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Hu C, Garey KW. Microscopy methods for Clostridioides difficile. Anaerobe 2024; 86:102822. [PMID: 38341023 DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2024.102822] [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: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Microscopic technologies including light and fluorescent, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and cryo-electron microscopy have been widely utilized to visualize Clostridioides difficile at the molecular, cellular, community, and structural biology level. This comprehensive review summarizes the microscopy tools (fluorescent and reporter system) in their use to study different aspects of C. difficile life cycle and virulence (sporulation, germination) or applications (detection of C. difficile or use of antimicrobials). With these developing techniques, microscopy tools will be able to find broader applications and address more challenging questions to study C. difficile and C. difficile infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenlin Hu
- University of Houston College of Pharmacy, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kevin W Garey
- University of Houston College of Pharmacy, Houston, TX, USA.
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Mason CS, Avis T, Hu C, Nagalingam N, Mudaliar M, Coward C, Begum K, Gajewski K, Alam MJ, Bassères E, Moss S, Reich S, Duperchy E, Fox KR, Garey KW, Powell DJ. The Novel DNA Binding Mechanism of Ridinilazole, a Precision Clostridiodes difficile Antibiotic. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2023; 67:e0156322. [PMID: 37093023 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01563-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) causes substantial morbidity and mortality worldwide with limited antibiotic treatment options. Ridinilazole is a precision bisbenzimidazole antibiotic being developed to treat CDI and reduce unacceptably high rates of infection recurrence in patients. Although in late clinical development, the precise mechanism of action by which ridinilazole elicits its bactericidal activity has remained elusive. Here, we present conclusive biochemical and structural data to demonstrate that ridinilazole has a primary DNA binding mechanism, with a co-complex structure confirming binding to the DNA minor groove. Additional RNA-seq data indicated early pleiotropic changes to transcription, with broad effects on multiple C. difficile compartments and significant effects on energy generation pathways particularly. DNA binding and genomic localization was confirmed through confocal microscopy utilizing the intrinsic fluorescence of ridinilazole upon DNA binding. As such, ridinilazole has the potential to be the first antibiotic approved with a DNA minor groove binding mechanism of action.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tim Avis
- Summit Therapeutics, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Chenlin Hu
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Translational Research, University of Houston College of Pharmacy, Houston, Texas, USA
| | | | | | | | - Khurshida Begum
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Translational Research, University of Houston College of Pharmacy, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Kathleen Gajewski
- Department of Biology & Biochemistry, University of Houston Colleges of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - M Jahangir Alam
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Translational Research, University of Houston College of Pharmacy, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Eugenie Bassères
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Translational Research, University of Houston College of Pharmacy, Houston, Texas, USA
| | | | | | | | - Keith R Fox
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin W Garey
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Translational Research, University of Houston College of Pharmacy, Houston, Texas, USA
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Abstract
We examine 3 different approaches to protecting the gut microbiome: highly targeted antibiotics, antibiotic destruction, and antibiotic binding. Each approach shows promise to prevent the off-target effects of antibiotics on the gut microbiome.
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Affiliation(s)
- C M Rooney
- Leeds Institute of Medical Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom.,Department of Microbiology, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - S Ahmed
- Leeds Institute of Medical Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom.,Department of Microbiology, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - M H Wilcox
- Leeds Institute of Medical Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom.,Department of Microbiology, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, United Kingdom
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Endres B, Bassères E, Rashid T, Chang L, Alam MJ, Garey KW. A Protocol to Characterize the Morphological Changes of Clostridium difficile in Response to Antibiotic Treatment. J Vis Exp 2017. [PMID: 28570548 DOI: 10.3791/55383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Assessment of antibiotic action with new drug development directed towards anaerobic bacteria is difficult and technically demanding. To gain insight into possible MOA, morphologic changes associated with antibiotic exposure can be visualized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Integrating SEM imaging with traditional kill curves may improve our insight into drug action and advance the drug development process. To test this premise, kill curves and SEM studies were conducted using drugs with known but different MOA (vancomycin and metronidazole). C. difficile cells (R20291) were grown with or without the presence of antibiotic for up to 48 h. Throughout the 48 h interval, cells were collected at multiple time points to determine antibiotic efficacy and for imaging on the SEM. Consistent with previous reports, vancomycin and metronidazole had significant bactericidal activity following 24 h of treatment as measured by colony-forming unit (CFU) counting. Using SEM imaging we determined that metronidazole had significant effects on cell length (> 50% reduction in cell length for each antibiotic; P< 0.05) compared to controls and vancomycin. While the phenotypic response to drug treatment has not been documented previously in this manner, they are consistent with the drug's MOA demonstrating the versatility and reliability of the imaging and measurements and the application of this technique for other experimental compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bradley Endres
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Translational Research, University of Houston College of Pharmacy
| | - Eugénie Bassères
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Translational Research, University of Houston College of Pharmacy
| | - Tasnuva Rashid
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Translational Research, University of Houston College of Pharmacy
| | - Long Chang
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Houston
| | - M Jahangir Alam
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Translational Research, University of Houston College of Pharmacy
| | - Kevin W Garey
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Translational Research, University of Houston College of Pharmacy;
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