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BMC Microbiology May 2023Multidrug-resistant bacteria continue to emerge owing to the abuse of antibiotics and have a considerable negative impact on people and the environment. Bacteria can...
BACKGROUND
Multidrug-resistant bacteria continue to emerge owing to the abuse of antibiotics and have a considerable negative impact on people and the environment. Bacteria can easily form biofilms to improve their survival, which reduces the efficacy of antibacterial drugs. Proteins such as endolysins and holins have been shown to have good antibacterial activity and effectively removal bacterial biofilms and reduce the production of drug-resistant bacteria. Recently, phages and their encoded lytic proteins have attracted attention as potential alternative antimicrobial agents. The aim of the present study was to investigate the sterilising efficacy of phages (SSE1, SGF2, and SGF3) and their encoded lytic proteins (lysozyme and holin), and to further explore their potential in combination with antibiotics. To the ultimate aim is to reduce or replace the use of antibiotics and provide more materials and options for sterilisation.
RESULTS
Phages and their encoded lytic proteins were confirmed to have great advantages in sterilisation, and all exhibited significant potential for reducing bacterial resistance. Previous studies on the host spectrum demonstrated the bactericidal efficacy of three Shigella phages (SSE1, SGF2, and SGF3) and two lytic proteins (LysSSE1 and HolSSE1). In this study, we investigated the bactericidal effects on planktonic bacteria and bacterial biofilms. A combined sterilisation application of antibiotics, phages, and lytic proteins was performed. The results showed that phages and lytic proteins had better sterilisation effects than antibiotics with 1/2 minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and their effect was further improved when used together with antibiotics. The best synergy was shown when combined with β- lactam antibiotics, which might be related to their mechanism of sterilising action. This approach ensures a bactericidal effect at low antibiotic concentrations.
CONCLUSIONS
This study strengthens the idea that phages and lytic proteins can significantly sterilise bacteria in vitro and achieve synergistic sterilisation effects with specific antibiotics. Therefore, a suitable combination strategy may decrease the risk of drug resistance.
Topics: Humans; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacteria; Monobactams; Bacteriophages; Biofilms
PubMed: 37221517
DOI: 10.1186/s12866-023-02881-2 -
The Journal of Antimicrobial... May 2023Aztreonam/avibactam is one of the last therapeutic options for treating infections caused by NDM-like-producing Enterobacterales. However, PBP3-modified and...
BACKGROUND
Aztreonam/avibactam is one of the last therapeutic options for treating infections caused by NDM-like-producing Enterobacterales. However, PBP3-modified and NDM-producing Escherichia coli strains that co-produce CMY-42 have been shown to be resistant to this drug combination. The aim of our study was to assess the in vitro activity of cefepime/taniborbactam and cefepime/zidebactam against such aztreonam/avibactam-resistant E. coli strains.
METHODS
MIC values of aztreonam, aztreonam/avibactam, cefepime, cefepime/taniborbactam, cefepime/zidebactam and zidebactam alone were determined for 28 clinical aztreonam/avibactam-resistant E. coli isolates. Those isolates produced either NDM-5 (n = 24), NDM-4 (n = 2) or NDM-1 (n = 2), and they all co-produced CMY-42 (n = 28). They all harboured a four amino acid insertion in PBP-3 (Tyr-Arg-Ile-Asn or Tyr-Arg-Ile-Lys).
RESULTS
All strains were resistant to aztreonam/avibactam and cefepime, as expected. The resistance rate to cefepime/taniborbactam was 100%, with MIC50 and MIC90 being at 16 mg/L and 64 mg/L, respectively. Conversely, all strains were susceptible to cefepime/zidebactam, with both MIC50 and MIC90 at 0.25 mg/L. Notably, all strains showed low MICs for zidebactam alone, with MIC50 and MIC90 at 0.5 mg/L and 1 mg/L.
CONCLUSIONS
Our data highlighted the excellent in vitro performance of the newly developed β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combination cefepime/zidebactam against aztreonam/avibactam-resistant E. coli strains, suggesting that this combination could be considered as an efficient therapeutic option in this context. Our study also highlights the cross-resistance between acquired resistance to aztreonam/avibactam and the cefepime/taniborbactam combination.
Topics: Aztreonam; Cefepime; Escherichia coli; Anti-Bacterial Agents; beta-Lactamases; Cephalosporins; Azabicyclo Compounds; beta-Lactamase Inhibitors; Microbial Sensitivity Tests
PubMed: 36921067
DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkad061 -
Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy Nov 2023- complex (ABC) causes severe infections that are difficult to treat due to pre-existing antibiotic resistance. Sulbactam-durlobactam (SUL-DUR) is a targeted...
- complex (ABC) causes severe infections that are difficult to treat due to pre-existing antibiotic resistance. Sulbactam-durlobactam (SUL-DUR) is a targeted β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combination antibiotic designed to treat serious infections caused by , including multidrug- and carbapenem-resistant strains. In a recent global surveillance study of 5,032 ABC clinical isolates collected from 2016 to 2021, less than 2% of ABC isolates had SUL-DUR MIC values >4 µg/mL. Molecular characterization of these isolates confirmed the primary drivers of resistance are metallo-β-lactamases or penicillin-binding protein 3 (PBP3) mutations, as previously described. In addition, this study shows that certain common PBP3 variants, such as A515V, are insufficient to confer sulbactam resistance and that the efflux of durlobactam by AdeIJK is likely to play a role in a subset of strains.
Topics: Sulbactam; Acinetobacter baumannii; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Azabicyclo Compounds; beta-Lactamase Inhibitors; Monobactams; Microbial Sensitivity Tests
PubMed: 37843305
DOI: 10.1128/aac.00665-23 -
PLoS Pathogens Jul 2023Central metabolic pathways control virulence and antibiotic resistance, and constitute potential targets for antibacterial drugs. In Staphylococcus aureus the role of...
Central metabolic pathways control virulence and antibiotic resistance, and constitute potential targets for antibacterial drugs. In Staphylococcus aureus the role of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) remains largely unexplored. Mutation of the 6-phosphogluconolactonase gene pgl, which encodes the only non-essential enzyme in the oxidative phase of the PPP, significantly increased MRSA resistance to β-lactam antibiotics, particularly in chemically defined media with physiologically-relevant concentrations of glucose, and reduced oxacillin (OX)-induced lysis. Expression of the methicillin-resistance penicillin binding protein 2a and peptidoglycan architecture were unaffected. Carbon tracing and metabolomics revealed extensive metabolic reprogramming in the pgl mutant including increased flux to glycolysis, the TCA cycle, and several cell envelope precursors, which was consistent with increased β-lactam resistance. Morphologically, pgl mutant cells were smaller than wild-type with a thicker cell wall and ruffled surface when grown in OX. The pgl mutation reduced resistance to Congo Red, sulfamethoxazole and oxidative stress, and increased resistance to targocil, fosfomycin and vancomycin. Levels of lipoteichoic acids (LTAs) were significantly reduced in pgl, which may limit cell lysis, while the surface charge of pgl cells was significantly more positive. A vraG mutation in pgl reversed the increased OX resistance phenotype, and partially restored wild-type surface charge, but not LTA levels. Mutations in vraF or graRS from the VraFG/GraRS complex that regulates DltABCD-mediated d-alanylation of teichoic acids (which in turn controls β-lactam resistance and surface charge), also restored wild-type OX susceptibility. Collectively these data show that reduced levels of LTAs and OX-induced lysis combined with a VraFG/GraRS-dependent increase in cell surface positive charge are accompanied by significantly increased OX resistance in an MRSA pgl mutant.
Topics: Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Pentose Phosphate Pathway; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Oxacillin; Cell Wall; Monobactams; beta-Lactam Resistance; Bacterial Proteins; Microbial Sensitivity Tests
PubMed: 37486930
DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011536 -
Biological Research Mar 2024The convergence of hypervirulence and carbapenem resistance in the bacterial pathogen Klebsiella pneumoniae represents a critical global health concern. Hypervirulent K....
BACKGROUND
The convergence of hypervirulence and carbapenem resistance in the bacterial pathogen Klebsiella pneumoniae represents a critical global health concern. Hypervirulent K. pneumoniae (hvKp) strains, frequently from sequence type 23 (ST23) and having a K1 capsule, have been associated with severe community-acquired invasive infections. Although hvKp were initially restricted to Southeast Asia and primarily antibiotic-sensitive, carbapenem-resistant hvKp infections are reported worldwide. Here, within the carbapenemase production Enterobacterales surveillance system headed by the Chilean Public Health Institute, we describe the isolation in Chile of a high-risk ST23 dual-carbapenemase-producing hvKp strain, which carbapenemase genes are encoded in a single conjugative plasmid.
RESULTS
Phenotypic and molecular tests of this strain revealed an extensive resistance to at least 15 antibiotic classes and the production of KPC-2 and VIM-1 carbapenemases. Unexpectedly, this isolate lacked hypermucoviscosity, challenging this commonly used hvKp identification criteria. Complete genome sequencing and analysis confirmed the K1 capsular type, the KpVP-1 virulence plasmid, and the GIE492 and ICEKp10 genomic islands carrying virulence factors strongly associated with hvKp. Although this isolate belonged to the globally disseminated hvKp clonal group CG23-I, it is unique, as it formed a clade apart from a previously reported Chilean ST23 hvKp isolate and acquired an IncN KPC-2 plasmid highly disseminated in South America (absent in other hvKp genomes), but now including a class-I integron carrying bla and other resistance genes. Notably, this isolate was able to conjugate the double carbapenemase plasmid to an E. coli recipient, conferring resistance to 1st -5th generation cephalosporins (including combinations with beta-lactamase inhibitors), penicillins, monobactams, and carbapenems.
CONCLUSIONS
We reported the isolation in Chile of high-risk carbapenem-resistant hvKp carrying a highly transmissible conjugative plasmid encoding KPC-2 and VIM-1 carbapenemases, conferring resistance to most beta-lactams. Furthermore, the lack of hypermucoviscosity argues against this trait as a reliable hvKp marker. These findings highlight the rapid evolution towards multi-drug resistance of hvKp in Chile and globally, as well as the importance of conjugative plasmids and other mobile genetic elements in this convergence. In this regard, genomic approaches provide valuable support to monitor and obtain essential information on these priority pathogens and mobile elements.
Topics: Humans; Klebsiella pneumoniae; Chile; Escherichia coli; Klebsiella Infections; Plasmids; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Carbapenems; Bacterial Proteins; beta-Lactamases
PubMed: 38475927
DOI: 10.1186/s40659-024-00485-2 -
Annals of Clinical Microbiology and... Jun 2023Aztreonam-avibactam is an important option against Enterobacterales producing metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs). We obtained an aztreonam-avibactam-resistant mutant of an...
Aztreonam-avibactam is an important option against Enterobacterales producing metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs). We obtained an aztreonam-avibactam-resistant mutant of an MBL-producing Enterobacter mori strain by induced mutagenesis. Genome sequencing revealed an Arg244Gly (Ambler position) substitution of SHV-12 β-lactamase in the mutant. Cloning and susceptibility testing verified that the SHV-12 Arg244Gly substitution led to significantly reduced susceptibility to aztreonam-avibactam (MIC, from 0.5/4 to 4/4 mg/L) but with the loss of resistance to cephalosporins as tradeoff. Arg244 of SHV involves in the binding of avibactam by forming an arginine-mediated salt bridge and is a critical residue to interact with β-lactams. Molecular modeling analysis demonstrated that the Arg244Gly substitution hindered the binding of avibactam to SHV with higher binding energy (from - 5.24 to -4.32 kcal/mol) and elevated inhibition constant Ki (from 143.96 to 677.37 µM) to indicate lower affinity. This substitution, however, resulted in loss of resistance to cephalosporins as tradeoff by impairing substrate binding. This represents a new aztreonam-avibactam resistance mechanism.
Topics: Humans; Aztreonam; Anti-Bacterial Agents; beta-Lactamases; Cephalosporins; Enterobacter; Mutation; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Drug Combinations; Ceftazidime
PubMed: 37365592
DOI: 10.1186/s12941-023-00605-y -
Annals of Medicine Dec 2023Antimicrobial resistance is a global health threat. Among Gram-negative bacteria, resistance to carbapenems, a class of β-lactam antibiotics, is usually a proxy for...
Antimicrobial resistance is a global health threat. Among Gram-negative bacteria, resistance to carbapenems, a class of β-lactam antibiotics, is usually a proxy for difficult-to-treat resistance, since carbapenem-resistant organisms are often resistant to many classes of antibiotics. Carbapenem resistance in the Gram-negative pathogen is mostly due to the production of carbapenemases, enzymes able to hydrolyze carbapenems, and carbapenemase (KPC)-type enzymes are overall the most prevalent carbapenemases in . In the last decade, the management of severe infections due to KPC-producing (KPC-Kp) in humans has presented many peculiar challenges to clinicians worldwide. In this perspective, we discuss how the treatment of severe KPC-Kp infections has evolved over the last decades, guided by the accumulating evidence from clinical studies, and how recent advances in diagnostics have allowed to anticipate identification of KPC-Kp in infected patients.KEY MESSAGESIn the last decade, the management of severe infections due to KPC-Kp has presented many peculiar challenges to clinicians worldwideFollowing the introduction in clinical practice of novel β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations and novel β-lactams active against KPC-producing bacteria, the management of severe KPC-Kp infections has witnessed a remarkable evolutionTreatment of severe KPC-Kp infections is a highly dynamic process, in which the wise use of novel antimicrobials should be accompanied by a continuous refinement based on evolving clinical evidence and laboratory diagnostics.
Topics: Humans; Klebsiella pneumoniae; Carbapenems; Monobactams; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Lactams
PubMed: 36856521
DOI: 10.1080/07853890.2022.2152484 -
Microbiology Spectrum Dec 2023To our knowledge, this is the first study to report the activity of two novel antimicrobial drugs, including imipenem-relebactam (IMR) and aztreonam-avibactam (AZA),...
To our knowledge, this is the first study to report the activity of two novel antimicrobial drugs, including imipenem-relebactam (IMR) and aztreonam-avibactam (AZA), toward carbapenem-resistant and hypervirulent (CR-hvKP) strains. Our activity study revealed that only few antibacterial agents (including several novel agents) exhibit high antimicrobial activity toward carbapenem-resistant (CRKP) and CR-hvKP isolates. IMR and AZA may be promising therapeutic agents for the treatment of infections caused by CRKP and CR-hvKP isolates.
Topics: Humans; Aztreonam; Klebsiella pneumoniae; Bacterial Proteins; beta-Lactamases; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae; Imipenem; Carbapenems; Klebsiella Infections; Microbial Sensitivity Tests
PubMed: 37982631
DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02806-23 -
Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy Dec 2022To report on the therapy used for penicillin- and cephalosporin-resistant pneumococcal meningitis, we conducted an observational cohort study of patients admitted to our... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
To report on the therapy used for penicillin- and cephalosporin-resistant pneumococcal meningitis, we conducted an observational cohort study of patients admitted to our hospital with pneumococcal meningitis between 1977 and 2018. According to the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) recommendations, we defined pneumococci as susceptible and resistant to penicillin with MIC values of ≤0.06 mg/L and > 0.06 mg/L, respectively; the corresponding values for cefotaxime (CTX) were ≤0.5 mg/L and >0.5 mg/L. We treated 363 episodes of pneumococcal meningitis during the study period. Of these, 24 had no viable strain, leaving 339 episodes with a known MIC for inclusion. Penicillin-susceptible strains accounted for 246 episodes (73%), penicillin-resistant strains for 93 (27%), CTX susceptible for 58, and CTX resistant for 35. Nine patients failed or relapsed and 69 died (20%), of whom 22% were among susceptible cases and 17% were among resistant cases. During the dexamethasone period, mortality was equal (12%) in both susceptible and resistant cases. High-dose CTX (300 mg/Kg/day) helped to treat failed or relapsed cases and protected against failure when used as empirical therapy ( = 0.02), even in CTX-resistant cases. High-dose CTX is a good empirical therapy option for pneumococcal meningitis in the presence of a high prevalence of penicillin and cephalosporin resistance, effectively treating pneumococcal strains with MICs up to 2 mg/L for either penicillin or CTX.
Topics: Humans; Cephalosporins; Meningitis, Pneumococcal; Penicillins; Ceftriaxone; Cohort Studies; Cefotaxime; Streptococcus pneumoniae; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Monobactams; Penicillin Resistance; Mitomycin; Anti-Bacterial Agents
PubMed: 36326246
DOI: 10.1128/aac.00820-22 -
Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy Sep 2020This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of the novel monosulfactam 0073 against multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria and and to characterize the...
This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of the novel monosulfactam 0073 against multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria and and to characterize the mechanisms underlying 0073 activity. The activities of 0073, aztreonam, and the combination with avibactam were assessed by MIC and time-kill assays. The safety of 0073 was evaluated using 3-(4,5-dimethylthizol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and acute toxicity assays. Murine thigh infection and pneumonia models were employed to define efficacy. A penicillin-binding protein (PBP) competition assay and confocal microscopy were conducted. The inhibitory action of 0073 against β-lactamases was evaluated by the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC), and resistance development was evaluated via serial passage. The monosulfactam 0073 showed promising antimicrobial activity against , , and isolates producing metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs) and serine β-lactamases. In preliminary experiments, compound 0073 exhibited safety both and In the murine thigh infection model and the pneumonia models in which infection was induced by and , 0073 significantly reduced the bacterial burden. Compound 0073 targeted several PBPs and exerted inhibitory effects against some serine β-lactamases. Finally, 0073 showed a reduced propensity for resistance selection compared with that of aztreonam. The novel monosulfactam 0073 exhibited increased activity against β-lactamase-producing Gram-negative organisms compared with the activity of aztreonam and showed good safety profiles both and The underlying mechanisms may be attributed to the affinity of 0073 for several PBPs and its inhibitory activity against some serine β-lactamases. These data indicate that 0073 represents a potential treatment for infections caused by β-lactamase-producing multidrug-resistant bacteria.
Topics: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Azabicyclo Compounds; Aztreonam; Enterobacteriaceae; Mice; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; beta-Lactamase Inhibitors; beta-Lactamases
PubMed: 32718961
DOI: 10.1128/AAC.00529-20