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Santacroce L, Topi S, Charitos IA, Lovero R, Luperto P, Palmirotta R, Jirillo E. Current Views about the Inflammatory Damage Triggered by Bacterial Superantigens and Experimental Attempts to Neutralize Superantigen-Mediated Toxic Effects with Natural and Biological Products. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY 2024; 31:18-31. [PMID: 38251046 PMCID: PMC10801599 DOI: 10.3390/pathophysiology31010002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/07/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Superantigens, i.e., staphylococcal enterotoxins and toxic shock syndrome toxin-1, interact with T cells in a different manner in comparison to conventional antigens. In fact, they activate a larger contingent of T lymphocytes, binding outside the peptide-binding groove of the major histocompatibility complex class II. Involvement of many T cells by superantigens leads to a massive release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-1, IL-2, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interferon-gamma. Such a storm of mediators has been shown to account for tissue damage, multiorgan failure and shock. Besides conventional drugs and biotherapeutics, experiments with natural and biological products have been undertaken to attenuate the toxic effects exerted by superantigens. In this review, emphasis will be placed on polyphenols, probiotics, beta-glucans and antimicrobial peptides. In fact, these substances share a common functional denominator, since they skew the immune response toward an anti-inflammatory profile, thus mitigating the cytokine wave evoked by superantigens. However, clinical applications of these products are still scarce, and more trials are needed to validate their usefulness in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Santacroce
- Section of Microbiology and Virology, Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, 70124 Bari, Italy;
| | - Skender Topi
- Department of Clinical Disciplines, University ‘Alexander Xhuvani’ of Elbasan, 3001 Elbasan, Albania
| | - Ioannis Alexandros Charitos
- Division of Pneumology and Respiratory Rehabilitation, Maugeri Clinical Scientific Research Institutes (IRCCS) of Pavia—Scientific Institute of Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Roberto Lovero
- Clinical Pathology Unit, AOU Policlinico Consorziale di Bari-Ospedale Giovanni XXIII, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | | | - Raffaele Palmirotta
- Section of Microbiology and Virology, Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, 70124 Bari, Italy;
| | - Emilio Jirillo
- Section of Microbiology and Virology, Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, 70124 Bari, Italy;
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Arrigoni R, Ballini A, Santacroce L, Palese LL. The Dynamics of OXA-23 β-Lactamase from Acinetobacter baumannii. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:17527. [PMID: 38139363 PMCID: PMC10743560 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242417527] [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: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance is a pressing topic, which also affects β-lactam antibiotic molecules. Until a few years ago, it was considered no more than an interesting species from an academic point of view, Acinetobacter baumanii is today one of the most serious threats to public health, so much so that it has been declared one of the species for which the search for new antibiotics, or new ways to avoid its resistance, is an absolute priority according to WHO. Although there are several molecular mechanisms that are responsible for the extreme resistance of A. baumanii to antibiotics, a class D β-lactamase is the main cause for the clinical concern of this bacterial species. In this work, we analyzed the A. baumanii OXA-23 protein via molecular dynamics. The results obtained show that this protein is able to assume different conformations, especially in some regions around the active site. Part of the OXA-23 protein has considerable conformational motility, while the rest is less mobile. The importance of these observations for understanding the functioning mechanism of the enzyme as well as for designing new effective molecules for the treatment of A. baumanii is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Arrigoni
- CNR Institute of Biomembranes, Bioenergetics and Molecular Biotechnologies (IBIOM), 70126 Bari, Italy;
| | - Andrea Ballini
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy
| | - Luigi Santacroce
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine (DIM), University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, 70124 Bari, Italy;
| | - Luigi Leonardo Palese
- Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neurosciences—(DiBraiN), University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, 70124 Bari, Italy
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Dreger M, Adamczak A, Foksowicz-Flaczyk J. Antibacterial and Antimycotic Activity of Epilobium angustifolium L. Extracts: A Review. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:1419. [PMID: 37895890 PMCID: PMC10609845 DOI: 10.3390/ph16101419] [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: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this work was to provide an overview of available information on the antibacterial and antifungal properties of Epilobium angustifolium extracts. A literature search of Scopus, PubMed/Medline, and Google Scholar for peer-reviewed articles published between January 2000 and June 2023 was undertaken. A total of 23 studies were eligible for inclusion in this review. Significant variation of antimicrobial activity depending on the tested species and strains, type of extract solvent, or plant organs utilized for the extract preparation was found. E. angustifolium extracts were active against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and showed antimycotic effects against the fungi of Microsporum canis and Trichophyton tonsurans and the dermatophytes Arthroderma spp. Greater susceptibility of Gram-positive than Gram-negative bacteria to fireweed extracts was found. A strong antibacterial effect was recorded for Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Micrococcus luteus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii including multi-drug resistant strains. E. angustifolium extract might find practical application as an antimicrobial in wound healing, components of cosmetic products for human and animals, or as food preservatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariola Dreger
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Natural Fibres and Medicinal Plants—National Research Institute, Wojska Polskiego 71b, 60-630 Poznan, Poland
| | - Artur Adamczak
- Department of Breeding and Botany of Useful Plants, Institute of Natural Fibres and Medicinal Plants—National Research Institute, Kolejowa 2, 62-064 Plewiska, Poland;
| | - Joanna Foksowicz-Flaczyk
- Department of Bioproducts Engineering, Institute of Natural Fibres and Medicinal Plants—National Research Institute, Wojska Polskiego 71b, 60-630 Poznan, Poland;
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Santacroce L, Colella M, Charitos IA, Di Domenico M, Palmirotta R, Jirillo E. Microbial and Host Metabolites at the Backstage of Fever: Current Knowledge about the Co-Ordinate Action of Receptors and Molecules Underlying Pathophysiology and Clinical Implications. Metabolites 2023; 13:metabo13030461. [PMID: 36984901 PMCID: PMC10056708 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13030461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Fever represents an elevation of body temperature, that exerts a protective effect against pathogens. Innate immune cells and neurons are implicated in the regulation of body temperature. Pathogen-associated molecular patterns, i.e., lipopolysaccharides from Gram-negative bacteria and peptidoglycan and lipoteichoic acid from Gram-positive bacteria are exogenous pyrogens, that bind to Toll-like receptors on immune and non-immune cells. The subsequent release of pro-inflammatory cytokines [interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6 and Tumor necrosis factor-alpha] and their passage through the brain trigger the febrile response. In fact, neurons of the pre-optic area produce prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), that, in turn, bind to the PGE2 receptors; thus, generating fever. Apart from classical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, i.e., aspirin and acetaminophen, various botanicals are currently used as antipyretic agents and, therefore, their mechanisms of action will be elucidated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Santacroce
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Microbiology and Virology, School of Medicine, University of Bari 'Aldo Moro', 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Marica Colella
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Microbiology and Virology, School of Medicine, University of Bari 'Aldo Moro', 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Ioannis Alexandros Charitos
- CEDICLO-Interdepartmental Research Center for Pre-Latin, Latin and Oriental Rights and Culture Studies, University of Bari, 70121 Bari, Italy
| | - Marina Di Domenico
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania 'Luigi Vanvitelli', 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Raffaele Palmirotta
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Microbiology and Virology, School of Medicine, University of Bari 'Aldo Moro', 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Emilio Jirillo
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Microbiology and Virology, School of Medicine, University of Bari 'Aldo Moro', 70124 Bari, Italy
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Dasmahapatra U, Rajasekhar S, Neelima G, Maiti B, Karuppasamy R, Murali P, Mm B, Chanda K. In Silico Design and Investigation of Novel Thiazetidine Derivatives as Potent Inhibitors of PrpR in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Chem Biodivers 2023; 20:e202200925. [PMID: 36519809 DOI: 10.1002/cbdv.202200925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Tuberculosis is one of the most life-threatening acute infectious diseases diagnosed in humans. In the present investigation, a series of 16 new disubstituted 1,3-thiazetidines derivatives is designed, and investigated via various in silico methods for their potential as anti-tubercular agent by evaluating their ability to block the active site of PrpR transcription factor protein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The efficacy of the molecules was initially assessed with the help of AutoDock Vina algorithm. Further Glide module is used to redock the previously docked complexes. The binding energies and other physiochemical properties of the designed molecules were evaluated using the Prime-MM/GBSA and the QikProp module, respectively. The results of docking revealed the nature, site of interaction and the binding affinity between the proposed candidates and the active site of PrpR. Further the inhibitory effect of the scaffolds was predicted and evaluated employing a machine learning-based algorithm and was used accordingly. Further, the molecular dynamics simulation studies ascertained the binding characteristics of the unique 13, when analysed across a time frame of 100 ns with GROMACS software. The results show that the proposed 1,3-thiazetidine derivatives such as 10, 11, 13 and 14 could be potent and selective anti-tubercular agents as compared to the standard drug Pyrazinamide. Finally, this study concludes that designed thiazetidines can be employed as anti-tubercular agents. Undeniably, the results may guide the experimental biologists to develop safe and non-toxic drugs against tuberculosis by demanding further in vivo and in vitro analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Upala Dasmahapatra
- Department of Chemistry, School of Advanced Sciences, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India, 632014
| | - Sreerama Rajasekhar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Sri Venkateswara College of Pharmacy, Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh, India, 517127
| | - Grandhe Neelima
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Sri Venkateswara College of Pharmacy, Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh, India, 517127
| | - Barnali Maiti
- Department of Chemistry, School of Advanced Sciences, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India, 632014
| | - Ramanathan Karuppasamy
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India, 632014
| | - Poornima Murali
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India, 632014
| | - Balamurali Mm
- Chemistry Division, School of Advanced Sciences, Vellore Institute of Technology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, 600027
| | - Kaushik Chanda
- Department of Chemistry, School of Advanced Sciences, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India, 632014
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