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Moreira L, Guimarães NM, Santos RS, Loureiro JA, Pereira MC, Azevedo NF. Promising strategies employing nucleic acids as antimicrobial drugs. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2024; 35:102122. [PMID: 38333674 PMCID: PMC10850860 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2024.102122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing concern because it causes microorganisms to develop resistance to drugs commonly used to treat infections. This results in increased difficulty in treating infections, leading to higher mortality rates and significant economic effects. Investing in new antimicrobial agents is, therefore, necessary to prevent and control AMR. Antimicrobial nucleic acids have arisen as potential key players in novel therapies for AMR infections. They have been designed to serve as antimicrobials and to act as adjuvants to conventional antibiotics or to inhibit virulent mechanisms. This new category of antimicrobial drugs consists of antisense oligonucleotides and oligomers, DNAzymes, and transcription factor decoys, differing in terms of structure, target molecules, and mechanisms of action. They are synthesized using nucleic acid analogs to enhance their resistance to nucleases. Because bacterial envelopes are generally impermeable to oligonucleotides, delivery into the cytoplasm typically requires the assistance of nanocarriers, which can affect their therapeutic potency. Given that numerous factors contribute to the success of these antimicrobial drugs, this review aims to provide a summary of the key advancements in the use of oligonucleotides for treating bacterial infections. Their mechanisms of action and the impact of factors such as nucleic acid design, target sequence, and nanocarriers on the antimicrobial potency are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luís Moreira
- LEPABE–Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology, and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
- ALiCE–Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | - Nuno M. Guimarães
- LEPABE–Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology, and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
- ALiCE–Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | - Rita S. Santos
- LEPABE–Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology, and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
- ALiCE–Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | - Joana A. Loureiro
- LEPABE–Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology, and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
- ALiCE–Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | - Maria C. Pereira
- LEPABE–Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology, and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
- ALiCE–Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | - Nuno F. Azevedo
- LEPABE–Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology, and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
- ALiCE–Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
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El-Fateh M, Chatterjee A, Zhao X. A systematic review of peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) with antibacterial activities: Efficacy, potential and challenges. Int J Antimicrob Agents 2024; 63:107083. [PMID: 38185398 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2024.107083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) are synthetic molecules that are like DNA/RNA, but with different building blocks. PNAs target and bind to mRNAs and disrupt the function of a targeted gene, hence they have been studied as potential antibacterials. The aim of this systematic review was to provide an in-depth analysis of the current status of PNAs as antibacterial agents, define the characteristics of the effective PNA constructs, and address the gap in advancing PNAs to become clinically competent agents. Following the PRISMA model, four electronic databases were searched: Web of Science, PubMed, SciFinder and Scopus. A total of 627 articles published between 1994 and 2023 were found. After screening and a rigorous selection process using explicit inclusion and exclusion criteria, 65 scientific articles were selected, containing 656 minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) data. The antibacterial activity of PNAs was assessed against 20 bacterial species. The most studied Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria were Escherichia coli (n=266) and Staphylococcus aureus (n=53), respectively. In addition, the effect of PNA design, including construct length, binding location, and carrier agents, on antibacterial activity was shown. Finally, antibacterial test models to assess the inhibitory effects of PNAs were examined, emphasising gaps and prospects. This systematic review provides a comprehensive assessment of the potential of PNAs as antibacterial agents and offers valuable insights for researchers and clinicians seeking novel therapeutic strategies in the context of increasing rates of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed El-Fateh
- Department of Animal Science, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada, H9X3V9; Department of Hygiene and Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, 35516, El-Dakhelia, Egypt; Antimicrobial Regeneration Consortium Labs, Louisville, CO, 80027, USA
| | - Anushree Chatterjee
- Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA; Antimicrobial Regeneration Consortium Labs, Louisville, CO, 80027, USA
| | - Xin Zhao
- Department of Animal Science, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada, H9X3V9; Antimicrobial Regeneration Consortium Labs, Louisville, CO, 80027, USA.
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Singh G, Monga V. Peptide Nucleic Acids: Recent Developments in the Synthesis and Backbone Modifications. Bioorg Chem 2023; 141:106860. [PMID: 37748328 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2023.106860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
Nucleic acid represents the ideal drug candidate for protein targets that are hard to target or against which drug development is not easy. Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) are synthesized by attaching modified peptide backbones generally derived from repetitive N-2-aminoethyl glycine units in place of the regular phosphodiester backbone and represent synthetic impersonator of nucleic acids that offers an exciting research field due to their fascinating spectrum of biotechnological, diagnostic and potential therapeutic applications. The semi-rigid peptide nucleic acid backbone serves as a nearly-perfect template for attaching complimentary base pairs on DNA or RNA in a sequence-dependent manner as described by Watson-Crick models. PNAs and their analogues are endowed with exceptionally high affinity and specificity for receptor sites, essentially due to their polyamide backbone's uncharged and flexible nature. The present review compiled various strategies to modify the polypeptide backbone for improving the target selectivity and stability of the PNAs in the body. The investigated biological activities carried out on PNAs have also been summarized in the present review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gurpreet Singh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, ISF College of Pharmacy, GT Road, Ghal Kalan, Moga 142001, Punjab, India
| | - Vikramdeep Monga
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Natural Products, Central University of Punjab, VPO-Ghudda, Bathinda 151401, Punjab, India.
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Selvaraj SP, Chen JY. Conjugation of antimicrobial peptides to enhance therapeutic efficacy. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 259:115680. [PMID: 37515922 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
The growing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has brought with it a continual increase in the numbers of deaths from multidrug-resistant (MDR) infections. Since the current arsenal of antibiotics has become increasingly ineffective, there exists an urgent need for discovery and development of novel antimicrobials. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are considered to be a promising class of molecules due to their broad-spectrum activities and low resistance rates compared with other types of antibiotics. Since AMPs also often play major roles in elevating the host immune response, the molecules may also be called "host defense peptides." Despite the great promise of AMPs, the majority remain unsuitable for clinical use due to issues of structural instability, degradation by proteases, and/or toxicity to host cells. Moreover, AMP activities in vivo can be influenced by many factors, such as interaction with blood and serum biomolecules, physiological salt concentrations or different pH values. To overcome these limitations, structural modifications can be made to the AMP. Among several modifications, physical and chemical conjugation of AMP to other biomolecules is widely considered an effective strategy. In this review, we discuss structural modification strategies related to conjugation of AMPs and their possible effects on mode of action. The conjugation of fatty acids, glycans, antibiotics, photosensitizers, polymers, nucleic acids, nanoparticles, and immobilization to biomaterials are highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjay Prasad Selvaraj
- Molecular and Biological Agricultural Science Program, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Biotechnology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, 402, Taiwan
| | - Jyh-Yih Chen
- Marine Research Station, Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, 23-10 Dahuen Rd, Jiaushi, Ilan, 262, Taiwan; The iEGG and Animal Biotechnology Center and the Rong Hsing Research Center for Translational Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, 402, Taiwan.
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Del Bene A, D'Aniello A, Tomassi S, Merlino F, Mazzarella V, Russo R, Chambery A, Cosconati S, Di Maro S, Messere A. Ultrasound-assisted Peptide Nucleic Acids synthesis (US-PNAS). ULTRASONICS SONOCHEMISTRY 2023; 95:106360. [PMID: 36913782 PMCID: PMC10024050 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2023.106360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Herein, we developed an innovative and easily accessible solid-phase synthetic protocol for Peptide Nucleic Acid (PNA) oligomers by systematically investigating the ultrasonication effects in all steps of the PNA synthesis (US-PNAS). When compared with standard protocols, the application of the so-obtained US-PNAS approach succeeded in improving the crude product purities and the isolated yields of different PNA, including small or medium-sized oligomers (5-mer and 9-mer), complex purine-rich sequences (like a 5-mer Guanine homoligomer and the telomeric sequence TEL-13) and longer oligomers (such as the 18-mer anti-IVS2-654 PNA and the 23-mer anti-mRNA 155 PNA). Noteworthy, our ultrasound-assisted strategy is compatible with the commercially available PNA monomers and well-established coupling reagents and only requires the use of an ultrasonic bath, which is a simple equipment generally available in most synthetic laboratories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Del Bene
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Antonia D'Aniello
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Stefano Tomassi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Francesco Merlino
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Mazzarella
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Rosita Russo
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Angela Chambery
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Sandro Cosconati
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Salvatore Di Maro
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 81100 Caserta, Italy.
| | - Anna Messere
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 81100 Caserta, Italy.
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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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da Silva KE, Ribeiro SM, Rossato L, Dos Santos CP, Preza SE, Cardoso MH, Franco OL, Migliolo L, Simionatto S. Antisense peptide nucleic acid inhibits the growth of KPC-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae strain. Res Microbiol 2021; 172:103837. [PMID: 34029675 DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2021.103837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Klebsiella pneumoniae causes common and severe hospital- and community-acquired infections with a high incidence of multidrug resistance (MDR) and mortality. In this study, we investigated the ability of the antisense peptide nucleic acids (PNA) conjugated to the (KFF)3K cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) to target the gyrA KPC-producing K. pneumoniae and inhibit bacterial growth in vitro. The inhibitory effect on gyrA gene was evaluated by measuring 16s gene amplification in KPC-producing K. pneumoniae treated with the antisense PNA conjugate. The hemolytic property of the antisense PNA conjugate was accessed toward mice red blood cells. Finally, molecular modeling and dynamics simulations analyses in aqueous solutions were performed to predict the PNA conformation alone in contact with DNA (gyrA gene sequence). PNA was capable of inhibiting bacterial growth at 50 μM, also reducing 16S gene amplification in 96.7%. Besides, PNA presented low hemolytic activity (21.1% hemolysis) at this same concentration. Bioinformatics analysis demonstrated that the structure of the PNA is stable in water without major changes in its secondary structure. The ability of PNA and its conjugated CPP ((KFF)3K) to inhibit bacterial growth demonstrates the potential of this new class of antibacterial agents, encouraging further in vivo studies to confirm its therapeutic efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kesia Esther da Silva
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados - UFGD, Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.
| | - Suzana Meira Ribeiro
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados - UFGD, Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.
| | - Luana Rossato
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados - UFGD, Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.
| | - Caroline Paes Dos Santos
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados - UFGD, Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.
| | - Sergio Espindola Preza
- S-inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, 79117900, Brazil.
| | - Marlon Henrique Cardoso
- S-inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, 79117900, Brazil.
| | - Octávio Luiz Franco
- S-inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, 79117900, Brazil; Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, 70790160, Brazil.
| | - Ludovico Migliolo
- S-inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, 79117900, Brazil.
| | - Simone Simionatto
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados - UFGD, Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.
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Martínez-Guitián M, Vázquez-Ucha JC, Álvarez-Fraga L, Conde-Pérez K, Bou G, Poza M, Beceiro A. Antisense inhibition of lpxB gene expression in Acinetobacter baumannii by peptide-PNA conjugates and synergy with colistin. J Antimicrob Chemother 2021; 75:51-59. [PMID: 31586411 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkz409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2019] [Revised: 08/28/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND LpxB is an enzyme involved in the biosynthesis pathway of lipid A, a component of LPS. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the lpxB gene in Acinetobacter baumannii as a potential therapeutic target and to propose antisense agents such as peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) as a tool to combat bacterial infection, either alone or in combination with known antimicrobial therapies. METHODS RNA-seq analysis of the A. baumannii ATCC 17978 strain in a murine pneumonia model was performed to study the in vivo expression of lpxB. Protein expression was studied in the presence or absence of anti-lpxB (KFF)3K-PNA (pPNA). Time-kill curve analyses and protection assays of infected A549 cells were performed. The chequerboard technique was used to test for synergy between pPNA and colistin. A Galleria mellonella infection model was used to test the in vivo efficacy of pPNA. RESULTS The lpxB gene was overexpressed during pneumonia. Treatment with a specific pPNA inhibited LpxB expression in vitro, decreased survival of the ATCC 17978 strain and increased the survival rate of infected A549 cells. Synergy was observed between pPNA and colistin in colistin-susceptible strains. In vivo assays confirmed that a combination treatment of anti-lpxB pPNA and colistin was more effective than colistin in monotherapy. CONCLUSIONS The lpxB gene is essential for A. baumannii survival. Anti-lpxB pPNA inhibits LpxB expression, causing bacterial death. This pPNA showed synergy with colistin and increased the survival rate in G. mellonella. The data suggest that antisense pPNA molecules blocking the lpxB gene could be used as antibacterial agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Martínez-Guitián
- Servicio de Microbiología do Complexo Hospitalario Universitario da Coruña (CHUAC), Instituto de Investigación Biomédica da Coruña (INIBIC), Centro de Investigacións Científicas Avanzadas (CICA), Universidade da Coruña (UDC), A Coruña, Spain
| | - Juan Carlos Vázquez-Ucha
- Servicio de Microbiología do Complexo Hospitalario Universitario da Coruña (CHUAC), Instituto de Investigación Biomédica da Coruña (INIBIC), Centro de Investigacións Científicas Avanzadas (CICA), Universidade da Coruña (UDC), A Coruña, Spain
| | - Laura Álvarez-Fraga
- Servicio de Microbiología do Complexo Hospitalario Universitario da Coruña (CHUAC), Instituto de Investigación Biomédica da Coruña (INIBIC), Centro de Investigacións Científicas Avanzadas (CICA), Universidade da Coruña (UDC), A Coruña, Spain
| | - Kelly Conde-Pérez
- Servicio de Microbiología do Complexo Hospitalario Universitario da Coruña (CHUAC), Instituto de Investigación Biomédica da Coruña (INIBIC), Centro de Investigacións Científicas Avanzadas (CICA), Universidade da Coruña (UDC), A Coruña, Spain
| | - Germán Bou
- Servicio de Microbiología do Complexo Hospitalario Universitario da Coruña (CHUAC), Instituto de Investigación Biomédica da Coruña (INIBIC), Centro de Investigacións Científicas Avanzadas (CICA), Universidade da Coruña (UDC), A Coruña, Spain
| | - Margarita Poza
- Servicio de Microbiología do Complexo Hospitalario Universitario da Coruña (CHUAC), Instituto de Investigación Biomédica da Coruña (INIBIC), Centro de Investigacións Científicas Avanzadas (CICA), Universidade da Coruña (UDC), A Coruña, Spain
| | - Alejandro Beceiro
- Servicio de Microbiología do Complexo Hospitalario Universitario da Coruña (CHUAC), Instituto de Investigación Biomédica da Coruña (INIBIC), Centro de Investigacións Científicas Avanzadas (CICA), Universidade da Coruña (UDC), A Coruña, Spain
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Targeting of the Essential acpP, ftsZ, and rne Genes in Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii by Antisense PNA Precision Antibacterials. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9040429. [PMID: 33921011 PMCID: PMC8071358 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9040429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Infections by carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii (CRAB), a widespread nosocomial pathogen, are becoming increasingly difficult to prevent and treat. Therefore, there is an urgent need for discovery of novel antibiotics against CRAB. Programmable, precision antisense antibiotics, e.g., based on the nucleic acid mimic PNA (peptide nucleic acid) have shown promise in this respect in the form of PNA-BPP (bacteria penetrating peptide) conjugates targeting essential bacterial genes. In the present study, we designed and synthesized a series of PNA-BPPs targeting the translation initiation region of the ftsZ, acpP, or rne gene of CRAB strains. The antimicrobial activity of the compounds and effects on gene expression level was compared to that of analogous mismatch PNA controls. Three antisense conjugates (KFF)3K-eg1-(acpP)PNA (5639), (KFF)3K-eg1-(ftsZ)PNA (5612), and (KFF)3-K-eg1-(rne)PNA (5656) exhibited complete growth inhibition against several CRAB strains at 1-2, 2-8, and 2 µM, respectively, and the compounds were bactericidal at 1-2× MIC. The bactericidal effect was correlated to reduction of target gene mRNA level using RT-qPCR, and the compounds showed no bacterial membrane disruption activity at 1-2× MIC. PNA5612 was tested against a series of 12 CRAB isolates and all were sensitive at 2-8 µM. In addition, the conjugates exhibited no cellular toxicity in the HepG2 cell line (up to 20 μM) and did not shown significant antibacterial activity against other Gram negatives (E. coli, P. aeruginosa). These results provide a starting point for discovery of antisense precision designer antibiotics for specific treatment of CRAB infections.
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Chen W, Dong B, Liu W, Liu Z. Recent Advances in Peptide Nucleic Acids as Antibacterial Agents. Curr Med Chem 2021; 28:1104-1125. [PMID: 32484766 DOI: 10.2174/0929867327666200602132504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2020] [Revised: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and the slow progress in searching for new antimicrobial agents makes it hard to treat bacterial infections and cause problems for the healthcare system worldwide, including high costs, prolonged hospitalizations, and increased mortality. Therefore, the discovery of effective antibacterial agents is of great importance. One attractive alternative is antisense peptide nucleic acid (PNA), which inhibits or eliminates gene expression by binding to the complementary messenger RNA (mRNA) sequence of essential genes or the accessible and functionally important regions of the ribosomal RNA (rRNA). Following 30 years of development, PNAs have played an extremely important role in the treatment of Gram-positive, Gram-negative, and acidfast bacteria due to their desirable stability of hybrid complex with target RNA, the strong affinity for target mRNA/rRNA, and the stability against nucleases. PNA-based antisense antibiotics can strongly inhibit the growth of pathogenic and antibiotic-resistant bacteria in a sequence-specific and dose-dependent manner at micromolar concentrations. However, several fundamental challenges, such as intracellular delivery, solubility, physiological stability, and clearance still need to be addressed before PNAs become broadly applicable in clinical settings. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in PNAs as antibacterial agents and the challenges that need to be overcome in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Chen
- Hunan Key Laboratory for Super Microstructure and Ultrafast Process, School of Physics and Electronics Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
| | - Bo Dong
- Hunan Key Laboratory for Super Microstructure and Ultrafast Process, School of Physics and Electronics Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
| | - Wenen Liu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Zhengchun Liu
- Hunan Key Laboratory for Super Microstructure and Ultrafast Process, School of Physics and Electronics Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
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Patel R, Sarma S, Shukla A, Parmar P, Goswami D, Saraf M. Walking through the wonder years of artificial DNA: peptide nucleic acid. Mol Biol Rep 2020; 47:8113-8131. [PMID: 32990905 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-020-05819-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Peptide Nucleic Acid (PNA) serves as an artificial functional analog of DNA. Being immune to enzymatic degradation and possessing strong affinity towards DNA and RNA, it is an ideal candidate for many medical and biotechnological applications that are of antisense and antigene in nature. PNAs are anticipated to have its application in DNA and RNA detection as well as quantification, to serve as antibacterial and antiviral agents, and silencing gene for developing anticancer strategies. Although, their restricted entry in both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells limit their applications. In addition, aggregation of PNA in storage containers reduces the quality and quantity of functional PNA that makes it inadequate for their mass production and storage. To overcome these limitations, researchers have modified PNA either by the addition of diverse functional groups at various loci on its backbone, or by synthesizing chimeras with other moieties associated with various delivery agents that aids their entry into the cell. Here, this review article summarizes few of the structural modifications that are performed with PNA, methods used to improve their cellular uptake and shedding light on the applications of PNA in various prospects in biological sciences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rohit Patel
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 380009, India
| | - Sameera Sarma
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 380009, India
| | - Arpit Shukla
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 380009, India
| | - Paritosh Parmar
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 380009, India
| | - Dweipayan Goswami
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 380009, India
| | - Meenu Saraf
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 380009, India.
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12
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Pifer R, Greenberg DE. Antisense antibacterial compounds. Transl Res 2020; 223:89-106. [PMID: 32522669 DOI: 10.1016/j.trsl.2020.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Revised: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Extensive antibiotic use combined with poor historical drug stewardship practices have created a medical crisis in which once treatable bacterial infections are now increasingly unmanageable. To combat this, new antibiotics will need to be developed and safeguarded. An emerging class of antibiotics based upon nuclease-stable antisense technologies has proven valuable in preclinical testing against a variety of bacterial pathogens. This review describes the current state of development of antisense-based antibiotics, the mechanisms thus far employed by these compounds, and possible future avenues of research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reed Pifer
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - David E Greenberg
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas; Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas.
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13
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Chen Z, Nie D, Hu Y, Li M, Hou Z, Mao X, Luo X, Xue X. Efficient Delivery of Antisense Oligonucleotides by an Amphipathic Cell-Penetrating Peptide in Acinetobacter baumannii. Curr Drug Deliv 2020; 16:728-736. [PMID: 31244437 DOI: 10.2174/1567201816666190627141931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2019] [Revised: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 06/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) was on the top of the list of the most threatening bacteria published by the WHO in 2017. Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) based therapy is a promising strategy for combating Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) bacteria because of its high specificity, easy design and lower induction of resistance, but poor cellular uptake by bacteria has restricted the further utilization of this therapy. METHODS Here, we used CADY, a secondary amphipathic peptide of 20 residues that could successfully carry siRNA into mammalian cells, to prepare CADY/ASOs nanoparticles (CADY-NPs) targeting acpP (encoding acyl carrier protein), and evaluated the uptake features, the inhibitory effects of CADY-NPs on gene expression and the growth of MDR-A. baumannii. RESULTS We found that CADY-NPs could be quickly internalized by drug-sensitive and MDR-A. baumannii in an energy independent manner, which could be restrained by chlorpromazine (an inhibitor of clathrin mediated endocytosis) significantly. In addition, CADY-NPs targeting acpP concentrationdependently retarded the growth of MDR-A. baumannii, which was associated with the decreased expression of targeted genes in A. baumannii. CONCLUSION In conclusion, our research is the first to demonstrate that CADY can deliver ASOs into bacteria and provide a novel strategy for the treatment of MDR-A. baumannii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhou Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, No. 169, Changle West Road, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - Dan Nie
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, No. 169, Changle West Road, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - Yue Hu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, No. 169, Changle West Road, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - Mingkai Li
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, No. 169, Changle West Road, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - Zheng Hou
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, No. 169, Changle West Road, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - Xinggang Mao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, No. 169, Changle West Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Xiaoxing Luo
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, No. 169, Changle West Road, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - Xiaoyan Xue
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, No. 169, Changle West Road, Xi'an 710032, China
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14
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Antibacterial Peptide Nucleic Acids-Facts and Perspectives. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25030559. [PMID: 32012929 PMCID: PMC7038079 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25030559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2019] [Revised: 01/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance is an escalating, worldwide problem. Due to excessive use of antibiotics, multidrug-resistant bacteria have become a serious threat and a major global healthcare problem of the 21st century. This fact creates an urgent need for new and effective antimicrobials. The common strategies for antibiotic discovery are based on either modifying existing antibiotics or screening compound libraries, but these strategies have not been successful in recent decades. An alternative approach could be to use gene-specific oligonucleotides, such as peptide nucleic acid (PNA) oligomers, that can specifically target any single pathogen. This approach broadens the range of potential targets to any gene with a known sequence in any bacterium, and could significantly reduce the time required to discover new antimicrobials or their redesign, if resistance arises. We review the potential of PNA as an antibacterial molecule. First, we describe the physicochemical properties of PNA and modifications of the PNA backbone and nucleobases. Second, we review the carriers used to transport PNA to bacterial cells. Furthermore, we discuss the PNA targets in antibacterial studies focusing on antisense PNA targeting bacterial mRNA and rRNA.
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15
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Abdi SN, Ghotaslou R, Asgharzadeh M, Mehramouz B, Hasani A, Baghi HB, Tanomand A, Narenji H, Yousefi B, Gholizadeh P, Yousefi M, Bastami M, Ganbarov K, Samadi Kafil H. AdeB efflux pump gene knockdown by mRNA mediated peptide nucleic acid in multidrug resistance Acinetobacter baumannii. Microb Pathog 2019; 139:103825. [PMID: 31706000 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2019.103825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Revised: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolates cause critical problems in health-care environments. AdeABC is a resistance-nodulation-cell division (RND)-type multidrug efflux pump conferring resistance to clinically essential antibiotics in A. baumannii, such as ciprofloxacin. This study aimed to target adeB gene with antisense peptide nucleic acid (PNA) and investigate its effect on resistance to antibiotics. NCBI database was used to design appropriate PNA to target adeB gene, by connecting PNA to mRNA, the translation of mRNA can be prevented. Three clinical isolates and A. baumannii ATCC 17978 were treated with the designed PNA by electroporation and competence procedure. Minimum Inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ciprofloxacin, colistin, and tetracycline were determined by microbroth dilution method. In addition, the expression level of adeB gene was measured by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Isolates used in this study had mutations in gyrA and parC genes corresponding to resistance to ciprofloxacin. MIC of resistance to ciprofloxacin after treatment with PNA was reduced from 32 μg/ml to16 μg/ml in A. baumannii ATCC 17978 isolate. Susceptibility level of tetracycline, in the 2 clinical isolates was decreased from 64 μg/ml to 32 μg/ml and in the other isolate was reduced from 128 μg/ml to 64 μg/ml. The expression level of adeB gene was decreased in A. baumannii ATCC 17978 (P > 0.01) but not in clinical isolate (P = 0.107). Findings of the present study indicate overexpression of adeB efflux pump has extra effect on resistance to antibiotics in isolates with a defined mechanism of resistance. Antisense technology is a feasible technique to suppress the function of these genes, which may be further exploited to control multidrug-resistant isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed Naser Abdi
- Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Reza Ghotaslou
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Asgharzadeh
- Biotechnology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Bahareh Mehramouz
- Stem Cell Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Alka Hasani
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | | | - Asghar Tanomand
- Department of Microbiology, Maragheh University of Medical Sciences, Maragheh, Iran
| | - Hanar Narenji
- Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Bahman Yousefi
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Pourya Gholizadeh
- Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mehdi Yousefi
- Stem Cell Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Milad Bastami
- Biotechnology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | | | - Hossein Samadi Kafil
- Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
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16
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Wang F, Liu LS, Lau CH, Han Chang TJ, Tam DY, Leung HM, Tin C, Lo PK. Synthetic α-l-Threose Nucleic Acids Targeting BcL-2 Show Gene Silencing and in Vivo Antitumor Activity for Cancer Therapy. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2019; 11:38510-38518. [PMID: 31556592 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.9b14324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
We design and synthesize a sequence-defined α-l-threose nucleic acid (TNA) polymer, which is complementary to certain nucleotide sites of target anti-apoptotic proteins, BcL-2 involving in development and progression of tumors. Compared to scramble TNA, anti-BcL-2 TNA significantly suppresses target mRNA and protein expression in cancerous cells and shows antitumor activity in carcinoma xenografts, resulting in suppression of tumor cell growth and induction of tumor cell death. Together with good biocompatibility, very low toxicity, excellent specificity features, and strong binding affinity toward the complementary target RNAs, TNAs become new useful biomaterials and effective alternatives to traditional antisense oligonucleotides including locked nucleic acids, morpholino oligomers, and peptide nucleic acids in antisense therapy. Compared to conventional cancer therapy such as radiotherapy, surgery, and chemotherapy, we anticipate that this TNA-based polymeric system will work effectively in antisense cancer therapy and shortly start to play an important role in practical application.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Pik Kwan Lo
- Key Laboratory of Biochip Technology, Biotech and Health Care , Shenzhen Research Institute of City University of Hong Kong , Shenzhen 518057 , China
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17
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Saadati A, Hassanpour S, Guardia MDL, Mosafer J, Hashemzaei M, Mokhtarzadeh A, Baradaran B. Recent advances on application of peptide nucleic acids as a bioreceptor in biosensors development. Trends Analyt Chem 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2019.02.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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18
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Gupta A, Mishra A, Puri N. Peptide nucleic acids: Advanced tools for biomedical applications. J Biotechnol 2017; 259:148-159. [PMID: 28764969 PMCID: PMC7114329 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2017.07.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2017] [Revised: 05/23/2017] [Accepted: 07/23/2017] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Peptide Nucleic Acids − DNA/RNA analogues. Different Modifications on PNA backbone and their effects. Neutral backbone − remarkable hybridization properties. PNA based biosensors and their diverse biomedical applications. Potential antigene and antisense agents.
Peptide Nucleic Acids (PNAs) are the DNA/RNA analogues in which sugar-phosphate backbone is replaced by N-2-aminoethylglycine repeating units. PNA contains neutral backbone hence due to the absence of electrostatic repulsion, its hybridization shows remarkable stability towards complementary oligonucleotides. PNAs are highly resistant to cleavage by chemicals and enzymes due to the substrate specific nature of enzymes and therefore not degraded inside the cells. PNAs are emerging as new tools in the market due to their applications in antisense and antigene therapies by inhibiting translation and transcription respectively. Hence, several methods based on PNAs have been developed for designing various anticancer and antigene drugs, detection of mutations or modulation of PCR reactions. The duplex homopurine sequence of DNA may also be recognized by PNA, forming firm PNA/DNA/PNA triplex through strand invasion with a looped-out DNA strand. PNAs have also been found to replace DNA probes in varied investigative purposes. There are several disadvantages regarding cellular uptake of PNA, so modifications in PNA backbone or covalent coupling with cell penetrating peptides is necessary to improve its delivery inside the cells. In this review, hybridization properties along with potential applications of PNA in the field of diagnostics and pharmaceuticals are elaborated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjali Gupta
- Department of Chemistry, School of Basic and Applied Sciences, Galgotias University, Greater Noida, U.P., India.
| | - Anuradha Mishra
- School of Vocational Studies & Applied Sciences, Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, U.P., India
| | - Nidhi Puri
- Department of Applied Science & Humanities, I.T.S Engineering College, Greater Noida, U.P., India
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19
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Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs): currently potential bactericidal agents. Biomed Pharmacother 2017; 93:580-588. [PMID: 28686972 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2017.06.092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2017] [Revised: 06/12/2017] [Accepted: 06/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, the emergence of ESBL-producing and multi-drug resistant bacteria have been increased and designing novel components is necessary for confrontation these bacteria. Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) are one of the synthetic components that bind to single strand DNA and RNA. Applications of these components are wide while, and one of the important applications of these components is inhibition of gene expression and knock downing the target gene follow as inhibition of bacterial growth. For PNA targeting gene, peptide-PNAs (PPNA) activity cannot be occurred without sequence homology, at the same time, it has been affected by sequence-based specific target and dose-dependent-based manner. Choosing the conserved sequence in different bacterial genus can provide broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. In this review article, we studied several research papers and extract PNA targeting genes that cause gene knock down and inhibition of bacterial growth. Some novel opportunities for advancement and the design ultra-narrow-spectrum antimicrobial drugs against multi-drug can be accessible by utilizing PNA against necessary genes of pathogens. These results open novel vision for therapeutic intervention. Future researches are required to evaluate the safety, toxicity and pharmacokinetics properties of PPNAs in order to be utilized in clinical treatment.
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Maekawa K, Azuma M, Okuno Y, Tsukamoto T, Nishiguchi K, Setsukinai KI, Maki H, Numata Y, Takemoto H, Rokushima M. Antisense peptide nucleic acid–peptide conjugates for functional analyses of genes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Bioorg Med Chem 2016; 23:7234-9. [PMID: 26602085 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2015.10.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2015] [Accepted: 10/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most common and clinically important pathogens because of its resistance to a wide variety of antibiotics. A number of treatments of P. aeruginosa have been developed, but there is still no definitive one. Antisense drugs have a great potential to treat multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa because this technology, in principle, can inhibit the expression of any essential genes. Nucleic Acid Ther.2012, 22, 323 reported that peptide nucleic acid (PNA) antisenses conjugated to the carrier peptide (RXR)4 and targeted to ftsZ and acpP (essential genes) had antibacterial activity in P. aeruginosa. However, growth inhibition was also found with peptide-PNA antisense conjugates of mismatched sequences (negative controls), and hence there remains a possibility for considerable enhancement of basal level activity due to the general toxicity. To assess the true potential of peptide-PNA conjugates, we measured sequence-dependent knockdown of the (RXR)4-PNA conjugates by using a scrambled sequence as a negative control. In addition, we evaluated (RXR)4-PNA antisenses against three other essential genes (lepB, lptD and mraY) and a non-essential gene (PA1303), and confirmed that multiple sequences targeting only the essential genes showed antimicrobial activity in P. aeruginosa PAO1 cells. We also conducted a rescue experiment and confirmed that the antimicrobial activity of anti-mraY antisenses was an on-target effect, not due to general toxicity. These findings indicate that the (RXR)4–PNA antisense should be a useful tool for target validation of a specific gene and could be a therapeutic platform capable of targeting a variety of genes in P. aeruginosa.
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Huang W, Wang S, Yao Y, Xia Y, Yang X, Long Q, Sun W, Liu C, Li Y, Ma Y. OmpW is a potential target for eliciting protective immunity against Acinetobacter baumannii infections. Vaccine 2015. [PMID: 26207591 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2015.07.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) is an important conditioned pathogen that causes nosocomial and community-associated infections. In this study, we sought to investigate whether outer membrane protein W (OmpW) is a potential target for eliciting protective immunity against A. baumannii infections. Mice immunized with the fusion protein thioredoxin-OmpW generated strong OmpW-specific IgG responses. In a sepsis model, both active and passive immunizations against OmpW effectively protected mice from A. baumannii infections. This protection was demonstrated by a significantly improved survival rate, reduced bacterial burdens within organs, and the suppressed accumulation of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in sera. Opsonophagocytic assays with murine macrophage RAW264.7 cells indicated that the bactericidal effects of the antisera derived from the immunized mice are mediated synergistically by specific antibodies and complement components. The antisera presented significant opsonophagocytic activities against homologous strains and clonally distinct clinical isolates in vitro. Protein data analysis showed that the sequence of OmpW, which has a molecule length of 183 amino acids, is more than 91% conserved in reported A. baumannii strains. In conclusion, we identified OmpW as a highly immunogenic and conserved protein as a valuable antigen candidate for the development of an effective vaccine or the preparation of antisera to control A. baumannii infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiwei Huang
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming 650118, China; Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming 650118, China
| | - Shijie Wang
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming 650118, China; Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming 650118, China
| | - Yufeng Yao
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming 650118, China; Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming 650118, China
| | - Ye Xia
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming 650118, China; Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming 650118, China
| | - Xu Yang
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming 650118, China; Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming 650118, China
| | - Qiong Long
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming 650118, China; Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming 650118, China
| | - Wenjia Sun
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming 650118, China; Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming 650118, China
| | - Cunbao Liu
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming 650118, China; Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming 650118, China
| | - Yang Li
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming 650118, China; Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming 650118, China
| | - Yanbing Ma
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming 650118, China; Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming 650118, China.
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22
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Inhibiting the growth of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in vitro with antisense peptide nucleic acid conjugates targeting the ftsZ gene. Int J Infect Dis 2014; 30:1-6. [PMID: 25447735 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2014.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2014] [Revised: 09/03/2014] [Accepted: 09/27/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The increasing emergence of clinical infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) challenges existing therapeutic options and highlights the need to develop novel treatment strategies. The ftsZ gene is essential to bacterial cell division. METHODS In this study, two antisense peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) conjugated to a cell-penetrating peptide were used to inhibit the growth of MRSA. PPNA1, identified with computational prediction and dot-blot hybridization, is complementary to nucleotides 309-323 of the ftsZ mRNA. PPNA2 was designed to target the region that includes the translation initiation site and the ribosomal-binding site (Shine-Dalgarno sequence) of the ftsZ gene. Scrambled PPNA was constructed with mismatches to three bases within the antisense PPNA1 sequence. RESULTS PPNA1 and PPNA2 caused concentration-dependent growth inhibition and had bactericidal effects. The minimal bactericidal concentrations of antisense PPNA1 and PPNA2 were 30μmol/l and 40μmol/l, respectively. The scrambled PPNA had no effect on bacterial growth, even at higher concentrations, confirming the sequence specificity of the probes. RT-PCR showed that the antisense PPNAs suppressed ftsZ mRNA expression in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSION Our results demonstrate that the potent effects of PNAs on bacterial growth and cell viability were mediated by the down-regulation or even knock-out of ftsZ gene expression. This highlights the utility of ftsZ as a promising target for the development of new antisense antibacterial agents to treat MRSA infections.
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