Circulating Monocytes Are Predictive and Responsive in Moderate-to-Severe Plaque Psoriasis Subjects Treated with Apremilast.

Monocytes play a critical role in the inflammation associated with psoriasis, and their abnormalities have been reported as biomarkers of cardiovascular event risk, a psoriasis comorbidity. Monocytic cells in chronic inflammatory disorders express elevated levels of cAMP phosphodiesterase. Restoring cAMP levels using the oral cAMP phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor, apremilast, improves clinical outcomes for a subset of patients with psoriasis. We asked whether aberrant monocyte subsets or transcriptomic pathways can function as biomarkers of psoriasis endotypes that can predict enhanced clinical responses to cAMP phosphodiesterase inhibition. A 16-week open-label study of 22 patients with monocyte flow cytometric and transcriptomic analysis was performed. Subjects with elevated hyperadhesive monocyte doublets at baseline were more likely to be responders to apremilast (P < .0001); 82% of subjects with elevated hyperadhesive monocyte doublets achieved 50% reduction in PASI compared with 46% in those without elevated doublets. We observed a significant reduction in hyperadhesive monocyte-containing doublets and monocyte-platelet aggregates, suggesting an effect of apremilast on the adhesiveness of blood monocytes during chronic inflammation. Monocyte differentially expressed gene transcripts predictive of clinical response uncovered pharmacoendotypes with distinct patterns of nucleotide metabolism, energetics, and differentiation. Further study to understand the basis of drug responsiveness and to develop an apremilast psoriasis treatment algorithm using monocyte-refined gene expression is required to validate and become practical in clinical use, offering patients a test that personalizes their likelihood of clinical response.

The Effectiveness of Imipenem-Relebactam against Ceftazidime-Avibactam Resistant Variants of the KPC-2 ß-Lactamase.

BACKGROUND: Ceftazidime-avibactam was approved by the FDA to treat infections caused by Enterobacterales carrying blaKPC-2. However, variants of KPC-2 with amino acid substitutions at position 179 have emerged and confer resistance to ceftazidime-avibactam. METHODS: The activity of imipenem-relebactam was assessed against a panel of 19 KPC-2 D179 variants. KPC-2 and the D179N and D179Y variants were purified for biochemical analyses. Molecular models were constructed with imipenem to assess differences in kinetic profiles. RESULTS: All strains were susceptible to imipenem-relebactam, but resistant to ceftazidime (19/19) and ceftazidime-avibactam (18/19). KPC-2 and the D179N variant hydrolyzed imipenem, but the D179N variant's rate was much slower. The D179Y variant was unable to turnover imipenem. All three ß-lactamases hydrolyzed ceftazidime at varying rates. The acylation rate of relebactam for the D179N variant was ~2.5× lower than KPC-2. Poor catalytic turnover by the D179Y variant precluded the determination of inhibitory kinetic parameters. Acyl-complexes with imipenem and ceftazidime were less prevalent with the D179N variant compared to the D179Y variant, supporting the kinetic observations that the D179Y variant was not as active as the D179N variant. Relebactam was slower to form an acyl-complex with the D179Y variant compared to avibactam. The D179Y model with imipenem revealed that the catalytic water molecule was shifted, and the carbonyl of imipenem was not within the oxyanion hole. Conversely in the D179N model, imipenem was oriented favorably for deacylation. CONCLUSIONS: Imipenem-relebactam overcame the resistance of the D179 variants, suggesting that this combination will be active against clinical isolates harboring these derivatives of KPC-2.

Different Conformations Revealed by NMR Underlie Resistance to Ceftazidime/Avibactam and Susceptibility to Meropenem and Imipenem among D179Y Variants of KPC ß-Lactamase.

ß-Lactamase-mediated resistance to ceftazidime-avibactam (CZA) is a serious limitation in the treatment of Gram-negative bacteria harboring Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC). Herein, the basis of susceptibility to carbapenems and resistance to ceftazidime (CAZ) and CZA of the D179Y variant of KPC-2 and -3 was explored. First, we determined that resistance to CZA in a laboratory strain of Escherichia coli DH10B was not due to increased expression levels of the variant enzymes, as demonstrated by reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR). Using timed mass spectrometry, the D179Y variant formed prolonged acyl-enzyme complexes with imipenem (IMI) and meropenem (MEM) in KPC-2 and KPC-3, which could be detected up to 24 h, suggesting that IMI and MEM act as covalent ß-lactamase inhibitors more than as substrates for D179Y KPC-2 and -3. This prolonged acyl-enzyme complex of IMI and MEM by D179Y variants was not observed with wild-type (WT) KPCs. CAZ was studied and the D179Y variants also formed acyl-enzyme complexes (1 to 2 h). Thermal denaturation and differential scanning fluorimetry showed that the tyrosine substitution at position 179 destabilized the KPC ß-lactamases (KPC-2/3 melting temperature [Tm] of 54 to 55°C versus D179Y Tm of 47.5 to 51°C), and the D179Y protein was 3% disordered compared to KPC-2 at 318 K. Heteronuclear 1H/15N-heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy also revealed that the D179Y variant, compared to KPC-2, is partially disordered. Based upon these observations, we discuss the impact of disordering of the Ω loop as a consequence of the D179Y substitution. These conformational changes and disorder in the overall structure as a result of D179Y contribute to this unanticipated phenotype.

Population Structure, Molecular Epidemiology, and ß-Lactamase Diversity among Stenotrophomonas maltophilia Isolates in the United States.

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is a Gram-negative, nonfermenting, environmental bacillus that is an important cause of nosocomial infections, primarily associated with the respiratory tract in the immunocompromised population. Aiming to understand the population structure, microbiological characteristics and impact of allelic variation on ß-lactamase structure and function, we collected 130 clinical isolates from across the United States. Identification of 90 different sequence types (STs), of which 63 are new allelic combinations, demonstrates the high diversity of this species. The majority of the isolates (45%) belong to genomic group 6. We also report excellent activity of the ceftazidime-avibactam and aztreonam combination, especially against strains recovered from blood and respiratory infections for which the susceptibility is higher than the susceptibility to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, considered the "first-line" antibiotic to treat S. maltophilia Analysis of 73 blaL1 and 116 blaL2 genes identified 35 and 43 novel variants of L1 and L2 ß-lactamases, respectively. Investigation of the derived amino acid sequences showed that substitutions are mostly conservative and scattered throughout the protein, preferentially affecting positions that do not compromise enzyme function but that may have an impact on substrate and inhibitor binding. Interestingly, we detected a probable association between a specific type of L1 and L2 and genomic group 6. Taken together, our results provide an overview of the molecular epidemiology of S. maltophilia clinical strains from the United States. In particular, the discovery of new L1 and L2 variants warrants further study to fully understand the relationship between them and the ß-lactam resistance phenotype in this pathogen.IMPORTANCE Multiple antibiotic resistance mechanisms, including two ß-lactamases, L1, a metallo-ß-lactamase, and L2, a class A cephalosporinase, make S. maltophilia naturally multidrug resistant. Thus, infections caused by S. maltophilia pose a big therapeutic challenge. Our study aims to understand the microbiological and molecular characteristics of S. maltophilia isolates recovered from human sources. A highlight of the resistance profile of this collection is the excellent activity of the ceftazidime-avibactam and aztreonam combination. We hope this result prompts controlled and observational studies to add clinical data on the utility and safety of this therapy. We also identify 35 and 43 novel variants of L1 and L2, respectively, some of which harbor novel substitutions that could potentially affect substrate and/or inhibitor binding. We believe our results provide valuable knowledge to understand the epidemiology of this species and to advance mechanism-based inhibitor design to add to the limited arsenal of antibiotics active against this pathogen.

Beyond Piperacillin-Tazobactam: Cefepime and AAI101 as a Potent ß-Lactam-ß-Lactamase Inhibitor Combination.

Impeding, as well as reducing, the burden of antimicrobial resistance in Gram-negative pathogens is an urgent public health endeavor. Our current antibiotic armamentarium is dwindling, while major resistance determinants (e.g., extended-spectrum ß-lactamases [ESBLs]) continue to evolve and disseminate around the world. One approach to attack this problem is to develop novel therapies that will protect our current agents. AAI101 is a novel penicillanic acid sulfone ß-lactamase inhibitor similar in structure to tazobactam, with one important difference. AAI101 possesses a strategically placed methyl group that gives the inhibitor a net neutral charge, enhancing bacterial cell penetration. AAI101 paired with cefepime, also a zwitterion, is in phase III of clinical development for the treatment of serious Gram-negative infections. Here, AAI101 was found to restore the activity of cefepime against class A ESBLs (e.g., CTX-M-15) and demonstrated increased potency compared to that of piperacillin-tazobactam when tested against an established isogenic panel. The enzymological properties of AAI101 further revealed that AAI101 possessed a unique mechanism of ß-lactamase inhibition compared to that of tazobactam. Additionally, upon reaction with AAI101, CTX-M-15 was modified to an inactive state. Notably, the in vivo efficacy of cefepime-AAI101 was demonstrated using a mouse septicemia model, indicating the ability of AAI101 to bolster significantly the therapeutic efficacy of cefepime in vivo The combination of AAI101 with cefepime represents a potential carbapenem-sparing treatment regimen for infections suspected to be caused by Enterobacteriaceae expressing ESBLs.

Targeting Multidrug-Resistant Acinetobacter spp.: Sulbactam and the Diazabicyclooctenone ß-Lactamase Inhibitor ETX2514 as a Novel Therapeutic Agent.

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter spp. poses a significant therapeutic challenge in part due to the presence of chromosomally encoded ß-lactamases, including class C Acinetobacter-derived cephalosporinases (ADC) and class D oxacillinases (OXA), as well as plasmid-mediated class A ß-lactamases. Importantly, OXA-like ß-lactamases represent a gap in the spectrum of inhibition by recently approved ß-lactamase inhibitors such as avibactam and vaborbactam. ETX2514 is a novel, rationally designed, diazabicyclooctenone inhibitor that effectively targets class A, C, and D ß-lactamases. We show that addition of ETX2514 significantly increased the susceptibility of clinical Acinetobacterbaumannii isolates to sulbactam. AdeB and AdeJ were identified to be key efflux constituents for ETX2514 in A. baumannii The combination of sulbactam and ETX2514 was efficacious against A. baumannii carrying blaTEM-1, blaADC-82, blaOXA-23, and blaOXA-66 in a neutropenic murine thigh infection model. We also show that, in vitro, ETX2514 inhibited ADC-7 (k2/Ki 1.0 ± 0.1 × 106 M-1 s-1) and OXA-58 (k2/Ki 2.5 ± 0.3 × 105 M-1 s-1). Cocrystallization of ETX2514 with OXA-24/40 revealed hydrogen bonding interactions between ETX2514 and residues R261, S219, and S128 of OXA-24/40 in addition to a chloride ion occupied in the active site. Further, the C3 methyl group of ETX2514 shifts the position of M223. In conclusion, the sulbactam-ETX2514 combination possesses a broadened inhibitory range to include class D ß-lactamases as well as class A and C ß-lactamases and is a promising therapeutic candidate for infections caused by MDR Acinetobacter spp.IMPORTANCE The number and diversity of ß-lactamases are steadily increasing. The emergence of ß-lactamases that hydrolyze carbapenems poses a significant threat to our antibiotic armamentarium. The explosion of OXA enzymes that are carbapenem hydrolyzers is a major challenge (carbapenem-hydrolyzing class D [CHD]). An urgent need exists to discover ß-lactamase inhibitors with class D activity. The sulbactam-ETX2514 combination demonstrates the potential to become a treatment regimen of choice for Acinetobacter spp. producing class D ß-lactamases.

Shedding of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus by colonized patients during procedures and patient care activities.

OBJECTIVE: Medical procedures and patient care activities may facilitate environmental dissemination of healthcare-associated pathogens such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). DESIGN: Observational cohort study of MRSA-colonized patients to determine the frequency of and risk factors for environmental shedding of MRSA during procedures and care activities in carriers with positive nares and/or wound cultures. Bivariate analyses were performed to identify factors associated with environmental shedding. SETTING: A Veterans Affairs hospital. PARTICIPANTS: This study included 75 patients in contact precautions for MRSA colonization or infection. RESULTS: Of 75 patients in contact precautions for MRSA, 55 (73%) had MRSA in nares and/or wounds and 25 (33%) had positive skin cultures. For the 52 patients with MRSA in nares and/or wounds and at least 1 observed procedure, environmental shedding of MRSA occurred more frequently during procedures and care activities than in the absence of a procedure (59 of 138, 43% vs 8 of 83, 10%; P 0.9 m from the patient (52 of 138, 38% vs 25 of 138, 18%; P = .0004). Contamination occurred frequently on surfaces touched by personnel (12 of 38, 32%) and on portable equipment used for procedures (25 of 101, 25%). By bivariate analysis, the presence of a wound with MRSA was associated with shedding (17 of 29, 59% versus 6 of 23, 26%; P = .04). CONCLUSIONS: Environmental shedding of MRSA occurs frequently during medical procedures and patient care activities. There is a need for effective strategies to disinfect surfaces and equipment after procedures.

Antibiotic collateral sensitivity is contingent on the repeatability of evolution.

Antibiotic resistance represents a growing health crisis that necessitates the immediate discovery of novel treatment strategies. One such strategy is the identification of collateral sensitivities, wherein evolution under a first drug induces susceptibility to a second. Here, we report that sequential drug regimens derived from in vitro evolution experiments may have overstated therapeutic benefit, predicting a collaterally sensitive response where cross-resistance ultimately occurs. We quantify the likelihood of this phenomenon by use of a mathematical model parametrised with combinatorially complete fitness landscapes for Escherichia coli. Through experimental evolution we then verify that a second drug can indeed stochastically exhibit either increased susceptibility or increased resistance when following a first. Genetic divergence is confirmed as the driver of this differential response through targeted and whole genome sequencing. Taken together, these results highlight that the success of evolutionarily-informed therapies is predicated on a rigorous probabilistic understanding of the contingencies that arise during the evolution of drug resistance.

Deciphering the Evolution of Cephalosporin Resistance to Ceftolozane-Tazobactam in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa produces a class C ß-lactamase (e.g., PDC-3) that robustly hydrolyzes early generation cephalosporins often at the diffusion limit; therefore, bacteria possessing these ß-lactamases are resistant to many ß-lactam antibiotics. In response to this significant clinical threat, ceftolozane, a 3' aminopyrazolium cephalosporin, was developed. Combined with tazobactam, ceftolozane promised to be effective against multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa Alarmingly, Ω-loop variants of the PDC ß-lactamase (V213A, G216R, E221K, E221G, and Y223H) were identified in ceftolozane/tazobactam-resistant P. aeruginosa clinical isolates. Herein, we demonstrate that the Escherichia coli strain expressing the E221K variant of PDC-3 had the highest minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) against a panel of ß-lactam antibiotics, including ceftolozane and ceftazidime, a cephalosporin that differs in structure largely in the R2 side chain. The kcat values of the E221K variant for both substrates were equivalent, whereas the Km for ceftolozane (341 ± 64 µM) was higher than that for ceftazidime (174 ± 20 µM). Timed mass spectrometry, thermal stability, and equilibrium unfolding studies revealed key mechanistic insights. Enhanced sampling molecular dynamics simulations identified conformational changes in the E221K variant Ω-loop, where a hidden pocket adjacent to the catalytic site opens and stabilizes ceftolozane for efficient hydrolysis. Encouragingly, the diazabicyclooctane ß-lactamase inhibitor avibactam restored susceptibility to ceftolozane and ceftazidime in cells producing the E221K variant. In addition, a boronic acid transition state inhibitor, LP-06, lowered the ceftolozane and ceftazidime MICs by 8-fold for the E221K-expressing strain. Understanding these structural changes in evolutionarily selected variants is critical toward designing effective ß-lactam/ß-lactamase inhibitor therapies for P. aeruginosa infections.IMPORTANCE The presence of ß-lactamases (e.g., PDC-3) that have naturally evolved and acquired the ability to break down ß-lactam antibiotics (e.g., ceftazidime and ceftolozane) leads to highly resistant and potentially lethal Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections. We show that wild-type PDC-3 ß-lactamase forms an acyl enzyme complex with ceftazidime, but it cannot accommodate the structurally similar ceftolozane that has a longer R2 side chain with increased basicity. A single amino acid substitution from a glutamate to a lysine at position 221 in PDC-3 (E221K) causes the tyrosine residue at 223 to adopt a new position poised for efficient hydrolysis of both cephalosporins. The importance of the mechanism of action of the E221K variant, in particular, is underscored by its evolutionary recurrences in multiple bacterial species. Understanding the biochemical and molecular basis for resistance is key to designing effective therapies and developing new ß-lactam/ß-lactamase inhibitor combinations.

Inactivation of the Pseudomonas-Derived Cephalosporinase-3 (PDC-3) by Relebactam.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a prevalent and life-threatening Gram-negative pathogen. Pseudomonas-derived cephlosporinase (PDC) is the major inducible cephalosporinase in P. aeruginosa In this investigation, we show that relebactam, a diazabicyclooctane ß-lactamase inhibitor, potently inactivates PDC-3, with a k2/K of 41,400 M-1 s-1 and a koff of 0.00095 s-1 Relebactam restored susceptibility to imipenem in 62% of multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa clinical isolates, while only 21% of isolates were susceptible to imipenem-cilastatin alone. Relebactam promises to increase the efficacy of imipenem-cilastatin against P. aeruginosa.

Avibactam Restores the Susceptibility of Clinical Isolates of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia to Aztreonam.

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is an emerging opportunistic pathogen, classified by the World Health Organization as one of the leading multidrug-resistant organisms in hospital settings. The need to discover novel compounds and/or combination therapies for S. maltophilia is urgent. We demonstrate the in vitro efficacy of aztreonam-avibactam (ATM-AVI) against S. maltophilia and kinetically characterize the inhibition of the L2 ß-lactamase by avibactam. ATM-AVI overcomes aztreonam resistance in selected clinical strains of S. maltophilia, addressing an unmet medical need.

Comparative efficacy of commercially available alcohol-based hand rubs and World Health Organization-recommended hand rubs: formulation matters.

BACKGROUND: Use of alcohol-based hand rubs (ABHRs) effectively reduces transmission of pathogenic microorganisms. However, the impact of alcohol concentration and format on product efficacy is currently being debated. METHODS: Two novel ABHR formulations containing 70% ethanol were evaluated according to American Society for Testing and Materials E1174 (Health Care Personnel Handwash [HCPHW]) and European Norm (EN) 1500 global standards. Additionally, using E1174, the efficacy of these formulations was compared head-to-head against 7 representative commercially available ABHRs and 2 World Health Organization recommended formulations containing alcohol concentrations of 60% to 90%. RESULTS: The novel ABHR formulations met efficacy requirements for both HCPHW and EN 1500 when tested at application volumes typically used in these methods. Moreover, these formulations met HCPHW requirements when tested at a more realistic 2-mL product application. In contrast, the commercial ABHRs and World Health Organization formulations failed to meet HCPHW requirements using a 2-mL application. Importantly, product performance did not correlate with alcohol concentration. CONCLUSION: Product formulation can greatly influence the overall antimicrobial efficacy of ABHRs and is a more important factor than alcohol concentration alone. Two novel ABHRs based on 70% ethanol have been formulated to meet global efficacy standards when tested at volumes more representative of normal product use in health care environments.