Possible mechanism of action of beta-lactam-enhancing factor on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Development of Functional Composite Cu(II)-Polyoxometalate/PLA with Antimicrobial Properties

Novel composite self-disinfecting films of polylactic acid (PLA) filled with nanosized particles of double sodium–copper(II) paratungstate B Na₂Cu₃(CuOH)₂[W₁₂O₄₀(OH)₂]·32H₂O (POM) were developed. The solvent casting (POM/PLA film) and solvent-free melt extrusion methods (Extr. POM/PLA film) were applied for film preparation. The copper (II) ion release to water from both types of the films after 10 days at different temperatures demonstrated that the PLA matrix acts as a diffusion barrier, and the resulting concentration of released copper in water at room temperature remained low, at 0.79% for POM/PLA film and 0.51% for Extr. POM/PLA film. The POM-containing films reveals a significant inhibitory effect against E. coli ATCC 25922 in the agar diffusion test. The numbers of CFUs in washes of the films after incubation for 24 h were found to be 3.6 log CFU mL^–1 (POM/PLA film) and 4.1 log CFU mL^–1 (Extr. POM/PLA film). The films combine the antibacterial properties of POM and a bio-based polymer matrix, which makes them a prospective coating material for applications in hospital indoor environments. Excellent thermal stability of POM gives a technological advantage for industrial manufacturing to allow the processing of novel composite material in the solvent free (molten) state.

The antibacterial activity of polyoxometalates: structures, antibiotic effects and future perspectives

Polyoxometalates (POMs) are, mostly anionic, metal oxide compounds that span a wide range of tunable physical and chemical features rendering them very interesting for biological purposes, an continuously emerging but little explored field. Due to their biological and biochemical effects, including antitumor, -viral and -bacterial properties, POMs and POM-based systems are considered as promising future metallodrugs. In this article, we focus on the antibacterial activity of POMs and their therapeutic potential in the battle against bacteria and their increasing resistance against pharmaceuticals. Recent advances in the synthesis of POMs are highlighted, with emphasis on the development and properties of biologically active POM-based hybrid and nanocomposite structures. By analysing the antibacterial activity and structure of POMs, putative mode of actions are provided, including potential targets for POM-protein interactions, and a structure-activity-relationship was established for a series of POMs against two bacteria, namely Helicobacter pylori and Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Decavanadate in vitro and in vivo effects: facts and opinions

This review covers recent advances in the understanding of the in vitro and in vivo effects of decavanadate, (V10O28)(6-), particularly in mitochondria. In vivo toxicological studies involving vanadium rarely account for the fact that under physiological conditions some vanadium may be present in the form of the decavanadate ion, which may behave differently from ortho- and metavanadates. It has for example been demonstrated that vanadium levels in heart or liver mitochondria are increased upon decavanadate exposure. Additionally, in vitro studies have shown that mitochondrial depolarization (IC50, 40 nM) and oxygen consumption (IC50, 99 nM) are strongly affected by decavanadate, which causes reduction of cytochrome b (complex III). We review these recent findings which together suggest that the observed cellular targets, metabolic pathway and toxicological effects differ according to the species of vanadium present. Finally, the toxicological effects of decavanadate depend on several factors such as the mode of administration, exposure time and type of tissue.

Does speciation matter for tungsten ecotoxicology?

Tungsten is a widely used transition metal that has not been thoroughly investigated with regards to its ecotoxicological effects. Tungsten anions polymerize in environmental systems as well as under physiological conditions in living organisms. These polymerization/condensation reactions result in the development of several types of stable polyoxoanions. Certain chemical properties (in particular redox and acidic properties) differentiate these polyanions from monotungstates. However, our current state of knowledge on tungsten toxicology, biological and environmental effects is based entirely on experiments where monotungstates were used and assumed by the authors to be the form of tungsten that was present and that produced the observed effect. Recent discoveries indicate that tungsten speciation may be important to ecotoxicology. New results obtained by different research groups demonstrate that polytungstates develop and persist in environmental systems, and that polyoxotungstates are much more toxic than monotungstates. This paper reviews the available toxicological information from the standpoint of tungsten speciation and identifies knowledge gaps and pertinent future research directions.

Effects of tungstosilicate on strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus with unique resistant mechanisms

In a previous study, it was found that polyoxotungstates such as undecatungstosilicate (SiW11) greatly sensitized strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) to beta-lactams. In this report, the effects of SiW11 on several MRSA strains with unique resistant mechanisms were studied. SiW11 was still effective to MRSA mutants with higher beta-lactam resistance due to reduced cell-lytic activity. Since the antimicrobial effect of TOC-39 (a cephem antibiotic with strong affinity to penicillin-binding protein (PBP) 2') was not strongly enhanced in any case, it was confirmed that the sensitizing effect of SiW11 is due to reduced expression of PBP2'. However, the sensitizing effect of SiW11 was relatively weak in MRSA strains with lowered susceptibility to glycopeptide antibiotics. A certain resistant mechanism other than the mecA-PBP2' system worked in such a strain. Interestingly, an MRSA mutant with the Eagle-type resistance was dramatically sensitized. This result suggests that SiW11 has another site of action besides reducing the expression of PBP2'.

Lacunary-substituted undecatungstosilicates sensitize methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus to beta-lactams

Some Keggin-structural (hetero)polyoxotungstates with a lacunary hole, such as undecatungstosilicate ([SiW11O39]8-, SiW11), greatly sensitize methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) to beta-lactams. In this study, the effects of lacunary-substituted derivatives of SiW11 were tested to determine if the lacunary hole is required for the sensitizing effect. Initially, it was supposed that the hole functioned as a binding site that interacts with some bacterial components. However, most of the lacunary-substituted species had stronger effects than SiW11, indicating that the hole is not essential for the sensitizing effect. Undecatungsto(ferri)ferrosilicate ([SiW11O39Fe](6/5-)) was the most potent compound tested, but undecatungstocobaltosilicate ([SiW11O39Co]6-) gave better results according to the fractional inhibitory concentration index. Small lipophilic cations enhanced the sensitizing effect, but bulky cations inhibited it. This suggests that a charge interaction between the tungsten compounds and some unknown materials in the culture medium or bacterial cells plays an important role in the sensitizing effect.

Purification of a factor that enhances the antibacterial activity of beta-lactams against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: its identification as undecaphosphotungstate

Previously, a factor (Factor T) was found in aged mixtures of tungstate and phosphate, which greatly enhances the antibacterial effects of beta-lactam antibiotics on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Factor T was purified and identified as undecaphosphotungstate ([PW11O39]7-). Undecasilicotungstate ([SiW11O39]8-), a compound closely related to undecaphosphotungstate, showed a similar enhancing effect.

Regulation of beta-lactamase synthesis as a novel site of action for suppression of methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus

Nearly all clinical isolates of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) produce beta-lactamase as well as an additional low-affinity penicillin-binding protein called PBP2a or PBP2', the main factor for mediating methicillin resistance. Polidocanol (PDO), a dodecyl polyethyleneoxide ether, resensitizes clinical isolates of MRSA to methicillin; in addition, their resistance to benzylpenicillin (BP) is reduced. The action of PDO is based on the inhibition of the induced syntheses of PBP2a and beta-lactamase. Induction in our study was performed with 2-(2'-carboxyphenyl)benzoyl-6-aminopenicillanic acid (CBAP). Inducible PBP2a production in MRSA strains is under the control of the same regulatory system which is responsible for the induction of beta-lactamase synthesis. BlaR1, a membrane-spanning protein with a penicillin sensor and a signal transducer domain represents the starting point of this induction cascade. Based on its amphiphilic properties, it is likely that the action of PDO is located in the bacterial membrane. Therefore we investigated the possibility that BlaR1 might be the main target for PDO action. We were able to detect the BlaR1 sensor domain in resistant staphylococcal cells even in the noninduced state by fluorography. In a competition assay, CBAP was bound specifically, with a high affinity to the penicillin sensor. Moreover, the binding of CBAP was very stable. As concerns PDO, no significant interaction with the penicillin binding site of BlaR1 was detectable. This is why the BlaR1 transducer domain is thought to be the actual target area of PDO. In this case, PDO would interfere with the transmission of the signal, generated by the receptor binding of CBAP, through the membrane via BlaR1 into the staphylococcal cell. This assumption could be confirmed by the analysis of the concentration-effect relationship, whereafter PDO does not work as a competitive, but as a noncompetitive antagonist of CBAP. Our results demonstrate that BlaR1 could be an attractive new target for the development of new drugs to overcome methicillin resistance.