The fluoroquinolone antibacterial agents

Fish Epidermal Mucus as a Source of Diverse Therapeutical Compounds

Microbes are helpful and destructive to human health and other living organisms. Microbes can be eliminated by using antibiotics against them, but their capability to resist regularly encountering antibiotics makes them more injurious. Microbes can adjust and adapt according to the chemicals used against them and become antibiotic resistant. Thus, the requirement for novel antimicrobial compounds increases with time to treat antibiotic-resistant microbes. Fish epidermal mucus encounters various pathogens present in their surrounding environment. It has become a rich source of novel antimicrobial compounds mainly antimicrobial peptides that can be used against various antibiotic-resistant pathogenic microbes. Compounds extracted from epidermal mucus can be used synergistically with other antibiotics or resistance modifying agents to inhibit the growth of resistant microbes. Fishes are consumed as a protein-rich food source worldwide and contribute to the world economy. Diseases in fish cause significant losses in the economic benefits exploited by fishermen and industries based on fisheries products. This paper will review compounds from fish epidermal mucus and their use to control the growth of antibiotic-resistant or non-resistant pathogenic microbes of humans and fishes. So, to increase fisheries' economic benefits and decrease infections involving resistant microbes.

Sulfate radical-based oxidation of fluoroquinolone antibiotics: Kinetics, mechanisms and effects of natural water matrices

Widespread occurrence of fluoroquinolone antibiotics (FQs) in surface water, groundwater, soil and sediment has been reported and their remediation is essentially needed. Sulfate radical (SO₄^-) based advanced oxidation processes (SR-AOPs) are promising technologies for soil and groundwater remediation. In this study, the degradation kinetics, mechanisms, and effects of natural water matrices on heat-activated persulfate (PS) oxidation of FQs were systematically investigated. Experimental results clearly demonstrated that 92% of CIP was removed within 180 min (pH = 7, 60 °C). Higher temperature and lower pH facilitated the degradation of ciprofloxacin (CIP). The piperazine moiety of CIP was identified as the reactive site for SO₄^- attack by comparison with substructural analogs, flumequine (FLU) and 1-(2-fluorophenyl) piperazine (FPP). A comparison of the degradation of CIP, norfloxacin (NOR), enrofloxacin (ENR) and ofloxacin (OFL) confirmed that the presence of cyclopropane ring also influence the degradation of FQs. Water matrix significantly influenced the degradation of CIP and ENR, and the degradation rate followed the order of Milli-Q water (pH = 7) > groundwater > artificial seawater > artificial surface water > lake water. Degradation products of CIP in different water matrix were enriched by solid phase extraction (SPE) and then analyzed by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS). Detailed transformation pathways of CIP were proposed and were compared with respect to different water matrices. Four transformation pathways including stepwise piperazine ring oxidation, OH/F substitution, hydroxylation, and cyclopropane ring cleavage were proposed for CIP degradation. Results clearly show that the water matrix influenced the degradation of FQs appreciably, a phenomenon that should be taken into consideration when applying SR-AOPs for remediation of soil and groundwater contaminated by FQs.

Phosphine-Initiated General-Base-Catalyzed Quinolone Synthesis

Phosphinocatalysis provides a new approach toward 3-substituted-4-quinolones. A simple procedure, which uses Ph3P as an inexpensive catalyst and S-phenyl 2-(N-tosylamido)benzothioates and activated alkynes as starting materials, provides direct access to several 3-aroyl-4-quinolones and methyl 4-quinolone-3-carboxylate esters. The reaction presumably occurs through general base catalysis, with the initial addition of Ph3P to the activated alkyne generating the phosphonium enoate zwitterion, which acts as the strong base that initiates the reaction.

Effects of combined treatment with ambroxol and ciprofloxacin on catheter-associated Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms in a rat model

BACKGROUND

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that causes potentially devastating infections in immunocompromised patients. These infections are particularly difficult to treat if a biofilm forms, which is likely if foreign bodies are present.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the effect of ambroxol combined with ciprofloxacin on P. aeruginosa biofilm in a rat model.

METHODS

A rat model of acute lung infection was created by endotracheal (ET) intubation with a tube covered with a P. aeruginosa biofilm. The rats were treated with ciprofloxacin alone, ambroxol alone, or a combination of both for 7 days. The microstructure of the biofilm on the tube was assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The numbers of bacterial colonies in the lungs and on the ET tube were measured on agar plates. Pathological changes in the lungs were observed with hematoxylin and eosin staining.

RESULTS

Changes in the microstructure of the biofilm after combined treatment were demonstrated by SEM. Ambroxol combined with ciprofloxacin significantly reduced the number of bacteria in the lungs and ET tube compared to the single treatments (p < 0.05). The pathological changes in the lungs were also mildest after the combined treatment.

CONCLUSION

The combination treatment of ambroxol with ciprofloxacin has a high ability to eradicate P. aeruginosa biofilms in vivo. These initial results provide the basis of a new strategy for the treatment of P. aeruginosa infections.

N- versus O-alkylation: utilizing NMR methods to establish reliable primary structure determinations for drug discovery

A classic synthetic issue that remains unresolved is the reaction that involves the control of N- versus O-alkylation of ambident anions. This common chemical transformation is important for medicinal chemists, who require predictable and reliable protocols for the rapid synthesis of inhibitors. The uncertainty of whether the product(s) are N- and/or O-alkylated is common and can be costly if undetermined. Herein, we report an NMR-based strategy that focuses on distinguishing inhibitors and intermediates that are N- or O-alkylated. The NMR strategy involves three independent and complementary methods. However, any combination of two of the methods can be reliable if the third were compromised due to resonance overlap or other issues. The timely nature of these methods (HSQC/HMQC, HMBC. ROESY, and (13)C shift predictions) allows for contemporaneous determination of regioselective alkylation as needed during the optimization of synthetic routes.

Synthesis and antibacterial activity of 2-aryl-2,5-dihydro-3(3H)-oxo-pyridazino[4,3-b]indole-4-carboxylic acids

The in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activities of a series of pyridazinoindolonic acids II against some selected representative of Gram-positive, Gram-negative bacteria and fungi have been investigated. Some interesting observations among the structural features necessary for high antibacterial activity are presented and discussed.

In vitro and in vivo activities of levofloxacin against biofilm-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Interactions between biofilm cells of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and levofloxacin were studied. P. aeruginosa incubated for 6 days with Teflon sheets formed a biofilm on its surface. Against the biofilm bacteria, levofloxacin at an MIC determined by the standard method for the strain was highly bactericidal whereas gentamicin, ceftazidime, and ciprofloxacin showed no significant killing activity. Levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, and gentamicin, but not ceftazidime, exhibited killing activity against nongrowing cells of the strain incubated in phosphate buffer. In addition, levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, and ceftazidime, but not gentamicin, showed the ability to penetrate an agar containing alginate. These findings may explain the efficacy of levofloxacin and the ineffectiveness of gentamicin and ceftazidime against biofilm bacteria; however, the cause of the ineffectiveness of ciprofloxacin still remains to be determined. In experimental pneumonia in guinea pigs, in which the biofilm mode of growth of the strain was observed in the lung, only levofloxacin exhibited substantial therapeutic efficacy. These findings suggest the significant role of levofloxacin in therapy of biofilm bacterium-associated infectious diseases.

Quinolone antibacterials: a new class of photochemical carcinogens

Hairless mice were exposed orally to antibiotics of the fluoroquinolone group alone and in combination with irradiation with UVA over an extended period of time to determine the possible skin carcinogenicity in comparison with that with 8-methoxypsoralen, i.e. a known photochemical skin carcinogen. Animals exposed to UVA and fleroxacin, ciprofloxacin, nalidixic acid and ofloxacin exhibited an increase in the number of benign skin tumors when compared with animals exposed to UVA alone. Animals exposed to lomefloxacin and UVA exhibited a specific type of neoplastic progression. In addition to benign papillomas and solar keratoses, a number of cystic squamous cell carcinomas were observed. In the positive control group, which was given 8-methoxypsoralen and UVA, a number of papillomas and superficial squamous cell carcinomas were found. In animals exposed to UVA alone, only a few benign tumors were seen; in unexposed animals, no cutaneous neoplasms were observed. It is concluded that fluoroquinolones warrant further study, because they have potential photocarcinogenic properties.

A novel, double mutation in DNA gyrase A of Escherichia coli conferring resistance to quinolone antibiotics

A spontaneous Escherichia coli mutant, named Q3, resistant to nalidixic acid was obtained from a previously described clinical isolate of E. coli, Q2, resistant to fluoroquinolones but susceptible to nalidixic acid (E. Cambau, F. Bordon, E. Collatz, and L. Gutmann, Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 37:1247-1252, 1993). Q3 harbored the mutation Asp82Gly in addition to the Gly81Asp mutation of Q2. The different mutations leading to Gly81Asp, Asp82Gly, and Gly81AspAsp82Gly were introduced into the gyrA gene harbored on plasmid pJSW102, and the resulting plasmids were introduced into E. coli KNK453 (gyrAts) by transformation. The presence of Asp82Gly or Gly81Asp alone led to a low-level resistance to fluoroquinolones but not to nalidixic acid resistance. When both mutations were present, resistance to both nalidixic acid and fluoroquinolones was expressed. Purified gyrases of the different mutants showed similar rates of supercoiling. Dominance of the various gyrA mutant alleles harbored on plasmids was examined. The susceptibility to quinolones associated with wild-type gyrA was always dominant. The susceptibility to nalidixic acid expressed by the Gly81Asp mutant was dominant, while that expressed by the Asp82Gly mutant was recessive. From these results, we hypothesize that some amino acids within the quinolone resistance-determining region of gyrase A are more important for the association of subunits rather than for the activity of the holoenzyme.

Effects of ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, and ofloxacin on in vitro adhesion and survival of Pseudomonas aeruginosa AK1 on urinary catheters

Pretreatment of urinary silicone latex catheters in vitro with 0.1 and 0.5 microgram of ciprofloxacin per ml for 1, 24, and 48 h significantly reduced the adhesion and survival of the clinical isolate Pseudomonas aeruginosa AK1. UV spectroscopy and high-performance liquid chromatography confirmed the presence of ciprofloxacin adsorbed onto the catheters and showed that up to 56% of the drug leached into the surrounding fluid within 24 h. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that the adherent organisms were malformed and elongated after exposure to ciprofloxacin. Transmission electron microscopy showed the presence of fimbriae on the bacterial surfaces, but there was no conclusive evidence of changes in the fimbriae upon exposure to ciprofloxacin. It was found that a significant eradication of 24-h Pseudomonas biofilms could be achieved with ciprofloxacin as well as with ofloxacin and norfloxacin. Preincubation of catheters with 50- and 100-micrograms/ml concentrations of ciprofloxacin resulted in up to a 99% reduction in the number of adherent bacteria in comparison with the reduction on control catheters. In addition, adherent biofilms were eradicated by 24 h of challenge with 50 and 100 micrograms of ciprofloxacin per ml at pH 7.0 and 5.5. Results of these in vitro studies suggest that there could be a clinical role for fluoroquinolones in preventing and treating urinary tract infections associated with P. aeruginosa adherence to prosthetic devices.

Confirmation of danofloxacin residues in chicken and cattle liver by microbore high-performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

A specific assay is described for the confirmatory identification of danofloxacin residues in edible tissues of cattle and chicken. The assay utilizes on-line microbore high-performance liquid chromatography and pneumatically assisted electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Collision-induced dissociation of the danofloxacin protonated molecule results in two significant daughter ions. Monitoring both ions provides the specificity required for this confirmatory assay. Optimum electrospray and MS/MS operating conditions permitted the specific monitoring of danofloxacin and the confirmation of its residues in chicken and cattle liver extracts down to 50 ppb. The analysis of control liver or the commercially available antibacterial quinolones enrofloxacin and its metabolite ciprofloxacin gave no response under the assay conditions. The ratios of the two daughter ions were similar for danofloxacin standard solutions, fortified tissues and incurred tissues.

Relationships among antibacterial activity, inhibition of DNA gyrase, and intracellular accumulation of 11 fluoroquinolones

A series of 11 fluoroquinolone antibacterial agents, including 8 newly synthesized molecules and 3 reference compounds (pefloxacin, ciprofloxacin, and sparfloxacin), were tested for their MICs against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The intracellular accumulation of fluoroquinolones by these microorganisms was measured by centrifugation through silicone oil and a fluorescence assay. The minimal effective dose (MED) was determined for all agents in a supercoiling assay with E. coli DNA gyrase. The hydrophobicities of the quinolones were determined and expressed as the logarithm of the coefficient of distribution (log D) between 1-octanol and phosphate buffer (pH 7.2). No correlation was found between MICs and cell accumulation for the quinolones studied. A correlation was found between log D and accumulation by S. aureus (r = 0.71, n = 11), and an inverse correlation was found between log D and accumulation by E. coli (r = 0.73, n = 11) and P. aeruginosa (r = 0.64, n = 10). The correlation coefficients between MICs and MED for E. coli, which were 0.60, 0.64, and 0.74 (n = 11) for E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and S. aureus, respectively, rose to 0.85, 0.74, and 0.74 (n = 11) for the same microorganisms, respectively, when the accumulation of the drug by the cell was taken into account. It was concluded that the inhibitory activity against DNA gyrase remains the most important parameter for quinolone potency, but that intracellular accumulation must be taken into account, since, for a given organism, both parameters are under the control of the physicochemical properties of the quinolones.

Quinolone arthropathy--acute toxicity to immature articular cartilage

A class effect of quinolone antibacterial agents observed during animal toxicity testing is a specific arthropathy (QAP). Despite the growing list of laboratory animals susceptible to QAP and reports of arthralgia in patients treated with quinolones, the potential for QAP development in humans remains unknown. This review discusses current concepts in the biology of articular cartilage and how these concepts elucidate QAP pathogenesis. Biomechanical forces within synovial joints and toxicokinetic properties of quinolones contribute to QAP induction. Since a limited number of mechanistic pathways exist for acute articular damage, QAP may serve as a research tool to probe the pathobiology of injury to articular cartilage.