetics. We compared thein vitroandin vivoactivities of six of the parenteral vancomycin products available in the United States. Thein vitroassessments for the potencies of the vancomycin products included MIC/minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) determinations, quantifying the impact of human and murine serum on the MIC values, and time-kill studies. Also, the potencies of the vancomycin products were quantified with a biological assay, and the human and mouse serum protein binding rates for the vancomycin products were measured. Thein vivostudies included dose-ranging experiments with the 6 vancomycin products for three isolates ofStaphylococcus aureusin a neutropenic mouse thigh infection model. The pharmacokinetics of the vancomycin products were assessed in infected mice by population pharmacokinetic modeling. No differences were seen across the vancomycin products with regard to anyin vitroevaluation. Inhibitory sigmoid maximal bacterial kill (Emax) modeling of the relationship between vancomycin dosage and the killing of the bacteria in micein vivoyielded similarEmaxand EC50(drug exposure driving one-halfEmax) values for bacterial killing. Further, there were no differences in the pharmacokinetic clearances of the 6 vancomycin products from infected mice. There were no important pharmacodynamic differences in thein vitroorin vivoactivities among the six vancomycin products evaluated.

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Polymyxin resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae: multifaceted mechanisms utilized in the presence and absence of the plasmid-encoded phosphoethanolamine transferase gene mcr-1

Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy ◽

10.1093/jac/dkz314 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 74 (11) ◽

pp. 3190-3198

Author(s):

Sue C Nang ◽

Mei-Ling Han ◽

Heidi H Yu ◽

Jiping Wang ◽

Von Vergel L Torres ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Klebsiella Pneumoniae ◽

Reference Gene ◽

Deletion Mutant ◽

Lipid A ◽

Population Analysis ◽

Polymyxin B ◽

Infection Model ◽

Dosage Regimens

AbstractObjectivesUntil plasmid-mediated mcr-1 was discovered, it was believed that polymyxin resistance in Gram-negative bacteria was mainly mediated by the chromosomally-encoded EptA and ArnT, which modify lipid A with phosphoethanolamine (pEtN) and 4-amino-4-deoxy-l-arabinose (l-Ara4N), respectively. This study aimed to construct a markerless mcr-1 deletion mutant in Klebsiella pneumoniae, validate a reliable reference gene for reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT–qPCR) and investigate the interactions among mcr-1, arnT and eptA, in response to polymyxin treatments using pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD).MethodsAn isogenic markerless mcr-1 deletion mutant (II-503Δmcr-1) was generated from a clinical K. pneumoniae II-503 isolate. The efficacy of different polymyxin B dosage regimens was examined using an in vitro one-compartment PK/PD model and polymyxin resistance was assessed using population analysis profiles. The expression of mcr-1, eptA and arnT was examined using RT–qPCR with a reference gene pepQ, and lipid A was profiled using LC-MS. In vivo polymyxin B efficacy was investigated in a mouse thigh infection model.ResultsIn K. pneumoniae II-503, mcr-1 was constitutively expressed, irrespective of polymyxin exposure. Against II-503Δmcr-1, an initial bactericidal effect was observed within 4 h with polymyxin B at average steady-state concentrations of 1 and 3 mg/L, mimicking patient PK. However, substantial regrowth and concomitantly increased expression of eptA and arnT were detected. Predominant l-Ara4N-modified lipid A species were detected in II-503Δmcr-1 following polymyxin B treatment.ConclusionsThis is the first study demonstrating a unique markerless deletion of mcr-1 in a clinical polymyxin-resistant K. pneumoniae. The current polymyxin B dosage regimens are suboptimal against K. pneumoniae, regardless of mcr, and can lead to the emergence of resistance.

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Comparison of Six Generic Vancomycin Products for Treatment of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Experimental Endocarditis in Rabbits

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy ◽

10.1128/aac.01669-12 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 57 (3) ◽

pp. 1157-1162 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

P. Tattevin ◽

A. Saleh-Mghir ◽

B. Davido ◽

I. Ghout ◽

L. Massias ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Staphylococcus Aureus ◽

Rabbit Model ◽

The United States ◽

Pharmaceutical Products ◽

Infection Model ◽

Methicillin Resistant ◽

Content Type ◽

Bactericidal Activities

ABSTRACTConcerns have recently emerged about the potency and the quality of generic vancomycin (VAN) products approved for use in humans, based on experiments in a neutropenic mouse thigh infection model. However, other animal models may be more appropriate to decipher the bactericidal activities of VAN genericsin vivoand to predict their efficacy in humans. We aimed to compare the bactericidal activities of six generic VAN products currently used in France (Mylan and Sandoz), Spain (Hospira), Switzerland (Teva), and the United States (Akorn-Strides and American Pharmaceutical Products [APP]) in a rabbit model of aortic valve endocarditis induced by 8 × 107CFU of methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA) strain COL (VAN MIC, 1.5 μg/ml).In vitro, there were no significant differences in the time-kill curve studies performed with the six generic VAN products. Ten rabbits in each group were treated with intravenous (i.v.) VAN, 60 mg/kg of body weight twice a day (b.i.d.) for 4 days. Mean peak serum VAN levels, measured 45 min after the last injection, ranged from 35.5 (APP) to 45.9 μg/ml (Teva). Mean trough serum VAN levels, measured 12 h after the last injection, ranged from 2.3 (Hospira) to 9.2 (APP) μg/ml. All generic VAN products were superior to controls (no treatment) in terms of residual organisms in vegetations (P< 0.02 for each comparison) and in the spleen (P< 0.005 for each comparison). Pairwise comparisons of generic VAN products found no significant differences. In conclusion, a stringent MRSA endocarditis model found no significant differences in the bactericidal activities of six generic VAN products currently used in Europe and America.

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MLL-Associated Leukemias Drive Expression of MiR-9, Required for Tumorigenesis

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v120.21.525.525 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 120 (21) ◽

pp. 525-525

Author(s):

Colles Price ◽

Ping Chen ◽

Zejuan Li ◽

Yuanyuan Li ◽

Anissa Wiley ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stem Cell ◽

Target Genes ◽

Transforming Growth Factor ◽

Conflicts Of Interest ◽

Critical Role ◽

Stem Cell Differentiation ◽

The United States ◽

Cellular Migration

Abstract Abstract 525 Acute leukemia represents one of the most deadly cancers in the United States. Clinical treatments in leukemia have progressed significantly through the use of therapies targeted specifically to chromosomal translocations. The success of these therapies has provided a model for future treatment in various cancers. However, there are various subtypes of leukemia where five-year survival and relapse rates have poor clinical outcome, indicating that new therapies are needed. A particular leukemia subtype, namely mixed lineage leukemia (MLL)-rearranged leukemia that is a result of chromosomal rearrangements leading to fusions between MLL and partner genes, is associated with a dismal outcome. Therapeutic targeting of MLL rearrangements has proven challenging as there have been dozens of described rearrangements. An emerging hallmark of cancer is the deregulation of non-coding RNAs called microRNAs (miRs). We hypothesized that MLL-associated leukemias have aberrant microRNA expression. We performed microRNA microarray analyses on leukemia patient samples and showed that microRNA-9 (miR-9) is highly upregulated in MLL-associated leukemias. We discovered that expression of miR-9 enhances cell transformation in vitro and tumorigenesis in vivo, and the opposite is true when miR-9 function is inhibited by anti-miR sponges. Interestingly, we observed that mice transplanted with both MLL-AF9 and miR-9 had a significantly higher amount of blast-like cells and immature cells in the bone marrow and fewer in the peripheral blood compared to mice transplanted with MLL-AF9 alone. Furthermore, inhibition of miR-9 function causes a significant defect in stem cell self-renewal and myeloid differentiation. Thus, this suggests that miR-9 has a critical role in stem cell potentiation and myeloid promotion in MLL-associated leukemias. To investigate target genes of miR-9, we correlated microarray expression of miR-9 and those of its putative target genes predicted with multiple prediction algorithms. We identified six potential target genes that exhibit a significantly inverse correlation of expression with miR-9 and are inhibited in MLL-associated leukemia. These identified genes are Transforming growth factor beta-induced protein (TGFBI), E-cadherin (CDH1), Nuclear factor-kappa-B p105 subunit (NFkB1), Ras homolog gene family member H (RHOH), Ring1 and YY1-binding protein (RYBP) and Foxhead Box O3 (FOXO3), We demonstrated that all these targets genes are inhibited upon expression of miR-9, in vitro and in vivo and blocking miR-9 function rescues their expression. As these target genes affect multiple cell processes such as proliferation, stem cell differentiation, chromatin remodeling, and cellular migration, it appears that miR-9 is a potential master regulator during MLL-associated tumorigenesis. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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Studies on Metabolism of Urokinase and Mechanism of Thrombolysis by Urokinase

Thrombosis and Haemostasis ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1666937 ◽

1979 ◽

Vol 42 (03) ◽

pp. 885-894 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Tatsuo Ueno ◽

Norio Kobayashi ◽

Tadashi Maekawa

Keyword(s):

Molecular Weight ◽

Plasma Clearance ◽

Radioactive Material ◽

Optimal Dosage ◽

Plasma Clot ◽

Optimal Dosage Regimen ◽

Arterial Thrombus ◽

Contact Experiment

SummaryPharmacokinetics of intravenously injected 125I-labeled urokinase (125I-UK) of a molecular weight of 33,000 daltons in normal rabbits and patients with various diseases were investigated. The plasma clearance of 125I-UK in rabbits was described by a biexponential curve within six hours with a half-life of 8 minutes, 2.3 hours, respectively. The radioactivity in the liver and kidneys 15 minutes after iv injection with 125I-UK was 9.6% and 14.0% of the radioactivity injected, respectively. Approximately 80% of the total radioactive material injected was excreted in the urine in 18 hours. No increase in activator activity in the urine was observed after a large amount of UK injection. Activity uptake of 125I-UK by experimentally induced arterial thrombus was little. Lysis of the stasis thrombus was produced by injecting 7.5 × 104 IU of UK in only one out of 8 rabbits. In vitro contact experiment revealed that transfer of 125I-UK to plasma clot is slow (24 hours for 10% of 125I-UK by plasma clot). In 4 patients plasma clearance of 125I-UK was essentially similar to that in rabbits. From the results obtained optimal dosage regimen of UK administration for complete thrombolysis in vivo was discussed.

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Repurposing N,N-Dimethylacetamide (DMA), a Pharmaceutical Excipient, as a Prototype Novel Anti-inflammatory Agent for the Prevention and/or Treatment of Preterm Birth

Current Pharmaceutical Design ◽

10.2174/1381612824666180130121706 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 24 (9) ◽

pp. 989-992 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Samir Gorasiya ◽

Juliet Mushi ◽

Ryan Pekson ◽

Sabesan Yoganathan ◽

Sandra E. Reznik

Keyword(s):

Preterm Birth ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

The United States ◽

Occurrence Rate ◽

Pharmaceutical Excipient ◽

Ongoing Work ◽

Exciting Line ◽

Pregnant Mice

Background: Preterm birth (PTB), or birth that occurs before 37 weeks of gestation, accounts for the majority of perinatal morbidity and mortality. As of 2016, PTB has an occurrence rate of 9.6% in the United States and accounts for up to 18 percent of births worldwide. Inflammation has been identified as the most common cause of PTB, but effective pharmacotherapy has yet to be developed to prevent inflammation driven PTB. Our group has discovered that N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMA), a readily available solvent commonly used as a pharmaceutical excipient, rescues lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced timed pregnant mice from PTB. Methods: We have used in vivo, ex vivo and in vitro approaches to investigate this compound further. Results: Interestingly, we found that DMA suppresses cytokine secretion by inhibiting nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB). In ongoing work in this exciting line of investigation, we are currently investigating structural analogs of DMA, some of them novel, to optimize this approach focused on the inflammation associated with PTB. Conclusion: Successful development of pharmacotherapy for the prevention of PTB rests upon the pursuit of multiple strategies to solve this important clinical challenge.

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RNF141 interacts with KRAS to promote colorectal cancer progression

Oncogene ◽

10.1038/s41388-021-01877-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jiuna Zhang ◽

Xiaoyu Jiang ◽

Jie Yin ◽

Shiying Dou ◽

Xiaoli Xie ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Colorectal Cancer ◽

Plasma Membrane ◽

Tumor Growth ◽

Cancer Progression ◽

Critical Role ◽

Ring Finger ◽

Immunohistochemical Analysis ◽

Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation

AbstractRING finger proteins (RNFs) play a critical role in cancer initiation and progression. RNF141 is a member of RNFs family; however, its clinical significance, roles, and mechanism in colorectal cancer (CRC) remain poorly understood. Here, we examined the expression of RNF141 in 64 pairs of CRC and adjacent normal tissues by real-time PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemical analysis. We found that there was more expression of RNF141 in CRC tissue compared with its adjacent normal tissue and high RNF141 expression associated with T stage. In vivo and in vitro functional experiments were conducted and revealed the oncogenic role of RNF141 in CRC. RNF141 knockdown suppressed proliferation, arrested the cell cycle in the G1 phase, inhibited migration, invasion and HUVEC tube formation but promoted apoptosis, whereas RNF141 overexpression exerted the opposite effects in CRC cells. The subcutaneous xenograft models showed that RNF141 knockdown reduced tumor growth, but its overexpression promoted tumor growth. Mechanistically, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry indicated RNF141 interacted with KRAS, which was confirmed by Co-immunoprecipitation, Immunofluorescence assay. Further analysis with bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) and Glutathione-S-transferase (GST) pull-down assays showed that RNF141 could directly bind to KRAS. Importantly, the upregulation of RNF141 increased GTP-bound KRAS, but its knockdown resulted in a reduction accordingly. Next, we demonstrated that RNF141 induced KRAS activation via increasing its enrichment on the plasma membrane not altering total KRAS expression, which was facilitated by the interaction with LYPLA1. Moreover, KRAS silencing partially abolished the effect of RNF141 on cell proliferation and apoptosis. In addition, our findings presented that RNF141 functioned as an oncogene by upregulating KRAS activity in a manner of promoting KRAS enrichment on the plasma membrane in CRC.

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