Anti‐Campylobacter and resistance‐modifying activity of Alpinia katsumadai seed extracts

Aims

We tested extracts from Alpinia katsumadai seeds for anti‐Campylobacter activity and investigated the roles of the CmeABC and CmeDEF efflux pumps in Campylobacter resistance to these natural phenolics. Additionally, we investigated an A. katsumadai ethanolic extract (AlpE) and other plant extracts as putative efflux pump inhibitors on Campylobacter isolates and mutants in efflux pump genes.

Methods and Results

AlpE showed antimicrobial activity against sensitive and multidrug‐resistant Campylobacter isolates. CmeB inactivation resulted in the greatest reduction in resistance, while cmeF and cmeR mutations produced only moderate effects on minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs). The chemical efflux pump inhibitors additionally reduced MICs in isolates and mutants, confirming that active efflux is an important mechanism in resistance to AlpE, with additional contributions of other efflux systems. A notable decrease in resistance to tested antimicrobials in the presence of subinhibitory concentrations of AlpE confirms its modifying activity in Campylobacter spp.

Conclusions

AlpE is important anti‐Campylobacter source of antimicrobial compounds with resistance‐modifying activity. At least two of the efflux systems are involved in the resistance to A. katsumadai antimicrobial seed extracts.

Significance and Impact of the Study

This is the first report of antimicrobial and resistance‐modifying activity of AlpE from A. katsumadai seeds, demonstrating its potential in the control of Campylobacter in the food chain.     

Serum repressing efflux pump CDR1 in Candida albicans

Background  

In the past decades, the prevalence of candidemia has increased significantly and drug resistance has also become a pressing problem. Overexpression of CDR1, an efflux pump, has been proposed as a major mechanism contributing to the drug resistance in Candida albicans. It has been demonstrated that biological fluids such as human serum can have profound effects on antifungal pharmacodynamics. The aim of this study is to understand the effects of serum in drug susceptibility via monitoring the activity of CDR1 promoter of C. albicans.     

Role of H- and D- MATE-type transporters from multidrug resistant clinical isolates of Vibrio fluvialis in conferring fluoroquinolone resistance

Background

The study seeks to understand the role of efflux pumps in multidrug resistance displayed by the clinical isolates of Vibrio fluvialis, a pathogen known to cause cholera-like diarrhoea.

Methodology

Two putative MATE family efflux pumps (H- and D-type) were PCR amplified from clinical isolates of V. fluvialis obtained from Kolkata, India, in 2006 and sequenced. Bioinformatic analysis of these proteins was done to predict protein structures. Subsequently, the genes were cloned and expressed in a drug hypersusceptible Escherichia coli strain KAM32 using the vector pBR322. The recombinant clones were tested for the functionality of the efflux pump proteins by MIC determination and drug transport assays using fluorimeter.

Results

The sequences of the genes were found to be around 99% identical to their counterparts in V. cholerae. Protein structure predicting servers TMHMM and I-TASSER depicted ten-twelve membrane helical structures for both type of pumps. Real time PCR showed that these genes were expressed in the native V. fluvialis isolates. In the drug transport assays, the V. fluvialis clinical isolates as well as recombinant E. coli harbouring the efflux pump genes showed the energy-dependent and sodium ion-dependent drug transport activity. KAM32 cells harbouring the recombinant plasmids showed elevated MIC to the fluoroquinolones, norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin but H-type pumps VCH and VFH from V. cholerae and V. fluvialis respectively, showed decreased MIC to aminoglycosides like gentamicin, kanamycin and streptomycin. Decrease in MIC was also observed for acriflavin, ethidium bromide, safranin and nalidixic acid.

Significance

Increased resistance towards fluoroquinolones exhibited due to these efflux pumps from multidrug resistant clinical isolates of V. fluvialis implies that treatment procedure may become more elaborate for this simple but highly infectious disease. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of cloning and characterization of efflux pumps from multidrug resistant clinical isolates of V. fluvialis.     

重组细菌多药外排泵AcrAB-TolC的转运功能和动态组装

【背景】多药外排泵多以膜蛋白复合体形式存在,是导致细菌耐药性的重要原因。外排泵的转运功能和组装过程对于细菌耐药性和药物研发具有重要意义。【目的】以多药外排泵耐药结节细胞分化家族(resistance-nodulation-division family, RND)的重要成员AcrAB-TolC复合体为对象,研究其转运活性和体外组装特性。【方法】基于大肠杆菌AcrAB-TolC复合体基因序列,分别构建含有acrA、acrB、tolC基因的重组质粒,表达和纯化复合体各亚基,利用荧光光谱、等温滴定量热法(isothermal titration calorimetry,ITC)等技术分析复合体及亚基的转运功能、亚基与底物的相互作用,以及亚基间的相互作用和动态装配。【结果】实现了AcrAB-TolC复合体各组分的表达和纯化(纯度>98%),证实表达有各组分的活细胞提高了对于溴化乙锭(ethidium bromide,EB)的转运活性,并发现群体感应效应信号分子N-hexanoyl-L-homoserine lactone (C6-HSL)能够抑制AcrB、TolC对于EB的转运活性。ITC结果进一步证实了C6-HSL与AcrB、TolC的相互作用。ITC结果还显示AcrA分别与AcrB、TolC之间存在明显的相互作用,而AcrB与TolC之间无明显的相互作用。在体外装配实验中观测到AcrAB-TolC亚基的单分子荧光强度随时间增加,证实了复合体亚基在膜上的动态组装过程。【结论】实现了AcrAB-TolC外排泵及亚基的表达和纯化,证实了AcrAB-TolC对底物的转运活性及与底物的相互作用,观察到AcrAB-TolC的动态组装过程。以上结果为研究多药外排泵导致的细菌耐药性及抗菌策略具有重要意义。     

Assessment of three Resistance-Nodulation-Cell Division drug efflux transporters of Burkholderia cenocepacia in intrinsic antibiotic resistance

Background  

Burkholderia cenocepacia are opportunistic Gram-negative bacteria that can cause chronic pulmonary infections in patients with cystic fibrosis. These bacteria demonstrate a high-level of intrinsic antibiotic resistance to most clinically useful antibiotics complicating treatment. We previously identified 14 genes encoding putative Resistance-Nodulation-Cell Division (RND) efflux pumps in the genome of B. cenocepacia J2315, but the contribution of these pumps to the intrinsic drug resistance of this bacterium remains unclear.     

Preparation of pure and intact <Emphasis Type="Italic">Plasmodium falciparum</Emphasis> plasma membrane vesicles and partial characterisation of the plasma membrane ATPase

Background  

In host erythrocytes, the malaria parasite must contend with ion and drug transport across three membranes; its own plasma membrane, the parasitophorous membrane and the host plasma membrane. Isolation of pure and intact Plasmodium falciparum plasma membrane would provide a suitable model to elucidate the possible role played by the parasite plasma membrane in ion balance and drug transport.     

Efflux pumps expression and its association with porin down-regulation and β-lactamase production among <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas aeruginosa</Emphasis> causing bloodstream infections in Brazil

Background  

Multi-drug efflux pumps have been increasingly recognized as a major component of resistance in P. aeruginosa. We have investigated the expression level of efflux systems among clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa, regardless of their antimicrobial susceptibility profile.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">In Silico</Emphasis> Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship Studies on P-gp Modulators of Tetrahydroisoquinoline-Ethyl-Phenylamine Series

Background  

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a major obstacle in cancer chemotherapy. The drug efflux by a transport protein is the main reason for MDR. In humans, MDR mainly occurs when the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) family of proteins is overexpressed simultaneously. P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is most commonly associated with human MDR; it utilizes energy from adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to transport a number of substrates out of cells against concentration gradients. By the active transport of substrates against concentration gradients, intracellular concentrations of substrates are decreased. This leads to the cause of failure in cancer chemotherapy.     

Effect of ABCG2/BCRP Expression on Efflux and Uptake of Gefitinib in NSCLC Cell Lines

Background

BCRP/ABCG2 emerged as an important multidrug resistance protein, because it confers resistance to several classes of cancer chemotherapeutic agents and to a number of novel molecularly-targeted therapeutics such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Gefitinib is an orally active, selective EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor used in the treatment of patients with advanced non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) carrying activating EGFR mutations. Membrane transporters may affect the distribution and accumulation of gefitinib in tumour cells; in particular a reduced intracellular level of the drug may result from poor uptake, enhanced efflux or increased metabolism.

Aim

The present study, performed in a panel of NSCLC cell lines expressing different ABCG2 plasma membrane levels, was designed to investigate the effect of the efflux transporter ABCG2 on intracellular gefitinib accumulation, by dissecting the contribution of uptake and efflux processes.

Methods and Results

Our findings indicate that gefitinib, in lung cancer cells, inhibits ABCG2 activity, as previously reported. In addition, we suggest that ABCG2 silencing or overexpression affects intracellular gefitinib content by modulating the uptake rather than the efflux. Similarly, overexpression of ABCG2 affected the expression of a number of drug transporters, altering the functional activities of nutrient and drug transport systems, in particular inhibiting MPP, glucose and glutamine uptake.

Conclusions

Therefore, we conclude that gefitinib is an inhibitor but not a substrate for ABCG2 and that ABCG2 overexpression may modulate the expression and activity of other transporters involved in the uptake of different substrates into the cells.     

The Role of Efflux Pumps in Schistosoma mansoni Praziquantel Resistant Phenotype

Background

Schistosomiasis is a neglected disease caused by a trematode of the genus Schistosoma that is second only to malaria in public health significance in Africa, South America, and Asia. Praziquantel (PZQ) is the drug of choice to treat this disease due to its high cure rates and no significant side effects. However, in the last years increasingly cases of tolerance to PZQ have been reported, which has caused growing concerns regarding the emergency of resistance to this drug.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Here we describe the selection of a parasitic strain that has a stable resistance phenotype to PZQ. It has been reported that drug resistance in helminths might involve efflux pumps such as members of ATP-binding cassette transport proteins, including P-glycoprotein and multidrug resistance-associated protein families. Here we evaluate the role of efflux pumps in Schistosoma mansoni resistance to PZQ, by comparing the efflux pumps activity in susceptible and resistant strains. The evaluation of the efflux activity was performed by an ethidium bromide accumulation assay in presence and absence of Verapamil. The role of efflux pumps in resistance to PZQ was further investigated comparing the response of susceptible and resistant parasites in the absence and presence of different doses of Verapamil, in an ex vivo assay, and these results were further reinforced through the comparison of the expression levels of SmMDR2 RNA by RT-PCR.

Conclusions/Significance

This work strongly suggests the involvement of Pgp-like transporters SMDR2 in Praziquantel drug resistance in S. mansoni. Low doses of Verapamil successfully reverted drug resistance. Our results might give an indication that a combination therapy with PZQ and natural or synthetic Pgp modulators can be an effective strategy for the treatment of confirmed cases of resistance to PZQ in S. mansoni.     

Interplay between Three RND Efflux Pumps in Doxycycline-Selected Strains of Burkholderia thailandensis

Background

Efflux systems are involved in multidrug resistance in most Gram-negative non-fermentative bacteria. We have chosen Burkholderia thailandensis to dissect the development of multidrug resistance phenotypes under antibiotic pressure.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We used doxycycline selection to obtain several resistant B. thailandensis variants. The minimal inhibitory concentrations of a large panel of structurally unrelated antibiotics were determined ± the efflux pump inhibitor phenylalanine-arginine ß-naphthylamide (PAßN). Membrane proteins were identified by proteomic method and the expressions of major efflux pumps in the doxycycline selected variants were compared to those of the parental strains by a quantitative RT-PCR analysis. Doxycycline selected variants showed a multidrug resistance in two major levels corresponding to the overproduction of two efflux pumps depending on its concentration: AmrAB-OprA and BpeEF-OprC. The study of two mutants, each lacking one of these pumps, indicated that a third pump, BpeAB-OprB, could substitute for the defective pump. Surprisingly, we observed antagonistic effects between PAßN and aminoglycosides or some ß-lactams. PAßN induced the overexpression of AmrAB-OprA and BpeAB-OprB pump genes, generating this unexpected effect.

Conclusions/Significance

These results may account for the weak activity of PAßN in some Gram-negative species. We clearly demonstrated two antagonistic effects of this molecule on bacterial cells: the blocking of antibiotic efflux and an increase in efflux pump gene expression. Thus, doxycycline is a very efficient RND efflux pump inducer and PAßN may promote the production of some efflux pumps. These results should be taken into account when considering antibiotic treatments and in future studies on efflux pump inhibitors.     

Efflux of bile acids in Lactobacillus reuteri is mediated by ATP

Purpose of work  

To study whether an active bile acid (BA) efflux occurs in Lactobacillus reuteri CRL 1098 as well as the nature (ATP or proton motive force [PMF] mediated primary transport) of the BA extrusion mechanism.     

Unchanged triclabendazole kinetics after co-administration with ivermectin and methimazole: failure of its therapeutic activity against triclabendazole-resistant liver flukes

Background  

The reduced drug accumulation based on enhanced drug efflux and metabolic capacity, identified in triclabendazole (TCBZ)-resistant Fasciola hepatica may contribute to the development of resistance to TCBZ. The aim of this work was to evaluate the pharmacokinetics and clinical efficacy of TCBZ administered alone or co-administered with ivermectin (IVM, efflux modulator) and methimazole (MTZ, metabolic inhibitor) in TCBZ-resistant F. hepatica-parasitized sheep. Sheep infected with TCBZ-resistant F. hepatica (Sligo isolate) were divided into three groups (n = 4): untreated control, TCBZ-treated (i.r. at 10 mg/kg) and TCBZ+IVM+MTZ treated sheep (10 i.r., 0.2 s.c. and 1.5 i.m. mg/kg, respectively). Plasma samples were collected and analysed by HPLC. In the clinical efficacy study, the animals were sacrificed at 15 days post-treatment to evaluate the comparative efficacy against TCBZ-resistant F. hepatica.     

Efflux pump genes of the resistance-nodulation-division family in Burkholderia cenocepacia genome

Background  

Burkholderia cenocepacia is recognized as opportunistic pathogen that can cause lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients. A hallmark of B. cenocepacia infections is the inability to eradicate the organism because of multiple intrinsic antibiotic resistance. As Resistance-Nodulation-Division (RND) efflux systems are responsible for much of the intrinsic multidrug resistance in Gram-negative bacteria, this study aims to identify RND genes in the B. cenocepacia genome and start to investigate their involvement into antimicrobial resistance.     

Synergistic Effects of Efflux Pump Modulators on the Azole Antifungal Susceptibility of Microsporum canis

The microbiologic and clinical resistance of dermatophytes is seldom reported, and the mechanisms associated with resistance are not well known. This study investigated the effect of efflux pump modulators (EPMs) (i.e., haloperidol HAL and promethazine PTZ) and their inhibiting activity on the minimum inhibitory concentrations of itraconazole (ITZ) and fluconazole (FLZ) against selected M. canis strains. M. canis strains with low (≤?1 μg/ml itraconazole and?<?64 μg/ml fluconazole) and high (>?1 μg/ml itraconazole and?≥?64 μg/ml fluconazole) azole MIC values were tested using Checkerboard microdilution assay. The disk diffusion assay, the minimum fungicidal concentration and the time-kill assay were also performed in order to confirm the results of checkerboard microdilution assay. The MIC values of ITZ and FLZ of M. canis decreased in the presence of subinhibitory concentrations of HAL and PTZ, the latter being more effective with a greater increased susceptibility. Synergism was observed in all strains with high azole MICs (FICI?<?0.5) and no synergism in the strains with low azole MICs. A fungicidal activity was observed after 48 h of incubation when ITZ and FLZ were tested in combination with HAL or PTZ. These results suggest that the drug efflux pumps are involved in the defense mechanisms to azole drugs in M. canis strains. The synergism might be related to an increased expression of efflux pump genes, eventually resulting in azole resistance phenomena. Complementary studies on M. canis resistance are advocated in order to investigate the molecular mechanisms of this phenomenon.

     

Cellular drug efflux and reversal therapy of cancer

A prevalent form of multidrug resistance (MDR) in cancer cells is caused by an ATP-dependent drug efflux pump; this pump catalyzes the rapid exit of cytotoxic chemotherapy drugs from the cells. The Michaelis equation can be used to describe drug efflux through the MDR pump at a low drug substrate concentration [S]. The inhibition mechanism of an MDR reversal agent can be characterized when two different values of [S] are used to determine two values for the half-inhibition of efflux through the pump (I ₅₀). The reaction is noncompetitive when the two values ofI ₅₀ are identical; the reaction is competitive when an increase in [S] produces a significant increase in the value ofI ₅₀ TheI ₅₀ has been determined for several different reversal agents with the substrate rhodamine 123. The inhibition potency observed is: cyclosporin A >DMDP>amiodarone>verapamil>quinidine>quinine>propranolol. Chemotherapy drugs that are potent inhibitors of the MDR pump could be used for the treatment of MDR neoplasia.     

Crystal structure of the Campylobacter jejuni CmeC outer membrane channel

As one of the world's most prevalent enteric pathogens, Campylobacter jejuni is a major causative agent of human enterocolitis and is responsible for more than 400 million cases of diarrhea each year. The impact of this pathogen on children is of particular significance. Campylobacter has developed resistance to many antimicrobial agents via multidrug efflux machinery. The CmeABC tripartite multidrug efflux pump, belonging to the resistance‐nodulation‐cell division (RND) superfamily, plays a major role in drug resistant phenotypes of C. jejuni. This efflux complex spans the entire cell envelop of C. jejuni and mediates resistance to various antibiotics and toxic compounds. We here report the crystal structure of C. jejuni CmeC, the outer membrane component of the CmeABC tripartite multidrug efflux system. The structure reveals a possible mechanism for substrate export.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> genes that reduce the lethal effects of stress

Background  

The continuing emergence of antimicrobial resistance requires the development of new compounds and/or enhancers of existing compounds. Genes that protect against the lethal effects of antibiotic stress are potential targets of enhancers. To distinguish such genes from those involved in drug uptake and efflux, a new susceptibility screen is required.