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Voedts H, Anoyatis-Pelé C, Langella O, Rusconi F, Hugonnet JE, Arthur M. (p)ppGpp modifies RNAP function to confer β-lactam resistance in a peptidoglycan-independent manner. Nat Microbiol 2024; 9:647-656. [PMID: 38443580 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-024-01609-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
(p)ppGpp is a nucleotide alarmone that controls bacterial response to nutrient deprivation. Since elevated (p)ppGpp levels confer mecillinam resistance and are essential for broad-spectrum β-lactam resistance as mediated by the β-lactam-insensitive transpeptidase YcbB (LdtD), we hypothesized that (p)ppGpp might affect cell wall peptidoglycan metabolism. Here we report that (p)ppGpp-dependent β-lactam resistance does not rely on any modification of peptidoglycan metabolism, as established by analysis of Escherichia coli peptidoglycan structure using high-resolution mass spectrometry. Amino acid substitutions in the β or β' RNA polymerase (RNAP) subunits, alone or in combination with the CRISPR interference-mediated downregulation of three of seven ribosomal RNA operons, were sufficient for resistance, although β-lactams have no known impact on the RNAP or ribosomes. This implies that modifications of RNAP and ribosome functions are critical to prevent downstream effects of the inactivation of peptidoglycan transpeptidases by β-lactams.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henri Voedts
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Constantin Anoyatis-Pelé
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Olivier Langella
- GQE-Le Moulon/PAPPSO, Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, CNRS, AgroParisTech, IDEEV, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Filippo Rusconi
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
- GQE-Le Moulon/PAPPSO, Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, CNRS, AgroParisTech, IDEEV, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Jean-Emmanuel Hugonnet
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France.
| | - Michel Arthur
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France.
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2
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Gupta R, Singh M, Pathania R. Chemical genetic approaches for the discovery of bacterial cell wall inhibitors. RSC Med Chem 2023; 14:2125-2154. [PMID: 37974958 PMCID: PMC10650376 DOI: 10.1039/d3md00143a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacterial pathogens is a worldwide health issue. The innovation gap in discovering new antibiotics has remained a significant hurdle in combating the AMR problem. Currently, antibiotics target various vital components of the bacterial cell envelope, nucleic acid and protein biosynthesis machinery and metabolic pathways essential for bacterial survival. The critical role of the bacterial cell envelope in cell morphogenesis and integrity makes it an attractive drug target. While a significant number of in-clinic antibiotics target peptidoglycan biosynthesis, several components of the bacterial cell envelope have been overlooked. This review focuses on various antibacterial targets in the bacterial cell wall and the strategies employed to find their novel inhibitors. This review will further elaborate on combining forward and reverse chemical genetic approaches to discover antibacterials that target the bacterial cell envelope.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rinki Gupta
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee Roorkee - 247 667 Uttarakhand India
| | - Mangal Singh
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee Roorkee - 247 667 Uttarakhand India
| | - Ranjana Pathania
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee Roorkee - 247 667 Uttarakhand India
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3
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Yaeger LN, French S, Brown ED, Côté JP, Burrows LL. Central metabolism is a key player in E. coli biofilm stimulation by sub-MIC antibiotics. PLoS Genet 2023; 19:e1011013. [PMID: 37917668 PMCID: PMC10645362 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1011013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Exposure of Escherichia coli to sub-inhibitory antibiotics stimulates biofilm formation through poorly characterized mechanisms. Using a high-throughput Congo Red binding assay to report on biofilm matrix production, we screened ~4000 E. coli K12 deletion mutants for deficiencies in this biofilm stimulation response. We screened using three different antibiotics to identify core components of the biofilm stimulation response. Mutants lacking acnA, nuoE, or lpdA failed to respond to sub-MIC cefixime and novobiocin, implicating central metabolism and aerobic respiration in biofilm stimulation. These genes are members of the ArcA/B regulon-controlled by a respiration-sensitive two-component system. Mutants of arcA and arcB had a 'pre-activated' phenotype, where biofilm formation was already high relative to wild type in vehicle control conditions, and failed to increase further with the addition of sub-MIC cefixime. Using a tetrazolium dye and an in vivo NADH sensor, we showed spatial co-localization of increased metabolic activity with sub-lethal concentrations of the bactericidal antibiotics cefixime and novobiocin. Supporting a role for respiratory stress, the biofilm stimulation response to cefixime and novobiocin was inhibited when nitrate was provided as an alternative electron acceptor. Deletion of a gene encoding part of the machinery for respiring nitrate abolished its ameliorating effects, and nitrate respiration increased during growth with sub-MIC cefixime. Finally, in probing the generalizability of biofilm stimulation, we found that the stimulation response to translation inhibitors, unlike other antibiotic classes, was minimally affected by nitrate supplementation, suggesting that targeting the ribosome stimulates biofilm formation in distinct ways. By characterizing the biofilm stimulation response to sub-MIC antibiotics at a systems level, we identified multiple avenues for design of therapeutics that impair bacterial stress management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke N. Yaeger
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, and the Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shawn French
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, and the Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Eric D. Brown
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, and the Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jean Philippe Côté
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, and the Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Département de Biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | - Lori L. Burrows
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, and the Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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4
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Peng B, Li H, Peng XX. Call for next-generation drugs that remove the uptake barrier to combat antibiotic resistance. Drug Discov Today 2023; 28:103753. [PMID: 37640151 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2023.103753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Existing antibacterial agents can be categorized into two generations, but bacterial insensitivity towards both of these generations poses a serious public health challenge worldwide. Thus, novel approaches and/or novel antibacterials are urgently needed to maintain a concentration of antibacterials that is lethal to bacteria that are resistant to existing antibiotic treatments. Metabolite(s)-based adjuvants that promote antibiotic uptake and enhance antibiotic efficacy are an effective strategy that is unlikely to develop resistance. Thus, we propose a metabolite(s)-based approach, in which metabolites and antibacterials are combined, as a promising strategy for the development of next-generation agents to combat a variety of antibiotic-resistant pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Bio-Control, School of Life Sciences, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Guangdong Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Functional Genes, Sun Yat-sen University, University City, Guangzhou 510006, People's Republic of China; Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266071, People's Republic of China
| | - Hui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Bio-Control, School of Life Sciences, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Guangdong Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Functional Genes, Sun Yat-sen University, University City, Guangzhou 510006, People's Republic of China; Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266071, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuan-Xian Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Bio-Control, School of Life Sciences, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Guangdong Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Functional Genes, Sun Yat-sen University, University City, Guangzhou 510006, People's Republic of China; Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266071, People's Republic of China.
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5
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Kawai Y, Kawai M, Mackenzie ES, Dashti Y, Kepplinger B, Waldron KJ, Errington J. On the mechanisms of lysis triggered by perturbations of bacterial cell wall biosynthesis. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4123. [PMID: 37433811 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39723-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Inhibition of bacterial cell wall synthesis by antibiotics such as β-lactams is thought to cause explosive lysis through loss of cell wall integrity. However, recent studies on a wide range of bacteria have suggested that these antibiotics also perturb central carbon metabolism, contributing to death via oxidative damage. Here, we genetically dissect this connection in Bacillus subtilis perturbed for cell wall synthesis, and identify key enzymatic steps in upstream and downstream pathways that stimulate the generation of reactive oxygen species through cellular respiration. Our results also reveal the critical role of iron homeostasis for the oxidative damage-mediated lethal effects. We show that protection of cells from oxygen radicals via a recently discovered siderophore-like compound uncouples changes in cell morphology normally associated with cell death, from lysis as usually judged by a phase pale microscopic appearance. Phase paling appears to be closely associated with lipid peroxidation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshikazu Kawai
- Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology, Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Richardson Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4AX, UK.
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
| | - Maki Kawai
- Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology, Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Richardson Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4AX, UK
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Eilidh Sohini Mackenzie
- Bioscience Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Yousef Dashti
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Bernhard Kepplinger
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wrocław, 50-383, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Kevin John Waldron
- Bioscience Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, 02-106, Poland
| | - Jeff Errington
- Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology, Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Richardson Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4AX, UK.
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
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6
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Keller MR, Dörr T. Bacterial metabolism and susceptibility to cell wall-active antibiotics. Adv Microb Physiol 2023; 83:181-219. [PMID: 37507159 PMCID: PMC11024984 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ampbs.2023.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial infections are increasingly resistant to antimicrobial therapy. Intense research focus has thus been placed on identifying the mechanisms that bacteria use to resist killing or growth inhibition by antibiotics and the ways in which bacteria share these traits with one another. This work has led to the advancement of new drugs, combination therapy regimens, and a deeper appreciation for the adaptability seen in microorganisms. However, while the primary mechanisms of action of most antibiotics are well understood, the more subtle contributions of bacterial metabolic state to repairing or preventing damage caused by antimicrobials (thereby promoting survival) are still understudied. Here, we review a modern viewpoint on a classical system: examining bacterial metabolism's connection to antibiotic susceptibility. We dive into the relationship between metabolism and antibiotic efficacy through the lens of growth rate, energy state, resource allocation, and the infection environment, focusing on cell wall-active antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Renee Keller
- Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Tobias Dörr
- Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States; Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States; Cornell Institute of Host-Microbe Interactions and Disease, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States.
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7
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Patel Y, Soni V, Rhee KY, Helmann JD. Mutations in rpoB That Confer Rifampicin Resistance Can Alter Levels of Peptidoglycan Precursors and Affect β-Lactam Susceptibility. mBio 2023; 14:e0316822. [PMID: 36779708 PMCID: PMC10128067 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03168-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteria can adapt to stressful conditions through mutations affecting the RNA polymerase core subunits that lead to beneficial changes in transcription. In response to selection with rifampicin (RIF), mutations arise in the RIF resistance-determining region (RRDR) of rpoB that reduce antibiotic binding. These changes can also alter transcription and thereby have pleiotropic effects on bacterial fitness. Here, we studied the evolution of resistance in Bacillus subtilis to the synergistic combination of RIF and the β-lactam cefuroxime (CEF). Two independent evolution experiments led to the recovery of a single rpoB allele (S487L) that was able to confer resistance to RIF and CEF through a single mutation. Two other common RRDR mutations made the cells 32 times more sensitive to CEF (H482Y) or led to only modest CEF resistance (Q469R). The diverse effects of these three mutations on CEF resistance are correlated with differences in the expression of peptidoglycan (PG) synthesis genes and in the levels of two metabolites crucial in regulating PG synthesis, glucosamine-6-phosphate (GlcN-6-P) and UDP-N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc). We conclude that RRDR mutations can have widely varying effects on pathways important for cell wall biosynthesis, and this may restrict the spectrum of mutations that arise during combination therapy. IMPORTANCE Rifampicin (RIF) is one of the most valued drugs in the treatment of tuberculosis. TB treatment relies on a combination therapy and for multidrug-resistant strains may include β-lactams. Mutations in rpoB present a common route for emergence of resistance to RIF. In this study, using B. subtilis as a model, we evaluate the emergence of resistance for the synergistic combination of RIF and the β-lactam cefuroxime (CEF). One clinically relevant rpoB mutation conferred resistance to both RIF and CEF, whereas one other increased CEF sensitivity. We were able to link these CEF sensitivity phenotypes to accumulation of UDP-N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc), which feedback regulates GlmS activity and thereby peptidoglycan synthesis. Further, we found that higher CEF concentrations precluded the emergence of high RIF resistance. Collectively, these results suggest that multidrug treatment regimens may limit the available pathways for the evolution of antibiotic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yesha Patel
- Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Vijay Soni
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Kyu Y. Rhee
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - John D. Helmann
- Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
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8
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Han Y, Jiang N, Xu H, Yuan Z, Xiu J, Mao S, Liu X, Huang J. Extracellular Matrix Rigidities Regulate the Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle and Antibiotic Resistance of Three-Dimensionally Confined Bacterial Microcolonies. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2206153. [PMID: 36658695 PMCID: PMC10037996 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202206153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
As a major cause of clinical chronic infection, microbial biofilms/microcolonies in host tissues essentially live in 3D-constrained microenvironments, which potentially modulate their spatial self-organization and morphodynamics. However, it still remains unclear whether and how mechanical cues of 3D confined microenvironments, for example, extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness, exert an impact on antibiotic resistance of bacterial biofilms/microcolonies. With a high-throughput antibiotic sensitivity testing (AST) platform, it is revealed that 3D ECM rigidities greatly modulate their resistance to diverse antibiotics. The microcolonies in 3D ECM with human tissue-specific rigidities varying from 0.5 to 20 kPa show a ≈2-10 000-fold increase in minimum inhibitory concentration, depending on the types of antibiotics. The authors subsequently identified that the increase in 3D ECM rigidities leads to the downregulation of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, which is responsible for enhanced antibiotic resistance. Further, it is shown that fumarate, as a potentiator of TCA cycle activity, can alleviate the elevated antibiotic resistance and thus remarkably improve the efficacy of antibiotics against bacterial microcolonies in 3D confined ECM, as confirmed in the chronic infection mice model. These findings suggest fumarate can be employed as an antibiotic adjuvant to effectively treat infections induced by bacterial biofilms/microcolonies in a 3D-confined environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiming Han
- Department of Mechanics and Engineering Science, and Beijing Innovation Center for Engineering Science and Advanced TechnologyCollege of EngineeringPeking University100871BeijingChina
| | - Nan Jiang
- Department of Mechanics and Engineering Science, and Beijing Innovation Center for Engineering Science and Advanced TechnologyCollege of EngineeringPeking University100871BeijingChina
| | - Hongwei Xu
- Department of Mechanics and Engineering Science, and Beijing Innovation Center for Engineering Science and Advanced TechnologyCollege of EngineeringPeking University100871BeijingChina
| | - Zuoying Yuan
- Department of Mechanics and Engineering Science, and Beijing Innovation Center for Engineering Science and Advanced TechnologyCollege of EngineeringPeking University100871BeijingChina
| | - Jidong Xiu
- Department of Mechanics and Engineering Science, and Beijing Innovation Center for Engineering Science and Advanced TechnologyCollege of EngineeringPeking University100871BeijingChina
| | - Sheng Mao
- Department of Mechanics and Engineering Science, and Beijing Innovation Center for Engineering Science and Advanced TechnologyCollege of EngineeringPeking University100871BeijingChina
| | - Xiaozhi Liu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Epigenetics for Organ Development of Premature InfantsFifth Central Hospital of TianjinTianjin300450China
| | - Jianyong Huang
- Department of Mechanics and Engineering Science, and Beijing Innovation Center for Engineering Science and Advanced TechnologyCollege of EngineeringPeking University100871BeijingChina
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9
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Voedts H, Kennedy SP, Sezonov G, Arthur M, Hugonnet JE. Genome-wide identification of genes required for alternative peptidoglycan cross-linking in Escherichia coli revealed unexpected impacts of β-lactams. Nat Commun 2022; 13:7962. [PMID: 36575173 PMCID: PMC9794725 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35528-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The D,D-transpeptidase activity of penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) is the well-known primary target of β-lactam antibiotics that block peptidoglycan polymerization. β-lactam-induced bacterial killing involves complex downstream responses whose causes and consequences are difficult to resolve. Here, we use the functional replacement of PBPs by a β-lactam-insensitive L,D-transpeptidase to identify genes essential to mitigate the effects of PBP inactivation by β-lactams in actively dividing bacteria. The functions of the 179 conditionally essential genes identified by this approach extend far beyond L,D-transpeptidase partners for peptidoglycan polymerization to include proteins involved in stress response and in the assembly of outer membrane polymers. The unsuspected effects of β-lactams include loss of the lipoprotein-mediated covalent bond that links the outer membrane to the peptidoglycan, destabilization of the cell envelope in spite of effective peptidoglycan cross-linking, and increased permeability of the outer membrane. The latter effect indicates that the mode of action of β-lactams involves self-promoted penetration through the outer membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henri Voedts
- grid.417925.cCentre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Université Paris Cité, F-75006 Paris, France
| | - Sean P. Kennedy
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Département Biologie Computationnelle, F-75015 Paris, France
| | - Guennadi Sezonov
- grid.417925.cCentre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Université Paris Cité, F-75006 Paris, France
| | - Michel Arthur
- grid.417925.cCentre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Université Paris Cité, F-75006 Paris, France
| | - Jean-Emmanuel Hugonnet
- grid.417925.cCentre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Université Paris Cité, F-75006 Paris, France
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10
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Wong F, Stokes JM, Bening SC, Vidoudez C, Trauger SA, Collins JJ. Reactive metabolic byproducts contribute to antibiotic lethality under anaerobic conditions. Mol Cell 2022; 82:3499-3512.e10. [PMID: 35973427 PMCID: PMC10149100 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2022.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Understanding how bactericidal antibiotics kill bacteria remains an open question. Previous work has proposed that primary drug-target corruption leads to increased energetic demands, resulting in the generation of reactive metabolic byproducts (RMBs), particularly reactive oxygen species, that contribute to antibiotic-induced cell death. Studies have challenged this hypothesis by pointing to antibiotic lethality under anaerobic conditions. Here, we show that treatment of Escherichia coli with bactericidal antibiotics under anaerobic conditions leads to changes in the intracellular concentrations of central carbon metabolites, as well as the production of RMBs, particularly reactive electrophilic species (RES). We show that antibiotic treatment results in DNA double-strand breaks and membrane damage and demonstrate that antibiotic lethality under anaerobic conditions can be decreased by RMB scavengers, which reduce RES accumulation and mitigate associated macromolecular damage. This work indicates that RMBs, generated in response to antibiotic-induced energetic demands, contribute in part to antibiotic lethality under anaerobic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Wong
- Institute for Medical Engineering & Science and Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Jonathan M Stokes
- Institute for Medical Engineering & Science and Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Sarah C Bening
- Institute for Medical Engineering & Science and Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Charles Vidoudez
- Harvard Center for Mass Spectrometry, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Sunia A Trauger
- Harvard Center for Mass Spectrometry, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - James J Collins
- Institute for Medical Engineering & Science and Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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11
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Strain-specific predation of Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus on Pseudomonas aeruginosa with a higher range for cystic fibrosis than for bacteremia isolates. Sci Rep 2022; 12:10523. [PMID: 35732651 PMCID: PMC9217795 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-14378-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
This work aimed to evaluate the predatory activity of Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus 109J on clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa selected from well-characterized collections of cystic fibrosis (CF) lung colonization (n = 30) and bloodstream infections (BSI) (n = 48) including strains selected by genetic lineage (frequent and rare sequence types), antibiotic resistance phenotype (susceptible and multidrug-resistant isolates), and colony phenotype (mucoid and non-mucoid isolates). The intraspecies predation range (I-PR) was defined as the proportion of susceptible strains within the entire collection. In contrast, the predation efficiency (PE) is the ratio of viable prey cells remaining after predation compared to the initial inoculum. I-PR was significantly higher for CF (67%) than for BSI P. aeruginosa isolates (35%) probably related to an environmental origin of CF strains whereas invasive strains are more adapted to humans. I-PR correlation with bacterial features such as mucoid morphotype, genetic background, or antibiotic susceptibility profile was not detected. To test the possibility of increasing I-PR of BSI isolates, a polyhydroxyalkanoate depolymerase deficient B. bacteriovorus bd2637 mutant was used. Global median I-PR and PE values remained constant for both predators, but 31.2% of 109J-resistant isolates were susceptible to the mutant, and 22.9% of 109J-susceptible isolates showed resistance to predation by the mutant, pointing to a predator–prey specificity process. The potential use of predators in the clinical setting should be based on the determination of the I-PR for each species, and the PE of each particular target strain.
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12
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Kim SM, Zou G, Kim H, Kang M, Ahn S, Heo HY, Kim JS, Lim KM, Ausubel FM, Mylonakis E, Gao H, Kim W. Antimicrobial activity of the membrane-active compound nTZDpa is enhanced at low pH. Biomed Pharmacother 2022; 150:112977. [PMID: 35447554 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.112977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 04/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The opportunistic human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus can evade antibiotics by acquiring antibiotic resistance genes or by entering into a non-growing dormant state. Moreover, the particular circumstances of a specific infection site, such as acidity or anaerobicity, often weaken antibiotic potency. Decreased bacterial susceptibility combined with diminished antibiotic potency is responsible for high failure rates when treating S. aureus infections. Here, we report that the membrane-active antimicrobial agent nTZDpa does not only exhibit enhanced antibiotic activity against multidrug-resistant Gram-positive pathogens in acidic pH, but also retains antimicrobial potency under anaerobic conditions. This agent completely eradicated highly antibiotic-tolerant cells and biofilms formed by methicillin-resistant S. aureus at pH 5.5 at concentrations at which it was not potent at pH 7.4. Furthermore, nTZDpa was more potent at synergistically potentiating gentamicin killing against antibiotic-tolerant MRSA cells at low pH than at high pH. All-atom molecular dynamics simulations combined with membrane-permeabilization assays revealed that the neutral form of nTZDpa, which contains carboxylic acid, is more effective than the deprotonated form at penetrating the bacterial membrane and plays an essential role in membrane activity. An acidic pH increases the proportion of the neutrally charged nTZDpa, which results in antimicrobial enhancement. Our results provide key insights into rational design of pH-sensitive membrane-active antimicrobials and antibiotic adjuvants that are effective in an infection environment. These findings demonstrate that nTZDpa is a promising lead compound for developing new therapeutics against hard-to-cure infections caused by drug-resistant and -tolerant S. aureus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soo Min Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Guijin Zou
- Institute of High Performance Computing, A⁎STAR, Singapore 138632, Singapore
| | - Hyerim Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Minjeong Kang
- College of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Soyeon Ahn
- College of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Hee Young Heo
- College of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Seok Kim
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul 05355, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung-Min Lim
- College of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Frederick M Ausubel
- Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Eleftherios Mylonakis
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Rhode Island Hospital, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI 02903, USA
| | - Huajian Gao
- Institute of High Performance Computing, A⁎STAR, Singapore 138632, Singapore; School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639789, Singapore
| | - Wooseong Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea.
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Naclerio GA, Onyedibe KI, Karanja CW, Aryal UK, Sintim HO. Comparative Studies to Uncover Mechanisms of Action of N-(1,3,4-Oxadiazol-2-yl)benzamide Containing Antibacterial Agents. ACS Infect Dis 2022; 8:865-877. [PMID: 35297603 PMCID: PMC9188027 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.1c00613] [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: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Drug-resistant bacterial pathogens still cause high levels of mortality annually despite the availability of many antibiotics. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is especially problematic, and the rise in resistance to front-line treatments like vancomycin and linezolid calls for new chemical modalities to treat chronic and relapsing MRSA infections. Halogenated N-(1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)benzamides are an interesting class of antimicrobial agents, which have been described by multiple groups to be effective against different bacterial pathogens. The modes of action of a few N-(1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)benzamides have been elucidated. For example, oxadiazoles KKL-35 and MBX-4132 have been described as inhibitors of trans-translation (a ribosome rescue pathway), while HSGN-94 was shown to inhibit lipoteichoic acid (LTA). However, other similarly halogenated N-(1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)benzamides neither inhibit trans-translation nor LTA biosynthesis but are potent antimicrobial agents. For example, HSGN-220, -218, and -144 are N-(1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)benzamides that are modified with OCF3, SCF3, or SF5 and have remarkable minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 1 to 0.06 μg/mL against MRSA clinical isolates and show a low propensity to develop resistance to MRSA over 30 days. The mechanism of action of these highly potent oxadiazoles is however unknown. To provide insights into how these halogenated N-(1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)benzamides inhibit bacterial growth, we performed global proteomics and RNA expression analysis of some essential genes of S. aureus treated with HSGN-220, -218, and -144. These studies revealed that the oxadiazoles HSGN-220, -218, and -144 are multitargeting antibiotics that regulate menaquinone biosynthesis and other essential proteins like DnaX, Pol IIIC, BirA, LexA, and DnaC. In addition, these halogenated N-(1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)benzamides were able to depolarize bacterial membranes and regulate siderophore biosynthesis and heme regulation. Iron starvation appears to be part of the mechanism of action that led to bacterial killing. This study demonstrates that N-(1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)benzamides are indeed privileged scaffolds for the development of antibacterial agents and that subtle modifications lead to changes to the mechanism of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- George A. Naclerio
- Chemistry Department, Institute for Drug Discovery, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Kenneth I. Onyedibe
- Chemistry Department, Institute for Drug Discovery, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
- Purdue Institute for Inflammation, Immunology, and Infectious Diseases, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Caroline W. Karanja
- Chemistry Department, Institute for Drug Discovery, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Uma K. Aryal
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
- Purdue Proteomics Facility, Bindley Bioscience Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Herman O. Sintim
- Chemistry Department, Institute for Drug Discovery, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
- Purdue Institute for Inflammation, Immunology, and Infectious Diseases, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
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