Kinetics and Computational Evaluation of Eugenol and Vanillic Acid on Inhibition of a Potential Enzyme of a Nosocomial Pathogen that Promotes Struvite Formation

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 162-171
Author(s):  
Venkataseshan Jagannathan ◽  
Arthi Venkatesan ◽  
Pragasam Viswanathan

Background: Struvite/infection stone is one of the major clinical burdens in urinary tract infections that is caused by the ureolytic behavior of pathogenic bacteria. Objective: The current strategy for treating infective stones is mostly antibiotic therapy, which ends in promoting resistance to the organisms. Hence in the present study, we investigated two phytocompounds, eugenol (an allyl-substituted guaiacol) and vanillic acid (a phenolic acid) that are found to be effective in inhibiting the urease enzyme of a nosocomial pathogen Proteus mirabilis. Methods: The enzyme was purified to apparent homogeneity and the kinetic parameters were studied in the presence and in the absence of eugenol and vanillic acid. Molecular docking and simulation were done to understand the level of protein-ligand interactions and the interacting residues. Results: Kinetic parameters obtained from the Michaelis-Menten plot show that both eugenol and vanillic acid exhibit non-competitive inhibition of urease enzyme in a dose-dependent manner. In silico studies showed that eugenol and vanillic acid have almost similar binding affinities to the regulatory pocket of the modeled protein. Dynamics and simulation results indicate that the interaction of ligands with the ARG373 residue of the protein provides a stable bound conformation. Conclusion: Overall, our results suggest that both the phytocompounds eugenol and vanillic acid have a potential application as a new therapy for the inhibition of urease enzyme that could possibly replace the complexions related to struvite stone formation.

2012 ◽  
Vol 80 (11) ◽  
pp. 3804-3811 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ritwij Kulkarni ◽  
Swati Antala ◽  
Alice Wang ◽  
Fábio E. Amaral ◽  
Ryan Rampersaud ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTThe strong epidemiological association between cigarette smoke (CS) exposure and respiratory tract infections is conventionally attributed to immunosuppressive and irritant effects of CS on human cells. Since pathogenic bacteria such asStaphylococcus aureusare members of the normal microbiota and reside in close proximity to human nasopharyngeal cells, we hypothesized that bioactive components of CS might affect these organisms and potentiate their virulence. UsingStaphylococcus aureusas a model organism, we observed that the presence of CS increased both biofilm formation and host cell adherence. Analysis of putative molecular pathways revealed that CS exposure decreased expression of the quorum-sensingagrsystem, which is involved in biofilm dispersal, and increased transcription of biofilm inducers such assarAandrbf. CS contains bioactive compounds, including free radicals and reactive oxygen species, and we observed transcriptional induction of bacterial oxidoreductases, including superoxide dismutase, following exposure. Moreover, pretreatment of CS with an antioxidant abrogated CS-mediated enhancement of biofilms. Exposure of bacteria to hydrogen peroxide alone increased biofilm formation. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that CS induces staphylococcal biofilm formation in an oxidant-dependent manner. CS treatment induced transcription offnbA(encoding fibronectin binding protein A), leading to increased binding of CS-treated staphylococci to immobilized fibronectin and increased adherence to human cells. These observations indicate that the bioactive effects of CS may extend to the resident microbiota of the nasopharynx, with implications for the pathogenesis of respiratory infection in CS-exposed humans.


2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bharti Patel ◽  
Subrata Mishra ◽  
Indira K. Priyadarsini ◽  
Sirisha L. Vavilala

Abstract Bacteria are increasingly relying on biofilms to develop resistance to antibiotics thereby resulting in their failure in treating many infections. In spite of continuous research on many synthetic and natural compounds, ideal anti-biofilm molecule is still not found thereby warranting search for new class of molecules. The current study focuses on exploring anti-biofilm potential of selenocystine against respiratory tract infection (RTI)-causing bacteria. Anti-bacterial and anti-biofilm assays demonstrated that selenocystine inhibits the growth of bacteria in their planktonic state, and formation of biofilms while eradicating preformed-biofilm effectively. Selenocystine at a MIC50 as low as 42 and 28 μg/mL effectively inhibited the growth of Klebsiella pneumonia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The antibacterial effect is further reconfirmed by agar cup diffusion assay and growth-kill assay. Selenocystine showed 30–60% inhibition of biofilm formation in K. pneumonia, and 44–70% in P. aeruginosa respectively. It also distorted the preformed-biofilms by degrading the eDNA component of the Extracellular Polymeric Substance matrix. Molecular docking studies of selenocystine with quorum sensing specific proteins clearly showed that through the carboxylic acid moiety it interacts and inhibits the protein function, thereby confirming its anti-biofilm potential. With further validation selenocystine can be explored as a potential candidate for the treatment of RTIs.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 3542
Author(s):  
Ramida Krumsri ◽  
Kaori Ozaki ◽  
Toshiaki Teruya ◽  
Hisashi Kato-Noguchi

Phytotoxic substances released from plants are considered eco-friendly alternatives for controlling weeds in agricultural production. In this study, the leaves of Afzelia xylocarpa (Kurz) Craib. were investigated for biological activity, and their active substances were determined. Extracts of A. xylocarpa leaf exhibited concentration-dependent phytotoxic activity against the seedling length of Lepidium sativum L., Medicago sativa L., Phleum pratense L., and Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv. Bioassay-guided fractionation of the A. xylocarpa leaf extracts led to isolating and identifying two compounds: vanillic acid and trans-ferulic acid. Both compounds were applied to four model plants using different concentrations. The results showed both compounds significantly inhibited the model plants’ seedling length in a species-dependent manner (p < 0.05). The phytotoxic effects of trans-ferulic acid (IC50 = 0.42 to 2.43 mM) on the model plants were much greater than that of vanillic acid (IC50 = 0.73 to 3.17 mM) and P. pratense was the most sensitive to both compounds. In addition, the application of an equimolar (0.3 mM) mixture of vanillic acid and trans-ferulic acid showed the synergistic effects of the phytotoxic activity against the root length of P. pratense and L. sativum. These results suggest that the leaves of A. xylocarpa and its phytotoxic compounds could be used as a natural source of herbicides.


2020 ◽  
Vol 58 (10) ◽  
pp. 1759-1767
Author(s):  
Mieke Steenbeke ◽  
Sander De Bruyne ◽  
Jerina Boelens ◽  
Matthijs Oyaert ◽  
Griet Glorieux ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectivesIn this study, the possibilities of Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) for analysis of urine sediments and for detection of bacteria causing urinary tract infections (UTIs) were investigated.MethodsDried urine specimens of control subjects and patients presenting with various nephrological and urological conditions were analysed using mid-infrared spectroscopy (4,000–400 cm−1). Urine samples from patients with a UTI were inoculated on a blood agar plate. After drying of the pure bacterial colonies, FTIR was applied and compared with the results obtained by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Chemometric data analysis was used to classify the different species.ResultsDue to the typical molecular assignments of lipids, proteins, nucleic acids and carbohydrates, FTIR was able to identify bacteria and showed promising results in the detection of proteins, lipids, white and red blood cells, as well as in the identification of crystals. Principal component analysis (PCA) allowed to differentiate between Gram-negative and Gram-positive species and soft independent modelling of class analogy (SIMCA) revealed promising classification ratios between the different pathogens.ConclusionsFTIR can be considered as a supplementary method for urine sediment examination and for detection of pathogenic bacteria in UTI.


1985 ◽  
Vol 63 (9) ◽  
pp. 932-940 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gilles Dupuis ◽  
Jean-Pierre Doucet ◽  
Bânû Bastin ◽  
Jeannine Cardin

We describe the isolation of pig spleen lymphocyte glycoproteins that interact with phytohemagglutinin (PHA), the lectin from Phaseolus vulgaris. Purification was achieved by affinity chromatography of a Nonidet P-40 extract of the cells on a PHA – Affi-Gel 10 column. The retained glycoproteins were eluted with an acidic (pH 3.0) glycine buffer and represented 1.9–2.4% of the amount of protein applied to the column. They contained 20 ± 1.3% hexose and 1.7 ± 0.7% fatty acids, on a weight basis. Electrophoretic analyses (sodium dodecyl sulfate – polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) showed the presence of major Coomassie blue positive bands with apparent molecular masses of 50–55, 75, 95, 130, and 155 kdaltons along with minor bands of 20–40, 42, 45, 60–65, 175, and 200–250 kdaltons. The purified PHA-receptor glycoproteins inhibited, in a dose-dependent manner, the incorporation of [3H]thymidine in pig lymphocytes cultured at a concentration of 106 cells/mL in the presence of PHA. A 50% inhibition was observed when 20 μg/mL of the glycoproteins was added to the lymphocyte cultures containing 0.5 μg/mL of PHA. Scatchard analysis of the binding of 125I-labelled PHA, in the presence of increasing amounts of the purified glycoproteins, showed a suppression of the binding of the lectin to high affinity sites of the cells, as evidenced by a change from biphasic to a linear profile. Results of binding suggested a competitive inhibition by a population of purified glycoproteins with a similar affinity for the lectin. The purified glycoproteins decreased PHA-dependent interleukin 2 (IL-2) production by pig lymphocytes as assayed with a IL-2 dependent murine cell line. It is suggested that the affinity-purified PHA-reactive glycoproteins are inhibitors of PHA-dependent cellular responses because they compete with PHA-receptor sites on the lymphocyte plasma membrane. A mouse antiserum raised against the purified glycoproteins inhibited PHA-induced lymphocyte activation, but did not stimulate lymphocytes when added alone to lymphocyte cultures or in combination with a antimouse antiserum.


2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (11) ◽  
pp. eaar6280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aditya Dileep Kurdekar ◽  
L. A. Avinash Chunduri ◽  
C. Sai Manohar ◽  
Mohan Kumar Haleyurgirisetty ◽  
Indira K. Hewlett ◽  
...  

We have engineered streptavidin-labeled fluorescent gold nanoclusters to develop a gold nanocluster immunoassay (GNCIA) for the early and sensitive detection of HIV infection. We performed computational simulations on the mechanism of interaction between the nanoclusters and the streptavidin protein via in silico studies and showed that gold nanoclusters enhance the binding to the protein, by enhancing interaction between the Au atoms and the specific active site residues, compared to other metal nanoclusters. We also evaluated the role of glutathione conjugation in binding to gold nanoclusters with streptavidin. As proof of concept, GNCIA achieved a sensitivity limit of detection of HIV-1 p24 antigen in clinical specimens of 5 pg/ml, with a detection range up to1000 pg/ml in a linear dose-dependent manner. GNCIA demonstrated a threefold higher sensitivity and specificity compared to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of HIV p24 antigen. The specificity of the immunoassay was 100% when tested with plasma samples negative for HIV-1 p24 antigen and positive for viruses such as hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and dengue. GNCIA could be developed into a universal labeling technology using the relevant capture and detector antibodies for the specific detection of antigens of various pathogens in the future.


2018 ◽  
Vol 87 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mingyu Hou ◽  
Wenhui Wang ◽  
Feizi Hu ◽  
Yuanxing Zhang ◽  
Dahai Yang ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Bacterial phosphothreonine lyases have been identified to be type III secretion system (T3SS) effectors that irreversibly dephosphorylate host mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling to promote infection. However, the effects of phosphothreonine lyase on nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling remain largely unknown. In this study, we detected significant phosphothreonine lyase-dependent p65 degradation during Edwardsiella piscicida infection in macrophages, and this degradative effect was blocked by the protease inhibitor MG132. Further analysis revealed that phosphothreonine lyase promotes the dephosphorylation and ubiquitination of p65 by inhibiting the phosphorylation of mitogen- and stress-activated protein kinase-1 (MSK1) and by inhibiting the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-related kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), p38α, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). Moreover, we revealed that the catalytic active site of phosphothreonine lyase plays a critical role in regulating the MAPK-MSK1-p65 signaling axis. Collectively, the mechanism described here expands our understanding of the pathogenic effector in not only regulating MAPK signaling but also regulating p65. These findings uncover a new mechanism by which pathogenic bacteria overcome host innate immunity to promote pathogenesis.


2018 ◽  
Vol 55 (6) ◽  
pp. 680-689
Author(s):  
Jus Rakhra ◽  
Gabrielle Williams ◽  
Ben J Marais ◽  
Jonathan C Craig ◽  
Hasantha Gunasekera

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Na Liu ◽  
Ping Chen ◽  
Xiaojun Du ◽  
Junxia Sun ◽  
Shasha Han

Abstract Background Obtusofolin is the major active ingredient of Catsia tora L., which possesses the activity of improving eyesight and protecting the optic nerve. Investigation on the interaction of obtusofolin with cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYP450s) could provide a reference for the clinical application of obtusofolin. Methods The effect of obtusofolin on the activity of CYP450s was investigated in the presence of 100 μM obtusofolin in pooled human liver microsomes (HLMs) and fitted with the Lineweaver–Burk plots to characterize the specific inhibition model and kinetic parameters. Results Obtusofolin was found to significantly inhibited the activity of CYP3A4, 2C9, and 2E1. In the presence of 0, 2.5, 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100 μM obtusofolin, the inhibition of these CYP450s showed a dose-dependent manner with the IC50 values of 17.1 ± 0.25, 10.8 ± 0.13, and 15.5 ± 0.16 μM, respectively. The inhibition of CYP3A4 was best fitted with the non-competitive inhibition model with the Ki value of 8.82 μM. While the inhibition of CYP2C9 and 2E1 was competitive with the Ki values of 5.54 and 7.79 μM, respectively. After incubating for 0, 5, 10, 15, and 30 min, the inhibition of CYP3A4 was revealed to be time-dependent with the KI value of 4.87 μM− 1 and the Kinact value of 0.0515 min− 1. Conclusions The in vitro inhibitory effect of obtusofolin implying the potential drug-drug interaction between obtusofolin and corresponding substrates, which needs further in vivo validations.


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