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Kant R, Tilford H, Freitas CS, Ferreira DAS, Ng J, Rucinski G, Watkins J, Pemberton R, Abramyan TM, Contreras SC, Vera A, Christodoulides M. Antimicrobial activity of compounds identified by artificial intelligence discovery engine targeting enzymes involved in Neisseria gonorrhoeae peptidoglycan metabolism. Biol Res 2024; 57:62. [PMID: 39238057 PMCID: PMC11375863 DOI: 10.1186/s40659-024-00543-9] [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: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 08/27/2024] [Indexed: 09/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Ng) causes the sexually transmitted disease gonorrhoea. There are no vaccines and infections are treated principally with antibiotics. However, gonococci rapidly develop resistance to every antibiotic class used and there is a need for developing new antimicrobial treatments. In this study we focused on two gonococcal enzymes as potential antimicrobial targets, namely the serine protease L,D-carboxypeptidase LdcA (NgO1274/NEIS1546) and the lytic transglycosylase LtgD (NgO0626/NEIS1212). To identify compounds that could interact with these enzymes as potential antimicrobials, we used the AtomNet virtual high-throughput screening technology. We then did a computational modelling study to examine the interactions of the most bioactive compounds with their target enzymes. The identified compounds were tested against gonococci to determine minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations (MIC/MBC), specificity, and compound toxicity in vitro. RESULTS AtomNet identified 74 compounds that could potentially interact with Ng-LdcA and 84 compounds that could potentially interact with Ng-LtgD. Through MIC and MBC assays, we selected the three best performing compounds for both enzymes. Compound 16 was the most active against Ng-LdcA, with a MIC50 value < 1.56 µM and MBC50/90 values between 0.195 and 0.39 µM. In general, the Ng-LdcA compounds showed higher activity than the compounds directed against Ng-LtgD, of which compound 45 had MIC50 values of 1.56-3.125 µM and MBC50/90 values between 3.125 and 6.25 µM. The compounds were specific for gonococci and did not kill other bacteria. They were also non-toxic for human conjunctival epithelial cells as judged by a resazurin assay. To support our biological data, in-depth computational modelling study detailed the interactions of the compounds with their target enzymes. Protein models were generated in silico and validated, the active binding sites and amino acids involved elucidated, and the interactions of the compounds interacting with the enzymes visualised through molecular docking and Molecular Dynamics Simulations for 50 ns and Molecular Mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann Surface Area (MM-PBSA). CONCLUSIONS We have identified bioactive compounds that appear to target the N. gonorrhoeae LdcA and LtgD enzymes. By using a reductionist approach involving biological and computational data, we propose that compound Ng-LdcA-16 and Ng-LtgD-45 are promising anti-gonococcal compounds for further development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravi Kant
- Neisseria Research Group, Molecular Microbiology, School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, England, SO16 6YD
- Medical Biotechnology Laboratory, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Center for Biomedical Research, University of Delhi, North Campus, Delhi, 110007, India
| | - Hannah Tilford
- Neisseria Research Group, Molecular Microbiology, School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, England, SO16 6YD
| | - Camila S Freitas
- Neisseria Research Group, Molecular Microbiology, School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, England, SO16 6YD
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 30130-100, Brazil
| | - Dayana A Santos Ferreira
- Neisseria Research Group, Molecular Microbiology, School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, England, SO16 6YD
- Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Butantan Institute, Av. Vital Brazil, 1500, São Paulo, SP, 05503-900, Brazil
| | - James Ng
- Neisseria Research Group, Molecular Microbiology, School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, England, SO16 6YD
| | - Gwennan Rucinski
- Neisseria Research Group, Molecular Microbiology, School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, England, SO16 6YD
| | - Joshua Watkins
- Neisseria Research Group, Molecular Microbiology, School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, England, SO16 6YD
| | - Ryan Pemberton
- ATOMWISE, 717 Market Street, Suite 800, San Francisco, CA, 94103, USA
| | - Tigran M Abramyan
- ATOMWISE, 717 Market Street, Suite 800, San Francisco, CA, 94103, USA
| | | | - Alejandra Vera
- Laboratorio de Bacteriología, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Myron Christodoulides
- Neisseria Research Group, Molecular Microbiology, School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, England, SO16 6YD.
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Williams E, Seib KL, Fairley CK, Pollock GL, Hocking JS, McCarthy JS, Williamson DA. Neisseria gonorrhoeae vaccines: a contemporary overview. Clin Microbiol Rev 2024; 37:e0009423. [PMID: 38226640 PMCID: PMC10938898 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00094-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection is an important public health issue, with an annual global incidence of 87 million. N. gonorrhoeae infection causes significant morbidity and can have serious long-term impacts on reproductive and neonatal health and may rarely cause life-threatening disease. Global rates of N. gonorrhoeae infection have increased over the past 20 years. Importantly, rates of antimicrobial resistance to key antimicrobials also continue to increase, with the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identifying drug-resistant N. gonorrhoeae as an urgent threat to public health. This review summarizes the current evidence for N. gonorrhoeae vaccines, including historical clinical trials, key N. gonorrhoeae vaccine preclinical studies, and studies of the impact of Neisseria meningitidis vaccines on N. gonorrhoeae infection. A comprehensive survey of potential vaccine antigens, including those identified through traditional vaccine immunogenicity approaches, as well as those identified using more contemporary reverse vaccinology approaches, are also described. Finally, the potential epidemiological impacts of a N. gonorrhoeae vaccine and research priorities for further vaccine development are described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eloise Williams
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kate L. Seib
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
| | - Christopher K. Fairley
- Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Georgina L. Pollock
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jane S. Hocking
- Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - James S. McCarthy
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Victorian Infectious Diseases Service, Royal Melbourne Hospital at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Deborah A. Williamson
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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3
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Hofkens N, Gestels Z, Abdellati S, Gabant P, Rodriguez-Villalobos H, Martin A, Kenyon C, Manoharan-Basil SS. Protective effect of microbisporicin (NAI-107) against vancomycin resistant Enterococcus faecium infection in a Galleria mellonella model. Sci Rep 2024; 14:4786. [PMID: 38413672 PMCID: PMC10899196 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-55262-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Increasing antimicrobial resistance in Enterococcus faecium necessitates the search for novel treatment agents, such as bacteriocins. In this study, we conducted an in vivo assessment of five bacteriocins, namely Lacticin Z, Lacticin Q, Garvicin KS (ABC), Aureocin A53 and Microbisporicin (NAI-107), against vanB-resistant Enterococcus faecium using a Galleria mellonella model. Our in vitro experiments demonstrated the efficacy of all five bacteriocins against vanB-resistant E. faecium with only NAI-107 demonstrating in vivo efficacy. Notably, NAI-107 exhibited efficacy across a range of tested doses, with the highest efficacy observed at a concentration of 16 µg/mL. Mortality rates in the group treated with 16 µg/mL NAI-107 were lower than those observed in the linezolid-treated group. These findings strongly suggest that NAI-107 holds promise as a potential alternative therapeutic agent for treating infections caused by resistant E. faecium and warrants further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nele Hofkens
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Zina Gestels
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Saïd Abdellati
- Clinical Reference Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | | | | | - Chris Kenyon
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7700, South Africa
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Gestels Z, De Baetselier I, Abdellati S, Manoharan-Basil SS, Kenyon C. Ramoplanin as a novel therapy for Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection: an in vitro and in vivo study in Galleria mellonella. J Med Microbiol 2024; 73. [PMID: 38214499 DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.001785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a bacterial pathogen that causes gonorrhoea, a sexually transmitted infection. Increasing antimicrobial resistance in N. gonorrhoeae is providing motivation to develop new treatment options. In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of the antibiotic ramoplanin as a treatment for N. gonorrhoeae infection. We tested the effectiveness of ramoplanin in vitro against 14 World Health Organization (WHO) reference strains of N. gonorrhoeae and found that it was active against all 14 strains tested. Furthermore, in a Galleria mellonella infection model of N. gonorrhoeae WHO P, we demonstrated that ramoplanin was active in vivo without any evidence of toxicity. This suggests that ramoplanin might be a new promising antibiotic treatment for gonorrhoea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zina Gestels
- STI Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp 2000, Belgium
| | - Irith De Baetselier
- Clinical and Reference Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Said Abdellati
- Clinical and Reference Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | - Chris Kenyon
- STI Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp 2000, Belgium
- Division of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa
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5
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Hofkens N, Gestels Z, Abdellati S, De Baetselier I, Gabant P, Martin A, Kenyon C, Manoharan-Basil SS. Microbisporicin (NAI-107) protects Galleria mellonella from infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0282523. [PMID: 37823634 PMCID: PMC10715042 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02825-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE We screened 66 bacteriocins to see if they exhibited anti-gonococcal activity. We found 12 bacteriocins with anti-gonococcal effects, and 4 bacteriocins showed higher anti-gonococcal activity. Three bacteriocins, lacticin Z, lacticin Q, and Garvicin KS (ABC), showed in vitro anti-gonococcal activity but no in vivo inhibitory effects against the Neisseria gonorrhoeae (WHO-P) isolate. On the other hand, NAI-107 showed in vivo anti-gonococcal activity. The findings suggest that NAI-107 is a promising alternative to treat gonorrhea infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nele Hofkens
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Zina Gestels
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Said Abdellati
- Clinical Reference Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Irith De Baetselier
- Clinical Reference Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | | | - Christopher Kenyon
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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Alves LA, Naveed H, Franco EM, Garcia MT, Freitas VA, Junqueira JC, Bastos DC, Araujo TLS, Chen T, Mattos-Graner RO. PepO and CppA modulate Streptococcus sanguinis susceptibility to complement immunity and virulence. Virulence 2023; 14:2239519. [PMID: 37563831 PMCID: PMC10424592 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2023.2239519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus sanguinis is a ubiquitous commensal species of the oral cavity commonly involved as an opportunistic pathogen in cardiovascular infections. In this study, we investigated the functions of endopeptidase O (PepO) and a C3-degrading protease (CppA) in the systemic virulence of S. sanguinis. Isogenic mutants of pepO and cppA obtained in strain SK36 showed increased susceptibility to C3b deposition and to opsonophagocytosis by human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN). These mutants differ, however, in their profiles of binding to serum amyloid P component (SAP) and C1q, whereas both showed reduced interaction with C4b-binding protein (C4BP) and/or factor H (FH) regulators as compared to SK36. The two mutants showed defects in ex vivo persistence in human blood, serum-mediated invasion of HCAEC endothelial cells, and virulence in a Galleria mellonella infection model. The transcriptional activities of pepO and cppA, assessed by RT-qPCR in nine wild-type strains, further indicated strain-specific profiles of pepO/cppA expression. Moreover, non-conserved amino acid substitutions were detected among the strains, mostly in CppA. Phylogenetic comparisons with homologues of streptococcal species of the oral and oropharyngeal sites suggested that S. sanguinis PepO and CppA have independent ancestralities. Thus, this study showed that PepO and CppA are complement evasion proteins expressed by S. sanguinis in a strain-specific manner, which are required for multiple functions associated with cardiovascular virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lívia A. Alves
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, Piracicaba Dental School, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
| | - Hassan Naveed
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, Piracicaba Dental School, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
| | - Eduardo M. Franco
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, Piracicaba Dental School, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
| | - Maíra Terra Garcia
- Department of Biosciences and Oral Diagnosis, Institute of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil
| | - Victor A. Freitas
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, Piracicaba Dental School, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
| | - Juliana C. Junqueira
- Department of Biosciences and Oral Diagnosis, Institute of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil
| | - Débora C. Bastos
- Department of Biosciences, Piracicaba Dental School, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
- Department of Cell Biology, São Leopoldo Mandic Medical School, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Thaís L. S. Araujo
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Tsute Chen
- Department of Microbiology, The Forsyth Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Renata O. Mattos-Graner
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, Piracicaba Dental School, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
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Wang S, Yin Y, Zai X, Gu Y, Guo F, Shao F, Zhang Y, Li Y, Li R, Zhang J, Xu J, Chen W. A novel Galleria mellonella experimental model for zoonotic pathogen Brucella. Virulence 2023; 14:2268496. [PMID: 37817444 PMCID: PMC10599192 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2023.2268496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Brucellosis is a major threat to public health and animal husbandry. Several in vivo vertebrate models, such as mice, guinea pigs, and nonhuman primates, have been used to study Brucella pathogenesis, bacteria-host interactions, and vaccine efficacy. However, these models have limitations whereas the invertebrate Galleria mellonella model is a cost-effective and ethical alternative. The aim of the present study was to examine the invertebrate G. mellonella as an in vivo infection model for Brucella. Infection assays were employed to validate the fitness of the larval model for Brucella infection and virulence evaluation. The protective efficacy of immune sera was evaluated by pre-incubated with a lethal dose of bacteria before infection. The consistency between the mouse model and the larval model was confirmed by assessing the protective efficacy of two Brucella vaccine strains. The results show that G. mellonella could be infected by Brucella strains, in a dose- and temperature-dependent way. Moreover, this larval model can effectively evaluate the virulence of Brucella strains in a manner consistent with that of mammalian infection models. Importantly, this model can assess the protective efficacy of vaccine immune sera within a day. Further investigation implied that haemolymph played a crucial role in the protective efficacy of immune sera. In conclusion, G. mellonella could serve as a quick, efficient, and reliable model for evaluating the virulence of Brucella strains and efficacy of immune sera in an ethical manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuyi Wang
- Laboratory of Vaccine and Antibody Engineering, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Ying Yin
- Laboratory of Vaccine and Antibody Engineering, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaodong Zai
- Laboratory of Vaccine and Antibody Engineering, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Yanfei Gu
- Laboratory of Vaccine and Antibody Engineering, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Fengyu Guo
- Laboratory of Vaccine and Antibody Engineering, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Fangze Shao
- Laboratory of Vaccine and Antibody Engineering, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- Laboratory of Vaccine and Antibody Engineering, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Yaohui Li
- Laboratory of Vaccine and Antibody Engineering, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Ruihua Li
- Laboratory of Vaccine and Antibody Engineering, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- Laboratory of Vaccine and Antibody Engineering, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Junjie Xu
- Laboratory of Vaccine and Antibody Engineering, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Laboratory of Vaccine and Antibody Engineering, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
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Kenyon C, Gestels Z, Vanbaelen T, Abdellati S, Van Den Bossche D, De Baetselier I, Xavier BB, Manoharan-Basil SS. Doxycycline PEP can induce doxycycline resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae in a Galleria mellonella model of PEP. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1208014. [PMID: 37711686 PMCID: PMC10498386 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1208014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Four randomized controlled trials have now established that doxycycline post exposure (sex) prophylaxis (PEP) can reduce the incidence of chlamydia and syphilis in men who have sex with men. These studies have concluded that the risk of selecting for antimicrobial resistance is low. We evaluated this risk in vitro and in vivo using a Galleria mellonella infection model. Methods We evaluated how long it took for doxycycline resistance to emerge during passage on doxycycline containing agar plates in 4 species - Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria subflava. We then assessed if K. pneumoniae could acquire resistance to doxycycline (and cross resistance to other antimicrobials) during intermittent exposure to doxycycline in a Galleria mellonella model of doxycycline PEP. Results In our passage experiments, we found that resistance first emerged in K. pneumoniae. By day 7 the K. pneumoniae MIC had increased from 2 mg/L to a median of 96 mg/L (IQR 64-96). Under various simulations of doxycycline PEP in the G. mellonella model, the doxycycline MIC of K. pneumoniae increased from 2 mg/L to 48 mg/L (IQR 48-84). Ceftriaxone and ciprofloxacin MICs increased over ten-fold. Whole genome sequencing revealed acquired mutations in ramR which regulates the expression of the AcrAB-TolC efflux pump. Conclusion Doxycycline PEP can select for doxycycline, ceftriaxone and ciprofloxacin resistance in K. pneumoniae in a G. mellonella model. The emergent ramR mutations were similar to those seen in circulating strains of K. pneumoniae. These findings suggest that we need to assess the effect of doxycycline PEP on resistance induction on a broader range of bacterial species than has hitherto been the case.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris Kenyon
- STI Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
- Division of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Zina Gestels
- STI Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Thibaut Vanbaelen
- STI Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Said Abdellati
- Clinical Reference Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Dorien Van Den Bossche
- Clinical Reference Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Irith De Baetselier
- Clinical Reference Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Basil Britto Xavier
- STI Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
- Hospital Outbreak Support Team-HOST, Ziekenhuis Netwerk Antwerpen Middelheim, Antwerp, Belgium
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Girgis MM, Christodoulides M. Vertebrate and Invertebrate Animal and New In Vitro Models for Studying Neisseria Biology. Pathogens 2023; 12:782. [PMID: 37375472 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12060782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The history of Neisseria research has involved the use of a wide variety of vertebrate and invertebrate animal models, from insects to humans. In this review, we itemise these models and describe how they have made significant contributions to understanding the pathophysiology of Neisseria infections and to the development and testing of vaccines and antimicrobials. We also look ahead, briefly, to their potential replacement by complex in vitro cellular models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael M Girgis
- Neisseria Research Group, Molecular Microbiology, School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
| | - Myron Christodoulides
- Neisseria Research Group, Molecular Microbiology, School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
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10
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Guevara MA, Francis JD, Lu J, Manning SD, Doster RS, Moore RE, Gaddy JA. Streptococcus agalactiae cadD Is Critical for Pathogenesis in the Invertebrate Galleria mellonella Model. ACS Infect Dis 2022; 8:2405-2412. [PMID: 36445344 PMCID: PMC10262471 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.2c00453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a gram-positive bacterium that can cause invasive infections in immunocompromised, elderly, pregnant, or neonatal patients. The invertebrate model, Galleria mellonella, has emerged as an effective tool to study GBS-host interactions; specifically, those conserved within the innate arm of the immune system. We sought to determine the role of metal homeostasis functions in GBS infections of G. mellonella larvae and to validate this model as a tool to study GBS-host interactions. Our results indicate that wild-type GBS infects G. mellonella in a dose-dependent manner, replicates in the invertebrate host, induces larval melanization and larval killing. These results were significantly abrogated in cohorts of larvae infected with the isogenic cadD deletion mutant. Additionally, complementation restored GBS-dependent infection, bacterial burden, larval melanization, and killing to wild-type levels. Together, these results indicate that the G. mellonella model is a useful tool for studying GBS pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam A. Guevara
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, U.S.A
| | - Jamisha D. Francis
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, U.S.A
| | - Jacky Lu
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, U.S.A
| | - Shannon D. Manning
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, 48864, U.S.A
| | - Ryan S. Doster
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, U.S.A
| | - Rebecca E. Moore
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, U.S.A
| | - Jennifer A. Gaddy
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, U.S.A
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, U.S.A
- Tennessee Valley Healthcare Systems, Department of Veterans Affairs, Nashville, Tennessee, 37212, U.S.A
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11
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Tan M, Li Y, Xu J, Yan S, Jiang D. Effects of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi-Colonized Populus alba × P. berolinensis Seedlings on the Microbial and Metabolic Status of Gypsy Moth Larvae. INSECTS 2022; 13:1002. [PMID: 36354825 PMCID: PMC9697668 DOI: 10.3390/insects13111002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are considered as important biological factors that can affect insect resistance of plants. Herein, we used AMF-poplar seedlings that could either increase or decrease the resistance to gypsy moth larvae, to elucidate the mechanism of mycorrhizal-induced insect resistance/susceptibility at the larval microbial and metabolic levels. Our results found that larval plant consumption and growth were significantly inhibited in the Glomus mossae (GM)-colonized seedlings, whereas they were enhanced in the Glomus intraradices (GI)-colonized seedlings. GM inoculation reduced the beneficial bacteria abundance in the larval gut and inhibited the detoxification and metabolic functions of gut microbiota. However, GI inoculation improved the larval gut environment by decreasing the pathogenic bacteria and activating specific metabolic pathways. Furthermore, GM inoculation triggers a metabolic disorder in the larval fat body, accompanied by the suppression of detoxification and energy production pathways. The levels of differentially accumulated metabolites related to amino acid synthesis and metabolism and exogenous toxin metabolism pathways were significantly increased in the GI group. Taken together, the disadaptation of gypsy moth larvae to leaves of GM-colonized seedlings led to the GM-induced insect resistance in poplar, and to the GI-induced insect susceptibility involved in the improvement of larval gut environment and fat body energy metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingtao Tan
- School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management-Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Yaning Li
- School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management-Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Jinsheng Xu
- School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management-Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Shanchun Yan
- School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management-Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Dun Jiang
- School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management-Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
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12
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Prasastha Ram V, Yasur J, Abishad P, Unni V, Purushottam Gourkhede D, Nishanth MAD, Niveditha P, Vergis J, Singh Malik SV, Kullaiah B, Kurkure NV, Ramesh C, Dufossé L, Rawool DB, Barbuddhe SB. Antimicrobial Efficacy of Green Synthesized Nanosilver with Entrapped Cinnamaldehyde against Multi-Drug-Resistant Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli in Galleria mellonella. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:1924. [PMID: 36145672 PMCID: PMC9503582 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14091924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The global emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) needs no emphasis. In this study, the in vitro stability, safety, and antimicrobial efficacy of nanosilver-entrapped cinnamaldehyde (AgC) against multi-drug-resistant (MDR) strains of enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) were investigated. Further, the in vivo antibacterial efficacy of AgC against MDR-EAEC was also assessed in Galleria mellonella larval model. In brief, UV-Vis and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed effective entrapment of cinnamaldehyde with nanosilver, and the loading efficiency was estimated to be 29.50 ± 0.56%. The AgC was of crystalline form as determined by the X-ray diffractogram with a mono-dispersed spherical morphology of 9.243 ± 1.83 nm in electron microscopy. AgC exhibited a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 0.008−0.016 mg/mL and a minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 0.008−0.032 mg/mL against MDR- EAEC strains. Furthermore, AgC was stable (high-end temperatures, proteases, cationic salts, pH, and host sera) and tested safe for sheep erythrocytes as well as secondary cell lines (RAW 264.7 and HEp-2) with no negative effects on the commensal gut lactobacilli. in vitro, time-kill assays revealed that MBC levels of AgC could eliminate MDR-EAEC infection in 120 min. In G. mellonella larvae, AgC (MBC values) increased survival, decreased MDR-EAEC counts (p < 0.001), had an enhanced immunomodulatory effect, and was tested safe to the host. These findings infer that entrapment enhanced the efficacy of cinnamaldehyde and AgNPs, overcoming their limitations when used individually, indicating AgC as a promising alternative antimicrobial candidate. However, further investigation in appropriate animal models is required to declare its application against MDR pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vemula Prasastha Ram
- Division of Veterinary Public Health, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, India
- ICAR-National Research Centre on Meat, Hyderabad 500092, India
| | - Jyothsna Yasur
- ICAR-National Research Centre on Meat, Hyderabad 500092, India
| | - Padikkamannil Abishad
- Department of Veterinary Public Health, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pookode, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Pookode 673576, India
| | - Varsha Unni
- Department of Veterinary Public Health, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pookode, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Pookode 673576, India
| | - Diksha Purushottam Gourkhede
- Division of Veterinary Public Health, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, India
- ICAR-National Research Centre on Meat, Hyderabad 500092, India
| | - Maria Anto Dani Nishanth
- Division of Veterinary Public Health, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, India
- ICAR-National Research Centre on Meat, Hyderabad 500092, India
| | | | - Jess Vergis
- Department of Veterinary Public Health, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pookode, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Pookode 673576, India
| | - Satya Veer Singh Malik
- Division of Veterinary Public Health, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, India
| | - Byrappa Kullaiah
- Centre for Research and Innovations, BGS Institute of Technology, Adichunchanagiri University, Mandya 571448, India
| | | | - Chatragadda Ramesh
- Biological Oceanography Division (BOD), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, National Institute of Oceanography (CSIR-NIO), Dona Paula 403004, India
| | - Laurent Dufossé
- Chemistry and Biotechnology of Natural Products (CHEMBIOPRO Lab), Département Agroalimentaire, Ecole Supérieure d’Ingénieurs Réunion Océan Indien (ESIROI), Université de La Réunion, F-97744 Saint-Denis, France
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13
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Savitskaya VY, Monakhova MV, Iakushkina IV, Borovikova II, Kubareva EA. Neisseria gonorrhoeae: DNA Repair Systems and Their Role in Pathogenesis. BIOCHEMISTRY. BIOKHIMIIA 2022; 87:965-982. [PMID: 36180987 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297922090097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Neisseria gonorrhoeae (a Gram-negative diplococcus) is a human pathogen and causative agent of gonorrhea, a sexually transmitted infection. The bacterium uses various approaches for adapting to environmental conditions and multiplying efficiently in the human body, such as regulation of expression of gene expression of surface proteins and lipooligosaccharides (e.g., expression of various forms of pilin). The systems of DNA repair play an important role in the bacterium ability to survive in the host body. This review describes DNA repair systems of N. gonorrhoeae and their role in the pathogenicity of this bacterium. A special attention is paid to the mismatch repair system (MMR) and functioning of the MutS and MutL proteins, as well as to the role of these proteins in regulation of the pilin antigenic variation of the N. gonorrhoeae pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mayya V Monakhova
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Iuliia V Iakushkina
- Faculty of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Irina I Borovikova
- Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Elena A Kubareva
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia.
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14
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Asai M, Li Y, Spiropoulos J, Cooley W, Everest DJ, Kendall SL, Martín C, Robertson BD, Langford PR, Newton SM. Galleria mellonella as an infection model for the virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv. Virulence 2022; 13:1543-1557. [PMID: 36052440 PMCID: PMC9481108 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2022.2119657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), is a leading cause of infectious disease mortality. Animal infection models have contributed substantially to our understanding of TB, yet their biological and non-biological limitations are a research bottleneck. There is a need for more ethically acceptable, economical, and reproducible TB infection models capable of mimicking key aspects of disease. Here, we demonstrate and present a basic description of how Galleria mellonella (the greater wax moth, Gm) larvae can be used as a low cost, rapid, and ethically more acceptable model for TB research. This is the first study to infect Gm with the fully virulent MTB H37Rv, the most widely used strain in research. Infection of Gm with MTB resulted in a symptomatic lethal infection, the virulence of which differed from both attenuated Mycobacterium bovis BCG and auxotrophic MTB strains. The Gm-MTB model can also be used for anti-TB drug screening, although CFU enumeration from Gm is necessary for confirmation of mycobacterial load reducing activity of the tested compound. Furthermore, comparative virulence of MTB isogenic mutants can be determined in Gm. However, comparison of mutant phenotypes in Gm against conventional models must consider the limitations of innate immunity. Our findings indicate that Gm will be a practical, valuable, and advantageous additional model to be used alongside existing models to advance tuberculosis research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masanori Asai
- Section of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Yanwen Li
- Section of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - John Spiropoulos
- Department of Pathology, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Addlestone, UK
| | - William Cooley
- Department of Pathology, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Addlestone, UK
| | - David J Everest
- Department of Pathology, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Addlestone, UK
| | - Sharon L Kendall
- Centre for Emerging, Endemic and Exotic Diseases, Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hartfield, UK
| | - Carlos Martín
- Department of Microbiology, Facultad de Medicina Universidad de Zaragoza, CIBERES, (ISCIII), Spain
| | - Brian D Robertson
- MRC Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Paul R Langford
- Section of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Sandra M Newton
- Section of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, UK
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15
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Heydarian M, Rühl E, Rawal R, Kozjak-Pavlovic V. Tissue Models for Neisseria gonorrhoeae Research—From 2D to 3D. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:840122. [PMID: 35223556 PMCID: PMC8873371 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.840122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a human-specific pathogen that causes gonorrhea, the second most common sexually transmitted infection worldwide. Disease progression, drug discovery, and basic host-pathogen interactions are studied using different approaches, which rely on models ranging from 2D cell culture to complex 3D tissues and animals. In this review, we discuss the models used in N. gonorrhoeae research. We address both in vivo (animal) and in vitro cell culture models, discussing the pros and cons of each and outlining the recent advancements in the field of three-dimensional tissue models. From simple 2D monoculture to complex advanced 3D tissue models, we provide an overview of the relevant methodology and its application. Finally, we discuss future directions in the exciting field of 3D tissue models and how they can be applied for studying the interaction of N. gonorrhoeae with host cells under conditions closely resembling those found at the native sites of infection.
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