Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Youngseon Park, Atsushi Taguchi, Vadim Baidin, Daniel Kahne, Suzanne Walker
Summary: The presence of peptidoglycan cell wall is vital for the survival of bacteria. A new class of PGTs called SEDS proteins, with FtsW as one of them, has been identified. FtsW is a potential target for novel antibiotics as it produces septal peptidoglycan during cell division in almost all bacteria. A TR-FRET assay was developed to monitor PGT activity and a compound that inhibits S. aureus FtsW was identified through screening a compound library.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Biology
Heiner Atze, Yucheng Liang, Jean-Emmanuel Hugonnet, Arnaud Gutierrez, Filippo Rusconi, Michel Arthur
Summary: This study investigated the impact of beta-lactam antibiotics on bacterial cell walls and the mechanism of resistance, finding that YcbB mediates resistance through a novel mode of multiple strand insertion.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Reem K. Fathalla, Wolfgang Froehner, Chantal D. Bader, Patrick D. Fischer, Charlotte Dahlem, Deep Chatterjee, Sebastian Mathea, Alexandra K. Kiemer, Haribabu Arthanari, Rolf Muller, Mohammad Abdel-Halim, Christian Ducho, Matthias Engel
Summary: This study reports a novel class of reversible MurA inhibitors that can inhibit both wild type MurA and fosfomycin-resistant MurA C115D mutant, showing potential for inhibiting cell wall synthesis. The most potent inhibitor 46 exhibits good stability and non-toxicity.
JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Benjamin Russell, Ariel Rogers, Ryan Yoder, Matthew Kurilich, Venkata Rao Krishnamurthi, Jingyi Chen, Yong Wang
Summary: Silver (Ag) in different forms has gained attention for its antimicrobial activities, especially as bacteria become more resistant to antibiotics. However, the mechanism of how Ag affects bacterial motility is not fully understood. In this study, we found that Ag+ ions significantly inhibited the motility of E. coli bacteria and increased the tumbling/pausing frequency. Using the hidden Markov model (HMM), we analyzed the results and found that Ag+ ions decreased the bacterial tumbling/pausing-to-running transition rate. This work provides new quantitative understanding of Ag-based antimicrobial agents in bacterial motility.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Sunjae Hwang, Jungil Choi
Summary: Antibiotic resistance poses a global threat to human health. A rapid antibiotic susceptibility test (AST) is crucial for appropriate antibiotic prescriptions for patients infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This study introduces a rapid AST platform that utilizes low-density bacterial samples, concentrates bacterial cells, and performs AST on a single microfluidic chip. The platform allows quick detection of antibiotic resistance in three hours and can be used for cell-based drug testing of low-concentration bacterial samples.
Article
Microbiology
L. Zhang, K. Ramijan, V. J. Carrion, L. T. van der Aart, J. Willemse, G. P. van Wezel, D. Claessen
Summary: The cell wall is an essential structure in bacteria, and the enzyme MurG plays a critical role in its synthesis. However, a newly discovered enzyme called MglA has been found to be able to replace MurG in certain bacteria, highlighting the plasticity of cell wall synthesis in these organisms.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Riccardo Provenzani, Paola San-Martin-Galindo, Ghada Hassan, Ashenafi Legehar, Aleksi Kallio, Henri Xhaard, Adyary Fallarero, Jari Yli-Kauhaluoma
Summary: Biofilms are challenging in healthcare as they can resist antibiotics, necessitating the development of novel anti-biofilm agents. A study found that some multisubstituted pyrimidine compounds effectively inhibit biofilm formation and kill pre-formed biofilms of Staphylococcus aureus strains. These compounds also showed antibacterial activity against planktonic cells of the staphylococcal strains.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zongqiang Wang, Bimal Koirala, Yozen Hernandez, Matthew Zimmerman, Sean F. Brady
Summary: The emerging resistance to current antibiotics is a global health crisis. In a study on bacterial genome sequencing, researchers have discovered a lipopeptide antibiotic called cilagicin that has unique modes of action. The cilagicin, which can combat antibiotic-resistant pathogens, was synthesized based on a detailed bioinformatic analysis of the cil biosynthetic gene cluster.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jianbin Lin, Bianjing Sun, Heng Zhang, Xiaoli Yang, Xiao Qu, Lei Zhang, Chuntao Chen, Dongping Sun
Summary: Bacterial cellulose (BC), a natural biopolymer produced by bacterial fermentation, has unique physical and chemical properties. The single functional group on the surface of BC limits its wider application, thus functionalization of BC is crucial. In this study, N-acetylated bacterial cellulose (ABC) was successfully prepared using a direct synthetic method. The modified BC showed lower crystallinity and higher fiber width compared to pristine BC. Cell viability tests and hemolysis ratios indicated the biocompatibility of ABC. Furthermore, the acetyl amine modified BC was further treated by nitrifying bacteria to expand its functional diversity. This research provides an environmentally friendly pathway for the construction of BC derivatives during its metabolism.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Paramita Sarkar, Kathakali De, Malvika Modi, Geetika Dhanda, Richa Priyadarshini, Julia E. Bandow, Jayanta Haldar
Summary: Resistance to vancomycin requires developing alternative therapeutics. In this study, vancomycin derivatives with mechanisms beyond d-Ala-d-Ala binding were reported. The lead molecule, VanQAmC(10), inhibits bacterial cell division, which is a previously unknown property for glycopeptide antibiotics.
Article
Microbiology
Janine H. Peterson, Matthew Thomas Doyle, Harris D. Bernstein
Summary: Several antibacterial compounds have been found to inhibit BAM function through different mechanisms, affecting the biogenesis of outer membrane proteins in Gram-negative bacteria. These findings not only provide important insights for developing novel broad-spectrum antibiotics, but also valuable tools for future studies on BAM function.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mika Gallati, Bryant Point, Christopher W. Reid
Summary: Peptidoglycan in bacterial cell wall is a unique macromolecular structure that shapes bacteria and protects them from the environment. Understanding how PG degradation influences biosynthesis and cell wall assembly is essential.
JOVE-JOURNAL OF VISUALIZED EXPERIMENTS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Reem K. Fathalla, Matthias Engel, Christian Ducho
Summary: 8-Anilinonaphthalene-1-sulfonic acid (ANS) is a fluorescent probe commonly used to detect conformational changes in proteins. This study discovered that ANS can inhibit the activity of various isoforms of MurA and identified a more potent ANS analog. These findings highlight the potential of targeting the ANS binding pocket for the development of antibiotics.
ARCHIV DER PHARMAZIE
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Douglas M. Heithoff, Scott P. Mahan, V. Lucien Barnes, Semen A. Leyn, Cyril X. George, Jaime E. Zlamal, Jakkarin Limwongyut, Guillermo C. Bazan, Jeffrey C. Fried, Lynn N. Fitzgibbons, John K. House, Charles E. Samuel, Andrei L. Osterman, David A. Low, Michael J. Mahan
Summary: A compound called COE2-2hexyl has been identified as a synthetic antimicrobial with broad-spectrum antibacterial activity. It effectively cured mice infected with multi-drug resistant bacteria and did not induce bacterial resistance. The ease of molecular design, synthesis, and modular nature of COEs offer advantages over conventional antimicrobials, and these features enable the construction of a range of compounds with the potential to address a global health crisis.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Charlotte E. Melia, Jani R. Bolla, Stefan Katharios-Lanwermeyer, Daniel B. Mihaylov, Patrick C. Hoffmann, Jiandong Huo, Michael R. Wozny, Louis M. Elfari, Jan Bohning, Ashleigh N. Morgan, Charlie J. Hitchman, Raymond J. Owens, Carol Robinson, George A. O'Toole, Tanmay A. M. Bharat
Summary: Bacteria, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, form multicellular biofilm communities where cell-cell interactions are mediated by CdrA molecules tethering cells together through polysaccharide binding partners. Targeting functional CdrA molecules with nanobodies could inhibit bacterial biofilm formation or disrupt preexisting biofilms, showing promise in preventing or treating chronic bacterial infections.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Marina Oviano, Cecilia de la Luna Ramirez, Monica Gonzalez-Bardanca, Ana Candela, German Bou
Summary: A novel modified Carba NP test using imipenem/relebactam was proposed for detecting KPC-producing Enterobacterales. The test showed 100% sensitivity and specificity for detecting class A KPC-producing Enterobacterales, with a turnaround time of less than 1 hour and minimal handling. This biochemical assay provides reliable results for detecting KPC-producing Enterobacterales without the need for specialized equipment.
ENFERMEDADES INFECCIOSAS Y MICROBIOLOGIA CLINICA
(2022)
Editorial Material
Infectious Diseases
Alba Bergas, Samuel Rivera, Miriam Torrecillas, Guillermo Cuervo
ENFERMEDADES INFECCIOSAS Y MICROBIOLOGIA CLINICA
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Marta Hernandez-Garcia, Maria Garcia-Castillo, Patricia Ruiz-Garbajosa, German Bou, Maria Siller-Ruiz, Cristina Pitart, Irene Gracia-Ahufinger, Xavier Mulet, Alvaro Pascual, Nuria Tormo, Rafael Canton
Summary: This study evaluated the activity of cefepime-taniborbactam against carbapenemase-producing bacteria and found it to be effective against both Enterobacterales and Pseudomonas species.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Juan Carlos Vazquez-Ucha, Cristina Lasarte-Monterrubio, Paula Guijarro-Sanchez, Marina Oviano, Laura Alvarez-Fraga, Isaac Alonso-Garcia, Jorge Arca-Suarez, German Bou, Alejandro Beceiro
Summary: The global distribution of carbapenemases is a concern due to their resistance to traditional beta-lactamase inhibitors. The development of new inhibitors shows promise in treating multidrug-resistant bacteria. The combination of cefepime with novel beta-lactamase inhibitors, zidebactam, taniborbactam, and enmetazobactam, demonstrated high activity against carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales, particularly cefepime/zidebactam and cefepime/taniborbactam.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Jorge Arca-Suarez, Bruno K. Rodino-Janeiro, Astrid Perez, Paula Guijarro-Sanchez, Juan C. Vazquez-Ucha, Fernando Cruz, Jessica Gomez-Garrido, Tyler S. Alioto, Miguel Alvarez-Tejado, Marta Gut, Ivo Gut, Marina Oviano, Alejandro Beceiro, German Bou
Summary: This study investigated the prevalence, resistance mechanisms, molecular epidemiology, and genetic support of 16S rRNA methyltransferases (RMTs) in carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) isolates from Spain. The findings show an emerging trend of RMTs among clinical CPE isolates, posing a threat to the clinical utility of aminoglycosides and plazomicin.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Gerelchimeg Bou, Shimeng Guo, Jia Guo, Zhuang Chai, Jianchao Zhao, Yan Li, Zhonghua Liu
Summary: While Nanog is important for maintaining pluripotency in pigs and mice, overexpression of NANOG in early porcine embryos does not improve the efficiency of pluripotent embryonic stem cell clone formation. Therefore, NANOG overexpression is unnecessary for the initial establishment of porcine pluripotent embryonic stem cell clones in vitro.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
David Rodriguez-Temporal, Fernando Alcaide, Ivana Marekovic, James Anthony O'Connor, Rebecca Gorton, Jakko van Ingen, An Van den Bossche, Genevieve Hery-Arnaud, Clemence Beauruelle, Dorothea Orth-Hoeller, Juan-Jose Palacios-Gutierrez, Griselda Tudo, German Bou, Pieter-Jan Ceyssens, Montserrat Garrigo, Julia Gonzalez-Martin, Gilbert Greub, Jaroslav Hrabak, Andre Ingebretsen, Maria Concepcion Mediavilla-Gradolph, Marina Oviano, Begona Palop, Arthur B. Pranada, Lidia Quiroga, Maria Jesus Ruiz-Serrano, Belen Rodriguez-Sanchez
Summary: The ability of MALDI-TOF for the identification of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) has been improved recently, thanks to updated databases and optimized protein extraction procedures. This study evaluated the reproducibility of MALDI-TOF in 15 laboratories across 9 European countries for NTM identification. The results showed that MALDI-TOF is a highly reproducible method and suitable for NTM identification implementation.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Eva Gato, Ahalieyah Anantharajah, Manuel J. Arroyo, Maria Jose Artacho, Juan de Dios Caballero, Ana Candela, Katerina Chudejova, Ignacio Pedro Constanso, Cristina Elias, Javier Fernandez, Jesus Jimenez, Pilar Lumbreras, Gema Mendez, Xavier Mulet, Patricia Perez-Palacios, Belen Rodriguez-Sanchez, Rafael Canton, Jaroslav Hrabak, Luis Mancera, Luis Martinez-Martinez, Antonio Oliver, Alvaro Pascual, Alexia Verroken, German Bou, Marina Oviano
Summary: In this study, the performance of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) for rapid detection of carbapenemase activity in Enterobacterales was evaluated. The method demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity, with an overall agreement rate of 92.5% relative to the reference standard. Results were obtained within 60 minutes and accuracy ranged from 83.3% to 100% among different centers. MALDI-TOF MS proves to be an outstanding tool for rapid detection of carbapenemase activity in clinical microbiology laboratories.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Cristina Lasarte-Monterrubio, Paula Guijarro-Sanchez, Alba Belles, Juan Carlos Vazquez-Ucha, Jorge Arca-Suarez, Carlos Fernandez-Lozano, German Bou, Alejandro Beceiro
Summary: This study characterized the development of carbapenem resistance in clinical isolates of Acinetobacter junii and Acinetobacter nosocomialis due to the acquisition of a plasmid-borne bla(OXA-24/40) gene, as well as the dissemination of this gene between species of Acinetobacter for the first time. The presence of a new plasmid carrying the carbapenem-resistance gene bla(OXA-24/40) was identified in both strains, facilitating the horizontal transfer of carbapenem resistance. The identification of plasmids similar to the GR12 group carrying bla(OXA-24/40) in multiple Acinetobacter species suggests a concerning dissemination and spread of carbapenem resistance in this bacterial genus.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Letter
Microbiology
Juan Carlos Vazquez-Ucha, Cristina Lasarte-Monterrubio, Paula Guijarro-Sanchez, Marina Oviano, Laura Alvarez-Fraga, Isaac Alonso-Garcia, Jorge Arca-Suarez, German Bou, Alejandro Beceiro
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Juan A. Vallejo, Noelia Trigo-Tasende, Soraya Rumbo-Feal, Kelly Conde-Perez, Angel Lopez-Oriona, Ines Barbeito, Manuel Vaamonde, Javier Tarrio-Saavedra, Ruben Reif, Susana Ladra, Bruno K. Rodino-Janeiro, Mohammed Nasser-Ali, Angeles Cid, Maria Veiga, Anton Acevedo, Carlos Lamora, German Bou, Ricardo Cao, Margarita Poza
Summary: The quantification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA load in wastewater has emerged as a useful tool to monitor COVID-19 outbreaks in communities. This approach was implemented in the metropolitan area of A Coruna, where wastewater analysis helped track the epidemic dynamics. Regression models allowed estimation of the number of infected individuals and served as an effective early warning tool for predicting outbreaks in the municipality.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lara Moran, Gemma Bou, Noelia Aldai, Martina Ciardi, Ainoa Morillas-Espana, Ana Sanchez-Zurano, Luis Javier R. Barron, Tomas Lafarga
Summary: Microalgae and microalgae-derived ingredients are a top trend in the food industry, but consumers' acceptance and purchase intention can be influenced by odor and flavor. Surprisingly, there are limited studies on the volatile composition of microalgae and cyanobacteria. This study aimed to investigate the volatile composition of seven microalgal and cyanobacterial strains from marine and freshwater sources and understand their potential impact on odor. The results showed that the composition of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is mainly driven by the individual strain, but can also be influenced by environmental and taxonomical factors.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Cristina Lasarte-Monterrubio, Pablo Arturo Fraile-Ribot, Juan Carlos Vazquez-Ucha, Gabriel Cabot, Paula Guijarro-Sanchez, Isaac Alonso-Garcia, Soraya Rumbo-Feal, Fatima Galan-Sanchez, Alejandro Beceiro, Jorge Arca-Suarez, Antonio Oliver, German Bou
Summary: This study evaluated the activity of new drugs against ceftolozane/tazobactam- and ceftazidime/avibactam-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates. Cefiderocol and cefepime/taniborbactam were the most active agents. However, resistance was observed in some strains with specific mutations or overexpression of efflux pumps.
JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL CHEMOTHERAPY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Pablo Aja-Macaya, Soraya Rumbo-Feal, Margarita Poza, Angelina Canizares, Juan A. A. Vallejo, German Bou
Summary: A new method for extraction and enrichment of genomic MPXV DNA was developed, which significantly improved the sequencing efficiency and trustworthiness of the consensus sequences. Enriched samples contained a higher percentage of MPXV reads compared to non-enriched samples, leading to more accurate and cost-effective diagnosis of contagious diseases.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Juan Carlos Vazquez-Ucha, Isaac Alonso-Garcia, Paula Guijarro-Sanchez, Cristina Lasarte-Monterrubio, Laura Alvarez-Fraga, Arnau Cendon-Esteve, Michelle Outeda, Romina Maceiras, Andrea Pena-Escolano, Marta Martinez-Guitian, Jorge Arca-Suarez, German Bou, Alejandro Beceiro
Summary: Metallo- ,B-lactamase (MBL)-producing Enterobacterales, which are resistant to almost all ,B-lactam antibiotics, pose a significant threat due to their wide dissemination and difficulty in treatment. This study evaluated the activity of aztreonam in combination with novel ,B-lactamase inhibitors (BLIs) against clinical isolates co-producing MBLs and SBLs. The results showed that aztreonam/zidebactam, aztreonam/avibactam, and aztreonam/taniborbactam were the most effective combinations, offering promising therapeutic strategies for difficult-to-treat infections.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS
(2023)