Antibacterial activity and mechanisms of D-3263 against Staphylococcus aureus.

Multi-drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections necessitate novel antibiotic development. D-3263, a transient receptor potential melastatin member 8 (TRPM8) agonist, has potential antineoplastic properties. Here, we reported the antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of D-3263. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) against S. aureus, Enterococcus faecalis and E. faecium were ≤ 50 µM. D-3263 exhibited bactericidal effects against clinical methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and E. faecalis strains at 4× MIC. Subinhibitory D-3263 concentrations effectively inhibited S. aureus and E. faecalis biofilms, with higher concentrations also clearing mature biofilms. Proteomic analysis revealed differential expression of 29 proteins under 1/2 × MIC D-3263, influencing amino acid biosynthesis and carbohydrate metabolism. Additionally, D-3263 enhanced membrane permeability of S. aureus and E. faecalis. Bacterial membrane phospholipids phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), and cardiolipin (CL) dose-dependently increased D-3263 MICs. Overall, our data suggested that D-3263 exhibited potent antibacterial and antibiofilm activities against S. aureus by targeting the cell membrane.

Neobavaisoflavone Inhibits Biofilm Formation and α-Toxin Activity of Staphylococcus aureus.

Neobavaisoflavone had antimicrobial activities against Gram-positive multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, but the effect of neobavaisoflavone on the virulence and biofilm formation of S. aureus has not been explored. The present study aimed to investigate the possible inhibitory effect of neobavaisoflavone on the biofilm formation and α-toxin activity of S. aureus. Neobavaisoflavone presented strong inhibitory effect on the biofilm formation and α-toxin activity of both methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains at 25 µM, but did not affect the growth of S. aureus planktonic cells. Genetic mutations were identified in four coding genes, including cell wall metabolism sensor histidine kinase walK, RNA polymerase sigma factor rpoD, tetR family transcriptional regulator, and a hypothetical protein. The mutation of WalK (K570E) protein was identified and verified in all the neobavaisoflavone-induced mutant S. aureus isolates. The ASN501, LYS504, ILE544 and GLY565 of WalK protein act as hydrogen acceptors to form four hydrogen bonds with neobavaisoflavone by molecular docking analysis, and TRY505 of WalK protein contact with neobavaisoflavone to form a pi-H bond. In conclusion, neobavaisoflavone had excellent inhibitory effect on the biofilm formation and α-toxin activity of S. aureus. The WalK protein might be a potential target of neobavaisoflavone against S. aureus.

Antibacterial activities and action mode of anti-hyperlipidemic lomitapide against Staphylococcus aureus.

BACKGROUND: The increasing emergence of multidrug-resistant Gram-positive bacterial infections necessitates new antibacterial agents with novel mechanisms of action that can be used to treat these infections. Lomitapide has been approved by FDA for years in reducing levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in cases of familial hypercholesterolemia, whereas the antibacterial effect of lomitapide remains elusive. In this study, the inhibitory activities of lomitapide against Gram-positive bacteria were the first time explored. Quantitative proteomics analysis was then applied to investigate the mechanisms of action of lomitapide. RESULTS: The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of lomitapide against Gram-positive bacteria including both methicillin sensitive and resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, and Streptococcus agalactiae were range 12.5-50 µM. Moreover, lomitapide also inhibited anti-biofilm activity against clinical S. aureus isolates. A total of 106 proteins with > 1.5-fold changes in expression were identified upon 1/2 × MIC lomitapide exposure, including 83 up-regulated proteins and 23 down-regulated proteins. Based on bioinformatics analysis, the expression of cell wall damage response proteins including two-component system VraS/VraR, lipoteichoic acid (LPA) D-alanylnation related proteins D-alanyl carrier protein (dltC) and carrier protein ligase (dltA), methionine sulfoxide reductases (mrsA1 and mrsB) were up-regulated. Moreover, the expression of SaeS and multiple fibrinogen-binding proteins (SAOUHSC_01110, FnBPB, SAOUHSC_02802, SdrC, SdrD) which were involved in the bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation, was inhibited by lomitapide. Furthermore, VraS/VraR deletion mutant (ΔvraSR) showed an enhanced lomitapide sensitivity phenotype. CONCLUSION: Lomitapide displayed broad antimicrobial activities against Gram-positive bacteria. The antibacterial effect of lomitapide may be caused by cell wall destruction, while the anti-biofilm activity may be related to the inhibition of surface proteins.

SAUR49 Can Positively Regulate Leaf Senescence by Suppressing SSPP in Arabidopsis.

The involvement of SMALL AUXIN-UP RNA (SAUR) proteins in leaf senescence has been more and more acknowledged, but the detailed mechanisms remain unclear. In the present study, we performed yeast two-hybrid assays and identified SAUR49 as an interactor of SENESCENCE SUPPRESSED PROTEIN PHOSPHATASE (SSPP), which is a PP2C protein phosphatase that negatively regulates Arabidopsis leaf senescence by suppressing the leucine-rich repeat receptor-like protein kinase SENESCENCE-ASSOCIATED RECEPTOR-LIKE KINASE (SARK), as reported previously by our group. The interaction between SAUR49 and SSPP was further confirmed in planta. Functional characterization revealed that SAUR49 is a positive regulator of leaf senescence. The accumulation level of SAUR49 protein increased during natural leaf senescence in Arabidopsis. The transcript level of SAUR49 was upregulated during SARK-induced premature leaf senescence but downregulated during SSPP-mediated delayed leaf senescence. Overexpression of SAUR49 significantly accelerated both natural and dark-induced leaf senescence in Arabidopsis. More importantly, SAUR49 overexpression completely reversed SSPP-induced delayed leaf senescence. In addition, overexpression of SAUR49 reversed the decreased plasma membrane H+-ATPase activity mediated by SSPP. Taken together, the results showed that SAUR49 functions in accelerating the leaf senescence process via the activation of SARK-mediated leaf senescence signaling by suppressing SSPP. We further identified four other SSPP-interacting SAURs, SAUR30, SAUR39, SAUR41 and SAUR72, that may act redundantly with SAUR49 in regulating leaf senescence. All these observations indicated that certain members of the SAUR family may serve as an important hub that integrates various hormonal and environmental signals with senescence signals in Arabidopsis.

Loratadine Derivative Lo-7: A Weapon against Drug-Resistant Enterococcus and Streptococcal Infections.

The primary obstacles in the management of Enterococcus and Streptococcal infections are drug resistance and biofilm formation. Our study revealed that loratadine at a concentration of ≥25 µM exhibited significant inhibitory effects on biofilm formation in 167 clinical strains of Enterococcus faecalis and 15 clinical isolates of Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Streptococcus pneumoniae. Additionally, the antibiofilm activity against E. faecalis and Streptococcal was demonstrated by several loratadine derivatives with altered side-chain carbamate moieties. This study investigated the antibacterial activity of the loratadine derivative Lo-7 against clinical strains of S. agalactiae and S. pyogenes, with minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 12.5 to 25 µM. The findings revealed that a low concentration of loratadine derivative Lo-7 (3.125 µM) significantly augmented the bactericidal efficacy of vancomycin against multidrug-resistant (MDR) S. agalactiae, both in vitro and in vivo. The loratadine derivative Lo-7, even at low concentrations, demonstrated significant efficacy in eliminating intracellular MDR S. agalactiae within macrophages, potentially indicating a unique advantage over vancomycin, linezolid, and loratadine. Mechanistically, exposure to the loratadine derivative Lo-7 resulted in membrane depolarization without affecting membrane permeability in S. agalactiae. The potential targeting of the SecG subunit of the SecYEG membrane-embedded channel by the loratadine derivative Lo-7 in S. agalactiae was identified through quantitative proteomics, a drug affinity responsive target stability assay, and molecular docking.

Baohuoside I inhibits virulence of multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus by targeting the transcription Staphylococcus accessory regulator factor SarZ.

BACKGROUND: Staphylococcus aureus is a versatile pathogen that can cause a wide range of infections in humans. Biofilms play a crucial role in the pathogenicity of S. aureus and contribute to its ability to cause persistent and chronic infections. Baohuoside I has garnered increasing recognition as a natural flavonol glycoside with a wide spectrum of health-related activities. PURPOSE: The antibacterial and anti-biofilm properties of Baohuoside I have not been extensively investigated. Our study aimed to assess its inhibitory effects and the underlying mechanisms on biofilm formation and hemolytic capacity in S. aureus. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS: The impact of Baohuoside I on the biofilm and virulence of S. aureus was evaluated through in vitro experiments and Galleria mellonella as an in vivo infection model. The mechanisms were explored by Drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS) and validated in genetic knockout strain and through molecular biological experiments using DARTS, molecular docking, electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), and bio-layer interferometry (BLI). RESULTS: Baohuoside I significantly inhibits the formation of S. aureus biofilms and hemolytic activity at 6.25 µM. Proteomics analysis revealed that treatment with Baohuoside I led to a reduction in the expression of quorum-sensing system agr-regulated genes. DARTS analysis identified Staphylococcus accessory regulator factor (SarZ), a key regulator involved in the expression of virulence factors in S. aureus by acting as activator of the agr quorum-sensing system, was the direct target of Baohuoside I. Molecular docking, DARTS, BLI and EMSA assays collectively confirmed the direct binding of Baohuoside I to SarZ, inhibiting its binding to downstream promoters. Furthermore, it is found through site-directed protein mutagenesis that the Tyr27 and Phe117 residues are key for Baohuoside I binding to SarZ. Additionally, the knockout of SarZ significantly diminished the hemolytic ability of S. aureus, underscoring its crucial role as a pivotal regulator of virulence. Lastly, in vivo tests utilizing the G. mellonella infection model demonstrated the efficacy of Baohuoside I. CONCLUSION: This study provides valuable insights into the mechanism by which Baohuoside I inhibits the virulence of S. aureus through its interaction with SarZ. These findings highlight the significance of SarZ as an effective target against the virulence of S. aureus.

AMXT-1501 targets membrane phospholipids against Gram-positive and -negative multidrug-resistant bacteria.

The rapid proliferation of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial pathogens poses a serious threat to healthcare worldwide. Carbapenem-resistant (CR) Enterobacteriaceae, which have near-universal resistance to available antimicrobials, represent a particularly concerning issue. Herein, we report the identification of AMXT-1501, a polyamine transport system inhibitor with antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and -negative MDR bacteria. We observed minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)50/MIC90 values for AMXT-1501 in the range of 3.13-12.5 µM (2.24-8.93 µg /mL), including for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), CR Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. AMXT-1501 was more effective against MRSA and CR E. coli than vancomycin and tigecycline, respectively. Subinhibitory concentrations of AMXT-1501 reduced the biofilm formation of S. aureus and Enterococcus faecalis. Mechanistically, AMXT-1501 exposure damaged microbial membranes and increased membrane permeability and membrane potential by binding to cardiolipin (CL) and phosphatidylglycerol (PG). Importantly, AMXT-1501 pressure did not induce resistance readily in the tested pathogens.

Antibacterial Activity and Mechanism of Candesartan Cilexetil against Enterococcus faecalis.

Enterococcus faecalis infections pose a significant clinical challenge due to their multidrug resistance and propensity for biofilm formation. Exploring alternative treatment options, such as repurposing existing drugs, is crucial in addressing this issue. This study investigates the antibacterial activity of candesartan cilexetil against E. faecalis and elucidates its mechanism of action. Candesartan cilexetil exhibited notable antibacterial activity against both E. faecalis and Enterococcus faecium, with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ≤25 µM. Time-kill curves demonstrated concentration-dependent bactericidal effects. Candesartan cilexetil could significantly inhibited biofilm formation at the concentration of 1/4× MIC and induced alterations in biofilm structure. Permeability assays revealed compromised bacterial membranes, accompanied by the dissipation of membrane potential in E. faecalis cells after treatment with candesartan cilexetil. Checkerboard analysis showed that bacterial membrane phospholipids phosphatidylglycerol and cardiolipin could neutralize the antibacterial activity of candesartan cilexetil in a dose-dependent manner. Biolayer interferometry (BLI) assay indicated specific interactions between candesartan cilexetil and phosphatidylglycerol or cardiolipin. This study demonstrates the promising antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of candesartan cilexetil against multidrug-resistant E. faecalis. The mechanism of action involves disruption of bacterial membranes, possibly by interacting with membrane phospholipids. These findings underscore the potential utility of candesartan cilexetil as an effective therapeutic agent for combating E. faecalis infections, offering a valuable strategy in the battle against antibiotic-resistant pathogens.

Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Activities of Sertindole and Its Antibacterial Mechanism against Staphylococcus aureus.

As methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus has become the most prevalent antibiotic-resistant pathogen in many countries, there is an urgent demand to develop novel antibacterial agents. The purpose of this study is to investigate sertindole's antibacterial and antibiofilm properties, as well as its antibacterial mechanism against S. aureus. The MIC50 and MIC90 values for sertindole against S. aureus were both determined to be 50 µM, and sertindole significantly reduced S. aureus growth at a subinhibitory concentration of 1/2× MIC. Sertindole also showed remarkable potency in inhibiting the development of biofilms. Additionally, proteomic analysis revealed that sertindole could dramatically decrease the biosynthesis of amino acids and trigger the cell wall stress response and oxidative stress response. A series of tests, including membrane permeability assays, quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR, and electron microscope observations, revealed that sertindole disrupts cell integrity. The two-component system VraS/VraR knockout S. epidermis strain also showed enhanced sensitivity to sertindole. Overall, our data suggested that sertindole exhibited antibacterial and biofilm-inhibiting activities against S. aureus and that its antibacterial actions may involve the destruction of cell integrity.

Antibacterial and anti-biofilm activity of radezolid against Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates from China.

Although the potent antibacterial ability of radezolid against Staphylococcus aureus has been widely reported worldwide, its antibacterial and anti-biofilm activity against the S. aureus clinical isolates from China remains elusive. In this study, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of radezolid was determined in S. aureus clinical isolates from China using the agar dilution method, and the relationship between radezolid susceptibility and ST distribution was also investigated. The anti-biofilm activity of radezolid against S. aureus was determined by a crystal violet assay and compared with that of linezolid and contezolid. The quantitative proteomics of S. aureus treated with radezolid was analyzed, and the genetic mutations in radezolid-induced resistant S. aureus were determined by whole-genome sequencing. The dynamic changes in transcriptional expression levels of several biofilm-related genes were analyzed by quantitative RT-PCR. Our data showed that radezolid MIC ranged from ≤0.125 to 0.5 mg/L, which was almost 1/4 × MIC of linezolid against S. aureus, indicating the greater antibacterial activity of radezolid than linezolid. The S. aureus clinical isolates with radezolid MICs of 0.5 mg/L were most widely distributed in ST239 of MRSA and ST7 of MSSA. Moreover, the more robust anti-biofilm activity of radezolid with subinhibitory concentrations (1/8 × MIC and 1/16 × MIC) was demonstrated against S. aureus when compared with that of contezolid and linezolid. Genetic mutations were found in glmS, 23S rRNA, and DUF1542 domain-containing protein in radezolid-induced resistant S. aureus selected by in vitro induction of drug exposure. Quantitative proteomic analysis of S. aureus indicated that the global expression of some biofilm-related and virulence-related proteins was downregulated. Quantitative RT-PCR further confirmed that the expressions of some downregulated biofilm-related proteins, including sdrD, carA, sraP, hlgC, sasG, spa, sspP, fnbA, and oatA, were decreased after 12 h and 24 h of exposure to radezolid. Conclusively, radezolid shows robust antibacterial and anti-biofilm activity against S. aureus clinical isolates from China when compared with contezolid and linezolid.

Cinacalcet exhibits rapid bactericidal and efficient anti-biofilm activities against multidrug-resistant Gram-positive pathogens.

Infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria pose a serious threat to global public health. Drug resistance, dormant persister cells, and biofilm formation are the key challenges affecting the efficacy of antibiotics against Gram-positive bacterial infections. In this study, cinacalcet exhibited good inhibitory activity against multidrug-resistant Gram-positive bacteria, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 3.13 µg/mL to 25 µg/mL. Cinacalcet displayed more rapid and stronger bactericidal activity against planktonic and persister cells of Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis compared with the antibiotics vancomycin or ampicillin, as well as potent inhibition and eradication of mature biofilms of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and linezolid-resistant E. faecalis (LRE). In addition, the robust antibacterial activity was demonstrated in vivo by a pneumonia infection model and a biofilm formation and deep-seated infection model. Collectively, these findings indicate that cinacalcet may be a promising new candidate antibiotic to combat infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-positive pathogens.

In Vitro, In Vivo, and In Silico Activities of Ginkgolic Acid C15:1 against Streptococcus agalactiae Clinical Isolates.

Streptococcus agalactiae is the major cause of invasive neonatal infections and is a recognized pathogen associated with various diseases in nonpregnant adults. The emergence and spread of antibiotic-resistant S. agalactiae necessitate the development of a novel antibacterial agent. Here, the potential antibacterial activities and mechanisms of ginkgolic acid C15:1 (GA (15:1)) from Ginkgo biloba against clinical S. agalactiae are characterized. The MIC50 and MIC90 values for GA (15:1) against 72 clinical S. agalactiae isolates were 6.25 and 12.5 µM, respectively. GA (15:1) showed a strong bactericidal effect against both planktonic bacteria and bacteria embedded in biofilms as well as significant effectiveness in suppressing the growth of S. agalactiae biofilms. Moreover, GA (15:1) possesses intracellular antibacterial activity and could significantly decrease the bacterial burden in the intraperitoneal infection model of S. agalactiae. Mechanistic studies showed that GA (15:1) triggers membrane damage of S. agalactiae through a unique dual-targeting mechanism of action (MoA). First, GA (15:1) targets phospholipids in the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane. Second, by using mass-spectrometry-based drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS) and molecular docking, lipoprotein signaling peptidase II (lspA) was identified as a target protein of GA (15:1), whose role is crucial for maintaining bacterial membrane depolarization and permeabilization. Our findings suggest a potential therapeutic strategy for developing GA (15:1) to combat S. agalactiae infections.

Thiazolopyrimidinone Derivative H5-23 Enhances Daptomycin Activity against Linezolid-Resistant Enterococcus faecalis by Disrupting the Cell Membrane.

The increasing emergence and dissemination of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-positive pathogens pose a serious threat to global public health. Previous reports have demonstrated that the compound H5-23, which has a thiazolopyrimidinone core structure, exhibited antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis in vitro. However, the antibacterial activity in vivo and mechanism of action of H5-23 against MDR bacteria have not been fully studied. In this study, we report that H5-23 has wide-spectrum antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria. When combined with daptomycin (DAP), H5-23 demonstrates enhanced antimicrobial activity, effectively killing both planktonic and persister cells, as well as eradicating biofilm formation by linezolid-resistant Enterococcus faecalis. The development of resistance shows that H5-23 has a low propensity to induce antibiotic resistance compared to that of linezolid in vitro. Mechanistic studies reveal that H5-23 increases membrane permeability and disrupts membrane integrity, resulting in increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), metabolic perturbations, and ultimately cell death. Additionally, we demonstrate the synergistic antibacterial effect of H5-23 combined with DAP in a murine model. These findings suggest that H5-23 is a promising antimicrobial agent and provides a potential strategy for enhancing the efficacy of DAP in combating multidrug-resistant E. faecalis.

The potential target of bithionol against Staphylococcus aureus: design, synthesis and application of biotinylated probes Bio-A2.

This study aims to explore the potential targets of bithionol in Staphylococcus aureus.The four bithionol biotinylated probes Bio-A2-1, Bio-A2-2, Bio-A2-3, and Bio-A2-4 were synthesized, the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of these probes against S. aureus were determined. The bithionol binding proteins in S. aureus were identified through immunoprecipitation and LC-MS/MS with bithionol biotinylated probe. The biotinylated bithionol probes Bio-A2-1 and Bio-A2-3 displayed antibacterial activities against S. aureus. The Bio-A2-1 showed lower MICs than Bio-A2-3, and both with the MIC50/MIC90 at 12.5/12.5 µM against S. aureus clinical isolates. The inhibition rates of bithionol biotinylated probes Bio-A2-1 and Bio-A2-3 on the biofilm formation of S. aureus were comparable to that of bithionol, and were stronger than that of Bio-A2-2 and Bio-A2-4. The biofilm formation of 10 out of 12S. aureus clinical isolates could be inhibited by Bio-A2-1 (at 1/4×, or 1/2× MICs). There are three proteins identified in S. aureus through immunoprecipitation and LC-MS/MS with bithionol biotinylated probe Bio-A2-1: Protein translocase subunit SecA 1 (secA1), Alanine--tRNA ligase (alaS) and DNA gyrase subunit A (gyrA), and in which the SecA1 protein the highest coverage and the most unique peptides. The LYS112, GLN143, ASP213, GLY496 and ASP498 of SecA1 protein act as hydrogen acceptors to form 6 hydrogen bonds with bithionol biotinylated probe Bio-A2-1 by molecular docking analysis. In conclusion, the bithionol biotinylated probe Bio-A2-1 has antibacterial and anti-biofilm activities against S. aureus, and SecA1 was probably one of the potential targets of bithionol in S. aureus.

Inhibition of planktonic growth and biofilm formation of Staphylococcus aureus by entrectinib through disrupting the cell membrane.

Over the last few decades, Staphylococcus aureus infection remain a major medical challenge and health concern worldwide. Biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance caused by S. aureus make it difficult to be eradicated from bacterial infections in clinics. In this study, our data demonstrated the antibacterial and excellent anti-biofilm activity of entrectinib against S. aureus. Entrectinib also exhibited the good safety, suggesting no toxicity with antibacterial concentration of entrectinib toward the erythrocytes and mammalian 239 T cells. Moreover, entrectinib significantly reduced the bacterial burden of septic tissue in a murine model of MRSA infection. Global proteomic analysis of S. aureus treated with entrectinib showed significant changes in the expression levels of ribosomal structure-related (rpmC, rpmD, rplX, and rpsT) and oxidative stress-related proteins (Thioredoxin system), suggesting the possible inhibition of bacterial protein biosynthesis with entrectinib exposure. The increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was demonstrated in the entrectinib-treated S. aureus, supported the impact of entrectinib on the expression changes of ROS-correlated proteins involved in oxidative stress. Furthermore, entrectinib-induced resistant S. aureus clone was selected by in vitro induction under entrectinib exposure and 3 amino acid mutations in the entrectinib-induced resistant S. aureus strain, 2 of which were located in the gene encoding Type II NADH: quinoneoxidoreductase and one were found in GTP pyrophosphokinase family protein. Finally, the bactericidal action of entrectinib on S. aureus were confirmed by disrupting the bacterial cell membrane. Conclusively, entrectinib exhibit the antibacterial and anti-biofilm activity by destroying cell membrane against S. aureus.

In vitro activity of tigecycline and proteomic analysis of tigecycline adaptation strategies in clinical Enterococcus faecalis isolates from China.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the in vitro activities of tigecycline (TGC) and the underlying molecular mechanisms of TGC stress response and resistance in clinical Enterococcus faecalis isolates from China. METHODS: Antimicrobial susceptibility and antibiofilm activities of TGC in 399 E. faecalis isolates were evaluated. Heteroresistance was evaluated by population analysis profiling. Resistance and heteroresistance mechanisms were investigated by identifying genetic mutations in tetracycline (tet) target sites and through analysis of efflux protein inhibitors (EPIs). Furthermore, quantitative proteomics was used to investigate the global proteomic response of E. faecalis to TGC stress, as well as the resistance mechanisms of TGC within in vitro induced resistant isolate. RESULTS: TGC minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) against clinical E. faecalis isolates were ≤0.5 mg/L. TGC displayed remarkable inhibitory activity against biofilm formation. The occurrence rate of TGC heteroresistance was 1.75% (7/399), and the increased TGC MIC values of heteroresistance-derived clones could be reversed by EPI. TGC resistance was associated with mutations in the 16S rRNA site or 30S ribosomal protein S10. A total of 105 and 356 differentially expressed proteins was identified after being exposed to 1/2× MIC concentrations of TGC, while 356 differentially expressed proteins was identified in TGC-resistant isolate. The differentially expressed proteins were enriched in the translation and DNA replication process. In addition, multiple adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-binding cassette (ABC) transporters were upregulated. CONCLUSIONS: TGC exhibited excellent activity against a substantial proportion of clinical isolates from China. However, E. faecalis exhibited a strong adaptation mechanism during TGC exposure: mutation of TGC target sites and elevated expression of efflux pumps under TGC selection, resulting in TGC resistance.

20S-ginsenoside Rg3 inhibits the biofilm formation and haemolytic activity of Staphylococcus aureus by inhibiting the SaeR/SaeS two-component system.

Introduction. Staphylococcus aureus is a major cause of chronic diseases and biofilm formation is a contributing factor. 20S-ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3) is a natural product extracted from the traditional Chinese medicine red ginseng.Gap statement. The effects of Rg3 on biofilm formation and haemolytic activity as well as its antibacterial mechanism against S. aureus have not been reported.Aim. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Rg3 on biofilm formation and haemolytic activity as well as its antibacterial action against clinical S. aureus isolates.Methodology. The effect of Rg3 on biofilm formation of clinical S. aureus isolates was studied by crystal violet staining. Haemolytic activity analysis was carried out. Furthermore, the influence of Rg3 on the proteome profile of S. aureus was studied by quantitative proteomics to clarify the mechanism underlying its antibacterial action and further verified by reverse transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR).Results. Rg3 significantly inhibited biofilm formation and haemolytic activity in clinical S. aureus isolates. A total of 63 with >1.5-fold changes in expression were identified, including 34 upregulated proteins and 29 downregulated proteins. Based on bioinformatics analysis, the expression of several virulence factors and biofilm-related proteins, containing CopZ, CspA, SasG, SaeR/SaeS two-component system and SaeR/SaeS-regulated proteins, including leukocidin-like protein 2, immunoglobulin-binding protein G (Sbi) and fibrinogen-binding protein, in the S. aureus of the Rg3-treated group was downregulated. RT-qPCR confirmed that Rg3 inhibited the regulation of SaeR/SaeS and decreased the transcriptional levels of the biofilm-related genes CopZ, CspA and SasG.Conclusions. Rg3 reduces the formation of biofilm by reducing cell adhesion and aggregation. Further, Rg3 can inhibit the SaeR/SaeS two-component system, which acts as a crucial signal transduction system for the anti-virulence activity of Rg3 against clinical S. aureus isolates.

In vitro activity and adaptation strategies of eravacycline in clinical Enterococcus faecium isolates from China.

Eravacycline (Erava) is a synthetic fluorocycline with potent antimicrobial activity against a wide range of Gram-positive bacteria. This study aimed to investigate the in vitro antimicrobial activity and resistance mechanism of Erava in clinical E. faecium isolates from China. Erava minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) against clinical E. faecium isolates-including those resistant to linezolid (LZD) or harboring the tetracycline (Tet) resistance genes was ≤0.25 mg l-1. Moreover, our data indicated that clinical isolates of E. faecium with Erava MIC 0.25 mg l-1 were predominantly shown to belong to Sequence-type 78 (ST78) and ST80. The prevalence of Erava heteroresistance in clinical E. faecium strain was 2.46% (3/122). The increased Erava MIC values of heteroresistance-derived E. faecium clones could be significantly reduced by efflux pump inhibitors (EPIs). Furthermore, comparative proteomics results showed that efflux pumps lmrA, mdlA, and mdlB contributed significantly to the acquisition of Erava resistance in E. faecium. In addition, a genetic mutation in 16 S rRNA (G190A) were detected in resistant E. faecium isolates induced by Erava. In summary, Erava exhibits potent in vitro antimicrobial activity against E. faecium, but mutation of Tet target sites and elevated expression of efflux pumps under Erava selection results in Erava resistance.

Inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus and biofilm formation by the anthelminthic drug, triclabendazole.

Triclabendazole (TBD) has been widely used in the treatment of helminthic infection. The anti-biofilm activity and antibacterial mechanism of TBD against Staphylococcus aureus were not known. Here, the anti-biofilm activity of TBD against clinical S. aureus isolates from China was systematically evaluated. Under TBD pressure, TBD-induced tolerant S. aureus with elevated TBD minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was selected in vitro and the genetic mutations between the parental isolates and TBD-induced tolerant derivatives were determined by whole-genome sequencing. TBD could significantly inhibit biofilm formation at sub-inhibitory concentration and disperse mature biofilm of clinical S. aureus isolates. In addition, TBD displayed bactericidal activity against the bacterial cells embedded in the biofilm and showed anti-persisters activity. Proteomic analysis showed that KEGG pathways of ABC transporters and beta-lactam resistance were significantly changed after TBD exposure. Moreover, SAUSA300_RS08395 (molecular chaperone DnaK), SAUSA300_RS11200 (sensor histidine kinase KdpD), SAUSA300_RS06325 (DNA translocase FtsK) were identified as candidate targets of TBD in S. aureus. Overexpression experiments further demonstrated that the elevated transcriptional level of DnaK resulted in S. aureus growth delay after exposure to a sub-MIC concentration of 1/2× MIC TBD. In conclusion, TBD exhibits antibacterial and anti-biofilm activity against S. aureus possibly by targeting the DnaK chaperone system.

The Mechanism of Action of Ginkgolic Acid (15:1) against Gram-Positive Bacteria Involves Cross Talk with Iron Homeostasis.

With the increasing reports of community-acquired and nosocomial infection caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-positive pathogens, there is an urgent need to develop new antimicrobial agents with novel antibacterial mechanisms. Here, we investigated the antibacterial activity of the natural product ginkgolic acid (GA) (15:1), derived from Ginkgo biloba, and its potential mode of action against the Gram-positive bacteria Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus. The MIC values of GA (15:1) against clinical E. faecalis and S. aureus isolates from China were ≤4 and ≤8 µg/mL, respectively, from our test results. Moreover, GA (15:1) displayed high efficiency in biofilm formation inhibition and bactericidal activity against E. faecalis and S. aureus. During its inhibition of the planktonic bacteria, the antibacterial activity of GA (15:1) was significantly improved under the condition of abolishing iron homeostasis. When iron homeostasis was abolished, inhibition of planktonic bacteria by GA (15:1) was significantly improved. This phenomenon can be interpreted as showing that iron homeostasis disruption facilitated the disruption of the functions of ribosome and protein synthesis by GA (15:1), resulting in inhibition of bacterial growth and cell death. Genetic mutation of ferric uptake regulator (Fur) led to GA (15:1) tolerance in in vitro-induced resistant derivatives, while overexpression of Fur led to increased GA (15:1) susceptibility. Additionally, GA (15:1) significantly decreased the bacterial loads of S. aureus strain USA300 in the lung tissues of mice in a pneumonic murine model. Conclusively, this study revealed an antimicrobial mechanism of GA (15:1) involving cross talk with iron homeostasis against Gram-positive pathogens. In the future, the natural product GA (15:1) might be applied to combat infections caused by Gram-positive pathogens. IMPORTANCE The increasing emergence of infectious diseases associated with multidrug-resistant Gram-positive pathogens has raised the urgent need to develop novel antibiotics. GA (15:1) is a natural product derived from Ginkgo biloba and possesses a wide range of bioactivities, including antimicrobial activity. However, its antibacterial mechanisms remain unclear. Our current study found that the function of ferric uptake regulator (Fur) was highly correlated with the antimicrobial activity of GA (15:1) against E. faecalis and that the antibacterial activity of GA (15:1) could be strengthened by the disruption of iron homeostasis. This study provided important insight into the mode of action of GA (15:1) against Gram-positive bacteria and suggested that GA (15:1) holds the potential to be an antimicrobial treatment option for infection caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-positive pathogens.