scholarly journals A Microbiological, Toxicological, and Biochemical Study of the Effects of Fucoxanthin, a Marine Carotenoid, on Mycobacterium tuberculosis and the Enzymes Implicated in Its Cell Wall: A Link Between Mycobacterial Infection and Autoimmune Diseases

Marine Drugs ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (11) ◽  
pp. 641 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miroslava Šudomová ◽  
Mohammad Shariati ◽  
Javier Echeverría ◽  
Ioana Berindan-Neagoe ◽  
Seyed Nabavi ◽  
...  

This study explored the antitubercular properties of fucoxanthin, a marine carotenoid, against clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). Two vital enzymes involved in Mtb cell wall biosynthesis, UDP-galactopyranose mutase (UGM) and arylamine-N-acetyltransferase (TBNAT), were selected as drug targets to reveal the mechanism underlying the antitubercular effect of fucoxanthin. The obtained results showed that fucoxanthin showed a clear bacteriostatic action against the all Mtb strains tested, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) ranging from 2.8 to 4.1 µM, along with a good degree of selectivity index (ranging from 6.1 to 8.9) based on cellular toxicity evaluation compared with standard drug isoniazid (INH). The potent inhibitory actions of fucoxanthin and standard uridine-5’-diphosphate against UGM were recorded to be 98.2% and 99.2%, respectively. TBNAT was potently inactivated by fucoxanthin (half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) = 4.8 µM; 99.1% inhibition) as compared to INH (IC50 = 5.9 µM; 97.4% inhibition). Further, molecular docking approaches were achieved to endorse and rationalize the biological findings along with envisaging structure-activity relationships. Since the clinical evidence of the last decade has confirmed the correlation between bacterial infections and autoimmune diseases, in this study we have discussed the linkage between infection with Mtb and autoimmune diseases based on previous clinical observations and animal studies. In conclusion, we propose that fucoxanthin could demonstrate great therapeutic value for the treatment of tuberculosis by acting on multiple targets through a bacteriostatic effect as well as by inhibiting UGM and TBNAT. Such outcomes may lead to avoiding or decreasing the susceptibility to autoimmune diseases associated with Mtb infection in a genetically susceptible host.

2010 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 355-360 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Brossier ◽  
N. Veziris ◽  
C. Truffot-Pernot ◽  
V. Jarlier ◽  
W. Sougakoff

ABSTRACTEthionamide (ETH) needs to be activated by the mono-oxygenase EthA, which is regulated by EthR, in order to be active againstMycobacterium tuberculosis. The activated drug targets the enzyme InhA, which is involved in cell wall biosynthesis. Resistance to ETH has been reported to result from various mechanisms, including mutations altering EthA/EthR, InhA and its promoter, the NADH dehydrogenase encoded byndh, and the MshA enzyme, involved in mycothiol biosynthesis. We searched for such mutations in 87 clinical isolates: 47 ETH-resistant (ETHr) isolates, 24 ETH-susceptible (ETHs) isolates, and 16 isolates susceptible to ETH but displaying an intermediate proportion of resistant cells (ETHSip; defined as ≥1% but <10% resistant cells). In 81% (38/47) of the ETHrisolates, we found mutations inethA,ethR, orinhAor its promoter, which mostly corresponded to new alterations inethAandethR. The 9 ETHrisolates without a mutation in these three genes (9/47, 19%) had no mutation inndh, and a single isolate had a mutation inmshA. Of the 16 ETHSipisolates, 7 had a mutation inethA, 8 had no detectable mutation, and 1 had a mutation inmshA. Finally, of the 24 ETHsisolates, 23 had no mutation in the studied genes and 1 displayed a yet unknown mutation in theinhApromoter. Globally, the mechanism of resistance to ETH remained unknown for 19% of the ETHrisolates, highlighting the complexity of the mechanisms of ETH resistance inM. tuberculosis.


Author(s):  
Stephen Aston ◽  
Geraint Davies ◽  
Nick Beeching

Mycobacteria are aerobic bacilli with a lipid-rich cell wall and are widespread both in the environment and in animals. Many species within the genus cause disease in humans, most notably those of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, which cause tuberculosis, and Mycobacterium leprae, the causative agent of leprosy. Several other species, termed non-tuberculous mycobacteria, can cause chronic cutaneous, pulmonary, and disseminated infections. This chapter will briefly review infection with non-tuberculous mycobacteria and Mycobacterium leprae.


mSphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew B. McNeil ◽  
Theresa O’Malley ◽  
Devon Dennison ◽  
Catherine D. Shelton ◽  
Bjorn Sunde ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The Mycobacterium tuberculosis protein MmpL3 performs an essential role in cell wall synthesis, since it effects the transport of trehalose monomycolates across the inner membrane. Numerous structurally diverse pharmacophores have been identified as inhibitors of MmpL3 largely based on the identification of resistant isolates with mutations in MmpL3. For some compounds, it is possible there are different primary or secondary targets. Here, we have investigated resistance to the spiral amine class of compounds. Isolation and sequencing of resistant mutants demonstrated that all had mutations in MmpL3. We hypothesized that if additional targets of this pharmacophore existed, then successive rounds to generate resistant isolates might reveal mutations in other loci. Since compounds were still active against resistant isolates, albeit with reduced potency, we isolated resistant mutants in this background at higher concentrations. After a second round of isolation with the spiral amine, we found additional mutations in MmpL3. To increase our chance of finding alternative targets, we ran a third round of isolation using a different molecule scaffold (AU1235, an adamantyl urea). Surprisingly, we obtained further mutations in MmpL3. Multiple mutations in MmpL3 increased the level and spectrum of resistance to different pharmacophores but did not incur a fitness cost in vitro. These results support the hypothesis that MmpL3 is the primary mechanism of resistance and likely target for these pharmacophores. IMPORTANCE Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a major global human pathogen, and new drugs and new drug targets are urgently required. Cell wall biosynthesis is a major target of current tuberculosis drugs and of new agents under development. Several new classes of molecules appear to have the same target, MmpL3, which is involved in the export and synthesis of the mycobacterial cell wall. However, there is still debate over whether MmpL3 is the primary or only target for these classes. We wanted to confirm the mechanism of resistance for one series. We identified mutations in MmpL3 which led to resistance to the spiral amine series. High-level resistance to these compounds and two other series was conferred by multiple mutations in the same protein (MmpL3). These mutations did not reduce growth rate in culture. These results support the hypothesis that MmpL3 is the primary mechanism of resistance and likely target for these pharmacophores.


2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohana Rao Anguru ◽  
Ashok Kumar Taduri ◽  
Rama Devi Bhoomireddy ◽  
Malathi Jojula ◽  
Shravan Kumar Gunda

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kalistyn H. Burley ◽  
Bonnie J. Cuthbert ◽  
Piyali Basu ◽  
Jane Newcombe ◽  
Ervin M. Irimpan ◽  
...  

AbstractTuberculosis (TB) is the most lethal bacterial infectious disease worldwide. It is notoriously difficult to treat, requiring a cocktail of antibiotics administered over many months. The dense, waxy outer membrane of the TB-causing agent, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), acts as a formidable barrier against uptake of antibiotics. Subsequently, enzymes involved in maintaining the integrity of the Mtb cell wall are promising drug targets. Recently, we demonstrated that Mtb lacking malic enzyme (MEZ) has altered cell wall lipid composition and attenuated uptake by macrophages. These results suggest that MEZ provides the required reducing power for lipid biosynthesis. Here, we present the X-ray crystal structure of MEZ to 3.6 Å resolution and compare it with known structures of prokaryotic and eukaryotic malic enzymes. We use biochemical assays to determine its oligomeric state and to evaluate the effects of pH and allosteric regulators on its kinetics and thermal stability. To assess the interactions between MEZ and its substrate malate and cofactors, Mn2+ and NAD(P)+, we ran a series of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. First, the MD analysis corroborates our empirical observations that MEZ is unusually disordered, which persists even with the addition of substrate and cofactors. Second, the MD simulations reveal that MEZ subunits alternate between open and closed states and that MEZ can stably bind its NAD(P)+ cofactor in multiple conformations, including an inactive, compact NAD+ form. Together the structure of MEZ and insights from its dynamics can be harnessed to inform the design of MEZ inhibitors that target Mtb.


eLife ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine Baranowski ◽  
Michael A Welsh ◽  
Lok-To Sham ◽  
Haig A Eskandarian ◽  
Hoong Chuin Lim ◽  
...  

In most well-studied rod-shaped bacteria, peptidoglycan is primarily crosslinked by penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs). However, in mycobacteria, crosslinks formed by L,D-transpeptidases (LDTs) are highly abundant. To elucidate the role of these unusual crosslinks, we characterized Mycobacterium smegmatis cells lacking all LDTs. We find that crosslinks generate by LDTs are required for rod shape maintenance specifically at sites of aging cell wall, a byproduct of polar elongation. Asymmetric polar growth leads to a non-uniform distribution of these two types of crosslinks in a single cell. Consequently, in the absence of LDT-mediated crosslinks, PBP-catalyzed crosslinks become more important. Because of this, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is more rapidly killed using a combination of drugs capable of PBP- and LDT- inhibition. Thus, knowledge about the spatial and genetic relationship between drug targets can be exploited to more effectively treat this pathogen.


2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (7) ◽  
pp. e00190-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yingjun Liu ◽  
Henry Pertinez ◽  
Geraint R. Davies ◽  
Stephen H. Gillespie ◽  
Anthony R. Coates ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Tuberculosis (TB), which is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, remains a leading killer worldwide, and disease control is hampered by the ineffective control of persistent infections. Substitution of moxifloxacin for isoniazid or ethambutol in standard anti-TB regimens reduces the treatment duration and relapse rates in animal studies, and 4-month regimens were not noninferior in clinical trials. Resuscitation-promoting factor (RPF)-dependent bacilli have recently been implicated in M. tuberculosis persistence. We aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of the substitution of moxifloxacin for a drug used in the standard drug regimen in eradicating CFU count-positive and RPF-dependent persistent M. tuberculosis using the Cornell murine model. M. tuberculosis-infected mice were treated with regimens in which either isoniazid or ethambutol was replaced by moxifloxacin in the standard regimen. The efficacy of the regimens for bacterial CFU count elimination and removal of persistent tubercle bacilli, evaluated using culture filtrate (CF) derived from M. tuberculosis strain H37Rv, was compared to that of the standard regimen. We also measured disease relapse rates. The regimen in which moxifloxacin replaced isoniazid achieved total organ CFU count clearance at 11 weeks posttreatment, which was faster than that by the standard regimen (14 weeks), and showed a 34% lower relapse rate. The regimen in which moxifloxacin replaced ethambutol was similar to standard regimens in these regards. Importantly, neither the regimen in which moxifloxacin replaced isoniazid or ethambutol nor the standard regimen could remove CF-dependent persistent bacilli. The finding of CF-dependent persistent M. tuberculosis in TB treatment requires confirmation in human studies and has implications for future drug design, testing, and clinical applications.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isamu Matsunaga ◽  
Masahiko Sugita

Mycobacterium tuberculosisand related mycobacteria species are unique in that the acid-fast bacilli possess a highly lipid-rich cell wall that not simply confers resistance to treatment with acid alcohol, but also controls their survival and virulence. It has recently been established that a fraction of the cell wall lipid components of mycobacteria can function as antigens targeted by the acquired immunity of the host. Human group 1 CD1 molecules (CD1a, CD1b, and CD1c) bind a pool of lipid antigens expressed by mycobacteria and present them to specific T cells, thereby mediating an effective pathway for host defense against tuberculosis. The contrasting and mutually complementary functions of CD1a and CD1b molecules in terms of the repertoire of antigens they bind have been well appreciated, but it remains to be established how CD1c may play a unique role. Nevertheless, recent advances in our understanding of the CD1c structure as well as the biosynthetic pathway of a CD1c-presented antigen, mannose-1, β-phosphomycoketide, expressed by pathogenic mycobacteria now unravel a new aspect of the group 1 CD1 biology that has not been appreciated in previous studies of CD1a and CD1b molecules.


2017 ◽  
Vol 95 ◽  
pp. 1520-1534 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zubair Shanib Bhat ◽  
Muzafar Ahmad Rather ◽  
Mubashir Maqbool ◽  
Hafiz UL Lah ◽  
Syed Khalid Yousuf ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine Baranowski ◽  
Michael A. Welsh ◽  
Lok-To Sham ◽  
Haig A. Eskandarian ◽  
Hoong C. Lim ◽  
...  

AbstractIn most well studied rod-shaped bacteria, peptidoglycan is primarily crosslinked by penicillin binding proteins (PBPs). However, in mycobacteria, L,D-transpeptidase (LDT)-mediated crosslinks are highly abundant. To elucidate the role of these unusual crosslinks, we characterized mycobacterial cells lacking all LDTs. We find that LDT-mediated crosslinks are required for rod shape maintenance specifically at sites of aging cell wall, a byproduct of polar elongation. Asymmetric polar growth leads to a non-uniform distribution of these two types of crosslinks in a single cell. Consequently, in the absence of LDT-mediated crosslinks, PBP-catalyzed crosslinks become more important. Because of this,Mycobacterium tuberculosis(Mtb) is more rapidly killed using a combination of drugs capable of PBP- and LDT-inhibition. Thus, knowledge about the single-cell distribution of drug targets can be exploited to more effectively treat this pathogen.


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