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Ziegler KF, Joshi K, Wright CS, Roy S, Caruso W, Biswas RR, Iyer-Biswas S. Scaling of stochastic growth and division dynamics: A comparative study of individual rod-shaped cells in the Mother Machine and SChemostat platforms. Mol Biol Cell 2024; 35:ar78. [PMID: 38598301 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e23-11-0452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Microfluidic platforms enable long-term quantification of stochastic behaviors of individual bacterial cells under precisely controlled growth conditions. Yet, quantitative comparisons of physiological parameters and cell behaviors of different microorganisms in different experimental and device modalities is not available due to experiment-specific details affecting cell physiology. To rigorously assess the effects of mechanical confinement, we designed, engineered, and performed side-by-side experiments under otherwise identical conditions in the Mother Machine (with confinement) and the SChemostat (without confinement), using the latter as the ideal comparator. We established a protocol to cultivate a suitably engineered rod-shaped mutant of Caulobacter crescentus in the Mother Machine and benchmarked the differences in stochastic growth and division dynamics with respect to the SChemostat. While the single-cell growth rate distributions are remarkably similar, the mechanically confined cells in the Mother Machine experience a substantial increase in interdivision times. However, we find that the division ratio distribution precisely compensates for this increase, which in turn reflects identical emergent simplicities governing stochastic intergenerational homeostasis of cell sizes across device and experimental configurations, provided the cell sizes are appropriately mean-rescaled in each condition. Our results provide insights into the nature of the robustness of the bacterial growth and division machinery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karl F Ziegler
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
- Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health, Sciences, Monash University, Clayton/Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Kunaal Joshi
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
| | - Charles S Wright
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
| | - Shaswata Roy
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
| | - Will Caruso
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
| | - Rudro R Biswas
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
| | - Srividya Iyer-Biswas
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
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2
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Ugolini GS, Wang M, Secchi E, Pioli R, Ackermann M, Stocker R. Microfluidic approaches in microbial ecology. LAB ON A CHIP 2024; 24:1394-1418. [PMID: 38344937 PMCID: PMC10898419 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00784g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Microbial life is at the heart of many diverse environments and regulates most natural processes, from the functioning of animal organs to the cycling of global carbon. Yet, the study of microbial ecology is often limited by challenges in visualizing microbial processes and replicating the environmental conditions under which they unfold. Microfluidics operates at the characteristic scale at which microorganisms live and perform their functions, thus allowing for the observation and quantification of behaviors such as growth, motility, and responses to external cues, often with greater detail than classical techniques. By enabling a high degree of control in space and time of environmental conditions such as nutrient gradients, pH levels, and fluid flow patterns, microfluidics further provides the opportunity to study microbial processes in conditions that mimic the natural settings harboring microbial life. In this review, we describe how recent applications of microfluidic systems to microbial ecology have enriched our understanding of microbial life and microbial communities. We highlight discoveries enabled by microfluidic approaches ranging from single-cell behaviors to the functioning of multi-cellular communities, and we indicate potential future opportunities to use microfluidics to further advance our understanding of microbial processes and their implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Stefano Ugolini
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, Institute of Environmental Engineering, ETH Zurich, Laura-Hezner-Weg 7, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Miaoxiao Wang
- Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Environmental Microbiology, Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Duebendorf, Switzerland
| | - Eleonora Secchi
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, Institute of Environmental Engineering, ETH Zurich, Laura-Hezner-Weg 7, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Roberto Pioli
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, Institute of Environmental Engineering, ETH Zurich, Laura-Hezner-Weg 7, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Martin Ackermann
- Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Environmental Microbiology, Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Duebendorf, Switzerland
- Laboratory of Microbial Systems Ecology, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC), École Polytechnique Fédéral de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Roman Stocker
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, Institute of Environmental Engineering, ETH Zurich, Laura-Hezner-Weg 7, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland.
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3
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Lou C, Yang H, Hou Y, Huang H, Qiu J, Wang C, Sang Y, Liu H, Han L. Microfluidic Platforms for Real-Time In Situ Monitoring of Biomarkers for Cellular Processes. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2307051. [PMID: 37844125 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202307051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
Cellular processes are mechanisms carried out at the cellular level that are aimed at guaranteeing the stability of the organism they comprise. The investigation of cellular processes is key to understanding cell fate, understanding pathogenic mechanisms, and developing new therapeutic technologies. Microfluidic platforms are thought to be the most powerful tools among all methodologies for investigating cellular processes because they can integrate almost all types of the existing intracellular and extracellular biomarker-sensing methods and observation approaches for cell behavior, combined with precisely controlled cell culture, manipulation, stimulation, and analysis. Most importantly, microfluidic platforms can realize real-time in situ detection of secreted proteins, exosomes, and other biomarkers produced during cell physiological processes, thereby providing the possibility to draw the whole picture for a cellular process. Owing to their advantages of high throughput, low sample consumption, and precise cell control, microfluidic platforms with real-time in situ monitoring characteristics are widely being used in cell analysis, disease diagnosis, pharmaceutical research, and biological production. This review focuses on the basic concepts, recent progress, and application prospects of microfluidic platforms for real-time in situ monitoring of biomarkers in cellular processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengming Lou
- State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials, Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, P. R. China
| | - Hongru Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials, Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, P. R. China
| | - Ying Hou
- Institute for Advanced Interdisciplinary Research (IAIR), University of Jinan, Jinan, 250022, P. R. China
| | - Haina Huang
- Institute for Advanced Interdisciplinary Research (IAIR), University of Jinan, Jinan, 250022, P. R. China
| | - Jichuan Qiu
- State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials, Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, P. R. China
| | - Chunhua Wang
- Institute for Advanced Interdisciplinary Research (IAIR), University of Jinan, Jinan, 250022, P. R. China
| | - Yuanhua Sang
- State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials, Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, P. R. China
| | - Hong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials, Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, P. R. China
- Institute for Advanced Interdisciplinary Research (IAIR), University of Jinan, Jinan, 250022, P. R. China
| | - Lin Han
- Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong, 266000, P. R. China
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4
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Attrill EL, Łapińska U, Westra ER, Harding SV, Pagliara S. Slow growing bacteria survive bacteriophage in isolation. ISME COMMUNICATIONS 2023; 3:95. [PMID: 37684358 PMCID: PMC10491631 DOI: 10.1038/s43705-023-00299-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
The interactions between bacteria and bacteriophage have important roles in the global ecosystem; in turn changes in environmental parameters affect the interactions between bacteria and phage. However, there is a lack of knowledge on whether clonal bacterial populations harbour different phenotypes that respond to phage in distinct ways and whether the abundance of such phenotypes within bacterial populations is affected by variations in environmental parameters. Here we study the impact of variations in nutrient availability, bacterial growth rate and phage abundance on the interactions between the phage T4 and individual Escherichia coli cells confined in spatial refuges. Surprisingly, we found that fast growing bacteria survive together with all of their clonal kin cells, whereas slow growing bacteria survive in isolation. We also discovered that the number of bacteria that survive in isolation decreases at increasing phage doses possibly due to lysis inhibition in the presence of secondary adsorptions. We further show that these changes in the phenotypic composition of the E. coli population have important consequences on the bacterial and phage population dynamics and should therefore be considered when investigating bacteria-phage interactions in ecological, health or food production settings in structured environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin L Attrill
- Living Systems Institute and Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Urszula Łapińska
- Living Systems Institute and Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Edze R Westra
- Environment and Sustainability Institute and Biosciences, University of Exeter, Penryn, UK
| | - Sarah V Harding
- Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Porton Down, Salisbury, UK
- Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Stefano Pagliara
- Living Systems Institute and Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.
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5
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Wang Q, Lin J, Li S, Tian H, Zhang D, Xin Q. Label-Free Detection of Single Living Bacteria: Single-Entity Electrochemistry Targeting Metabolic Products. Anal Chem 2023; 95:13082-13090. [PMID: 37603710 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c01517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
This study presents a novel approach employing single-entity electrochemistry for the label-free detection of living Escherichia coli. By examination of the collision signals generated from the reduction of hydrogen peroxide, a metabolic product of E. coli that accumulates on the cell surface, the concentration of living bacteria can be determined. Within a broad concentration range from 3.0 × 107 to 1.0 × 109 cells/mL, cell aggregation was not observed. Cell migration in the solution was primarily governed by diffusion, exhibiting a diffusion coefficient of 6.8 × 10-9 cm2/s. The collision frequency exhibits a linear relationship with the cell concentration, aligning well with theoretical predictions. Through statistical analysis of each collision signal's integrated charge quantity, the metabolic activity of single cells can be assessed. This method was applied to a cytotoxicity assay, where it monitored the decline in living cell numbers and metabolic activities in addition to identifying potential cell damage during antibiotic treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingwen Wang
- Institute of Carbon Neutrality and New Energy, School of Electronics and Information, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou 310018, P. R. China
| | - Jun Lin
- Institute of Carbon Neutrality and New Energy, School of Electronics and Information, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou 310018, P. R. China
| | - Shuang Li
- Zhejiang Energy Technology Co., Ltd., Hangzhou 310023, P. R. China
| | - Huike Tian
- Institute of Carbon Neutrality and New Energy, School of Electronics and Information, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou 310018, P. R. China
| | - Dong Zhang
- College of Materials and Environmental Engineering, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Xiasha Campus, Hangzhou 310018, P. R. China
| | - Qing Xin
- Institute of Carbon Neutrality and New Energy, School of Electronics and Information, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou 310018, P. R. China
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6
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Baranova AA, Tyurin AP, Korshun VA, Alferova VA. Sensing of Antibiotic-Bacteria Interactions. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:1340. [PMID: 37627760 PMCID: PMC10451291 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12081340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Sensing of antibiotic-bacteria interactions is an important area of research that has gained significant attention in recent years. Antibiotic resistance is a major public health concern, and it is essential to develop new strategies for detecting and monitoring bacterial responses to antibiotics in order to maintain effective antibiotic development and antibacterial treatment. This review summarizes recent advances in sensing strategies for antibiotic-bacteria interactions, which are divided into two main parts: studies on the mechanism of action for sensitive bacteria and interrogation of the defense mechanisms for resistant ones. In conclusion, this review provides an overview of the present research landscape concerning antibiotic-bacteria interactions, emphasizing the potential for method adaptation and the integration of machine learning techniques in data analysis, which could potentially lead to a transformative impact on mechanistic studies within the field.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Vera A. Alferova
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (A.A.B.); (A.P.T.); (V.A.K.)
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7
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Tanaka D, Ishihara J, Takahashi H, Kobayashi M, Miyazaki A, Kajiya S, Fujita R, Maekawa N, Yamazaki Y, Takaya A, Nakamura Y, Furuya M, Sekiguchi T, Shoji S. High-Efficiency Single-Cell Containment Microdevices Based on Fluid Control. MICROMACHINES 2023; 14:mi14051027. [PMID: 37241650 DOI: 10.3390/mi14051027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we developed a comb-shaped microfluidic device that can efficiently trap and culture a single cell (bacterium). Conventional culture devices have difficulty in trapping a single bacterium and often use a centrifuge to push the bacterium into the channel. The device developed in this study can store bacteria in almost all growth channels using the flowing fluid. In addition, chemical replacement can be performed in a few seconds, making this device suitable for culture experiments with resistant bacteria. The storage efficiency of microbeads that mimic bacteria was significantly improved from 0.2% to 84%. We used simulations to investigate the pressure loss in the growth channel. The pressure in the growth channel of the conventional device was more than 1400 PaG, whereas that of the new device was less than 400 PaG. Our microfluidic device was easily fabricated by a soft microelectromechanical systems method. The device was highly versatile and can be applied to various bacteria, such as Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium and Staphylococcus aureus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daiki Tanaka
- Research Organization for Nano & Life Innovation, Waseda University, 513 Waseda Tsurumakicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-0041, Japan
| | - Junichi Ishihara
- Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-0856, Japan
| | - Hiroki Takahashi
- Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-0856, Japan
- Molecular Chirality Research Center, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522, Japan
- Plant Molecular Science Center, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8675, Japan
| | - Masashi Kobayashi
- School of Fundamental Science and Engineering, Waseda University, 3-4-1 Okubo, Shin-juku-ku, Tokyo 169-8555, Japan
| | - Aya Miyazaki
- School of Fundamental Science and Engineering, Waseda University, 3-4-1 Okubo, Shin-juku-ku, Tokyo 169-8555, Japan
| | - Satsuki Kajiya
- School of Fundamental Science and Engineering, Waseda University, 3-4-1 Okubo, Shin-juku-ku, Tokyo 169-8555, Japan
| | - Risa Fujita
- Research Organization for Nano & Life Innovation, Waseda University, 513 Waseda Tsurumakicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-0041, Japan
| | - Naoki Maekawa
- Department of Natural Products Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, Chiba 260-8675, Japan
| | - Yuriko Yamazaki
- Department of Dermatology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Department of Dermatology, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba 260-8670, Japan
- Cutaneous Allergy and Host Defense, Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Akiko Takaya
- Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-0856, Japan
- Plant Molecular Science Center, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8675, Japan
- Department of Natural Products Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, Chiba 260-8675, Japan
| | - Yuumi Nakamura
- Department of Dermatology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Cutaneous Allergy and Host Defense, Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Masahiro Furuya
- Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Waseda University, 3-4-1 Okubo, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 169-8555, Japan
| | - Tetsushi Sekiguchi
- Research Organization for Nano & Life Innovation, Waseda University, 513 Waseda Tsurumakicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-0041, Japan
| | - Shuichi Shoji
- School of Fundamental Science and Engineering, Waseda University, 3-4-1 Okubo, Shin-juku-ku, Tokyo 169-8555, Japan
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8
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Zhang B, Phetsang W, Stone MRL, Kc S, Butler MS, Cooper MA, Elliott AG, Łapińska U, Voliotis M, Tsaneva-Atanasova K, Pagliara S, Blaskovich MAT. Synthesis of vancomycin fluorescent probes that retain antimicrobial activity, identify Gram-positive bacteria, and detect Gram-negative outer membrane damage. Commun Biol 2023; 6:409. [PMID: 37055536 PMCID: PMC10102067 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04745-x] [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] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance is an urgent threat to human health, and new antibacterial drugs are desperately needed, as are research tools to aid in their discovery and development. Vancomycin is a glycopeptide antibiotic that is widely used for the treatment of Gram-positive infections, such as life-threatening systemic diseases caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Here we demonstrate that modification of vancomycin by introduction of an azide substituent provides a versatile intermediate that can undergo copper-catalysed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction with various alkynes to readily prepare vancomycin fluorescent probes. We describe the facile synthesis of three probes that retain similar antibacterial profiles to the parent vancomycin antibiotic. We demonstrate the versatility of these probes for the detection and visualisation of Gram-positive bacteria by a range of methods, including plate reader quantification, flow cytometry analysis, high-resolution microscopy imaging, and single cell microfluidics analysis. In parallel, we demonstrate their utility in measuring outer-membrane permeabilisation of Gram-negative bacteria. The probes are useful tools that may facilitate detection of infections and development of new antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Zhang
- Centre for Superbug Solutions, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Wanida Phetsang
- Centre for Superbug Solutions, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - M Rhia L Stone
- Centre for Superbug Solutions, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Sanjaya Kc
- Centre for Superbug Solutions, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Mark S Butler
- Centre for Superbug Solutions, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Matthew A Cooper
- Centre for Superbug Solutions, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Alysha G Elliott
- Centre for Superbug Solutions, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Urszula Łapińska
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
- Biosciences, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4Q, UK
| | - Margaritis Voliotis
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
- Department of Mathematics, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, UK
| | - Krasimira Tsaneva-Atanasova
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
- Department of Mathematics, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, UK
- EPSRC Hub for Quantitative Modelling in Healthcare, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QJ, UK
- Department of Bioinformatics and Mathematical Modelling, Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 105 Acad. G. Bonchev Street, 1113, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Stefano Pagliara
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
- Biosciences, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4Q, UK
| | - Mark A T Blaskovich
- Centre for Superbug Solutions, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia.
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Iu HTV, Fong PM, Yam HCB, Gao P, Yan B, Lai PM, Tang VYM, Li KH, Ma CW, Ng KHK, Sze KH, Yang D, Davies J, Kao RYT. Identification of a Small Molecule Compound Active against Antibiotic-Tolerant Staphylococcus aureus by Boosting ATP Synthesis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24076242. [PMID: 37047217 PMCID: PMC10094146 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24076242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic tolerance poses a threat to current antimicrobial armamentarium. Bacteria at a tolerant state survive in the presence of antibiotic treatment and account for persistence, relapse and recalcitrance of infections. Antibiotic treatment failure may occur due to antibiotic tolerance. Persistent infections are difficult to treat and are often associated with poor prognosis, imposing an enormous burden on the healthcare system. Effective strategies targeting antibiotic-tolerant bacteria are therefore highly warranted. In this study, small molecule compound SA-558 was identified to be effective against Staphylococcus aureus that are tolerant to being killed by conventional antibiotics. SA-558 mediated electroneutral transport across the membrane and led to increased ATP and ROS generation, resulting in a reduction of the population of antibiotic-tolerant bacteria. In a murine chronic infection model, of which vancomycin treatment failed, we demonstrated that SA-558 alone and in combination with vancomycin caused significant reduction of MRSA abundance. Our results indicate that SA-558 monotherapy or combinatorial therapy with vancomycin is an option for managing persistent S. aureus bacteremia infection and corroborate that bacterial metabolism is an important target for counteracting antibiotic tolerance.
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10
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Zhang Y, Kepiro I, Ryadnov MG, Pagliara S. Single Cell Killing Kinetics Differentiate Phenotypic Bacterial Responses to Different Antibacterial Classes. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0366722. [PMID: 36651776 PMCID: PMC9927147 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03667-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
With the spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria, there has been an increasing focus on molecular classes that have not yet yielded an antibiotic. A key capability for assessing and prescribing new antibacterial treatments is to compare the effects antibacterial agents have on bacterial growth at a phenotypic, single-cell level. Here, we combined time-lapse microscopy with microfluidics to investigate the concentration-dependent killing kinetics of stationary-phase Escherichia coli cells. We used antibacterial agents from three different molecular classes, β-lactams and fluoroquinolones, with the known antibiotics ampicillin and ciprofloxacin, respectively, and a new experimental class, protein Ψ-capsids. We found that bacterial cells elongated when treated with ampicillin and ciprofloxacin used at their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). This was in contrast to Ψ-capsids, which arrested bacterial elongation within the first two hours of treatment. At concentrations exceeding the MIC, all the antibacterial agents tested arrested bacterial growth within the first 2 h of treatment. Further, our single-cell experiments revealed differences in the modes of action of three different agents. At the MIC, ampicillin and ciprofloxacin caused the lysis of bacterial cells, whereas at higher concentrations, the mode of action shifted toward membrane disruption. The Ψ-capsids killed cells by disrupting their membranes at all concentrations tested. Finally, at increasing concentrations, ampicillin and Ψ-capsids reduced the fraction of the population that survived treatment in a viable but nonculturable state, whereas ciprofloxacin increased this fraction. This study introduces an effective capability to differentiate the killing kinetics of antibacterial agents from different molecular classes and offers a high content analysis of antibacterial mechanisms at the single-cell level. IMPORTANCE Antibiotics act against bacterial pathogens by inhibiting their growth or killing them directly. Different modes of action determine different antibacterial responses, whereas phenotypic differences in bacteria can challenge the efficacy of antibiotics. Therefore, it is important to be able to differentiate the concentration-dependent killing kinetics of antibacterial agents at a single-cell level, in particular for molecular classes which have not yielded an antibiotic before. Here, we measured single-cell responses using microfluidics-enabled imaging, revealing that a novel class of antibacterial agents, protein Ψ-capsids, arrests bacterial elongation at the onset of treatment, whereas elongation continues for cells treated with β-lactam and fluoroquinolone antibiotics. The study advances our current understanding of antibacterial function and offers an effective strategy for the comparative design of new antibacterial therapies, as well as clinical antibiotic susceptibility testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuewen Zhang
- Living Systems Institute and Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
- National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, United Kingdom
| | - Ibolya Kepiro
- National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, United Kingdom
| | - Maxim G. Ryadnov
- National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, United Kingdom
- Department of Physics, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Stefano Pagliara
- Living Systems Institute and Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
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11
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Li Y, Ge X. Role of Berberine as a Potential Efflux Pump Inhibitor against MdfA from Escherichia coli: In Vitro and In Silico Studies. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0332422. [PMID: 36786641 PMCID: PMC10100983 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03324-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Infections by Gram-negative pathogens are usually difficult to manage due to the drug export by efflux pumps. With the evolution and horizontal transfer of efflux pumps, there is an urgent need to discover safe and effective efflux pump inhibitors. Here, we found that the natural compound berberine (BBR), a traditional medicine for intestinal infection, is an inhibitor against the major facilitator superfamily (MFS) efflux pump MdfA in Escherichia coli. The impact of BBR on MdfA was evaluated in a recombinant E. coli reporter strain. We demonstrated that low levels of BBR significantly increased intracellular ciprofloxacin concentrations and restored antibiotic susceptibility of the reporter strain. At the same time, we conducted molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the mechanisms of BBR's effect on MdfA. Our data indicated that BBR can aggregate to the periplasmic and cytoplasmic sides of MdfA in both of its inward and outward conformations. Protein rigidities were affected to different degrees. More importantly, two major driving forces for the conformational transition, salt bridges and hydrophilic interactions with water, were changed by BBR's aggregation to MdfA, which affected its conformational transition. In summary, our data provide evidence for the extended application of BBR as an efflux pump inhibitor at a clinically meaningful level. We also reveal the mechanisms and provide insights into BBR's effect on the reciprocal motion of MdfA. IMPORTANCE In this work, we evaluated the role of berberine (BBR) as an inhibitor of the MFS efflux pump MdfA from E. coli. We demonstrated that low levels of BBR significantly increased intracellular ciprofloxacin concentrations and restored antibiotic susceptibility of the reporter strain. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed the effect of BBR on the conformational transition of MdfA. Our data suggested that driving forces for MdfA's conformational transition were affected by BBR and provided evidence for BBR's extended application as an effective inhibitor of MdfA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Li
- College of Biochemical Engineering, Beijing Union University, Beijing, China
| | - Xizhen Ge
- College of Biochemical Engineering, Beijing Union University, Beijing, China
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12
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Akuoko Y, Nagliati HF, Millward CJ, Woolley AT. Improving droplet microfluidic systems for studying single bacteria growth. Anal Bioanal Chem 2023; 415:695-701. [PMID: 36469054 PMCID: PMC10501485 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-022-04459-9] [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] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance remains a global threat with ~ 5 million deaths in 2019 alone and 10 million deaths projected every year by 2050. Current tools employed in the analysis of bacteria can be time inefficient, leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment. In this work, we develop a microfluidic setup capable of bacteria incubation and detection of growth in ~ 2 h. We fabricated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microchips via soft lithography, enclosed microchannels by plasma bonding to glass, and utilized PDMS blocks for simplified connection of devices to a flow system. We generated uniform droplets enclosing zero, one or two bacteria within our devices, and incubated droplet-encapsulated bacteria with 100 × lower concentrations of a fluorescence probe of bacterial growth compared to prior work. We assessed bacterial growth via laser induced fluorescence after room temperature incubation for 2 h and obtained a range of signals corresponding to droplets with or without bacteria. Our devices allow for online droplet incubation, monitoring, detection, and tracking. Developing microfluidic chips for single bacteria studies will improve the analysis and treatment of antimicrobial resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yesman Akuoko
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 84602, USA
| | - Heitor F Nagliati
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 84602, USA
| | - Calton J Millward
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 84602, USA
| | - Adam T Woolley
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 84602, USA.
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13
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Manrique PD, López CA, Gnanakaran S, Rybenkov VV, Zgurskaya HI. New understanding of multidrug efflux and permeation in antibiotic resistance, persistence, and heteroresistance. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2023; 1519:46-62. [PMID: 36344198 PMCID: PMC9839546 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Antibiotics effective against Gram-negative ESKAPE pathogens are a critical area of unmet need. Infections caused by these pathogens are not only difficult to treat but finding new therapies to overcome Gram-negative resistance is also a challenge. There are not enough antibiotics in development that target the most dangerous pathogens and there are not enough novel drugs in the pipeline. The major obstacle in the antibiotic discovery pipeline is the lack of understanding of how to breach antibiotic permeability barriers of Gram-negative pathogens. These barriers are created by active efflux pumps acting across both the inner and the outer membranes. Overproduction of efflux pumps alone or together with either modification of the outer membrane or antibiotic-inactivating enzymes and target mutations contribute to clinical levels of antibiotics resistance. Recent efforts have generated significant advances in the rationalization of compound efflux and permeation across the cell envelopes of Gram-negative pathogens. Combined with earlier studies and novel mathematical models, these efforts have led to a multilevel understanding of how antibiotics permeate these barriers and how multidrug efflux and permeation contribute to the development of antibiotic resistance and heteroresistance. Here, we discuss the new developments in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro D. Manrique
- Theoretical Biology and Biophysics Group, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, United States
- Present address: Physics Department, George Washington University, Washington D.C. 20052, United States
| | - Cesar A. López
- Theoretical Biology and Biophysics Group, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, United States
| | - S. Gnanakaran
- Theoretical Biology and Biophysics Group, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, United States
| | - Valentin V. Rybenkov
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, 101 Stephenson Parkway, Norman, OK 73019, United States
| | - Helen I. Zgurskaya
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, 101 Stephenson Parkway, Norman, OK 73019, United States
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14
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Song K, Yu Z, Zu X, Huang L, Fu D, Yao J, Hu Z, Xue Y. Microfluidic Chip for Detection of Drug Resistance at the Single-cell Level. MICROMACHINES 2022; 14:46. [PMID: 36677107 PMCID: PMC9861505 DOI: 10.3390/mi14010046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Drug-resistant bacterial strains seriously threaten human health. Rapid screening of antibiotics is urgently required to improve clinical treatment. Conventional methods of antimicrobial susceptibility testing rely on turbidimetry that is evident only after several days of incubation. The lengthy time of the assay can delay clinical treatment. Here, we proposed a single-cell level rapid system based on a microfluidic chip. The detection period of 30 min to 2 h was significantly shorter than the conventional turbidity-based method. To promote detection efficiency, 16 independent channels were designed, permitting the simultaneous screening of 16 drugs in the microfluidic chip. Prepositioning of drugs in the chip permitted prolonged transportation and storage. This may allow for the widespread use of the novel system, particularly in the regions where medical facilities are scarce. The growth curves were reported rapidly through a custom code in Matlab after tracking and photographing the bacteria during microscopy examination. The capability of the proposed system was validated by antimicrobial susceptibility testing trials with standard strains. The system provides a potentially useful detection tool for drug-resistant bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kena Song
- College of Medical Technology and Engineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China
| | - Zhangqing Yu
- College of Medical Technology and Engineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China
| | - Xiangyang Zu
- College of Medical Technology and Engineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China
| | - Lei Huang
- College of Medical Technology and Engineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China
| | - Dongliao Fu
- College of Medical Technology and Engineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China
| | - Jingru Yao
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Soft Condensed Matter Physics and Smart Materials, College of Physics, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China
| | - Zhigang Hu
- College of Medical Technology and Engineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China
| | - Yun Xue
- College of Medical Technology and Engineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China
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15
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Barnabas V, Kashyap A, Raja R, Newar K, Rai D, Dixit NM, Mehra S. The Extent of Antimicrobial Resistance Due to Efflux Pump Regulation. ACS Infect Dis 2022; 8:2374-2388. [PMID: 36264222 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.2c00460] [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: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
A key mechanism driving antimicrobial resistance (AMR) stems from the ability of bacteria to up-regulate efflux pumps upon exposure to drugs. The resistance gained by this up-regulation is pliable because of the tight regulation of efflux pump levels. This leads to temporary enhancement in survivability of bacteria due to higher efflux pump levels in the presence of antibiotics, which can be reversed when the cells are no longer exposed to the drug. Knowledge of the extent of resistance thus gained would inform intervention strategies aimed at mitigating AMR. Here, we combine mathematical modeling and experiments to quantify the maximum extent of resistance that efflux pump up-regulation can confer via phenotypic induction in the presence of drugs and genotypic abrogation of regulation. Our model describes the dynamics of drug transport in and out of cells coupled with the associated regulation of efflux pump levels and predicts the increase in the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of drugs due to such regulation. To test the model, we measured the uptake and efflux as well as the MIC of the compound ethidium bromide (EtBr), a substrate of the efflux pump LfrA, in wild-type Mycobacterium smegmatis mc2155, as well as in two laboratory-generated strains. Our model captured the observed EtBr levels and MIC fold-changes quantitatively. Further, the model identified key parameters associated with the resulting resistance, variations in which could underlie the extent to which such resistance arises across different drug-bacteria combinations, potentially offering tunable handles to optimize interventions aimed at minimizing AMR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinay Barnabas
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai400076, India
| | - Akanksha Kashyap
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai400076, India
| | - Rubesh Raja
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore560012, India
| | - Kapil Newar
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore560012, India
| | - Deepika Rai
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai400076, India
| | - Narendra M Dixit
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore560012, India.,Centre for Biosystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore560012, India
| | - Sarika Mehra
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai400076, India
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16
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Allard P, Papazotos F, Potvin-Trottier L. Microfluidics for long-term single-cell time-lapse microscopy: Advances and applications. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:968342. [PMID: 36312536 PMCID: PMC9597311 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.968342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cells are inherently dynamic, whether they are responding to environmental conditions or simply at equilibrium, with biomolecules constantly being made and destroyed. Due to their small volumes, the chemical reactions inside cells are stochastic, such that genetically identical cells display heterogeneous behaviors and gene expression profiles. Studying these dynamic processes is challenging, but the development of microfluidic methods enabling the tracking of individual prokaryotic cells with microscopy over long time periods under controlled growth conditions has led to many discoveries. This review focuses on the recent developments of one such microfluidic device nicknamed the mother machine. We overview the original device design, experimental setup, and challenges associated with this platform. We then describe recent methods for analyzing experiments using automated image segmentation and tracking. We further discuss modifications to the experimental setup that allow for time-varying environmental control, replicating batch culture conditions, cell screening based on their dynamic behaviors, and to accommodate a variety of microbial species. Finally, this review highlights the discoveries enabled by this technology in diverse fields, such as cell-size control, genetic mutations, cellular aging, and synthetic biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paige Allard
- Department of Biology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Fotini Papazotos
- Department of Biology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Laurent Potvin-Trottier
- Department of Biology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Physics, Concordia University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Centre for Applied Synthetic Biology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- *Correspondence: Laurent Potvin-Trottier,
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17
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Wei S, Tian Q, Zhao X, Liu X, Husien HM, Liu M, Bo R, Li J. Tea Tree Oil Nanoemulsion Potentiates Antibiotics against Multidrug-Resistant Escherichia coli. ACS Infect Dis 2022; 8:1618-1626. [PMID: 35854664 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.2c00223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Extensive efforts are underway to overcome the rising prevalence of antibiotic resistance. Combination therapy may be a potential method to treat multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections. In this study, tea tree essential oil (TTO) nanoemulsion (nanoTTO) was used in combination with antibiotics to kill microbes. Results showed that nanoTTO enhanced the activities of multiple antibiotics against MDR Escherichia coli (E. coli), and its antimicrobial activity was not changed against bacteria that were cultured in the presence of nanoTTO for 30 passages. Further studies to visualize and quantify intracellular antibiotics concentrations identified that nanoTTO increased the drug accumulation in MDR E. coli by disrupting outer and inner membranes and inhibiting the AcrAB-TolC efflux pump involved in membrane permeability. In addition, nanoTTO was effective in enhancing antibiotic efficacy in the Galleria mellonella infection model and mouse peritonitis model, suggesting a potential strategy against MDR bacterial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simin Wei
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, P. R. China.,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou 225009, P. R. China.,Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, The Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, Jiangsu, P. R. China
| | - Qiming Tian
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, P. R. China.,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou 225009, P. R. China.,Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, The Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, Jiangsu, P. R. China
| | - Xin Zhao
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, P. R. China.,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou 225009, P. R. China.,Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, The Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, Jiangsu, P. R. China
| | - Xiaopan Liu
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, P. R. China.,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou 225009, P. R. China.,Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, The Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, Jiangsu, P. R. China
| | - Hosameldeen Mohamed Husien
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, P. R. China.,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou 225009, P. R. China.,Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, The Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, Jiangsu, P. R. China.,College of Veterinary Medicine, Albutana University, Rufaa 22217, Al Jazirah, Sudan
| | - Mingjiang Liu
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, P. R. China.,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou 225009, P. R. China.,Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, The Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, Jiangsu, P. R. China
| | - Ruonan Bo
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, P. R. China.,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou 225009, P. R. China.,Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, The Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, Jiangsu, P. R. China
| | - Jingui Li
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, P. R. China.,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou 225009, P. R. China.,Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, The Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, Jiangsu, P. R. China
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18
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Łapińska U, Voliotis M, Lee KK, Campey A, Stone MRL, Tuck B, Phetsang W, Zhang B, Tsaneva-Atanasova K, Blaskovich MAT, Pagliara S. Fast bacterial growth reduces antibiotic accumulation and efficacy. eLife 2022; 11:74062. [PMID: 35670099 PMCID: PMC9173744 DOI: 10.7554/elife.74062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Phenotypic variations between individual microbial cells play a key role in the resistance of microbial pathogens to pharmacotherapies. Nevertheless, little is known about cell individuality in antibiotic accumulation. Here, we hypothesise that phenotypic diversification can be driven by fundamental cell-to-cell differences in drug transport rates. To test this hypothesis, we employed microfluidics-based single-cell microscopy, libraries of fluorescent antibiotic probes and mathematical modelling. This approach allowed us to rapidly identify phenotypic variants that avoid antibiotic accumulation within populations of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Burkholderia cenocepacia, and Staphylococcus aureus. Crucially, we found that fast growing phenotypic variants avoid macrolide accumulation and survive treatment without genetic mutations. These findings are in contrast with the current consensus that cellular dormancy and slow metabolism underlie bacterial survival to antibiotics. Our results also show that fast growing variants display significantly higher expression of ribosomal promoters before drug treatment compared to slow growing variants. Drug-free active ribosomes facilitate essential cellular processes in these fast-growing variants, including efflux that can reduce macrolide accumulation. We used this new knowledge to eradicate variants that displayed low antibiotic accumulation through the chemical manipulation of their outer membrane inspiring new avenues to overcome current antibiotic treatment failures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Urszula Łapińska
- Living Systems Institute, University of ExeterExeterUnited Kingdom
- Biosciences, University of ExeterExeterUnited Kingdom
| | - Margaritis Voliotis
- Living Systems Institute, University of ExeterExeterUnited Kingdom
- Department of Mathematics, University of ExeterExeterUnited Kingdom
| | - Ka Kiu Lee
- Living Systems Institute, University of ExeterExeterUnited Kingdom
- Biosciences, University of ExeterExeterUnited Kingdom
| | - Adrian Campey
- Living Systems Institute, University of ExeterExeterUnited Kingdom
- Biosciences, University of ExeterExeterUnited Kingdom
| | - M Rhia L Stone
- Centre for Superbug Solutions, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of QueenslandBrisbaneAustralia
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers, the State University of New JerseyPiscatawayUnited States
| | - Brandon Tuck
- Living Systems Institute, University of ExeterExeterUnited Kingdom
- Biosciences, University of ExeterExeterUnited Kingdom
| | - Wanida Phetsang
- Centre for Superbug Solutions, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of QueenslandBrisbaneAustralia
| | - Bing Zhang
- Centre for Superbug Solutions, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of QueenslandBrisbaneAustralia
| | - Krasimira Tsaneva-Atanasova
- Living Systems Institute, University of ExeterExeterUnited Kingdom
- Department of Mathematics, University of ExeterExeterUnited Kingdom
- EPSRC Hub for Quantitative Modelling in Healthcare, University of ExeterExeterUnited Kingdom
- Department of Bioinformatics and Mathematical Modelling, Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Bulgarian Academy of SciencesSofiaBulgaria
| | - Mark AT Blaskovich
- Centre for Superbug Solutions, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of QueenslandBrisbaneAustralia
| | - Stefano Pagliara
- Living Systems Institute, University of ExeterExeterUnited Kingdom
- Biosciences, University of ExeterExeterUnited Kingdom
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19
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Geng J, Wang Z, Wu Y, Yu L, Wang L, Dong Q, Liu C, Chi Z. Intrinsic specificity of plain ammonium citrate carbon dots for Helicobacter pylori: Interfacial mechanism, diagnostic translation and general revelation. Mater Today Bio 2022; 15:100282. [PMID: 35601896 PMCID: PMC9119834 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2022.100282] [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: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The exploitation of carbon dots (CDs) is now flourishing; however, more effort is needed to overcome their lack of intrinsic specificity. Herein, instead of synthesizing novel CDs, we reinvestigated three reported CDs and discovered that plain ammonium citrate CDs (AC-CDs) exhibited surprising specificity for Helicobacter pylori. Notably, we showed that the interfacial mechanism behind this specificity was due to the affinity between the high abundant urea/ammonium transporters on H. pylori outer membrane and the surface-coordinated ammonium ions on AC-CDs. Further, we justified that ammonium sulfate-citric acid CDs also possessed H. pylori-specificity owing to their NH4+ doping. Thereby, we suggested that the incorporation of a molecule that could be actively transported by abundant membrane receptors into the precursors of CDs might serve as a basis for developing a plain CD with intrinsic specificity for H. pylori. Moreover, AC-CDs exhibited specificity towards live, dead, and multidrug-resistant H. pylori strains. Based on the specificity, we developed a microfluidics-assisted in vitro sensing approach for H. pylori, achieving a simplified, rapid and ultrasensitive detection with two procedures, shortened time within 45.0 min and a low actual limit of detection of 10.0 CFU mL−1. This work sheds light on the design of more H. pylori-specific or even bacteria-specific CDs and their realistic translation into clinical practice. Plain ammonium citrate CDs have intrinsic specificity for Helicobacter pylori. Affinity of outer-membrane urea receptors to NH4+ on CDs decides the specificity. The specific CDs coupling microfluidics confers a simplified detection of H. pylori. The mechanism and translation inspire the engineering of bacteria-specific CDs.
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20
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Abstract
Bacteria have evolved to develop multiple strategies for antibiotic resistance by effectively reducing intracellular antibiotic concentrations or antibiotic binding affinities, but the role of cell morphology in antibiotic resistance remains poorly understood. By analyzing cell morphological data for different bacterial species under antibiotic stress, we find that bacteria increase or decrease the cell surface-to-volume ratio depending on the antibiotic target. Using quantitative modeling, we show that by reducing the surface-to-volume ratio, bacteria can effectively reduce the intracellular antibiotic concentration by decreasing antibiotic influx. The model further predicts that bacteria can increase the surface-to-volume ratio to induce the dilution of membrane-targeting antibiotics, in agreement with experimental data. Using a whole-cell model for the regulation of cell shape and growth by antibiotics, we predict shape transformations that bacteria can utilize to increase their fitness in the presence of antibiotics. We conclude by discussing additional pathways for antibiotic resistance that may act in synergy with shape-induced resistance.
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21
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Glover G, Voliotis M, Łapińska U, Invergo BM, Soanes D, O'Neill P, Moore K, Nikolic N, Petrov PG, Milner DS, Roy S, Heesom K, Richards TA, Tsaneva-Atanasova K, Pagliara S. Nutrient and salt depletion synergistically boosts glucose metabolism in individual Escherichia coli cells. Commun Biol 2022; 5:385. [PMID: 35444215 PMCID: PMC9021252 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03336-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The interaction between a cell and its environment shapes fundamental intracellular processes such as cellular metabolism. In most cases growth rate is treated as a proximal metric for understanding the cellular metabolic status. However, changes in growth rate might not reflect metabolic variations in individuals responding to environmental fluctuations. Here we use single-cell microfluidics-microscopy combined with transcriptomics, proteomics and mathematical modelling to quantify the accumulation of glucose within Escherichia coli cells. In contrast to the current consensus, we reveal that environmental conditions which are comparatively unfavourable for growth, where both nutrients and salinity are depleted, increase glucose accumulation rates in individual bacteria and population subsets. We find that these changes in metabolic function are underpinned by variations at the translational and posttranslational level but not at the transcriptional level and are not dictated by changes in cell size. The metabolic response-characteristics identified greatly advance our fundamental understanding of the interactions between bacteria and their environment and have important ramifications when investigating cellular processes where salinity plays an important role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgina Glover
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QL, UK
| | - Margaritis Voliotis
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
- Department of Mathematics, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, UK
| | - Urszula Łapińska
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
- Biosciences, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4Q, UK
| | - Brandon M Invergo
- Translational Research Exchange at Exeter, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Darren Soanes
- Biosciences, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4Q, UK
| | - Paul O'Neill
- Biosciences, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4Q, UK
| | - Karen Moore
- Biosciences, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4Q, UK
| | - Nela Nikolic
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, 3400, Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Peter G Petrov
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QL, UK
| | - David S Milner
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, 11a Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3SZ, UK
| | - Sumita Roy
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
- Biosciences, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4Q, UK
| | - Kate Heesom
- University of Bristol Proteomics Facility, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Thomas A Richards
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, 11a Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3SZ, UK
| | - Krasimira Tsaneva-Atanasova
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
- Department of Mathematics, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, UK
- Department of Bioinformatics and Mathematical Modelling, Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 105 Acad. G. Bonchev Str., 1113, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Stefano Pagliara
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK.
- Biosciences, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4Q, UK.
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22
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An ultrasensitive microfluidic approach reveals correlations between the physico-chemical and biological activity of experimental peptide antibiotics. Sci Rep 2022; 12:4005. [PMID: 35256720 PMCID: PMC8901753 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-07973-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance challenges the ability of modern medicine to contain infections. Given the dire need for new antimicrobials, polypeptide antibiotics hold particular promise. These agents hit multiple targets in bacteria starting with their most exposed regions-their membranes. However, suitable approaches to quantify the efficacy of polypeptide antibiotics at the membrane and cellular level have been lacking. Here, we employ two complementary microfluidic platforms to probe the structure-activity relationships of two experimental series of polypeptide antibiotics. We reveal strong correlations between each peptide's physicochemical activity at the membrane level and biological activity at the cellular level. We achieve this knowledge by assaying the membranolytic activities of the compounds on hundreds of individual giant lipid vesicles, and by quantifying phenotypic responses within clonal bacterial populations with single-cell resolution. Our strategy proved capable of detecting differential responses for peptides with single amino acid substitutions between them, and can accelerate the rational design and development of peptide antimicrobials.
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23
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Cha H, Fallahi H, Dai Y, Yuan D, An H, Nguyen NT, Zhang J. Multiphysics microfluidics for cell manipulation and separation: a review. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 22:423-444. [PMID: 35048916 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc00869b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Multiphysics microfluidics, which combines multiple functional physical processes in a microfluidics platform, is an emerging research area that has attracted increasing interest for diverse biomedical applications. Multiphysics microfluidics is expected to overcome the limitations of individual physical phenomena through combining their advantages. Furthermore, multiphysics microfluidics is superior for cell manipulation due to its high precision, better sensitivity, real-time tunability, and multi-target sorting capabilities. These exciting features motivate us to review this state-of-the-art field and reassess the feasibility of coupling multiple physical processes. To confine the scope of this paper, we mainly focus on five common forces in microfluidics: inertial lift, elastic, dielectrophoresis (DEP), magnetophoresis (MP), and acoustic forces. This review first explains the working mechanisms of single physical phenomena. Next, we classify multiphysics techniques in terms of cascaded connections and physical coupling, and we elaborate on combinations of designs and working mechanisms in systems reported in the literature to date. Finally, we discuss the possibility of combining multiple physical processes and associated design schemes and propose several promising future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haotian Cha
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia.
| | - Hedieh Fallahi
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia.
| | - Yuchen Dai
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia.
| | - Dan Yuan
- Centre for Regional and Rural Futures, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria 3216, Australia
| | - Hongjie An
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia.
| | - Nam-Trung Nguyen
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia.
| | - Jun Zhang
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia.
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24
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Application of antibiotic-derived fluorescent probes to bacterial studies. Methods Enzymol 2022; 665:1-28. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2021.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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25
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Bacteriostatic antibiotics promote CRISPR-Cas adaptive immunity by enabling increased spacer acquisition. Cell Host Microbe 2021; 30:31-40.e5. [PMID: 34932986 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2021.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Phages impose strong selection on bacteria to evolve resistance against viral predation. Bacteria can rapidly evolve phage resistance via receptor mutation or using their CRISPR-Cas adaptive immune systems. Acquisition of CRISPR immunity relies on the insertion of a phage-derived sequence into CRISPR arrays in the bacterial genome. Using Pseudomonas aeruginosa and its phage DMS3vir as a model, we demonstrate that conditions that reduce bacterial growth rates, such as exposure to bacteriostatic antibiotics (which inhibit cell growth without killing), promote the evolution of CRISPR immunity. We demonstrate that this is due to slower phage development under these conditions, which provides more time for cells to acquire phage-derived sequences and mount an immune response. Our data reveal that the speed of phage development is a key determinant of the evolution of CRISPR immunity and suggest that use of bacteriostatic antibiotics can trigger elevated levels of CRISPR immunity in human-associated and natural environments.
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26
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López Y, Muñoz L, Gargallo-Viola D, Cantón R, Vila J, Zsolt I. Uptake of Ozenoxacin and Other Quinolones in Gram-Positive Bacteria. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:13363. [PMID: 34948159 PMCID: PMC8708121 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222413363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The big problem of antimicrobial resistance is that it requires great efforts in the design of improved drugs which can quickly reach their target of action. Studies of antibiotic uptake and interaction with their target it is a key factor in this important challenge. We investigated the accumulation of ozenoxacin (OZN), moxifloxacin (MOX), levofloxacin (LVX), and ciprofloxacin (CIP) into the bacterial cells of 5 species, including Staphylococcus aureus (SA4-149), Staphylococcus epidermidis (SEP7602), Streptococcus pyogenes (SPY165), Streptococcus agalactiae (SAG146), and Enterococcus faecium (EF897) previously characterized.The concentration of quinolone uptake was estimated by agar disc-diffusion bioassay. Furthermore, we determined the inhibitory concentrations 50 (IC50) of OZN, MOX, LVX, and CIP against type II topoisomerases from S. aureus.The accumulation of OZN inside the bacterial cell was superior in comparison to MOX, LVX, and CIP in all tested species. The accumulation of OZN inside the bacterial cell was superior in comparison to MOX, LVX, and CIP in all tested species. The rapid penetration of OZN into the cell was reflected during the first minute of exposure with antibiotic values between 190 and 447 ng/mg (dry weight) of bacteria in all strains. Moreover, OZN showed the greatest inhibitory activity among the quinolones tested for both DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV isolated from S. aureus with IC50 values of 10 and 0.5 mg/L, respectively. OZN intracellular concentration was significantly higher than that of MOX, LVX and CIP. All of these features may explain the higher in vitro activity of OZN compared to the other tested quinolones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuly López
- Institute of Global Health of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain;
| | - Laura Muñoz
- Institute of Global Health of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain;
| | | | - Rafael Cantón
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal & Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid, Spain;
- CIBER Enfermedades Infecciosas, ISCIII, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Jordi Vila
- Institute of Global Health of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain;
- CIBER Enfermedades Infecciosas, ISCIII, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Hospital Clinic, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, 08007 Barcelona, Spain
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27
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Conners R, McLaren M, Łapińska U, Sanders K, Stone MRL, Blaskovich MAT, Pagliara S, Daum B, Rakonjac J, Gold VAM. CryoEM structure of the outer membrane secretin channel pIV from the f1 filamentous bacteriophage. Nat Commun 2021; 12:6316. [PMID: 34728631 PMCID: PMC8563730 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26610-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The Ff family of filamentous bacteriophages infect gram-negative bacteria, but do not cause lysis of their host cell. Instead, new virions are extruded via the phage-encoded pIV protein, which has homology with bacterial secretins. Here, we determine the structure of pIV from the f1 filamentous bacteriophage at 2.7 Å resolution by cryo-electron microscopy, the first near-atomic structure of a phage secretin. Fifteen f1 pIV subunits assemble to form a gated channel in the bacterial outer membrane, with associated soluble domains projecting into the periplasm. We model channel opening and propose a mechanism for phage egress. By single-cell microfluidics experiments, we demonstrate the potential for secretins such as pIV to be used as adjuvants to increase the uptake and efficacy of antibiotics in bacteria. Finally, we compare the f1 pIV structure to its homologues to reveal similarities and differences between phage and bacterial secretins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Conners
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Geoffrey Pope, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Mathew McLaren
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Geoffrey Pope, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Urszula Łapińska
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Geoffrey Pope, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Kelly Sanders
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Geoffrey Pope, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - M Rhia L Stone
- Centre for Superbug Solutions, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Mark A T Blaskovich
- Centre for Superbug Solutions, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Stefano Pagliara
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Geoffrey Pope, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Bertram Daum
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Geoffrey Pope, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Jasna Rakonjac
- School of Fundamental Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Vicki A M Gold
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Geoffrey Pope, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.
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28
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Attrill EL, Claydon R, Łapińska U, Recker M, Meaden S, Brown AT, Westra ER, Harding SV, Pagliara S. Individual bacteria in structured environments rely on phenotypic resistance to phage. PLoS Biol 2021; 19:e3001406. [PMID: 34637438 PMCID: PMC8509860 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophages represent an avenue to overcome the current antibiotic resistance crisis, but evolution of genetic resistance to phages remains a concern. In vitro, bacteria evolve genetic resistance, preventing phage adsorption or degrading phage DNA. In natural environments, evolved resistance is lower possibly because the spatial heterogeneity within biofilms, microcolonies, or wall populations favours phenotypic survival to lytic phages. However, it is also possible that the persistence of genetically sensitive bacteria is due to less efficient phage amplification in natural environments, the existence of refuges where bacteria can hide, and a reduced spread of resistant genotypes. Here, we monitor the interactions between individual planktonic bacteria in isolation in ephemeral refuges and bacteriophage by tracking the survival of individual cells. We find that in these transient spatial refuges, phenotypic resistance due to reduced expression of the phage receptor is a key determinant of bacterial survival. This survival strategy is in contrast with the emergence of genetic resistance in the absence of ephemeral refuges in well-mixed environments. Predictions generated via a mathematical modelling framework to track bacterial response to phages reveal that the presence of spatial refuges leads to fundamentally different population dynamics that should be considered in order to predict and manipulate the evolutionary and ecological dynamics of bacteria–phage interactions in naturally structured environments. Bacteriophages represent a promising avenue to overcome the current antibiotic resistance crisis, but evolution of phage resistance remains a concern. This study shows that in the presence of spatial refuges, genetic resistance to phage is less of a problem than commonly assumed, but the persistence of genetically susceptible bacteria suggests that eradicating bacterial pathogens from structured environments may require combined phage-antibiotic therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin L. Attrill
- Living Systems Institute and Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Rory Claydon
- SUPA, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Urszula Łapińska
- Living Systems Institute and Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Mario Recker
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, United Kingdom
| | - Sean Meaden
- Environment and Sustainability Institute and Biosciences, University of Exeter, Penryn, United Kingdom
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Aidan T. Brown
- SUPA, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Edze R. Westra
- Environment and Sustainability Institute and Biosciences, University of Exeter, Penryn, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah V. Harding
- Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Porton Down, Salisbury, United Kingdom
| | - Stefano Pagliara
- Living Systems Institute and Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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29
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Microfluidics for Multiphase Mixing and Liposomal Encapsulation of Nanobioconjugates: Passive vs. Acoustic Systems. FLUIDS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/fluids6090309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
One of the main routes to ensure that biomolecules or bioactive agents remain active as they are incorporated into products with applications in different industries is by their encapsulation. Liposomes are attractive platforms for encapsulation due to their ease of synthesis and manipulation and the potential to fuse with cell membranes when they are intended for drug delivery applications. We propose encapsulating our recently developed cell-penetrating nanobioconjugates based on magnetite interfaced with translocating proteins and peptides with the purpose of potentiating their cell internalization capabilities even further. To prepare the encapsulates (also known as magnetoliposomes (MLPs)), we introduced a low-cost microfluidic device equipped with a serpentine microchannel to favor the interaction between the liposomes and the nanobioconjugates. The encapsulation performance of the device, operated either passively or in the presence of ultrasound, was evaluated both in silico and experimentally. The in silico analysis was implemented through multiphysics simulations with the software COMSOL Multiphysics 5.5® (COMSOL Inc., Stockholm, Sweden) via both a Eulerian model and a transport of diluted species model. The encapsulation efficiency was determined experimentally, aided by spectrofluorimetry. Encapsulation efficiencies obtained experimentally and in silico approached 80% for the highest flow rate ratios (FRRs). Compared with the passive mixer, the in silico results of the device under acoustic waves led to higher discrepancies with respect to those obtained experimentally. This was attributed to the complexity of the process in such a situation. The obtained MLPs demonstrated successful encapsulation of the nanobioconjugates by both methods with a 36% reduction in size for the ones obtained in the presence of ultrasound. These findings suggest that the proposed serpentine micromixers are well suited to produce MLPs very efficiently and with homogeneous key physichochemical properties.
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30
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Persister Escherichia coli Cells Have a Lower Intracellular pH than Susceptible Cells but Maintain Their pH in Response to Antibiotic Treatment. mBio 2021; 12:e0090921. [PMID: 34281389 PMCID: PMC8406257 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00909-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Persister and viable but non-culturable (VBNC) cells are two clonal subpopulations that can survive multidrug exposure via a plethora of putative molecular mechanisms. Here, we combine microfluidics, time-lapse microscopy, and a plasmid-encoded fluorescent pH reporter to measure the dynamics of the intracellular pH of individual persister, VBNC, and susceptible Escherichia coli cells in response to ampicillin treatment. We found that even before antibiotic exposure, persisters have a lower intracellular pH than those of VBNC and susceptible cells. We then investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the observed differential pH regulation in persister E. coli cells and found that this is linked to the activity of the enzyme tryptophanase, which is encoded by tnaA. In fact, in a ΔtnaA strain, we found no difference in intracellular pH between persister, VBNC, and susceptible E. coli cells. Whole-genome transcriptomic analysis revealed that, besides downregulating tryptophan metabolism, the ΔtnaA strain downregulated key pH homeostasis pathways, including the response to pH, oxidation reduction, and several carboxylic acid catabolism processes, compared to levels of expression in the parental strain. Our study sheds light on pH homeostasis, proving that the regulation of intracellular pH is not homogeneous within a clonal population, with a subset of cells displaying a differential pH regulation to perform dedicated functions, including survival after antibiotic treatment. IMPORTANCE Persister and VBNC cells can phenotypically survive environmental stressors, such as antibiotic treatment, limitation of nutrients, and acid stress, and have been linked to chronic infections and antimicrobial resistance. It has recently been suggested that pH regulation might play a role in an organism's phenotypic survival to antibiotics; however, this hypothesis remains to be tested. Here, we demonstrate that even before antibiotic treatment, cells that will become persisters have a more acidic intracellular pH than clonal cells that will be either susceptible or VBNC upon antibiotic treatment. Moreover, after antibiotic treatment, persisters become more alkaline than VBNC and susceptible E. coli cells. This newly found phenotypic feature is remarkable because it distinguishes persister and VBNC cells that have often been thought to display the same dormant phenotype. We then show that this differential pH regulation is abolished in the absence of the enzyme tryptophanase via a major remodeling of bacterial metabolism and pH homeostasis. These new whole-genome transcriptome data should be taken into account when modeling bacterial metabolism at the crucial transition from exponential to stationary phase. Overall, our findings indicate that the manipulation of the intracellular pH represents a bacterial strategy for surviving antibiotic treatment. In turn, this suggests a strategy for developing persister-targeting antibiotics by interfering with cellular components, such as tryptophanase, that play a major role in pH homeostasis.
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31
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Ferreira M, Gameiro P. Fluoroquinolone-Transition Metal Complexes: A Strategy to Overcome Bacterial Resistance. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9071506. [PMID: 34361943 PMCID: PMC8303200 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9071506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Fluoroquinolones (FQs) are antibiotics widely used in the clinical practice due to their large spectrum of action against Gram-negative and some Gram-positive bacteria. Nevertheless, the misuse and overuse of these antibiotics has triggered the development of bacterial resistance mechanisms. One of the strategies to circumvent this problem is the complexation of FQs with transition metal ions, known as metalloantibiotics, which can promote different activity and enhanced pharmacological behaviour. Here, we discuss the stability of FQ metalloantibiotics and their possible translocation pathways. The main goal of the present review is to frame the present knowledge on the conjunction of biophysical and biological tools that can help to unravel the antibacterial action of FQ metalloantibiotics. An additional goal is to shed light on the studies that must be accomplished to ensure stability and viability of such metalloantibiotics. Potentiometric, spectroscopic, microscopic, microbiological, and computational techniques are surveyed. Stability and partition constants, interaction with membrane porins and elucidation of their role in the influx, determination of the antimicrobial activity against multidrug-resistant (MDR) clinical isolates, elucidation of the mechanism of action, and toxicity assays are described for FQ metalloantibiotics.
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32
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Goode O, Smith A, Łapińska U, Bamford R, Kahveci Z, Glover G, Attrill E, Carr A, Metz J, Pagliara S. Heterologous Protein Expression Favors the Formation of Protein Aggregates in Persister and Viable but Nonculturable Bacteria. ACS Infect Dis 2021; 7:1848-1858. [PMID: 34000805 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.1c00154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Environmental and intracellular stresses can perturb protein homeostasis and trigger the formation and accumulation of protein aggregates. It has been recently suggested that the level of protein aggregates accumulated in bacteria correlates with the frequency of persister and viable but nonculturable cells that transiently survive treatment with multiple antibiotics. However, these findings have often been obtained employing fluorescent reporter strains. This enforced heterologous protein expression facilitates the visualization of protein aggregates but could also trigger the formation and accumulation of protein aggregates. Using microfluidics-based single-cell microscopy and a library of green fluorescent protein reporter strains, we show that heterologous protein expression favors the formation of protein aggregates. We found that persister and viable but nonculturable bacteria surviving treatment with antibiotics are more likely to contain protein aggregates and downregulate the expression of heterologous proteins. Our data also suggest that such aggregates are more basic with respect to the rest of the cell. These findings provide evidence for a strong link between heterologous protein expression, protein aggregation, intracellular pH, and phenotypic survival to antibiotics, suggesting that antibiotic treatments against persister and viable but nonculturable cells could be developed by modulating protein aggregation and pH regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Goode
- Living Systems Institute and Biosciences, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, EX4 4QD, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Ashley Smith
- Living Systems Institute and Biosciences, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, EX4 4QD, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Urszula Łapińska
- Living Systems Institute and Biosciences, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, EX4 4QD, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Rosemary Bamford
- Living Systems Institute and Biosciences, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, EX4 4QD, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Zehra Kahveci
- Living Systems Institute and Biosciences, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, EX4 4QD, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Georgina Glover
- Living Systems Institute and Biosciences, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, EX4 4QD, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Erin Attrill
- Living Systems Institute and Biosciences, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, EX4 4QD, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Alice Carr
- Living Systems Institute and Biosciences, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, EX4 4QD, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Jeremy Metz
- Living Systems Institute and Biosciences, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, EX4 4QD, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Stefano Pagliara
- Living Systems Institute and Biosciences, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, EX4 4QD, Exeter, United Kingdom
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33
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Rybenkov VV, Zgurskaya HI, Ganguly C, Leus IV, Zhang Z, Moniruzzaman M. The Whole Is Bigger than the Sum of Its Parts: Drug Transport in the Context of Two Membranes with Active Efflux. Chem Rev 2021; 121:5597-5631. [PMID: 33596653 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.0c01137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cell envelope plays a dual role in the life of bacteria by simultaneously protecting it from a hostile environment and facilitating access to beneficial molecules. At the heart of this ability lie the restrictive properties of the cellular membrane augmented by efflux transporters, which preclude intracellular penetration of most molecules except with the help of specialized uptake mediators. Recently, kinetic properties of the cell envelope came into focus driven on one hand by the urgent need in new antibiotics and, on the other hand, by experimental and theoretical advances in studies of transmembrane transport. A notable result from these studies is the development of a kinetic formalism that integrates the Michaelis-Menten behavior of individual transporters with transmembrane diffusion and offers a quantitative basis for the analysis of intracellular penetration of bioactive compounds. This review surveys key experimental and computational approaches to the investigation of transport by individual translocators and in whole cells, summarizes key findings from these studies and outlines implications for antibiotic discovery. Special emphasis is placed on Gram-negative bacteria, whose envelope contains two separate membranes. This feature sets these organisms apart from Gram-positive bacteria and eukaryotic cells by providing them with full benefits of the synergy between slow transmembrane diffusion and active efflux.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentin V Rybenkov
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Stephenson Life Sciences Research Center, University of Oklahoma, 101 Stephenson Parkway, Norman, Oklahoma 73019, United States
| | - Helen I Zgurskaya
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Stephenson Life Sciences Research Center, University of Oklahoma, 101 Stephenson Parkway, Norman, Oklahoma 73019, United States
| | - Chhandosee Ganguly
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Stephenson Life Sciences Research Center, University of Oklahoma, 101 Stephenson Parkway, Norman, Oklahoma 73019, United States
| | - Inga V Leus
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Stephenson Life Sciences Research Center, University of Oklahoma, 101 Stephenson Parkway, Norman, Oklahoma 73019, United States
| | - Zhen Zhang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Stephenson Life Sciences Research Center, University of Oklahoma, 101 Stephenson Parkway, Norman, Oklahoma 73019, United States
| | - Mohammad Moniruzzaman
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Stephenson Life Sciences Research Center, University of Oklahoma, 101 Stephenson Parkway, Norman, Oklahoma 73019, United States
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34
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Cama J, Pagliara S. Microfluidic Single-Cell Phenotyping of the Activity of Peptide-Based Antimicrobials. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2208:237-253. [PMID: 32856267 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0928-6_16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance is a major challenge for modern medicine, and there is a dire need to refresh the antibiotic development pipeline to treat infections that are resistant to currently available drugs. Peptide-based antimicrobials represent a promising source of novel anti-infectives, but their development is severely impeded due to the lack of suitable techniques to accurately quantify their antimicrobial efficacy. A major problem involves the heterogeneity of cellular phenotypes in response to these peptides, even within a clonal population of bacteria. There is thus a need to develop single-cell resolution assays to quantify drug efficacy for these novel therapeutics. We present here a detailed microfluidics-microscopy protocol for testing the efficacy of peptide-based antimicrobials on hundreds to thousands of individual bacteria in well-defined microenvironments. This enables the study of cell-to-cell differences in drug response within a clonal population. It is a highly versatile tool, which can be used to quantify drug efficacy, including the number of individual survivors at defined drug doses; it even enables the potential exploration of the molecular mechanisms of action of the drug, which are often unknown in the early stages of drug development. We present here protocols for working with Escherichia coli, but organisms of different geometric shapes and sizes may also be tested with suitable modifications of the microfluidic device.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jehangir Cama
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.
- College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.
| | - Stefano Pagliara
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.
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35
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Kaur J, Ghorbanpoor H, Öztürk Y, Kaygusuz Ö, Avcı H, Darcan C, Trabzon L, Güzel FD. On‐chip label‐free impedance‐based detection of antibiotic permeation. IET Nanobiotechnol 2021; 15:100-106. [PMID: 34694729 PMCID: PMC8675796 DOI: 10.1049/nbt2.12019] [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: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Biosensors are analytical tools used for the analysis of biomaterial samples and provide an understanding about the biocomposition, structure, and function of biomolecules and/or biomechanisms by converting the biological response into an electrical and/or optical signal. In particular, with the rise in antibiotic resistance amongst pathogenic bacteria, the study of antibiotic activity and transport across cell membranes in the field of biosensors has been gaining widespread importance. Herein, for the rapid and label‐free detection of antibiotic permeation across a membrane, a microelectrode integrated microfluidic device is presented. The integrated chip consists of polydimethylsiloxane based microfluidic channels bonded onto microelectrodes on‐glass and enables us to recognize the antibiotic permeation across a membrane into the model membranes based on electrical impedance measurement, while also allowing optical monitoring. Impedance testing is label free and therefore allows the detection of both fluorescent and non‐fluorescent antibiotics. As a model membrane, Giant Unilamellar Vesicles (GUVs) are used and impedance measurements were performed by a precision inductance, capacitance, and resistance metre. The measured signal recorded from the device was used to determine the change in concentration inside and outside of the GUVs. We have found that permeation of antibiotic molecules can be easily monitored over time using the proposed integrated device. The results also show a clear difference between bilayer permeation that occurs through the lipidic bilayer and porin‐mediated permeation through the porin channels inserted in the lipid bilayer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaspreet Kaur
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Yıldırım Beyazıt University Ankara Turkey
| | - Hamed Ghorbanpoor
- Department of Biomedical Engineering Yıldırım Beyazıt University Ankara Turkey
| | - Yasin Öztürk
- Department of Material Engineering Yıldırım Beyazıt University Ankara Turkey
| | - Özge Kaygusuz
- Biotechnology Application and Research Center Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University Bilecik Turkey
| | - Hüseyin Avcı
- Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Department Eskisehir Osmangazi University Eskisehir Turkey
- Cellular Therapy and Stem Cell Research Center (ESTEM) Eskisehir Osmangazi University Eskisehir Turkey
- AvciBio Research Group Eskisehir Osmangazi University Eskisehir Turkey
| | - Cihan Darcan
- Biotechnology Application and Research Center Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University Bilecik Turkey
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics Bilecik Seyh Edebali University Bilecik Turkey
| | - Levent Trabzon
- Department of Mechanical Engineering Istanbul Technical University Istanbul Turkey
- Nanotechnology Research and Application Center – ITUnano Istanbul Technical University Istanbul Turkey
| | - Fatma D. Güzel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering Yıldırım Beyazıt University Ankara Turkey
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Affiliation(s)
- Keke Hu
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Kemivägen 10, 41296 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Tho D. K. Nguyen
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Kemivägen 10, 41296 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Stefania Rabasco
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Kemivägen 10, 41296 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Pieter E. Oomen
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Kemivägen 10, 41296 Gothenburg, Sweden
- ParaMedir B.V., 1e Energieweg 13, 9301 LK Roden, The Netherlands
| | - Andrew G. Ewing
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Kemivägen 10, 41296 Gothenburg, Sweden
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Design and Clinical Application of an Integrated Microfluidic Device for Circulating Tumor Cells Isolation and Single-Cell Analysis. MICROMACHINES 2021; 12:mi12010049. [PMID: 33401770 PMCID: PMC7824094 DOI: 10.3390/mi12010049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Revised: 12/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have been considered as an alternative to tissue biopsy for providing both germline-specific and tumor-derived genetic variations. Single-cell analysis of CTCs enables in-depth investigation of tumor heterogeneity and individualized clinical assessment. However, common CTC enrichment techniques generally have limitations of low throughput and cell damage. Herein, based on micropore-arrayed filtration membrane and microfluidic chip, we established an integrated CTC isolation platform with high-throughput, high-efficiency, and less cell damage. We observed a capture rate of around 85% and a purity of 60.4% by spiking tumor cells (PC-9) into healthy blood samples. Detection of CTCs from lung cancer patients demonstrated a positive detectable rate of 87.5%. Additionally, single CTCs, ctDNA and liver biopsy tissue of a representative advanced lung cancer patient were collected and sequenced, which revealed comprehensive genetic information of CTCs while reflected the differences in genetic profiles between different biological samples. This work provides a promising tool for CTCs isolation and further analysis at single-cell resolution with potential clinical value.
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Stone MRL, Łapińska U, Pagliara S, Masi M, Blanchfield JT, Cooper MA, Blaskovich MAT. Fluorescent macrolide probes - synthesis and use in evaluation of bacterial resistance. RSC Chem Biol 2020; 1:395-404. [PMID: 34458770 PMCID: PMC8341779 DOI: 10.1039/d0cb00118j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The emerging crisis of antibiotic resistance requires a multi-pronged approach in order to avert the onset of a post-antibiotic age. Studies of antibiotic uptake and localisation in live cells may inform the design of improved drugs and help develop a better understanding of bacterial resistance and persistence. To facilitate this research, we have synthesised fluorescent derivatives of the macrolide antibiotic erythromycin. These analogues exhibit a similar spectrum of antibiotic activity to the parent drug and are capable of labelling both Gram-positive and -negative bacteria for microscopy. The probes localise intracellularly, with uptake in Gram-negative bacteria dependent on the level of efflux pump activity. A plate-based assay established to quantify bacterial labelling and localisation demonstrated that the probes were taken up by both susceptible and resistant bacteria. Significant intra-strain and -species differences were observed in these preliminary studies. In order to examine uptake in real-time, the probe was used in single-cell microfluidic microscopy, revealing previously unseen heterogeneity of uptake in populations of susceptible bacteria. These studies illustrate the potential of fluorescent macrolide probes to characterise and explore drug uptake and efflux in bacteria. Macrolide fluorescent probes illuminate the interactions between antibiotics and bacteria, providing new insight into mechanisms of resistance.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- M Rhia L Stone
- Centre for Superbug Solutions, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland 306 Carmody Road St Lucia 4072 Brisbane Australia
| | - Urszula Łapińska
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter Exeter EX4 4QD UK
| | - Stefano Pagliara
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter Exeter EX4 4QD UK
| | - Muriel Masi
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC) 911198 Gif-sur-Yvette France
| | - Joanne T Blanchfield
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland 68 Cooper Road St Lucia 4072 Brisbane Australia
| | - Matthew A Cooper
- Centre for Superbug Solutions, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland 306 Carmody Road St Lucia 4072 Brisbane Australia
| | - Mark A T Blaskovich
- Centre for Superbug Solutions, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland 306 Carmody Road St Lucia 4072 Brisbane Australia
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Winterhalter M. Antibiotic uptake through porins located in the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. Expert Opin Drug Deliv 2020; 18:449-457. [PMID: 33161750 DOI: 10.1080/17425247.2021.1847080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Making selective inhibitors of novel Gram-negative targets is not a substantial challenge - getting them into Gram-negative bacteria to reach their lethal target is the bottleneck. Poor permeability of the antibiotic requires high concentration causing off target activity. The lack of simple experimental techniques to measure antibiotic uptake as well as the local concentration at the target site creates a particular bottleneck in understanding and in improving the antibiotic activity.Areas covered: Here we recall current approaches to quantify the uptake. For a few antibiotics with known evidence for channel-limited permeation, the flux across a single OmpF or OmpC channel has been measured. For a typical concentration gradient of 1 µM of antibiotics the uptake varies between one up to few hundred molecules per second and per channel.Expert opinion: The current research effort is on quantifying the flux for a larger list of compounds on a cellular (mass spectra, fluorescence) or at single channel level (electrophysiology). A larger dataset of single channel permeabilities under various condition will be a powerful tool for understanding and improving the activity of antibiotics.
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Kmeck A, Tancer RJ, Ventura CR, Wiedman GR. Synergies with and Resistance to Membrane-Active Peptides. Antibiotics (Basel) 2020; 9:antibiotics9090620. [PMID: 32961656 PMCID: PMC7559582 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics9090620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Membrane-active peptides (MAPs) have long been thought of as the key to defeating antimicrobial-resistant microorganisms. Such peptides, however, may not be sufficient alone. In this review, we seek to highlight some of the common pathways for resistance, as well as some avenues for potential synergy. This discussion takes place considering resistance, and/or synergy in the extracellular space, at the membrane, and during interaction, and/or removal. Overall, this review shows that researchers require improved definitions of resistance and a more thorough understanding of MAP-resistance mechanisms. The solution to combating resistance may ultimately come from an understanding of how to harness the power of synergistic drug combinations.
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Evolving Technologies in Gastrointestinal Microbiome Era and Their Potential Clinical Applications. J Clin Med 2020; 9:jcm9082565. [PMID: 32784731 PMCID: PMC7464388 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9082565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The human gastrointestinal microbiota (GIM) is a complex and diverse ecosystem that consists of community of fungi, viruses, protists and majorly bacteria. The association of several human illnesses, such as inflammatory bowel disease, allergy, metabolic syndrome and cancers, have been linked directly or indirectly to compromise in the integrity of the GIM, for which some medical interventions have been proposed or attempted. This review highlights and gives update on various technologies, including microfluidics, high-through-put sequencing, metabolomics, metatranscriptomics and culture in GIM research and their applications in gastrointestinal microbiota therapy, with a view to raise interest in the evaluation, validation and eventual use of these technologies in diagnosis and the incorporation of therapies in routine clinical practice.
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