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Jung J, Popella L, Do PT, Pfau P, Vogel J, Barquist L. Design and off-target prediction for antisense oligomers targeting bacterial mRNAs with the MASON web server. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2023; 29:570-583. [PMID: 36750372 PMCID: PMC10158992 DOI: 10.1261/rna.079263.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Antisense oligomers (ASOs), such as peptide nucleic acids (PNAs), designed to inhibit the translation of essential bacterial genes, have emerged as attractive sequence- and species-specific programmable RNA antibiotics. Yet, potential drawbacks include unwanted side effects caused by their binding to transcripts other than the intended target. To facilitate the design of PNAs with minimal off-target effects, we developed MASON (make antisense oligomers now), a web server for the design of PNAs that target bacterial mRNAs. MASON generates PNA sequences complementary to the translational start site of a bacterial gene of interest and reports critical sequence attributes and potential off-target sites. We based MASON's off-target predictions on experiments in which we treated Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium with a series of 10-mer PNAs derived from a PNA targeting the essential gene acpP but carrying two serial mismatches. Growth inhibition and RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) data revealed that PNAs with terminal mismatches are still able to target acpP, suggesting wider off-target effects than anticipated. Comparison of these results to an RNA-seq data set from uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) treated with eleven different PNAs confirmed that our findings are not unique to Salmonella We believe that MASON's off-target assessment will improve the design of specific PNAs and other ASOs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakob Jung
- Institute for Molecular Infection Biology, University of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Linda Popella
- Institute for Molecular Infection Biology, University of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Phuong Thao Do
- Institute for Molecular Infection Biology, University of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Patrick Pfau
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jörg Vogel
- Institute for Molecular Infection Biology, University of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Lars Barquist
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), 97080 Würzburg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
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2
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Goltermann L, Zhang M, Ebbensgaard AE, Fiodorovaite M, Yavari N, Løbner-Olesen A, Nielsen PE. Effects of LPS Composition in Escherichia coli on Antibacterial Activity and Bacterial Uptake of Antisense Peptide-PNA Conjugates. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:877377. [PMID: 35794919 PMCID: PMC9251361 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.877377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The physical and chemical properties of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria including Escherichia coli have a significant impact on the antibacterial activity and uptake of antibiotics, including antimicrobial peptides and antisense peptide-peptide nucleic acid (PNA) conjugates. Using a defined subset of E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and envelope mutants, components of the LPS-core, which provide differential susceptibility toward a panel of bacterial penetrating peptide (BPP)-PNA conjugates, were identified. Deleting the outer core of the LPS and perturbing the inner core only sensitized the bacteria toward (KFF)3K-PNA conjugates, but not toward conjugates carrying arginine-based BPPs. Interestingly, the chemical composition of the outer LPS core as such, rather than overall hydrophobicity or surface charge, appears to determine the susceptibility to different BPP-PNA conjugates thereby clearly demonstrating the complexity and specificity of the interaction with the LPS/outer membrane. Notably, mutants with outer membrane changes conferring polymyxin resistance did not show resistance toward the BPP-PNA conjugates, thereby eliminating one possible route of resistance for these molecules. Finally, envelope weakening, through deletion of membrane proteins such as OmpA as well as some proteins previously identified as involved in cationic antimicrobial peptide uptake, did not significantly influence BPP-PNA conjugate activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lise Goltermann
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Center for Peptide-Based Antibiotics, The Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- *Correspondence: Lise Goltermann
| | - Meiqin Zhang
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Center for Peptide-Based Antibiotics, The Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Marija Fiodorovaite
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Center for Peptide-Based Antibiotics, The Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Niloofar Yavari
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Center for Peptide-Based Antibiotics, The Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anders Løbner-Olesen
- Section for Functional Genomics, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Peter E. Nielsen
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Center for Peptide-Based Antibiotics, The Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Peter E. Nielsen
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3
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Popella L, Jung J, Do PT, Hayward RJ, Barquist L, Vogel J. Comprehensive analysis of PNA-based antisense antibiotics targeting various essential genes in uropathogenic Escherichia coli. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:6435-6452. [PMID: 35687096 PMCID: PMC9226493 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Revised: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Antisense peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) that target mRNAs of essential bacterial genes exhibit specific bactericidal effects in several microbial species, but our mechanistic understanding of PNA activity and their target gene spectrum is limited. Here, we present a systematic analysis of PNAs targeting 11 essential genes with varying expression levels in uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). We demonstrate that UPEC is susceptible to killing by peptide-conjugated PNAs, especially when targeting the widely-used essential gene acpP. Our evaluation yields three additional promising target mRNAs for effective growth inhibition, i.e.dnaB, ftsZ and rpsH. The analysis also shows that transcript abundance does not predict target vulnerability and that PNA-mediated growth inhibition is not universally associated with target mRNA depletion. Global transcriptomic analyses further reveal PNA sequence-dependent but also -independent responses, including the induction of envelope stress response pathways. Importantly, we show that 9mer PNAs are generally as effective in inhibiting bacterial growth as their 10mer counterparts. Overall, our systematic comparison of a range of PNAs targeting mRNAs of different essential genes in UPEC suggests important features for PNA design, reveals a general bacterial response to PNA conjugates and establishes the feasibility of using PNA antibacterials to combat UPEC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Popella
- Institute of Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), University of Würzburg, D-97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jakob Jung
- Institute of Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), University of Würzburg, D-97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Phuong Thao Do
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), D-97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Regan J Hayward
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), D-97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Lars Barquist
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), D-97080, Würzburg, Germany.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Würzburg, D-97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jörg Vogel
- Institute of Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), University of Würzburg, D-97080, Würzburg, Germany.,Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), D-97080, Würzburg, Germany.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Würzburg, D-97080, Würzburg, Germany
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4
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Cesaro E, Falanga AP, Catapano R, Greco F, Romano S, Borbone N, Pastore A, Marzano M, Chiurazzi F, D’Errico S, Piccialli G, Oliviero G, Costanzo P, Grosso M. Exploring a peptide nucleic acid-based antisense approach for CD5 targeting in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0266090. [PMID: 35358273 PMCID: PMC8970396 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0266090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
We herein report an innovative antisense approach based on Peptide Nucleic Acids (PNAs) to down-modulate CD5 expression levels in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Using bioinformatics tools, we selected a 12-mer tract of the CD5 mRNA as the molecular target and synthesized the complementary and control PNA strands bearing a serine phosphate dipeptide tail to enhance their water solubility and bioavailability. The specific recognition of the 12-mer DNA strand, corresponding to the target mRNA sequence by the complementary PNA strand, was confirmed by non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, thermal difference spectroscopy, circular dichroism (CD), and CD melting studies. Cytofluorimetric assays and real-time PCR analysis demonstrated the downregulation of CD5 expression due to incubation with the anti-CD5 PNA at RNA and protein levels in Jurkat cell line and peripheral blood mononuclear cells from B-CLL patients. Interestingly, we also observed that transfection with the anti-CD5 PNA increases apoptotic response induced by fludarabine in B-CLL cells. The herein reported results suggest that PNAs could represent a potential candidate for the development of antisense therapeutic agents in CLL.
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MESH Headings
- Humans
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/drug therapy
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/genetics
- Leukocytes, Mononuclear
- Oligonucleotides, Antisense/genetics
- Oligonucleotides, Antisense/pharmacology
- Peptide Nucleic Acids/chemistry
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Cesaro
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | | | - Rosa Catapano
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | - Francesca Greco
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | - Simona Romano
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | - Nicola Borbone
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy
- ISBE-IT, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | - Arianna Pastore
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | - Maria Marzano
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | - Federico Chiurazzi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Division of Hematology, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | - Stefano D’Errico
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | - Gennaro Piccialli
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy
- ISBE-IT, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | - Giorgia Oliviero
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy
- ISBE-IT, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy
- * E-mail:
| | - Paola Costanzo
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | - Michela Grosso
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy
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5
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Translocation of non-lytic antimicrobial peptides and bacteria penetrating peptides across the inner membrane of the bacterial envelope. Curr Genet 2021; 68:83-90. [PMID: 34750687 PMCID: PMC8801401 DOI: 10.1007/s00294-021-01217-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
The increase in multidrug-resistant pathogenic bacteria has become a problem worldwide. Currently there is a strong focus on the development of novel antimicrobials, including antimicrobial peptides (AMP) and antimicrobial antisense agents. While the majority of AMP have membrane activity and kill bacteria through membrane disruption, non-lytic AMP are non-membrane active, internalize and have intracellular targets. Antimicrobial antisense agents such as peptide nucleic acids (PNA) and phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers (PMO), show great promise as novel antibacterial agents, killing bacteria by inhibiting translation of essential target gene transcripts. However, naked PNA and PMO are unable to translocate across the cell envelope of bacteria, to reach their target in the cytosol, and are conjugated to bacteria penetrating peptides (BPP) for cytosolic delivery. Here, we discuss how non-lytic AMP and BPP-PMO/PNA conjugates translocate across the cytoplasmic membrane via receptor-mediated transport, such as the cytoplasmic membrane transporters SbmA, MdtM/YjiL, and/or YgdD, or via a less well described autonomous process.
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6
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Campion C, Charbon G, Thomsen TT, Nielsen PE, Løbner-Olesen A. Antisense inhibition of the Escherichia coli NrdAB aerobic ribonucleotide reductase is bactericidal due to induction of DNA strand breaks. J Antimicrob Chemother 2021; 76:2802-2814. [PMID: 34450639 PMCID: PMC8521395 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkab305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antisense peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) constitute an alternative to traditional antibiotics, by their ability to silence essential genes. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the antibacterial effects of antisense PNA-peptide conjugates that target the gene encoding the alpha subunit (NrdA) of the Escherichia coli ribonucleotide reductase (RNR). METHODS Bacterial susceptibility of a series of NrdA-targeting PNAs was studied by MIC determination and time-kill analysis. Western-blot analysis, gene complementation and synergy with hydroxyurea were employed to determine the efficiency of NrdA-PNA antisense treatment. The effect on chromosome replication was addressed by determining the DNA synthesis rate, by flow cytometry analysis, by quantitative PCR and by fluorescence microscopy. The use of DNA repair mutants provided insight into the bactericidal action of NrdA-PNA. RESULTS Treatment with NrdA-PNA specifically inhibited growth of E. coli, as well as NrdA protein translation at 4 μM. Also, the DNA synthesis rate was reduced, preventing completion of chromosome replication and resulting in formation of double-stranded DNA breaks and cell death. CONCLUSIONS These data present subunits of the NrdAB RNR as a target for future antisense microbial agents and provide insight into the bacterial physiological response to RNR-targeting antimicrobials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Campion
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Center for Peptide-Based Antibiotics, The Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3c, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark.,Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Section for Functional Genomics, University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaløes Vej 5, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Godefroid Charbon
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Section for Functional Genomics, University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaløes Vej 5, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Thomas T Thomsen
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Section for Functional Genomics, University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaløes Vej 5, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Microbiology, Rigshospitalet, Henrik Harpestreng Vej 4A, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Peter E Nielsen
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Center for Peptide-Based Antibiotics, The Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3c, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Anders Løbner-Olesen
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Section for Functional Genomics, University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaløes Vej 5, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
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7
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Frimodt-Møller J, Koulouktsis A, Charbon G, Otterlei M, Nielsen PE, Løbner-Olesen A. Activating the Cpx response induces tolerance to antisense PNA delivered by an arginine-rich peptide in Escherichia coli. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2021; 25:444-454. [PMID: 34484867 PMCID: PMC8403718 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2021.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are increasingly used for cellular drug delivery in both pro- and eukaryotic cells, and oligoarginines have attracted special attention. How arginine-rich CPPs translocate across the cell envelope, particularly for prokaryotes, is still unknown. Arginine-rich CPPs efficiently deliver antimicrobial peptide nucleic acid (PNA) to its intracellular mRNA target in bacteria. We show that resistance to PNA conjugated to an arginine-rich CPP in Escherichia coli requires multiple genetic modifications and is specific for the CPP part and not to the PNA part. An integral part of the resistance was the constitutively activated Cpx-envelope stress response system (cpx∗), which decreased the cytoplasmic membrane potential. This indicates an indirect energy-dependent uptake mechanism for antimicrobials conjugated to arginine-rich CPPs. In agreement, cpx∗ mutants showed low-level resistance to aminoglycosides and an arginine-rich CPP conjugated to a peptide targeting the DNA sliding clamp, i.e., similar uptake in E. coli for these antimicrobial compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakob Frimodt-Møller
- Department of Biology, Center for Peptide-Based Antibiotics, University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaløes vej 5, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Andreas Koulouktsis
- Department of Biology, Center for Peptide-Based Antibiotics, University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaløes vej 5, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Godefroid Charbon
- Department of Biology, Center for Peptide-Based Antibiotics, University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaløes vej 5, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Marit Otterlei
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, NTNU, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7489 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Peter E. Nielsen
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Center for Peptide-Based Antibiotics, The Panum Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Anders Løbner-Olesen
- Department of Biology, Center for Peptide-Based Antibiotics, University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaløes vej 5, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
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8
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CRISPR-Cas, a Revolution in the Treatment and Study of ESKAPE Infections: Pre-Clinical Studies. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021; 10:antibiotics10070756. [PMID: 34206474 PMCID: PMC8300728 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10070756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the biggest threats we face globally is the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) bacteria, which runs in parallel with the lack in the development of new antimicrobials. Among these AMR bacteria pathogens belonging to the ESKAPE group can be highlighted (Enterococcus spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter spp.) due to their profile of drug resistance and virulence. Therefore, innovative lines of treatment must be developed for these bacteria. In this review, we summarize the different strategies for the treatment and study of molecular mechanisms of AMR in the ESKAPE pathogens based on the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR-associated (Cas) proteins’ technologies: loss of plasmid or cellular viability, random mutation or gene deletion as well directed mutations that lead to a gene’s loss of function.
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9
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Silencing Antibiotic Resistance with Antisense Oligonucleotides. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9040416. [PMID: 33921367 PMCID: PMC8068983 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9040416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Antisense technologies consist of the utilization of oligonucleotides or oligonucleotide analogs to interfere with undesirable biological processes, commonly through inhibition of expression of selected genes. This field holds a lot of promise for the treatment of a very diverse group of diseases including viral and bacterial infections, genetic disorders, and cancer. To date, drugs approved for utilization in clinics or in clinical trials target diseases other than bacterial infections. Although several groups and companies are working on different strategies, the application of antisense technologies to prokaryotes still lags with respect to those that target other human diseases. In those cases where the focus is on bacterial pathogens, a subset of the research is dedicated to produce antisense compounds that silence or reduce expression of antibiotic resistance genes. Therefore, these compounds will be adjuvants administered with the antibiotic to which they reduce resistance levels. A varied group of oligonucleotide analogs like phosphorothioate or phosphorodiamidate morpholino residues, as well as peptide nucleic acids, locked nucleic acids and bridge nucleic acids, the latter two in gapmer configuration, have been utilized to reduce resistance levels. The major mechanisms of inhibition include eliciting cleavage of the target mRNA by the host’s RNase H or RNase P, and steric hindrance. The different approaches targeting resistance to β-lactams include carbapenems, aminoglycosides, chloramphenicol, macrolides, and fluoroquinolones. The purpose of this short review is to summarize the attempts to develop antisense compounds that inhibit expression of resistance to antibiotics.
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10
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Yavari N, Goltermann L, Nielsen PE. Uptake, Stability, and Activity of Antisense Anti- acpP PNA-Peptide Conjugates in Escherichia coli and the Role of SbmA. ACS Chem Biol 2021; 16:471-479. [PMID: 33684286 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.0c00822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
PNA oligomers conjugated to bacteria penetrating peptides (BPPs), such as (KFF)3K, targeting essential bacterial genes, such as acpP, can inhibit bacterial growth at one-digit micromolar concentrations. It has been found that the LPS of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria is a barrier for cellular uptake of (KFF)3K-eg1-PNA and that the SbmA transporter protein is involved in the passage through the inner membrane. We now further elucidate the uptake mechanism of (KFF)3K-eg1-PNA by showing that the peptide part of (KFF)3K-eg1-PNA is unstable and is degraded by peptidases in the medium of a bacterial culture (t1/2 < 5 min) and inside the bacteria. Analysis of peptide-PNA conjugates present in the periplasmic space and the cytoplasm showed the presence of mainly PNA with only the FFK tripeptide and without a peptide, at a concentration 10-fold that added to the medium. Furthermore, the two main degradation products showed no antibacterial effect when added directly to a bacterial culture and the antibacterial effect decreased with peptide length, thereby demonstrating that an intact peptide is indeed crucial for uptake but not for intracellular antisense activity. Most surprisingly, it was found that although the corresponding series of the proteolytically stable D-form (kff)3k-eg1-PNAs exhibited an analogous reduction of activity with peptide length, the activity was dependent on the presence of SbmA for the shorter peptides (which is not the case with the full length peptide). Therefore, our results suggest that the BPP is necessary for crossing both the LPS/outer membrane as well as the inner membrane and that full length (KFF)3K may spontaneously pass the inner membrane. Thus, SbmA dependence of (KFF)3K-eg1-PNA is ascribed to peptide degradation in the bacterial medium and in periplasmic space. Finally, the results show that stability and metabolism (by bacterial proteases/peptidases) should be taken into consideration upon design and activity/uptake analysis of BPPs (and antimicrobial peptides).
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Affiliation(s)
- Niloofar Yavari
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Center for Peptide-Based Antibiotics, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lise Goltermann
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Center for Peptide-Based Antibiotics, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Peter E. Nielsen
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Center for Peptide-Based Antibiotics, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
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11
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Mariz-Ponte N, Regalado L, Gimranov E, Tassi N, Moura L, Gomes P, Tavares F, Santos C, Teixeira C. A Synergic Potential of Antimicrobial Peptides against Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26051461. [PMID: 33800273 PMCID: PMC7962642 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26051461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa) is the pathogenic agent responsible for the bacterial canker of kiwifruit (BCK) leading to major losses in kiwifruit productions. No effective treatments and measures have yet been found to control this disease. Despite antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) having been successfully used for the control of several pathogenic bacteria, few studies have focused on the use of AMPs against Psa. In this study, the potential of six AMPs (BP100, RW-BP100, CA-M, 3.1, D4E1, and Dhvar-5) to control Psa was investigated. The minimal inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations (MIC and MBC) were determined and membrane damaging capacity was evaluated by flow cytometry analysis. Among the tested AMPs, the higher inhibitory and bactericidal capacity was observed for BP100 and CA-M with MIC of 3.4 and 3.4-6.2 µM, respectively and MBC 3.4-10 µM for both. Flow cytometry assays suggested a faster membrane permeation for peptide 3.1, in comparison with the other AMPs studied. Peptide mixtures were also tested, disclosing the high efficiency of BP100:3.1 at low concentration to reduce Psa viability. These results highlight the potential interest of AMP mixtures against Psa, and 3.1 as an antimicrobial molecule that can improve other treatments in synergic action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuno Mariz-Ponte
- Biology Department, Faculty of Science, University of Porto (FCUP), 4169-007 Porto, Portugal; (L.R.); (E.G.); (F.T.); (C.S.)
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Biology Department, Faculty of Science (FCUP), University of Porto, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
- CIBIO—Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, In-BIO-Associate Laboratory, Microbial Diversity and Evolution Group, University of Porto (UP), 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
- Correspondence:
| | - Laura Regalado
- Biology Department, Faculty of Science, University of Porto (FCUP), 4169-007 Porto, Portugal; (L.R.); (E.G.); (F.T.); (C.S.)
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Biology Department, Faculty of Science (FCUP), University of Porto, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Emil Gimranov
- Biology Department, Faculty of Science, University of Porto (FCUP), 4169-007 Porto, Portugal; (L.R.); (E.G.); (F.T.); (C.S.)
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Biology Department, Faculty of Science (FCUP), University of Porto, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Natália Tassi
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences (FCUP), University of Porto, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal; (N.T.); (P.G.); (C.T.)
| | - Luísa Moura
- CISAS—Centre for Research and Development in Agrifood Systems and Sustainability, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, 4900-347 Viana do Castelo, Portugal;
| | - Paula Gomes
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences (FCUP), University of Porto, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal; (N.T.); (P.G.); (C.T.)
| | - Fernando Tavares
- Biology Department, Faculty of Science, University of Porto (FCUP), 4169-007 Porto, Portugal; (L.R.); (E.G.); (F.T.); (C.S.)
- CIBIO—Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, In-BIO-Associate Laboratory, Microbial Diversity and Evolution Group, University of Porto (UP), 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
| | - Conceição Santos
- Biology Department, Faculty of Science, University of Porto (FCUP), 4169-007 Porto, Portugal; (L.R.); (E.G.); (F.T.); (C.S.)
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Biology Department, Faculty of Science (FCUP), University of Porto, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Cátia Teixeira
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences (FCUP), University of Porto, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal; (N.T.); (P.G.); (C.T.)
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Volpi S, Cancelli U, Neri M, Corradini R. Multifunctional Delivery Systems for Peptide Nucleic Acids. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2020; 14:14. [PMID: 33375595 PMCID: PMC7823687 DOI: 10.3390/ph14010014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The number of applications of peptide nucleic acids (PNAs)-oligonucleotide analogs with a polyamide backbone-is continuously increasing in both in vitro and cellular systems and, parallel to this, delivery systems able to bring PNAs to their targets have been developed. This review is intended to give to the readers an overview on the available carriers for these oligonucleotide mimics, with a particular emphasis on newly developed multi-component- and multifunctional vehicles which boosted PNA research in recent years. The following approaches will be discussed: (a) conjugation with carrier molecules and peptides; (b) liposome formulations; (c) polymer nanoparticles; (d) inorganic porous nanoparticles; (e) carbon based nanocarriers; and (f) self-assembled and supramolecular systems. New therapeutic strategies enabled by the combination of PNA and proper delivery systems are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Roberto Corradini
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy; (S.V.); (U.C.); (M.N.)
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