scholarly journals Potential Therapeutic Targets for Combination Antibody Therapy against Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infections

Antibiotics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1530
Author(s):  
Luke L. Proctor ◽  
Whitney L. Ward ◽  
Conner S. Roggy ◽  
Alexandra G. Koontz ◽  
Katie M. Clark ◽  
...  

Despite advances in antimicrobial therapy and even the advent of some effective vaccines, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) remains a significant cause of infectious disease, primarily due to antibiotic resistance. Although P. aeruginosa is commonly treatable with readily available therapeutics, these therapies are not always efficacious, particularly for certain classes of patients (e.g., cystic fibrosis (CF)) and for drug-resistant strains. Multi-drug resistant P. aeruginosa infections are listed on both the CDC’s and WHO’s list of serious worldwide threats. This increasing emergence of drug resistance and prevalence of P. aeruginosa highlights the need to identify new therapeutic strategies. Combinations of monoclonal antibodies against different targets and epitopes have demonstrated synergistic efficacy with each other as well as in combination with antimicrobial agents typically used to treat these infections. Such a strategy has reduced the ability of infectious agents to develop resistance. This manuscript details the development of potential therapeutic targets for polyclonal antibody therapies to combat the emergence of multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa infections. In particular, potential drug targets for combinational immunotherapy against P. aeruginosa are identified to combat current and future drug resistance.

Author(s):  
Thomas Lanyon-Hogg

Antimicrobial resistance is a pressing threat to global health, with multidrug-resistant pathogens becoming increasingly prevalent. The bacterial SOS pathway functions in response to DNA damage that occurs during infection, initiating several pro-survival and resistance mechanisms, such as DNA repair and hypermutation. This makes SOS pathway components potential targets that may combat drug-resistant pathogens and decrease resistance emergence. This review discusses the mechanism of the SOS pathway; the structure and function of potential targets AddAB, RecBCD, RecA and LexA; and efforts to develop selective small-molecule inhibitors of these proteins. These inhibitors may serve as valuable tools for target validation and provide the foundations for desperately needed novel antibacterial therapeutics.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 136
Author(s):  
Eunsun Jung ◽  
Jinhyeon Choi ◽  
Jang-Seong Kim ◽  
Tae-Su Han

Although therapeutic approaches for patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) have improved in the past decades, the problem of drug resistance still persists and acts as a major obstacle for effective therapy. Many studies have shown that drug resistance is related to reduced drug uptake, modification of drug targets, and/or transformation of cell cycle checkpoints. A growing body of evidence indicates that several microRNAs (miRNAs) may contribute to the drug resistance to chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy by regulating the drug resistance-related target genes in CRC. These drug resistance-related miRNAs may be used as promising biomarkers for predicting drug response or as potential therapeutic targets for treating patients with CRC. In this review, we summarized the recent discoveries regarding anti-cancer drug-related miRNAs and their molecular mechanisms in CRC. Furthermore, we discussed the challenges associated with the clinical application of miRNAs as biomarkers for the diagnosis of drug-resistant patients and as therapeutic targets for CRC treatment.


2010 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 443-448 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adem Yılmaz ◽  
Nazan Dalgic ◽  
Murat Müslüman ◽  
Mesut Sancar ◽  
Ibrahim Çolak ◽  
...  

Object The emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria as a cause of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt infection is a disconcerting phenomenon that often requires the use of alternative antimicrobial agents due to resistance against commonly used medications. Linezolid, a member of a new class of antimicrobial agents, has good activity against virtually all important gram-positive pathogens, including multidrug-resistant gram-positive pathogens. The object of this article is to report a single-center experience with linezolid treatment in 6 young patients with VP shunt infections caused by drug-resistant strains. Methods The authors reviewed the records of 6 pediatric patients who developed VP shunt infection and in whom initial antimicrobial treatment regimens, including vancomycin, either failed or were associated with vancomycin-resistant enterococcus. All 6 patients were treated at their hospital between July 1, 2008, and June 29, 2009. The patients' demographic and clinical characteristics, underlying diseases, clinical manifestations, laboratory results, and various treatment modalities used before linezolid therapy were evaluated. Results The 6 patients included were 2 boys and 4 girls with a mean (± SD) age of 11.83 ± 12 months (range 4–36 months). Five patients had acquired an infection within 4 months (mean 7.50 ± 13.51 months, range 1–35 months) after shunt insertion. Four patients were treated with external ventricular drainage. Two patients' parents refused to allow shunt removal and placement of an external ventricular drain. The CSF was clear of bacterial growth within a mean of 3.67 ± 1.36 days (range 2–6 days) after initiation of linezolid treatment. The mean duration of linezolid treatment was 18.17 ± 3.31 days (range 14–21 days). Microbiological clearance of CSF and clinical cure were achieved in all patients. No laboratory or clinical side effects were observed during the treatment period. The mean length of hospital stay was 22.8 ± 4.96 days (range 17–28 days). Conclusions Linezolid could be an appropriate treatment alternative in children with ventriculostomy-related CSF infections caused by drug-resistant strains, including cases in which shunt removal is not an option. Well-designed prospective studies providing additional information on linezolid levels in plasma and CSF are necessary to confirm the authors' observations.


2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (19) ◽  
pp. 2129-2142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renata Płocinska ◽  
Malgorzata Korycka-Machala ◽  
Przemyslaw Plocinski ◽  
Jaroslaw Dziadek

Background: Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis), the causative agent of tuberculosis, is a leading infectious disease organism, causing millions of deaths each year. This serious pathogen has been greatly spread worldwide and recent years have observed an increase in the number of multi-drug resistant and totally drug resistant M. tuberculosis strains (WHO report, 2014). The danger of tuberculosis becoming an incurable disease has emphasized the need for the discovery of a new generation of antimicrobial agents. The development of novel alternative medical strategies, new drugs and the search for optimal drug targets are top priority areas of tuberculosis research. Factors: Key characteristics of mycobacteria include: slow growth, the ability to transform into a metabolically silent - latent state, intrinsic drug resistance and the relatively rapid development of acquired drug resistance. These factors make finding an ideal antituberculosis drug enormously challenging, even if it is designed to treat drug sensitive tuberculosis strains. A vast majority of canonical antibiotics including antituberculosis agents target bacterial cell wall biosynthesis or DNA/RNA processing. Novel therapeutic approaches are being tested to target mycobacterial cell division, twocomponent regulatory factors, lipid synthesis and the transition between the latent and actively growing states. Discussion and Conclusion: This review discusses the choice of cellular targets for an antituberculosis therapy, describes putative drug targets evaluated in the recent literature and summarizes potential candidates under clinical and pre-clinical development. We focus on the key cellular process of DNA replication, as a prominent target for future antituberculosis therapy. We describe two main pathways: the biosynthesis of nucleic acids precursors – the nucleotides, and the synthesis of DNA molecules. We summarize data regarding replication associated proteins that are critical for nucleotide synthesis, initiation, unwinding and elongation of the DNA during the replication process. They are pivotal processes required for successful multiplication of the bacterial cells and hence they are extensively investigated for the development of antituberculosis drugs. Finally, we summarize the most potent inhibitors of DNA synthesis and provide an up to date report on their status in the clinical trials.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S794-S795
Author(s):  
Mary Francine P Chua ◽  
Syeda Sara Nida ◽  
Jerry Lawhorn ◽  
Janak Koirala

Abstract Background Multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) have limited therapeutic options for treatment. Ceftolozane/tazobactam is a newer anti-pseudomonal drug effective against resistant PA infections, however resistance against this drug has now also developed and is increasing. In this study, we explored the combination of ceftolozane/tazobactam (CT) and meropenem (MP) as a possible effective regimen against MDR and XDR PA. Methods We obtained 33 non-duplicate isolates of MDR and XDR PA grown from blood, urine and respiratory samples collected from patients admitted between 2015 and 2019 at our two affiliate teaching hospitals. MDR PA was defined as resistance to 3 or more classes of anti-pseudomonal antibiotics, and XDR PA as resistance to all but two or less classes of anti-pseudomonal antibiotics. Antimicrobial preparations of both MP and CT were made according to manufacturer instructions. Susceptibility testing was performed using the checkerboard method in accordance to CLSI guidelines (CLSI M100, 2017). The ATCC 27853 strain of PA used as control. Synergy, additive effect, indifference and antagonism were defined as FIC (fractional inhibitory concentration) indices of ≤0.5, >0.5 to <1, >1 to <4, and >4, respectively. Results Thirteen (39%) of 33 PA isolates were classified as XDR, while 20 (61%) PA isolates were MDR. All isolates were resistant to MP (MIC50 >32 ug/mL), while only 2 (6%) isolates were susceptible to CT (MIC50 64 ug/mL). A synergistic effect was seen in 9 (27.3%) of PA isolates (FIC index range 0.28 to 0.5)— 2 of which were XDR PA, and 7 were MDR PA. An additive effect was seen in 12 (36.4%), with indifference seen in 12 (36.4%) of isolates. In this study, no antagonism was seen when CT and MP were combined. Conclusion When used in combination, CT and MP can exert a synergistic effect against MDR and XDR PA. Additive effect and indifference can also be seen when both antibiotics were used. Moreover, there was no antagonism seen when both antibiotics were combined. This study shows that the use of CT and MP in combination may be an option against XDR and MDR PA infections. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures


2021 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 030006052098493
Author(s):  
Jie Zhang ◽  
Yixuan Ren ◽  
Liping Pan ◽  
Junli Yi ◽  
Tong Guan ◽  
...  

Objective This study analyzed drug resistance and mutations profiles in Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates in a surveillance site in Huairou District, Beijing, China. Methods The proportion method was used to assess drug resistance profiles for four first-line and seven second-line anti-tuberculosis (TB) drugs. Molecular line probe assays were used for the rapid detection of resistance to rifampicin (RIF) and isoniazid (INH). Results Among 235 strains of M. tuberculosis, 79 (33.6%) isolates were resistant to one or more drugs. The isolates included 18 monoresistant (7.7%), 19 polyresistant (8.1%), 28 RIF-resistant (11.9%), 24 multidrug-resistant (MDR) (10.2%), 7 pre-extensively drug-resistant (XDR, 3.0%), and 2 XDR strains (0.9%). A higher rate of MDR-TB was detected among previously treated patients than among patients with newly diagnosed TB (34.5% vs. 6.8%). The majority (62.5%) of RIF-resistant isolates exhibited a mutation at S531L in the DNA-dependent RNA polymerase gene. Meanwhile, 62.9% of INH-resistant isolates carried a mutation at S315T1 in the katG gene. Conclusion Our results confirmed the high rate of drug-resistant TB, especially MDR-TB, in Huairou District, Beijing, China. Therefore, detailed drug testing is crucial in the evaluation of MDR-TB treatment.


Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 607
Author(s):  
Nadeem Ullah ◽  
Ling Hao ◽  
Jo-Lewis Banga Ndzouboukou ◽  
Shiyun Chen ◽  
Yaqi Wu ◽  
...  

Rifampicin (RIF) is one of the most important first-line anti-tuberculosis (TB) drugs, and more than 90% of RIF-resistant (RR) Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolates belong to multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) TB. In order to identify specific candidate target proteins as diagnostic markers or drug targets, differential protein expression between drug-sensitive (DS) and drug-resistant (DR) strains remains to be investigated. In the present study, a label-free, quantitative proteomics technique was performed to compare the proteome of DS, RR, MDR, and XDR clinical strains. We found iniC, Rv2141c, folB, and Rv2561 were up-regulated in both RR and MDR strains, while fadE9, espB, espL, esxK, and Rv3175 were down-regulated in the three DR strains when compared to the DS strain. In addition, lprF, mce2R, mce2B, and Rv2627c were specifically expressed in the three DR strains, and 41 proteins were not detected in the DS strain. Functional category showed that these differentially expressed proteins were mainly involved in the cell wall and cell processes. When compared to the RR strain, Rv2272, smtB, lpqB, icd1, and folK were up-regulated, while esxK, PPE19, Rv1534, rpmI, ureA, tpx, mpt64, frr, Rv3678c, esxB, esxA, and espL were down-regulated in both MDR and XDR strains. Additionally, nrp, PPE3, mntH, Rv1188, Rv1473, nadB, PPE36, and sseA were specifically expressed in both MDR and XDR strains, whereas 292 proteins were not identified when compared to the RR strain. When compared between MDR and XDR strains, 52 proteins were up-regulated, while 45 proteins were down-regulated in the XDR strain. 316 proteins were especially expressed in the XDR strain, while 92 proteins were especially detected in the MDR strain. Protein interaction networks further revealed the mechanism of their involvement in virulence and drug resistance. Therefore, these differentially expressed proteins are of great significance for exploring effective control strategies of DR-TB.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priyanka Ashwath ◽  
Akhila Dharnappa Sannejal

: The increasing resistance of the disease-causing pathogens to antimicrobial drugs is a public health concern and a socio-economic burden. The emergence of multi-drug resistant strains has made it harder to treat and combat infectious diseases with available conventional antibiotics. There are currently few effective therapeutic regimens for the successful prevention of infections caused by drug-resistant microbes. The various alternative strategies used in the recent past to decrease and limit antibiotic resistance in pathogens include bacteriophages, vaccines, anti-biofilm peptides, and antimicrobial peptides. However, in this review, we focus on the novel and robust molecular approach of antisense RNA (asRNA) technology and the clustered regulatory interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-based antibiotic therapy, which can be exploited to selectively eradicate the drug-resistant bacterial strain in a sequence-specific fashion establishing opportunities in the treatment of multi-drug resistant related infections.


2021 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Balaram Khamari ◽  
Prakash Kumar ◽  
Bulagonda Eswarappa Pradeep

Introduction. Nitrofurantoin is one of the preferred antibiotics in the treatment of uropathogenic multidrug-resistant (MDR) infections. However, resistance to nitrofurantoin in extensively drug-resistant (XDR) bacteria has severely limited the treatment options. Gap statement. Information related to co-resistance or collateral sensitivity (CS) with reference to nitrofurantoin resistant bacteria is limited. Aim. To study the potential of nitrofurantoin resistance as an indicator of the XDR phenotype in Enterobacteriaceae . Methods. One hundred (45 nitrofurantoin-resistant, 21 intermediately resistant and 34 nitrofurantoin-susceptible) Enterobacteriaceae were analysed in this study. Antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) against nitrofurantoin and 17 other antimicrobial agents across eight different classes was performed by using the Vitek 2.0 system. The isolates were screened for the prevalence of acquired antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and efflux pump genes by PCR. Results. In total, 51 % of nitrofurantoin-resistant and 28 % of intermediately nitrofurantoin resistant isolates exhibited XDR characteristics, while only 3 % of nitrofurantoin-sensitive isolates were XDR (P=0.0001). Significant co-resistance was observed between nitrofurantoin and other tested antibiotics (β-lactam, cephalosporin, carbapenem, aminoglycoside and tetracycline). Further, the prevalence of AMR and efflux pump genes was higher in the nitrofurantoin-resistant strains compared to the susceptible isolates. A strong association was observed between nitrofurantoin resistance and the presence of bla PER-1, bla NDM-1, bla OXA-48, ant(2) and oqxA-oqxB genes. Tigecycline (84 %) and colistin (95 %) were the only antibiotics to which the majority of the isolates were susceptible. Conclusion. Nitrofurantoin resistance could be an indicator of the XDR phenotype among Enterobacteriaceae , harbouring multiple AMR and efflux pump genes. Tigecycline and colistin are the only antibiotics that could be used in the treatment of such XDR infections. A deeper understanding of the co-resistance mechanisms in XDR pathogens and prescription of AST-based appropriate combination therapy may help mitigate this problem.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document