scholarly journals Tetradecanoic Acids With Anti-Virulence Properties Increase the Pathogenicity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a Murine Cutaneous Infection Model

Author(s):  
Martha María Juárez-Rodríguez ◽  
Humberto Cortes-López ◽  
Rodolfo García-Contreras ◽  
Bertha González-Pedrajo ◽  
Miguel Díaz-Guerrero ◽  
...  

Blocking virulence is a promising alternative to counteract Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections. In this regard, the phenomenon of cell-cell communication by quorum sensing (QS) is an important anti-virulence target. In this field, fatty acids (FA) have gained notoriety for their role as autoinducers, as well as anti-virulence molecules in vitro, like some saturated FA (SAFA). In this study, we analyzed the anti-virulence activity of SAFA with 12 to18 carbon atoms and compared their effect with the putative autoinducer cis-2-decenoic acid (CDA). The effect of SAFA on six QS-regulated virulence factors and on the secretion of the exoenzyme ExoU was evaluated. In addition, a murine cutaneous infection model was used to determine their influence on the establishment and damage caused by P. aeruginosa PA14. Dodecanoic (lauric, C12:0) and tetradecanoic (myristic, C14:0) acids (SAFA C12-14) reduced the production of pyocyanin by 35–58% at 40 and 1,000 µM, while CDA inhibited it 62% at a 3.1 µM concentration. Moreover, the SAFA C12-14 reduced swarming by 90% without affecting biofilm formation. In contrast, CDA reduced the biofilm by 57% at 3 µM but did not affect swarming. Furthermore, lauric and myristic acids abolished ExoU secretion at 100 and 50 µM respectively, while CDA reduced it by ≈ 92% at 100 µM. Remarkably, the coadministration of myristic acid (200 and 1,000 µM) with P. aeruginosa PA14 induced greater damage and reduced survival of the animals up to 50%, whereas CDA to 500 µM reduced the damage without affecting the viability of the PA14 strain. Hence, our results show that SAFA C12-14 and CDA have a role in regulation of P. aeruginosa virulence, although their inhibition/activation molecular mechanisms are different in complex environments such as in vivo systems.

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 1497
Author(s):  
Pansong Zhang ◽  
Qiao Guo ◽  
Zhihua Wei ◽  
Qin Yang ◽  
Zisheng Guo ◽  
...  

Therapeutics that target the virulence of pathogens rather than their viability offer a promising alternative for treating infectious diseases and circumventing antibiotic resistance. In this study, we searched for anti-virulence compounds against Pseudomonas aeruginosa from Chinese herbs and investigated baicalin from Scutellariae radix as such an active anti-virulence compound. The effect of baicalin on a range of important virulence factors in P. aeruginosa was assessed using luxCDABE-based reporters and by phenotypical assays. The molecular mechanism of the virulence inhibition by baicalin was investigated using genetic approaches. The impact of baicalin on P. aeruginosa pathogenicity was evaluated by both in vitro assays and in vivo animal models. The results show that baicalin diminished a plenty of important virulence factors in P. aeruginosa, including the Type III secretion system (T3SS). Baicalin treatment reduced the cellular toxicity of P. aeruginosa on the mammalian cells and attenuated in vivo pathogenicity in a Drosophila melanogaster infection model. In a rat pulmonary infection model, baicalin significantly reduced the severity of lung pathology and accelerated lung bacterial clearance. The PqsR of the Pseudomonas quinolone signal (PQS) system was found to be required for baicalin’s impact on T3SS. These findings indicate that baicalin is a promising therapeutic candidate for treating P. aeruginosa infections.


Author(s):  
Ghazal Shabestani Monfared ◽  
Peter Ertl ◽  
Mario Rothbauer

Cutaneous wound healing is a complex multi-stage process involving direct and indirect cell communication events with the aim of efficiently restoring the barrier function of the skin. One key aspect in cutaneous wound healing is associated with cell movement and migration into the physically, chemically and biologically injured area resulting in wound closure. Understanding the conditions under which cell migration is impaired and elucidating the cellular and molecular mechanisms that improve healing dynamics is therefore crucial in devising novel therapeutic strategies to elevate patient suffering, reduce scaring and eliminate chronic wounds. Following the global trend towards automation, miniaturization and integration of cell-based assays into microphysiological systems, conventional wound healing assays such as the scratch assay or cell exclusion assay have recently been translated and improved using microfluidics and lab-on-a-chip technologies. These miniaturized cell analysis systems allow precise spatial and temporal control over a range of dynamic microenvironmental factors including shear stress, biochemical and oxygen gradients to create more reliable in vitro models that resemble the in vivo microenvironment of a wound more closely on a molecular, cellular, and tissue level. The current review provides (a) an overview on the main molecular and cellular processes that take place during wound healing, (b) a brief introduction into conventional in vitro wound healing assays, and (c) a perspective on future cutaneous and vascular wound healing research using microfluidic technology.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (20) ◽  
pp. 7688 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ancuta Jurj ◽  
Cecilia Pop-Bica ◽  
Ondrej Slaby ◽  
Cristina D. Ştefan ◽  
William C. Cho ◽  
...  

Communications among cells can be achieved either via direct interactions or via secretion of soluble factors. The emergence of extracellular vesicles (EVs) as entities that play key roles in cell-to-cell communication offer opportunities in exploring their features for use in therapeutics; i.e., management and treatment of various pathologies, such as those used for cancer. The potential use of EVs as therapeutic agents is attributed not only for their cell membrane-bound components, but also for their cargos, mostly bioactive molecules, wherein the former regulate interactions with a recipient cell while the latter trigger cellular functions/molecular mechanisms of a recipient cell. In this article, we highlight the involvement of EVs in hallmarks of a cancer cell, particularly focusing on those molecular processes that are influenced by EV cargos. Moreover, we explored the roles of RNA species and proteins carried by EVs in eliciting drug resistance phenotypes. Interestingly, engineered EVs have been investigated and proposed as therapeutic agents in various in vivo and in vitro studies, as well as in several clinical trials.


2010 ◽  
Vol 54 (6) ◽  
pp. 2338-2344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael P. Horn ◽  
Adrian W. Zuercher ◽  
Martin A. Imboden ◽  
Michael P. Rudolf ◽  
Hedvika Lazar ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in ventilator-associated pneumonia is a serious and often life-threatening complication in intensive care unit patients, and new treatment options are needed. We used B-cell-enriched peripheral blood lymphocytes from a volunteer immunized with a P. aeruginosa O-polysaccharide-toxin A conjugate vaccine to generate human hybridoma cell lines producing monoclonal antibodies specific for individual P. aeruginosa lipopolysaccharide serotypes. The fully human monoclonal antibody secreted by one of these lines, KBPA101, is an IgM/κ antibody that binds P. aeruginosa of International Antigenic Typing System (IATS) serotype O11 with high avidity (5.81 × 107 M−1 ± 2.8 × 107 M−1) without cross-reacting with other serotypes. KBPA101 specifically opsonized the P. aeruginosa of IATS O11 serotype and mediated complement-dependent phagocytosis in vitro by the human monocyte-like cell line HL-60 at a very low concentration (half-maximal phagocytosis at 0.16 ng/ml). In vivo evaluation of KBPA101 demonstrated a dose-response relationship for protection against systemic infections in a murine burn wound sepsis model, where 70 to 100% of animals were protected against lethal challenges with P. aeruginosa at doses as low as 5 μg/animal. Furthermore, a high efficacy of KBPA101 in protection from local respiratory infections in an acute lung infection model in mice was demonstrated. Preclinical toxicology evaluation on human tissue, in rabbits, and in mice did not indicate any toxicity of KBPA101. Based on these preclinical findings, the first human clinical trials have been initiated.


Microbiology ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 151 (2) ◽  
pp. 373-383 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Bjarnsholt ◽  
Peter Østrup Jensen ◽  
Mette Burmølle ◽  
Morten Hentzer ◽  
Janus A. J. Haagensen ◽  
...  

The opportunistic human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the predominant micro-organism of chronic lung infections in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. P. aeruginosa colonizes the CF lungs by forming biofilm structures in the alveoli. In the biofilm mode of growth the bacteria are highly tolerant to otherwise lethal doses of antibiotics and are protected from bactericidal activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). P. aeruginosa controls the expression of many of its virulence factors by means of a cell–cell communication system termed quorum sensing (QS). In the present report it is demonstrated that biofilm bacteria in which QS is blocked either by mutation or by administration of QS inhibitory drugs are sensitive to treatment with tobramycin and H2O2, and are readily phagocytosed by PMNs, in contrast to bacteria with functional QS systems. In contrast to the wild-type, QS-deficient biofilms led to an immediate respiratory-burst activation of the PMNs in vitro. In vivo QS-deficient mutants provoked a higher degree of inflammation. It is suggested that quorum signals and QS-inhibitory drugs play direct and opposite roles in this process. Consequently, the faster and highly efficient clearance of QS-deficient bacteria in vivo is probably a two-sided phenomenon: down regulation of virulence and activation of the innate immune system. These data also suggest that a combination of the action of PMNs and QS inhibitors along with conventional antibiotics would eliminate the biofilm-forming bacteria before a chronic infection is established.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S640-S641
Author(s):  
Christian M Gill ◽  
Kamilia Abdelraouf ◽  
David P Nicolau

Abstract Background Carbapenems are often used for infections due to extended-spectrum-β-lactamase (ESBL) and cephalosporinase (CSase)-producers. As increased carbapenem utilization is associated with the development of carbapenem resistance, antimicrobial stewardship has targeted non-carbapenem options. WCK 4282 (FEP 2 g-TZB 2 g) offers pharmacodynamically optimized TZB exposure and demonstrated potent activity in vitro against ESBL-phenotype isolates. We describe the pharmacodynamics of a WCK 4282 human-simulated regimen (HSR) in the neutropenic murine thigh model. Methods 19 clinical strains harboring ESBLs or CSase (EB; n=8 and PA; n=4) or serine-carbapenemases (EB; KPC n=4 or OXA-48-like n=3) were tested in vivo. Per CLSI, 19, 18, and 17 isolates were cefepime, ceftolozane/tazobactam, and piperacillin/tazobactam (TZP) non-susceptible, respectively. Thighs of neutropenic, female, CD-1 mice (3 per group) were inoculated with ~107 CFU/mL of bacterial suspension 2 h prior to dosing. Mice received WCK 4282 HSR, FEP HSR, or saline (controls) for 24 h. WCK 4282 HSR and FEP HSR provided plasma exposures in mice that were similar in f%T > MIC and fAUC to FEP-TZB 2 g-2 g and FEP 2 g, respectively, as IV infusions over 1.5 h q8h in humans. Bacterial densities and their changes at 24 h relative to 0 h controls were determined to assess efficacy and reported as mean±SD log10 CFU/thigh. Results Bacterial burdens were 5.81±0.36 at 0 h and 9.29±0.88 at 24 h in untreated controls. WCK 4282 produced potent activity against ESBL/CSase producing EB and PA with WCK 4282 MIC ≤ 16 mg/L; mean change in log10 CFU from 0 h was -1.70±0.77, while growth was observed with FEP alone. WCK 4282 produced variable activity against OXA-48-like harboring EB. Against KPC-harboring EB, WCK 4282 produced stasis to growth. Mean Log10 CFU changes are reported in Table 1 and Figure 1. Table 1. Comparative efficacy of FEP HSR and WCK 4282 HSR by genotypic β-lactamase Figure 1. Mean Change in log10CFU/thigh for 24 h controls, FEP HSR, and WCK 4282 HSR across the tested MIC distribution. Conclusion WCK 4282, a novel TZB containing regimen, resulted in enhance in vitro potency against ESBL/CSase and OXA-48-like producers. Humanized exposures of WCK 4282 produced substantial kill in vivo against ESBL/CSase producers with MICs ≤ 16 mg/L including FEP resistant/TZP non-susceptible PA. These data support further evaluations of WCK 4282 as a carbapenem-sparing regimen for ESBL/cephalosporinase harboring strains. Disclosures David P. Nicolau, PharmD, Cepheid (Other Financial or Material Support, Consultant, speaker bureau member or has received research support.)Merck & Co., Inc. (Consultant, Grant/Research Support, Speaker’s Bureau)Wockhardt (Grant/Research Support)


Author(s):  
Sergio Reyes ◽  
Kamilia Abdelraouf ◽  
David P Nicolau

Abstract Background Imipenem/relebactam is a carbapenem/β-lactamase inhibitor combination with in vitro activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacterales, including KPC producers. Objectives To provide translational data to support the clinical utility of the imipenem/relebactam 500/250 mg q6h regimen using a human-simulated regimen (HSR) of imipenem/relebactam, compared with imipenem alone, against a phenotypically and genotypically diverse population of P. aeruginosa. Methods Twenty-nine P. aeruginosa isolates, including KPC (n = 6), PDC (n = 9), PAO (n = 4), GES (n = 5) and VIM (n = 1) producers, were used for the in vivo efficacy studies. Neutropenic mice were thigh-inoculated and randomized to receive HSRs of either imipenem 500 mg q6h, imipenem 1 g q8h, imipenem/relebactam 500/250 mg q6h or saline. Results Twenty-seven of the 29 isolates examined were imipenem resistant, with 24/29 isolates showing imipenem MICs of ≥32 mg/L. The addition of relebactam decreased the MICs up to 64-fold; imipenem/relebactam MICs ranged from 0.25 to >32 mg/L. Efficacies of the imipenem monotherapies and the imipenem/relebactam therapy were comparable for the two imipenem-susceptible organisms. Among the imipenem-resistant isolates, an increased mean growth was observed in the imipenem 500 mg q6h HSR and 1 g q8h HSR treatment groups of 1.31 ± 1.01 and 0.18 ± 1.67 log10 cfu/thigh, respectively. In contrast, a ≥2 log reduction in bacterial density was observed in 27/29 (93%) of the imipenem-resistant isolates subjected to imipenem/relebactam 500/250 mg q6h HSR. Conclusions The imipenem/relebactam 500/250 mg q6h HSR demonstrated superior in vivo activity compared with the conventionally employed imipenem regimens against MDR P. aeruginosa over a wide range of imipenem/relebactam MICs.


2020 ◽  
Vol 295 (29) ◽  
pp. 10081-10091
Author(s):  
Hyung Jun Kim ◽  
Hyunjung Lee ◽  
Yunmi Lee ◽  
Inhee Choi ◽  
Yoonae Ko ◽  
...  

Thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) is an essential cofactor for various pivotal cellular processes in all living organisms, including bacteria. Thiamine biosynthesis occurs in bacteria but not in humans; therefore, the enzymes in this pathway are attractive targets for antibiotic development. Among these enzymes, thiamine monophosphate kinase (ThiL) catalyzes the final step of this pathway, phosphorylating thiamine monophosphate to produce TPP. Here, we extensively investigated ThiL in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a major pathogen responsible for hospital-acquired infections. We demonstrate that thiL deletion abolishes not only thiamine biosynthesis but also thiamine salvage capability and results in growth defects of the ΔthiL strain even in the presence of thiamine derivatives, except for TPP. Most importantly, the pathogenesis of the ΔthiL strain was markedly attenuated, compared with that of WT cells, with lower inflammatory cytokine induction and 103–104-fold decreased bacterial loads in an in vivo infection model in which the intracellular TPP level was in the submicromolar range. To validate P. aeruginosa ThiL (PaThiL) as a drug target, we further characterized its biochemical properties, determining a Vmax of 4.0 ± 0.2 nmol·min−1 and Km values of 111 ± 8 and 8.0 ± 3.5 μm for ATP and thiamine monophosphate, respectively. An in vitro small-molecule screening assay identified PaThiL inhibitors including WAY213613, a noncompetitive inhibitor with a Ki value of 13.4 ± 2.3 μm and potential antibacterial activity against P. aeruginosa. These comprehensive biological and biochemical results indicate that PaThiL represents a potential drug target for the development of an augmented repertoire of antibiotics against P. aeruginosa.


2017 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 1657-1669 ◽  
Author(s):  
YongTao Li ◽  
JianRong Huang ◽  
LanJuan Li ◽  
LinSheng Liu

Background/Aims: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) is one of the major opportunistic pathogens which can cause chronic lung infection of cystic fibrosis (CF). The formation of PA biofilm promotes CF development and restricts the antimicrobial efficacies of current antibiotics. Methods: The antimicrobial effects of azithromycin (AZM) and berberine (BER) alone and in combination were evaluated using microdilution method, checkerboard assay, time-kill test, qRT-PCR analysis and absorption method. The treatments of AZM and/or BER were further evaluated in an animal lung infection model via observing survival rate, bacterial burden and histopathology of lung, the levels of pro-/anti-inflammatory cytokines. Results: AZM-BER were demonstrated to be synergistic against ten clinical PA isolates as well as the standard reference PA ATCC27853, in which PA03 was the most susceptible isolate to AZM-BER with FICI of 0.13 and chosen for subsequent experiments. The synergism of AZM-BER was further confirmed against PA03 in time-kill test and scanning electron microscope (SEM) at their concentrations showing synergism. In PA03, we found that AZM-BER could significantly attenuate productions of a series of virulence factors including alginate, LasA protease, LasB protease, pyoverdin, pyocyanin, chitinase as well as extracellular DNA, and remarkably inhibit the levels of quorum sensing (QS) molecules and the expressions of lasI, lasR, rhlI, rhlR at 1/2×MIC, 1×MIC and 2×MIC. In the infection model, the mice survival were increased markedly, the inflammations of infected lungs were improved greatly along with reduced IL-6, IL-8 and ascended IL-10 at 0.8 mg/kg of AZM combined with 3.2 mg/kg of BER. Conclusion: BER might be a promising synergist to enhance the antimicrobial activity of AZM in vitro and in vivo.


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