scholarly journals In Vitro and In Vivo Biological Activity of Berberine Chloride against Uropathogenic E. coli Strains Using Galleria mellonella as a Host Model

Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (21) ◽  
pp. 5010
Author(s):  
Giulio Petronio Petronio ◽  
Marco Alfio Cutuli ◽  
Irene Magnifico ◽  
Noemi Venditti ◽  
Laura Pietrangelo ◽  
...  

Berberine is an alkaloid of the protoberberine type used in traditional oriental medicine. Its biological activities include documented antibacterial properties against a wide variety of microorganisms; nonetheless, its use against Escherichia coli strains isolated from urinary infections has not yet been widely investigated in vivo. The emergence of antimicrobial resistance requires new therapeutic approaches to ensure the continued effectiveness of antibiotics for the treatment and prevention of urinary infections. Moreover, uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) has developed several virulence factors and resistance to routine antibiotic therapy. To this end, several in vitro and in vivo tests were conducted to assess the activity of berberine on uropathogenic E. coli strains. Galleria mellonella as an infection model was employed to confirm the in vivo translatability of in vitro data on berberine activity and its influence on adhesion and invasion proprieties of E. coli on human bladder cells. In vitro pre-treatment with berberine was able to decrease the adhesive and invasive UPEC ability. In vivo treatment increased the larvae survival infected with UPEC strains and reduced the number of circulating pathogens in larvae hemolymph. These preliminary findings demonstrated the efficacy and reliability of G. mellonella as in vivo model for pre-clinical studies of natural substances.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jess Vergis ◽  
S V S Malik ◽  
Richa Pathak ◽  
Manesh Kumar ◽  
Nitin V Kurkure ◽  
...  

Abstract High throughput in vivo laboratory models is need for screening and identification of effective therapeutic agents to overcome microbial drug-resistance. This study was undertaken to evaluate in vivo antimicrobial efficacy of short-chain antimicrobial peptide- Cecropin A (1–7)-Melittin (CAMA) against three multi- drug resistant enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (MDR-EAEC) field isolates in a Galleria mellonella larval model. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC; 2.0 mg/L) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC; 4.0 mg/L) of CAMA were determined by microdilution assay. CAMA was found to be stable at high temperatures, physiological concentration of cationic salts and proteases; safe with sheep erythrocytes, secondary cell lines and commensal lactobacilli at lower MICs; and exhibited membrane permeabilisation. In vitro time-kill assay revealed concentration- and time-dependent clearance of MDR-EAEC in CAMA-treated groups at 30 min. CAMA- treated G. mellonella larvae exhibited an increased survival rate, reduced MDR-EAEC counts, immunomodulatory effect and proved non-toxic which concurred with histopathological findings. CAMA exhibited either an equal or better efficacy than the tested antibiotic control, meropenem. This study highlights the possibility of G. mellonella larvae as an excellent in vivo model for investigating the host-pathogen interaction, including the efficacy of antimicrobials against MDR-EAEC strains.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana P. Pires ◽  
Rodrigo Monteiro ◽  
Dalila Mil-Homens ◽  
Arsénio Fialho ◽  
Timothy K. Lu ◽  
...  

AbstractIn the era where antibiotic resistance is considered one of the major worldwide concerns, bacteriophages have emerged as a promising therapeutic approach to deal with this problem. Genetically engineered bacteriophages can enable enhanced anti-bacterial functionalities, but require cloning additional genes into the phage genomes, which might be challenging due to the DNA encapsulation capacity of a phage. To tackle this issue, we designed and assembled for the first time synthetic phages with smaller genomes by knocking out up to 48% of the genes encoding hypothetical proteins from the genome of the newly isolated Pseudomonas aeruginosa phage vB_PaeP_PE3. The antibacterial efficacy of the wild-type and the synthetic phages was assessed in vitro as well as in vivo using a Galleria mellonella infection model. Overall, both in vitro and in vivo studies revealed that the knock-outs made in phage genome do not impair the antibacterial properties of the synthetic phages, indicating that this could be a good strategy to clear space from phage genomes in order to enable the introduction of other genes of interest that can potentiate the future treatment of P. aeruginosa infections.


2005 ◽  
Vol 49 (6) ◽  
pp. 2343-2351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Komp Lindgren ◽  
Linda L. Marcusson ◽  
Dorthe Sandvang ◽  
Niels Frimodt-Møller ◽  
Diarmaid Hughes

ABSTRACT Resistance to fluoroquinolones in urinary tract infection (UTIs) caused by Escherichia coli is associated with multiple mutations, typically those that alter DNA gyrase and DNA topoisomerase IV and those that regulate AcrAB-TolC-mediated efflux. We asked whether a fitness cost is associated with the accumulation of these multiple mutations. Mutants of the susceptible E. coli UTI isolate Nu14 were selected through three to five successive steps with norfloxacin. Each selection was performed with the MIC of the selected strain. After each selection the MIC was measured; and the regions of gyrA, gyrB, parC, and parE, previously associated with resistance mutations, and all of marOR and acrR were sequenced. The first selection step yielded mutations in gyrA, gyrB, and marOR. Subsequent selection steps yielded mutations in gyrA, parE, and marOR but not in gyrB, parC, or acrR. Resistance-associated mutations were identified in almost all isolates after selection steps 1 and 2 but in less than 50% of isolates after subsequent selection steps. Selected strains were competed in vitro, in urine, and in a mouse UTI infection model against the starting strain, Nu14. First-step mutations were not associated with significant fitness costs. However, the accumulation of three or more resistance-associated mutations was usually associated with a large reduction in biological fitness, both in vitro and in vivo. Interestingly, in some lineages a partial restoration of fitness was associated with the accumulation of additional mutations in late selection steps. We suggest that the relative biological costs of multiple mutations may influence the evolution of E. coli strains that develop resistance to fluoroquinolones.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 1869
Author(s):  
Joanna Kaczorowska ◽  
Eoghan Casey ◽  
Gabriele A. Lugli ◽  
Marco Ventura ◽  
David J. Clarke ◽  
...  

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) and Shigella ssp. infections are associated with high rates of mortality, especially in infants in developing countries. Due to increasing levels of global antibiotic resistance exhibited by many pathogenic organisms, alternative strategies to combat such infections are urgently required. In this study, we evaluated the stability of five coliphages (four Myoviridae and one Siphoviridae phage) over a range of pH conditions and in simulated gastric conditions. The Myoviridae phages were stable across the range of pH 2 to 7, while the Siphoviridae phage, JK16, exhibited higher sensitivity to low pH. A composite mixture of these five phages was tested in vivo in a Galleria mellonella model. The obtained data clearly shows potential in treating E. coli infections prophylactically.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sammy J Kay ◽  
Joseph R Edwards ◽  
Joseph C S Brown ◽  
Ronald A Dixon

Important research progress into the mechanisms ofClostridium perfringensassociated diseases (CPAD) has been slowed by the lack of a reliable infection model. Wax moth larvae (Galleria mellonella) have emerged as a viable alternative to traditional mammalian organisms since they are economic, survive at 37°C and require no specialist equipment. This study aims to establish whetherG. mellonellalarvae can be developed as a viable model for the study of CPAD and their suitability for studying novel treatment strategies. In addition, the study demonstrates a novel time-lapse approach to data collection. Mortality and morbidity rates of larvae challenged with 105CFU ofC. perfringensisolates from various sources were observed over 72h and dose response data obtained using inoculum sizes of 10- 105CFU. Phenoloxidase enzyme activity was investigated as a marker for immune response and tissue burden by histopathological techniques. Results show thatC. perfringensis pathogenic towardsG. mellonellaalthough potency varies between isolates. Infection activates the melanisation pathway resulting in melanin deposition but no increase in enzyme activity was observed. Efficacy of antibiotic therapy (penicillin G, bacitracin, neomycin and tetracycline) administered parenterally loosely correlates with that of in vitro analysis. The findings suggestG. mellonellacan be a useful in vivo model of infection when investigating CPAD. Although they are unlikely to replace traditional mammals they may be useful as a pre-screening assay for virulence ofC.perfringensstrains or as a simple, cheap and rapid in vivo assay in the development and pre-clinical development of novel therapeutics.


1998 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 414-418 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Fuentes ◽  
J. Izquierdo ◽  
M. M. Martín ◽  
M. L. Gomez-Lus ◽  
J. Prieto

ABSTRACT Investigations of pharmacodynamic parameters (postantibiotic effect [PAE], sub-MIC effects [SMEs], etc.) have been progressively employed for the design of dosing schedules of antimicrobial agents. However, there are fewer in vivo than in vitro data, probably because of the simplicity of the in vitro procedures. In this study, we have investigated the in vitro PAE, SME, and previously treated (postantibiotic [PA]) SME (1/2 MIC, 1/4 MIC and 1/8 MIC) of azithromycin and isepamicin against standard strains ofStaphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coliby using centrifugation to remove the antibiotics. In addition, the in vivo PAE and SME have been studied with the thigh infection model in neutropenic mice. Finally, in vivo killing curves with two dosing schedules were determined to examine whether the PAE can cover the time that antimicrobial agents are below the MIC. The two antimicrobial agents induced moderate-to-high in vitro PAEs, SMEs, and PA SMEs against S. aureus (>8 h) andE. coli (3.38 to >7.64 h). The in vivo PAEs were also high (from 3.0 to 3.6 h), despite the fact that isepamicin had lower times above the MIC in serum. Only azithromycin showed a high in vivo SME against the two strains (1.22 and 1.75 h), which indicated that the in vivo PAEs were possibly overestimated. In the killing kinetics, no great differences (<0.5 log10) were observed between the schedule that took the PAE into account and the continuous administration of doses. These results are comparable with those of other authors and suggest that these antimicrobial agents could be administered at longer intervals without losing effectiveness.


Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 2005
Author(s):  
Céline Antoine ◽  
Fanny Laforêt ◽  
Bob Blasdel ◽  
Abdoulaye Fall ◽  
Jean-Noël Duprez ◽  
...  

Extra-intestinal Escherichia coli express several virulence factors that increase their ability to colonize and survive in different localizations. The K1 capsular type is involved in several infections, including meningitis, urinary tract, and bloodstream infections. The aims of this work were to isolate, characterize, and assess the in vivo efficacy of phages targeting avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) O18:K1, which shares many similarities with the human strains responsible for neonatal meningitis. Eleven phages were isolated against APEC O18:K1, and four of them presenting a narrow spectrum targeting E. coli K1 strains were further studied. The newly isolated phages vB_EcoS_K1-ULINTec2 were similar to the Siphoviridae family, and vB_EcoP_K1-ULINTec4, vB_EcoP_K1-ULINTec6, and vB_EcoP_K1-ULINTec7 to the Autographiviridae family. They are capsular type (K1) dependent and present several advantages characteristic of lytic phages, such as a short adsorption time and latent period. vB_EcoP_K1-ULINTec7 is able to target both K1 and K5 strains. This study shows that these phages replicate efficiently, both in vitro and in vivo in the Galleria mellonella model. Phage treatment increases the larvae survival rates, even though none of the phages were able to eliminate the bacterial load.


2004 ◽  
Vol 48 (6) ◽  
pp. 1941-1947 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dana Maglio ◽  
Christine Ong ◽  
Mary Anne Banevicius ◽  
Qiuming Geng ◽  
Charles H. Nightingale ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Cefepime was evaluated in vivo against two inoculum sizes of four strains of Escherichia coli that produced extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) in a murine neutropenic thigh infection model to characterize the pharmacodynamic activity of cefepime in the presence of ESBL-producing bacteria and to evaluate if differences in lengths of cefepime exposure are required with various inocula. Three strains possessed a single enzyme each: TEM-10, TEM-12, and TEM-26. The fourth strain possessed two TEM-derived ESBLs and a third uncharacterized enzyme. Two non-ESBL-producing E. coli strains were included for comparison. Mice received various doses of cefepime to achieve a spectrum of percentages of time the drug was above the MIC (%T>MICs) for each isolate at both inocula. No significant difference in cefepime exposure was required to achieve similar bactericidal effects for ESBL- and non-ESBL-producing isolates when the starting inoculum was 105 CFU of E. coli per thigh. The increased MICs observed in vitro for the ESBL-producing strains at 107 CFU/ml did not predict the amount of exposure required to achieve a comparable level of bactericidal activity in vivo at the corresponding starting inoculum of 107 CFU/thigh. Compared to the cefepime exposure in tests with the lower inoculum (105 CFU/thigh), less exposure was required when the starting inoculum was 107 CFU/thigh (%T>MIC, 6% versus 26%), such that similar doses (in milligrams per kilogram of body weight) produced similar bactericidal effects with both inocula of ESBL-producing isolates. Equivalent exposures of cefepime produced similar effects against the microorganisms regardless of the presence of ESBL production. Pharmacodynamic profiling undertaken with conventional cefepime MIC determinations predicted in vivo microbial outcomes at both inoculum sizes for the ESBL-producing isolates evaluated in this study. These data support the use of conventional MIC determinations in the pharmacodynamic assessment of cefepime.


2004 ◽  
Vol 48 (9) ◽  
pp. 3436-3441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samir Jawhara ◽  
Serge Mordon

ABSTRACT A rapid, continuous method for noninvasively monitoring the effectiveness of several antibacterial agents in real time by using a model of wound infection was developed. This study was divided into three steps: (i) construction of a plasmid to transform Escherichia coli into a bioluminescent variant, (ii) study of the bioluminescent E. coli in vitro as a function of temperature and pH, and (iii) determination of the MIC and the minimal bactericidal concentration of sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (SMX-TMP). Finally, the efficacy of SMX-TMP was monitored in vivo in a cutaneous wound model (hairless rat) infected with this bioluminescent bacterium by using a bioluminescence imaging system. E. coli was transformed by electroporation with a shuttle vector (pRB474) containing the firefly (Photinus pyralis) luciferase gene, resulting in a bioluminescent phenotype. It was found that pH 5.0 was optimal for incorporation of the susbstrate d-luciferin for the luciferase reaction. In vitro, when the agar dilution method, standard turbidity assays, and the bioluminescence imaging system were used, E. coli(pRB474) proved to be susceptible to SMX-TMP. In vivo, at 4 h, SMX-TMP treatment was already efficient compared to no treatment (P = 0.034). At 48 h, no bioluminescence was detected in the wound, demonstrating the susceptibility of E. coli to SMX-TMP. In conclusion, this study points out the advantage of using bioluminescence imaging to evaluate the effects of antibiotics for the treatment of acute infections in vivo in a nondestructive and noninvasive manner.


2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sun Hee Moon ◽  
Yihong Kaufmann ◽  
En Huang

ABSTRACT Polymyxin resistance mediated by the mcr-1 gene threatens the last-resort antibiotics. Linear lipopeptide paenipeptin analogues 1 and 15 disrupted the outer membrane of Gram-negative pathogens and potentiated clarithromycin and rifampin against mcr-1-positive Escherichia coli from the FDA-CDC Antimicrobial Resistance Isolate Bank. In the presence of paenipeptin, clarithromycin and rifampin resulted in over 3-log reduction of E. coli in vitro. Moreover, paenipeptin-antibiotic combinations significantly reduced E. coli in a murine thigh infection model.


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