Structural changes in the model of the outer cell membrane of Gram-negative bacteria interacting with melittin: An in situ spectroelectrochemical study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Izabella Brand ◽  
Bishoy Khairalla

A cell membrane of Gram-negative bacteria interacting with an antimicrobial peptide represents a complex supramolecular assembly. Fabrication of the models of bacterial cell membranes remains a large experimental challenge. Langmuir-Blodgett...

2013 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Martins ◽  
Matthew P McCusker ◽  
Miguel Viveiros ◽  
Isabel Couto ◽  
Séamus Fanning ◽  
...  

It is known that bacteria showing a multi-drug resistance phenotype use several mechanisms to overcome the action of antibiotics. As a result, this phenotype can be a result of several mechanisms or a combination of thereof. The main mechanisms of antibiotic resistance are: mutations in target genes (such as DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV); over-expression of efflux pumps; changes in the cell envelope; down regulation of membrane porins, and modified lipopolysaccharide component of the outer cell membrane (in the case of Gram-negative bacteria). In addition, adaptation to the environment, such as quorum sensing and biofilm formation can also contribute to bacterial persistence. Due to the rapid emergence and spread of bacterial isolates showing resistance to several classes of antibiotics, methods that can rapidly and efficiently identify isolates whose resistance is due to active efflux have been developed. However, there is still a need for faster and more accurate methodologies. Conventional methods that evaluate bacterial efflux pump activity in liquid systems are available. However, these methods usually use common efflux pump substrates, such as ethidium bromide or radioactive antibiotics and therefore, require specialized instrumentation, which is not available in all laboratories. In this review, we will report the results obtained with the Ethidium Bromide-agar Cartwheel method. This is an easy, instrument-free, agar based method that has been modified to afford the simultaneous evaluation of as many as twelve bacterial strains. Due to its simplicity it can be applied to large collections of bacteria to rapidly screen for multi-drug resistant isolates that show an over-expression of their efflux systems. The principle of the method is simple and relies on the ability of the bacteria to expel a fluorescent molecule that is substrate for most efflux pumps, ethidium bromide. In this approach, the higher the concentration of ethidium bromide required to produce fluorescence of the bacterial mass, the greater the efflux capacity of the bacterial cells. We have tested and applied this method to a large number of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria to detect efflux activity among these multi-drug resistant isolates. The presumptive efflux activity detected by the Ethidium Bromide-agar Cartwheel method was subsequently confirmed by the determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration for several antibiotics in the presence and absence of known efflux pump inhibitors.


2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (464) ◽  
pp. eaal0033 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahsan R. Akram ◽  
Sunay V. Chankeshwara ◽  
Emma Scholefield ◽  
Tashfeen Aslam ◽  
Neil McDonald ◽  
...  

Respiratory infections in mechanically ventilated patients caused by Gram-negative bacteria are a major cause of morbidity. Rapid and unequivocal determination of the presence, localization, and abundance of bacteria is critical for positive resolution of the infections and could be used for patient stratification and for monitoring treatment efficacy. Here, we developed an in situ approach to visualize Gram-negative bacterial species and cellular infiltrates in distal human lungs in real time. We used optical endomicroscopy to visualize a water-soluble optical imaging probe based on the antimicrobial peptide polymyxin conjugated to an environmentally sensitive fluorophore. The probe was chemically stable and nontoxic and, after in-human intrapulmonary microdosing, enabled the specific detection of Gram-negative bacteria in distal human airways and alveoli within minutes. The results suggest that pulmonary molecular imaging using a topically administered fluorescent probe targeting bacterial lipid A is safe and practical, enabling rapid in situ identification of Gram-negative bacteria in humans.


Author(s):  
David R. McNamara ◽  
Franklin R. Cockerill

Gram-negative bacteria may be rod-shaped (bacilli), spherical (cocci), oval, helical, or filamentous. Cytoplasmic membrane is surrounded by a cell wall consisting of a peptidoglycan layer and an outer cell membrane. Gram-negative bacteria are widely distributed in the natural environment. They are commensals with many animals and play a vital role in normal human physiology as intestinal commensals. Gram-negative bacteria are the cause of various human illnesses. The gram-negative bacterial cell wall contains various lipopolysaccharide endotoxins. Endotoxins trigger intense inflammation and the sepsis syndrome during infection. Specific species of gram-negative bacteria such as Neisseria meningitides, Moraxella catarrhalis, Acinetobacter, Vibrio, Klebsiella pneumonia, Salmonella, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Haemophilus influenza are reviewed.


Microbiology ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 151 (7) ◽  
pp. 2331-2342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marian Takáč ◽  
Angela Witte ◽  
Udo Bläsi

Double-stranded DNA phages of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria typically use a holin–endolysin system to achieve lysis of their host. In this study, the lysis genes of Staphylococcus aureus phage P68 were characterized. P68 gene lys16 was shown to encode a cell-wall-degrading enzyme, which causes cell lysis when externally added to clinical isolates of S. aureus. Another gene, hol15, was identified embedded in the −1 reading frame at the 3′ end of lys16. The deduced Hol15 protein has three putative transmembrane domains, and thus resembles class I holins. An additional candidate holin gene, hol12, was found downstream of the endolysin gene lys16 based on two predicted transmembrane domains of the encoded protein, which is a typical trait of class II holins. The synthesis of either Hol12 or Hol15 resulted in growth retardation of Escherichia coli, and both hol15 and hol12 were able to complement a phage λ Sam mutation. The hol15 gene has a dual start motif beginning with the codons Met1-Lys2-Met3…. Evidence is presented that the hol15 gene encodes a lysis inhibitor (anti-holin) and a lysis effector (actual holin). As depolarization of the membrane converted the anti-holin to a functional holin, these studies suggested that hol15 functions as a typical dual start motif class I holin. The unusual arrangement of the P68 lysis genes is discussed.


Blood ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xinyu Yang ◽  
Xiaoye Cheng ◽  
Yiting Tang ◽  
Xianhui Qiu ◽  
Zhongtai Wang ◽  
...  

Bacterial infection not only stimulates innate immune responses but also activates the coagulation cascades. Over-activation of the coagulation system in bacterial sepsis leads to disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), a life-threatening condition. However, the mechanisms by which bacterial infection activates the coagulation cascade are not fully understood. Here we show that type 1 interferons (IFNs), widely expressed family of cytokines that orchestrate innate antiviral and antibacterial immunity, mediate bacterial infection-induced DIC through amplifying the release of high mobility box group box 1 (HMGB1) into the blood stream. Inhibition of the expression of type 1 IFNs, disruption of their receptor IFN-α/βR or downstream effector (e.g., HMGB1) uniformly decreased Gram-negative bacteria-induced DIC. Mechanistically, extracellular HMGB1 markedly increased the pro-coagulant activity of tissue factor (TF) by promoting the externalization of phosphatidylserine (PS) to the outer cell surface, where PS assembles a complex of cofactor-proteases of the coagulation cascades. These findings not only provide novel insights into the link between innate immune responses and coagulation, but also open a new avenue for developing novel therapeutic strategies to prevent DIC in sepsis.


1976 ◽  
Vol 144 (3) ◽  
pp. 821-827 ◽  
Author(s):  
B M Sultzer ◽  
G W Goodman

A cell wall protein that is ordinarily complexed to the lipopolysaccharide endotoxin in gram-negative bacteria has been separated by the use of aqueous phenol. The protein is active as a B-cell mitogen and polyclonal activator of murine lymphocytes including the C3H/HeJ strain which is a nonresponder to lipoplysaccharide or lipid A.


2016 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 45
Author(s):  
Naoufel Ben Hamadi ◽  
Ahlem Guesmi ◽  
Wided Nouira

Cycloaddition of the diazoalkanes to electron-deficient olefins (in situ) affords polysubstituted cyclopropanes in high yields (up to 85%). Deprotection of the ketal protecting group provided water-soluble cyclopropane-bearing carbohydrate in good yields. Antimicrobial activity screening of the synthesized compounds 8 and 9, utilizing a variety of Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus fecalis), Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae) and yeast (Candida albicans), exhibited that all the prepared analogues acquire promising activities against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria especially compounds 9b and 9c (antimicrobial active agents against Gram-negative bacteria).


Author(s):  
Samaila Abubakar ◽  
Musa Muktari ◽  
Rejoice Atiko

The synthesis and antimicrobial application of Co (III) and Fe (III) complexes of imine functionalized N-heterocyclic carbene (Imino-NHC) ligands is reported. The ligand precursors 1-(2-[(hydroxyl-benzylidene)-amino]-ethyl)-3-R-3H-imidazol-1-ium bromide where R = pyridyl (1a) and benzyl (1b) have been reported in our previous work. The in-situ generated ligands of 1a and 1b have been successfully coordinated to CoBr2 and [FeI(Cp)(CO)2] leading to the isolation of air-stable N^C^N^O four coordinate Co(III)  complex 2 and a six-coordinate Fe(III) complex 3. The synthesised complexes were both found to be NMR inactive hence were characterize using FTIR and LRMS. The complexes were screened for antimicrobial activities against four gram-negative bacteria Escherichia Coli (E-coli), Shigella, Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. Pneumoniae) and Salmonella typhi (S. typhi) and a gram positive bacteria Staphylocossus aureus (S. aureus). The antimicrobial test was conducted using disc diffusion methods and based on the concentrations of 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 µg/ mL, significant activities were recorded for both cobalt and the iron complexes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 86 (24) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhibo Li ◽  
Reinder H. de Vries ◽  
Parichita Chakraborty ◽  
Chunxu Song ◽  
Xinghong Zhao ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Nonribosomal peptides (NRPs) are a class of secondary metabolites usually produced by microorganisms. They are of paramount importance in different applications, including biocontrol and pharmacy. Brevibacillus spp. are a rich source of NRPs yet have received little attention. In this study, we characterize four novel bogorol variants (bogorols I to L, cationic linear lipopeptides) and four succilins (succilins I to L, containing a succinyl group that is attached to the Orn3/Lys3 in bogorols I to L) from the biocontrol strain Brevibacillus laterosporus MG64. Further investigation revealed that the bogorol family of peptides employs an adenylation pathway for lipoinitiation, different from the usual pattern, which is based on an external ligase and coenzyme A. Moreover, the formation of valinol was proven to be mediated by a terminal reductase domain and a reductase encoded by the bogI gene. Furthermore, succinylation, which is a novel type of modification in the family of bogorols, was discovered. Its occurrence requires a high concentration of the substrate (bogorols), but its responsible enzyme remains unknown. Bogorols display potent activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Investigation of their mode of action reveals that bogorols form pores in the cell membrane of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The combination of bogorols and relacidines, another class of NRPs produced by B. laterosporus MG64, displays a synergistic effect on different pathogens, suggesting the great potential of both peptides as well as their producer B. laterosporus MG64 for broad applications. Our study provides a further understanding of the bogorol family of peptides as well as their applications. IMPORTANCE NRPs form a class of secondary metabolites with biocontrol and pharmaceutical potential. This work describes the identification of novel bogorol variants and succinylated bogorols (namely, succilins) and further investigates their biosynthetic pathway and mode of action. Adenylation domain-mediated lipoinitiation of bogorols represents a novel pathway by which NRPs incorporate fatty acid tails. This pathway provides the possibility to engineer the lipid tail of NRPs without identifying a fatty acid coenzyme ligase, which is usually not present in the biosynthetic gene cluster. The terminal reductase domain (TD) and BogI-mediated valinol formation and their effect on the biological activity of bogorols are revealed. Succinylation, which is rarely reported in NRPs, was discovered in the bogorol family of peptides. We demonstrate that bogorols combat bacterial pathogens by forming pores in the cell membrane. We also report the synergistic effect of two natural products (relacidine B and bogorol K) produced by the same strain, which is relevant for competition for a niche.


2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Baohua Zhao ◽  
He Wang ◽  
Wenjing Dong ◽  
Shaowen Cheng ◽  
Haisheng Li ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Infectious diseases caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, especially MDR Gram-negative strains, have become a global public health challenge. Multifunctional nanomaterials for controlling MDR bacterial infections via eradication of planktonic bacteria and their biofilms are of great interest. Results In this study, we developed a multifunctional platform (TG-NO-B) with single NIR laser-triggered PTT and NO release for synergistic therapy against MDR Gram-negative bacteria and their biofilms. When located at the infected sites, TG-NO-B was able to selectively bind to the surfaces of Gram-negative bacterial cells and their biofilm matrix through covalent coupling between the BA groups of TG-NO-B and the bacterial LPS units, which could greatly improve the antibacterial efficiency, and reduce side damages to ambient normal tissues. Upon single NIR laser irradiation, TG-NO-B could generate hyperthermia and simultaneously release NO, which would synergistically disrupt bacterial cell membrane, further cause leakage and damage of intracellular components, and finally induce bacteria death. On one hand, the combination of NO and PTT could largely improve the antibacterial efficiency. On the other hand, the bacterial cell membrane damage could improve the permeability and sensitivity to heat, decrease the photothermal temperature and avoid damages caused by high temperature. Moreover, TG-NO-B could be effectively utilized for synergistic therapy against the in vivo infections of MDR Gram-negative bacteria and their biofilms and accelerate wound healing as well as exhibit excellent biocompatibility both in vitro and in vivo. Conclusions Our study demonstrates that TG-NO-B can be considered as a promising alternative for treating infections caused by MDR Gram-negative bacteria and their biofilms.


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