Discovery of Efficacious Pseudomonas aeruginosa-Targeted Siderophore-Conjugated Monocarbams by Application of a Semi-mechanistic Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Model

Optimization of the Antibacterial Spectrum and the Developability Profile of the Novel-Class Natural Product Corramycin

Corramycin 1 is a novel zwitterionic antibacterial peptide isolated from a culture of the myxobacterium Corallococcus coralloides. Though Corramycin displayed a narrow spectrum and modest MICs against sensitive bacteria, its ADMET and physchem profile as well as its high tolerability in mice along with an outstanding in vivo efficacy in an Escherichia coli septicemia mouse model were promising and prompted us to embark on an optimization program aiming at enlarging the spectrum and at increasing the antibacterial activities by modulating membrane permeability. Scanning the peptidic moiety by the Ala-scan strategy followed by key stabilization and introduction of groups such as a primary amine or siderophore allowed us to enlarge the spectrum and increase the overall developability profile. The optimized Corramycin 28 showed an improved mouse IV PK and a broader spectrum with high potency against key Gram-negative bacteria that translated into excellent efficacy in several in vivo mouse infection models.

An overview of hydroxypyranone and hydroxypyridinone as privileged scaffolds for novel drug discovery

Hydroxypyranone and hydroxypyridinone are important oxygen-containing or nitrogen-containing heterocyclic nucleus and attracted increasing attention in medicinal chemistry and drug discovery over the past decade. Previous literature reports revealed that hydroxypyranone and hydroxypyridinone derivatives exhibit a wide range of pharmacological activities such as antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticonvulsant, and anti-diabetic activities. In this review, we systematically summarized the literature reported biological activities of hydroxypyranone and hydroxypyridinone derivatives. In particular, we focus on their biological activity, structure-activity relationship (SAR), mechanism of action, and interaction mechanisms with the target. The collected information is expected to provide rational guidance for the development of clinically useful agents from these pharmacophores.

Siderophores for medical applications: Imaging, sensors, and therapeutics

Siderophores are low-molecular-weight chelators produced by microorganisms to scavenge iron from the environment and deliver it to cells via specific receptors. Tremendous researches on the molecular basis of siderophore regulation, synthesis, secretion, and uptake have inspired their diverse applications in the medical field. Replacing iron with radionuclides in siderophores, such as the most prominent Ga-68 for positron emission tomography (PET), carves out ways for targeted imaging of infectious diseases and cancers. Additionally, the high affinity of siderophores for metal ions or microorganisms makes them a potent detecting moiety in sensors that can be used for diagnosis. As for therapeutics, the notable Trojan horse-inspired siderophore-antibiotic conjugates demonstrate enhanced toxicity against multi-drug resistant (MDR) pathogens. Besides, siderophores can tackle iron overload diseases and, when combined with moieties such as hydrogels and nanoparticles, a wide spectrum of iron-induced diseases and even cancers. In this review, we briefly outline the related mechanisms, before summarizing the siderophore-based applications in imaging, sensors, and therapeutics.

Endeavors towards transformation of M. tuberculosis thymidylate kinase (MtbTMPK) inhibitors into potential antimycobacterial agents

As the last enzyme in nucleotide synthesis as precursors for DNA replication, thymidylate kinase of M. tuberculosis (MtbTMPK) attracts significant interest as a target in the discovery of new anti-tuberculosis agents. Earlier, we discovered potent MtbTMPK inhibitors, but these generally suffered from poor antimycobacterial activity, which we hypothesize is due to poor bacterial uptake. To address this, we herein describe our efforts to equip previously reported MtbTMPK inhibitors with targeting moieties to increase the whole cell activity of the hybrid analogues. Introduction of a simplified Fe-chelating siderophore motif gave rise to analogue 17 that combined favorable enzyme inhibitory activity with significant activity against M. tuberculosis (MIC of 12.5 μM). Conjugation of MtbTMPK inhibitors with an imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine or 3,5-dinitrobenzamide scaffold afforded analogues 26, 27 and 28, with moderate MtbTMPK enzyme inhibitory potency, but sub-micromolar activity against mycobacteria without significant cytotoxicity. These results indicate that conjugation with structural motifs known to favor mycobacterial uptake may be a valid approach for discovering new antimycobacterial agents.

Hydroxypyridinone-Based Iron Chelators with Broad-Ranging Biological Activities

Iron plays an essential role in all living cells because of its unique chemical properties. It is also the most abundant trace element in mammals. However, when iron is present in excess or inappropriately located, it becomes toxic. Excess iron can become involved in free radical formation, resulting in oxidative stress and cellular damage. Iron chelators are used to treat serious pathological disorders associated with systemic iron overload. Hydroxypyridinones stand out for their outstanding chelation properties, including high selectivity for Fe³⁺ in the biological environment, ease of derivatization, and good biocompatibility. Herein, we overview the potential for multifunctional hydroxypyridinone-based chelators to be used as therapeutic agents against a wide range of diseases associated either with systemic or local elevated iron levels.

A Glance on the Role of Bacterial Siderophore from the Perspectives of Medical and Biotechnological Approaches

Iron, which is described as the most basic component found in nature, is hard to be assimilated by microorganisms. It has become increasingly complicated to obtain iron from nature as iron (II) in the presence of oxygen oxidized to press (III) oxide and hydroxide, becoming unsolvable at neutral pH. Microorganisms appeared to produce organic molecules known as siderophores in order to overcome this condition. Siderophore's essential function is to connect with iron (II) and make it dissolvable and enable cell absorption. These siderophores, apart from iron particles, have the ability to chelate various other metal particles that have collocated away to focus the use of siderophores on wound care items. There is a severe clash between the host and the bacterial pathogens during infection. By producing siderophores, small ferric iron-binding molecules, microorganisms obtain iron. In response, host immune cells produce lipocalin 2 to prevent bacterial reuptake of siderophores loaded with iron. Some bacteria are thought to produce lipocalin 2-resistant siderophores to counter this risk. The aim of this article is to discuss the recently described roles and applications of bacterial siderophore.

Synthesis and antibacterial evaluation against resistant Gram-negative bacteria of monobactams bearing various substituents on oxime residue

Based on the structural characteristics of aztreonam (AZN) and its target PBP3, a series of new monobactam derivatives bearing various substituents on oxime residue were prepared and evaluated for their antibacterial activities against susceptible and resistant Gram-negative bacteria. Among them, compounds 8p and 8r displayed moderate potency with MIC values of 0.125-32 μg/mL against most tested Gram-negative strains, comparable to AZN. Meanwhile, the combination of 8p and 8r with avibactam as a β-lactamases inhibitor, in a ratio of 1:16, showed a promising synergistic effect against both ESBLs- and NDM-1-producing K. pneumoniae, with significantly reduced MIC values up to 8-fold and >256-fold respectively. Furthermore, both of them demonstrated excellent safety profiles both in vitro and in vivo. The results provided powerful information for further structural optimization of monobactam antibiotics to fight β-lactamase-producing resistant Gram-negative bacteria.

The Role of Iron and Siderophores in Infection, and the Development of Siderophore Antibiotics

Iron is an essential nutrient for bacterial growth, replication, and metabolism. Humans store iron bound to various proteins such as hemoglobin, haptoglobin, transferrin, ferritin, and lactoferrin, limiting the availability of free iron for pathogenic bacteria. However, bacteria have developed various mechanisms to sequester or scavenge iron from the host environment. Iron can be taken up by means of active transport systems that consist of bacterial small molecule siderophores, outer membrane siderophore receptors, the TonB-ExbBD energy-transducing proteins coupling the outer and the inner membranes, and inner membrane transporters. Some bacteria also express outer membrane receptors for iron-binding proteins of the host and extract iron directly from these for uptake. Ultimately, iron is acquired and transported into the bacterial cytoplasm. The siderophores are small molecules produced and released by nearly all bacterial species and are classified according to the chemical nature of their iron-chelating group (ie, catechol, hydroxamate, α-hydroxyl-carboxylate, or mixed types). Siderophore-conjugated antibiotics that exploit such iron-transport systems are under development for the treatment of infections caused by gram-negative bacteria. Despite demonstrating high in vitro potency against pathogenic multidrug-resistant bacteria, further development of several candidates had stopped due to apparent adaptive resistance during exposure, lack of consistent in vivo efficacy, or emergence of side effects in the host. However, cefiderocol, with an optimized structure, has advanced and has been investigated in phase 1 to 3 clinical trials. This article discusses the mechanisms implicated in iron uptake and the challenges associated with the design and utilization of siderophore-mimicking antibiotics.

Cefiderocol (S-649266), A new siderophore cephalosporin exhibiting potent activities against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other gram-negative pathogens including multi-drug resistant bacteria: Structure activity relationship

The structure-activity relationship (SAR) for a novel series of catechol conjugated siderophore cephalosporins is described with their in vitro activities against multi-drug resistant Gram-negative pathogens including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and Enterobacteriaceae. Cefiderocol (3) was one of the best molecules which displayed well-balanced and potent activities against multi-drug resistant Gram-negative pathogens including carbapenem resistant bacteria among the prepared compounds with the modified C-7 side chain and the modified C-3 side chain. Cefiderocol (3) is a highly promising parenteral cephalosporin for the treatment of multi-drug resistant Gram-negative infection.

Pharmacodynamics of cefiderocol, a novel siderophore cephalosporin, in a Pseudomonas aeruginosa neutropenic murine thigh model

Cefiderocol is a siderophore cephalosporin that displays potent in vitro activity against multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria. This study aimed to describe the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and 24-h efficacy of cefiderocol using dose-ranging methods in a neutropenic murine thigh infection model. Infection was established in neutropenic mice (administered cyclophosphamide 150 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg at 4 days and 1 day prior to inoculation, respectively) with eight Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates [minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) range 0.063-0.5 µg/mL] that displayed variable in vivo activity against previously tested β-lactams with siderophore moieties. Renal excretion was controlled by administration of 5 mg/kg uranyl nitrate 3 days prior to inoculation. Cefiderocol was administered subcutaneously in eight escalating doses [4.2-166.7 mg/kg every 8 h (q8h)]. In pharmacokinetic studies, cefiderocol manifested similar pharmacokinetics across tested doses (4, 100 and 250 mg/kg) with a mean half-life of 0.86 h. In pharmacodynamic studies, the change in CFU after 24 h from the initial inoculum ranged from +3.4 to -3.1 log10 with doses of 4.2-166.7 mg/kg q8h. Dose-response curves for the eight isolates assumed the characteristic sigmoidal shape, with greater CFU reductions as the dose increased. Focusing on the previously defined efficacy parameter of fT>MIC (time that the free drug concentration exceeds the MIC) for this compound, targets for stasis and 1 log10 and 2 log10 reductions ranged from 44.4-94.7, 50.2-97.5 and 62.1-100, respectively. Cefiderocol displayed sustained antibacterial effects against these MDR P. aeruginosa isolates. These data support the cefiderocol dose selected for clinical trials.

Esterification of glycerol and solketal by oxidative NHC-catalysis under heterogeneous batch and flow conditions

Heterogeneous NHC-catalysis in batch and flow modes is an effective synthetic platform for the production of monoacylglycerols.

Targeting Antibiotic Resistance

Finding strategies against the development of antibiotic resistance is a major global challenge for the life sciences community and for public health. The past decades have seen a dramatic worldwide increase in human-pathogenic bacteria that are resistant to one or multiple antibiotics. More and more infections caused by resistant microorganisms fail to respond to conventional treatment, and in some cases, even last-resort antibiotics have lost their power. In addition, industry pipelines for the development of novel antibiotics have run dry over the past decades. A recent world health day by the World Health Organization titled "Combat drug resistance: no action today means no cure tomorrow" triggered an increase in research activity, and several promising strategies have been developed to restore treatment options against infections by resistant bacterial pathogens.

Microbial siderophore-based iron assimilation and therapeutic applications

Siderophores are structurally diverse, complex natural products that bind metals with extraordinary specificity and affinity. The acquisition of iron is critical for the survival and virulence of many pathogenic microbes and diverse strategies have evolved to synthesize, import and utilize iron. There has been a substantial increase of known siderophore scaffolds isolated and characterized in the past decade and the corresponding biosynthetic gene clusters have provided insight into the varied pathways involved in siderophore biosynthesis, delivery and utilization. Additionally, therapeutic applications of siderophores and related compounds are actively being developed. The study of biosynthetic pathways to natural siderophores augments the understanding of the complex mechanisms of bacterial iron acquisition, and enables a complimentary approach to address virulence through the interruption of siderophore biosynthesis or utilization by targeting the key enzymes to the siderophore pathways.

Targeting human pathogenic bacteria by siderophores: A proteomics review

Human bacterial infections are still a major public health problem throughout the world. Therefore it is fundamental to understand how pathogenic bacteria interact with their human host and to develop more advanced drugs or vaccines in response to the increasing bacterial resistance. Since iron is essential to bacterial survival and growth inside the host tissues, these microorganisms have developed highly efficient iron-acquisition systems; the most common one involves the secretion of iron chelators into the extracellular environment, known as siderophores, and the corresponding siderophore-membrane receptors or transporters responsible for the iron uptake. In the past few decades, several biochemical methods and genetic screens have been employed to track down and identify these iron-scavenging molecules. However, compared with the previous "static" approaches, proteomic identification is revealing far more molecules through full protein mapping and becoming more rapid and selective, leading the scientific and medical community to consider standardizing proteomic tools for clinical biomarker detection of bacterial infectious diseases. In this review, we focus on human pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria and discuss the importance of siderophores in their virulence and the available proteomic strategies to identify siderophore-related proteins and their expression level under different growth conditions. The promising use of siderophore antibiotics to overcome bacterial resistance and the future of proteomics in the routine clinical care are also mentioned.

SIGNIFICANCE

Proteomic strategies to identify siderophore-related proteins and their expression level can be helpful to control and/or find a cure of infectious deseases especially if related with multidrug resistance. Siderophores are low-molecular-weight compounds produced by bacteria which can become clinical biomarkers and/or antibiotics used mainly in "Trojan horse" type strategies. Due to the above mention we think that the promising use of siderophore to overcome bacterial resistance and the future of proteomics in the routine clinical care is a hot topic that should be discussed.