Selective inhibition of topoisomerases from Pneumocystis carinii compared with that of topoisomerases from mammalian cells.

Type I and II topoisomerase activities were partially purified from Pneumocystis carinii. The catalytic (strand-passing) activities of both enzymes were selectively inhibited by members of a series of dicationic-substituted bis-benzimidazoles compared with those of topoisomerases of mammalian (calf thymus) origin. The most active inhibitors of the parasite enzymes were also highly effective in an in vivo animal model of P. carinii pneumonia. Selected dicationic-substituted bis-benzimidazoles also strongly inhibited the induction of the topoisomerase I- and II-mediated cleavable complex, suggesting that the biologically active DNA minor groove-binding molecules inhibit the enzyme-DNA binding step of the topoisomerase reaction sequence. The apparent selectivities for the parasite enzymes and the low levels of toxicity to mammalian cells for the biologically active bis-benzimidazoles suggest that these compounds hold promise as effective therapeutic agents in the treatment of a life-threatening AIDS-related disease, P. carinii pneumonia.

2,4-Diamino-5-benzylpyrimidines as antibacterial agents. 13. Some alkenyl derivatives with high in vitro activity against anaerobic organisms.

A series of 2,4-diamino-5-(3,5-dialkenyl-4-methoxy- or -4-hydroxybenzyl)pyrimidines was prepared from [(allyloxy)benzyl]pyrimidines by Claisen rearrangements, and the resulting allyl phenols were further modified by methylation and rearrangement to 1-propenyl analogues. Analogous 3,4-dimethoxy-5-alkenyl derivatives were prepared by similar techniques. High in vitro antibacterial activity was obtained against certain anaerobic organisms, such as Bacteroides species and Fusobacterium, which was equal to or better than the control, metronidazole, in several cases. The profile was similar against Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Staphylococcus aureus. The 3,5-bis(1-propenyl)-4-methoxy derivative 8 was 1 order of magnitude more active against Escherichia coli dihydrofolate reductase than its saturated counterpart, and it was also more active than trimethoprim, 1. However, it was considerably less active in vitro against the Gram-negative organisms. The 3,4-dimethoxy-5-alkenyl, -5-alkyl, and -5-alkoxy analogues had very high broad-spectrum antibacterial activity. However, pharmacokinetic studies of four of the compounds in dogs and rats and in vivo studies with an abdominal sepsis model in rats showed no advantages over trimethoprim.

DNA intercalation and inhibition of topoisomerase II. Structure-activity relationships for a series of amiloride analogs.

Among its many properties, amiloride is a DNA intercalator and topoisomerase II inhibitor. Previous work has indicated that the most stable conformation for amiloride is a planar, hydrogen-bonded, tricyclic structure. To determine whether the ability of amiloride to intercalate into DNA and to inhibit DNA topoisomerase II was dependent on the ability to assume a cyclized conformation, we studied the structure-activity relationship for 12 amiloride analogs. These analogs contained structural modifications which could be expected to allow or impede formation of a cyclized conformation. Empirical assays consisting of biophysical, biochemical, and cell biological approaches, as well as computational molecular modeling approaches, were used to determine conformational properties for these molecules, and to determine whether they intercalated into DNA and inhibited topoisomerase II. Specifically, we measured the ability of these compounds to 1) alter the thermal denaturation profile of DNA, 2) modify the hydrodynamic behavior of DNA, 3) inhibit the catalytic activity of purified DNA topoisomerase II in vitro, 4) promote the topoisomerase II-dependent cleavage of DNA, and 5) inhibit functions associated with DNA topoisomerase II in intact cells. Results indicated that only those analogs capable of cyclization could intercalate into DNA and inhibit topoisomerase II. Thus, the ability of amiloride and the 12 analogs studied to intercalate into DNA and to inhibit topoisomerase II appears dependent on the ability to exist in a planar, hydrogen-bonded, tricyclic conformation.

In vitro cleavable-complex assay to monitor antimicrobial potency of quinolones.

Seven quinolones were evaluated to determine whether their ability to generate the DNA gyrase-mediated cleavable complex correlated with their ability to inhibit the catalytic activity of purified DNA gyrase and inhibit the growth of Escherichia coli. The rank order of potency of these drugs in the cleavable-complex assay was essentially the same as in the DNA supercoiling-inhibition assay. It required 2- to 10-fold-lower drug concentrations to generate the cleavable complex than to inhibit E. coli DNA gyrase. With the newer fluoroquinolones, a 25- to 100-fold-greater concentration was required for DNA gyrase inhibition than for cell growth inhibition, suggesting a more subtle interaction between these inhibitors and DNA gyrase than mere enzyme inhibition.

Amiloride intercalates into DNA and inhibits DNA topoisomerase II.

Amiloride is capable of inhibiting DNA synthesis in mammalian cells in culture. Recent evidence indicates that the enzyme, DNA topoisomerase II, is probably required for DNA synthesis to occur in situ. In experiments to determine the mechanism of inhibition of DNA synthesis by amiloride, we observed that amiloride inhibited both the catalytic activity of purified DNA topoisomerase II in vitro and DNA topoisomerase II-dependent cell functions in vivo. Many compounds capable of inhibiting DNA topoisomerase II are DNA intercalators. Thus, we performed studies to determine if and how amiloride bound to DNA. Results indicated that amiloride 1) shifted the thermal denaturation profile of DNA, 2) increased the viscosity of linear DNA, and 3) unwound circular DNA, all behavior consistent with a DNA intercalation mechanism. Furthermore, quantitative and qualitative measurements of amiloride fluorescence indicated that amiloride (a) bound reversibly to purified DNA under conditions of physiologic ionic strength, and (b) bound to purified nuclei in a highly cooperative manner. Lastly, amiloride did not promote the cleavage of DNA in the presence of DNA topoisomerase II, indicating that the mechanism by which amiloride inhibited DNA topoisomerase II was not through the stabilization of a "cleavable complex" formed between DNA topoisomerase II, DNA, and amiloride. The ability of amiloride to intercalate with DNA and inhibit topoisomerase II is consistent with the proposed planar, hydrogen-bonded, tricyclic nature of amiloride's most stable conformation. Thus, DNA and DNA topoisomerase II must be considered as new cellular targets of amiloride action.

Antibacterial activity and mechanism of action of 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (BW A509U).

The thymidine analog 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (BW A509U; azidothymidine [AZT]) had potent bactericidal activity against many members of the family Enterobacteriaceae, including strains of Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Shigella flexneri, and Enterobacter aerogenes. AZT also had bactericidal activity against Vibrio cholerae and the fish pathogen Vibrio anguillarum. AZT had no activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, gram-positive bacteria, anaerobic bacteria, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, nontuberculosis mycobacteria, or most fungal pathogens. Several lines of evidence indicated that AZT must be activated to the nucleotide level to inhibit cellular metabolism: AZT was a substrate for E. coli thymidine kinase; spontaneously arising AZT-resistant mutants of E. coli ML-30 and S. typhimurium were deficient in thymidine kinase; and intact E. coli ML-30 cells converted [3H]AZT to its mono-, di-, and triphosphate metabolites. Of the phosphorylated metabolites, AZT-5'-triphosphate was the most potent inhibitor of replicative DNA synthesis in toluene-permeabilized E. coli pol A mutant cells. AZT-treated E. coli cultures grown in minimal medium contained highly elongated cells consistent with the inhibition of DNA synthesis. AZT-triphosphate was a specific DNA chain terminator in the in vitro DNA polymerization reaction catalyzed by the Klenow fragment of E. coli DNA polymerase I. Thus, DNA chain termination may explain the lethal properties of this compound against susceptible microorganisms.

In vitro and in vivo efficacy of the combination trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole against clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

The in vitro susceptibilities of 16 independent, geographically distinct clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus to trimethoprim (TMP) in combination with sulfamethoxazole (SMX) were evaluated. Although methicillin-resistant S. aureus strains appear to be universally resistant to SMX, the combination TMP-SMX was found to be synergistic in vitro (in combination, the MICs of both drugs decreased 6- to 25-fold) as well as in vivo (5- to 6-fold reduction in TMP at 50% effective doses).

3'-Amino-2',3'-dideoxyribonucleosides of some pyrimidines: synthesis and biological activities.

3'-Amino-2',3'-dideoxyribonucleosides of thymine, uracil, and 5-iodouracil (1-3) were synthesized from the corresponding 2'-deoxyribonucleosides via the threo-3'-chloro and the erythro-3'-azido derivatives. Corresponding aminonucleosides of 5-bromouracil, 5-chlorouracil, and 5-fluorouracil (4-6) were synthesized enzymatically with 3'-amino-2',3'-dideoxythymidine as the aminopentosyl donor and thymidine phosphorylase (EC 2.4.2.4) as the catalyst. 3'-Amino-2',3'-dideoxycytidine (7) was synthesized by amination of the 3'-azido precursor of 3'-amino-2',3'-dideoxyuridine. The biological activity of 3'-amino-2',3'-dideoxy-5-fluorouridine (6) was notable among this group of aminonucleosides. It had an ED50 of 10 microM against adenovirus and was not appreciably cytotoxic to mammalian cells in culture. It also had activity against some Gram-positive bacteria but not against a variety of Gram-negative bacteria. The other aminonucleosides (1-5 and 7) lacked or exhibited weak antiviral and antibacterial activities. The only compounds in this group that were appreciably toxic to mammalian cells in culture were the thymidine and deoxycytidine analogues (1 and 7).

Monitoring of plasmid-encoded, trimethoprim-resistant dihydrofolate reductase genes: detection of a new resistant enzyme.

Using-gene-specific radiolabeled probe DNAs, we analyzed 42 clinical bacterial isolates with high-level trimethoprim (Tp) resistance for the presence of a type I or a type II plasmid-specified dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) gene. Plasmid DNA from 17 strains harbored a type I DHFR, whereas 11 isolates contained plasmids that harbored a type II DHFR structural gene. The plasmid DNAs from five strains appeared to hybridize with both type I and type II DHFR probe DNAs. In addition, eight isolates had type I resistance determinants integrated into the chromosomes, presumably on transposon 7 (Tn7). Among the strains analyzed in this survey, none of the chromosomally located, Tp-insensitive reductases were of the type II class. Both the plasmid and chromosomal DNAs of one isolate showed no homology with either the type I or type II DHFR probe DNA. The plasmid harbored by this strain encoded a "new" Tp-resistant enzyme that differed significantly, both in molecular weight and with respect to trimethoprim and methotrexate inhibition kinetics, from the previously characterized plasmid-associated dihydrofolate reductases.

Molecular mechanisms of resistance to trimethoprim.

Resistance to inhibitors of dihydrofolate reductase arises from a variety of mechanisms involving enzyme alteration, cellular impermeability, enzyme overproduction, inhibitor modification, and loss of binding capacity. The mechanism of greatest clinical importance is the production of plasmid-encoded, trimethoprim-resistant forms of dihydrofolate reductase. At least two different types of these enzymes have been documented. The trimethoprim-resistant reductases differ from all other dihydrofolate reductases in molecular weight, subunit structure, kinetic properties, and binding of inhibitors. Colony hybridization techniques, developed for the detection of plasmid DNA coding for trimethoprim-resistant reductases, enable researchers to evaluate the prevalence and distribution of plasmid-borne resistance. Preliminary results obtained with a series of enzymatically characterized clinical isolates suggest that the colony hybridization technique may provide a convenient epidemiological tool for monitoring the dissemination of plasmid-borne resistance to trimethoprim.

Protein expression in Escherichia coli minicells containing recombinant plasmids specifying trimethoprim-resistant dihydrofolate reductases.

Deoxyribonucleic acid fragments containing the structural genes for several trimethoprim-resistant dihydrofolate reductases from naturally occurring plasmids were inserted into small cloning vehicles. The genetic expression of these hybrid plasmids was studied in purified Escherichia coli minicells. The type I dihydrofolate reductase, encoded by plasmid R483 and residing within transposon 7 (Tn7), had a subunit molecular weight of 18,000. The type II dihydrofolate reductase, specified by plasmid R67, had a subunit molecular weight of 9,000. These two enzymes were antigenically distinct in that anti-type II dihydrofolate reductase (R67) antibody did not cross-react with the type I (R483) protein. The trimethoprim-resistant reductase specified by plasmid R388 had a subunit molecular weight of about 10,500 and was immunologically related to the type II (R67) enzyme. A 9,000 subunit of the dihydrofolate encoded by the transposition element Tn402 was also antigenically related to the R67 reductase.

Common plasmid specifying tobramycin resistance found in two enteric bacteria isolated from burn patients.

Tobramycin-resistant burn wound isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterobacter cloacae, together with Escherichia coli K-12 transconjugants from these two strains, were examined for plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). All the resistant strains contained a common, high-molecular-weight, covalently closed circular DNA plasmid that was absent in the tobramycin-susceptible E. coli recipient strain. The common plasmid residing in E. cloacae was designated pIE098, and that residing in K. pneumoniae was designated pIE099. Both plasmid species were found to have a molecular mass of approximately 60 x 10(6) daltons and a guanine-plus-cytosine content of 50 mol%. The DNA that was extracted from all of the tobramycin-resistant strains tested was able to hybridize to 86 to 100% with pIE098 and pIE099 [(3)H]DNA generated by EcoRI to produce fragments of a size similar to those generated by BamHI. This study illustrates the usefulness of simple screening methods for antibiotic resistance plasmids in a hospital epidemiological situation.

beta-lactamases and R-plasmids of Haemophilus influenzae.

The emergence of resistance to ampicillin and other antibiotics in Haemophilus influenzae has been a relatively recent event. In contrast, drug resistance has been rampant in the Enterobacteriaceae for many years. Ampicillin-resistance in H. influenzae is almost invariably attributable to possession of the TEM (Type III a)beta-lactamase. As is common in other bacteria the gene specifying this enzyme is plasmid-borne in Haemophilus. Some ampicillin-resistant strains of H. influenzae can transfer the TEM beta-lactamase gene to other strains of Haemophilus, to Escherichia coli and to Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The features of such transfer are unusual and lead for example, to the induction of adenine requirement in recipient strains of P. aeruginosa. Crypticity measurements of beta-lactamase activity show that in comparison to P. aeruginosa or E. coli, the outer membrane of H. influenzae affords only a weak penetration barrier to beta-lactam antibiotics. This may have consequences for the stability and distribution of beta-lactamase production in Haemophilus spp. which are discussed. A comparison of the molecular properties of R-plasmids determining a variety of resistances and carried by strains of H. influenzae isolated in diverse geographical locations has revealed unexpected homologies. A series of such plasmids of similar molecular weights (about 30 X 10(6)) differ substantially only in the transposable resistance genes that they carry. A model based on these findings is presented to explain the acquisition of ampicillin- and other resistances by Haemophilus.

Molecular characterization of two beta-lactamase-specifying plasmids isolated from Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

The molecular nature of two distinct gonococcal R plasmids, 4.4 X 10(6) and 3.2 X 10(6) daltons, encoding beta-lactamase activity were examined. Both plasmids contained about 40% of the transposable ampicillin resistance sequence Tn2. Deoxyribonucleic acid-deoxyribonucleic acid polynucleotide sequence studies have shown that the two gonococcal plasmids share about 70% of their sequences and are closely related to RSF0885, a 4.1 X 10(6)-dalton plasmid found in a beta-lactamase-producing strain of Haemophilus influenzae. All three of these R plasmids possess a guanine-plus-cytosine content of 0.40 to 0.41 mol fraction and are present as multicopy gene pools in their bacterial hosts.

Relationships among some R plasmids found in Haemophilus influenzae.

Tetracycline resistance in a strain of Haemophilus influenzae isolated in the United Kingdom was found to be determined by an apparently non-selftransmissible plasmid of 31 X 10(6) daltons (31 MDal), designated pUB701. Deoxyribonucleic acid hybridization studies indicated that pUB701 shares about 70% base sequence homology with the 30-MDal ampicillin resistance R plasmid RSF007 isolated in the United States from H. influenzae, and 64% sequence homology with the 38-MDal tetracycline and chloramphenicol resistance R plasmid pRI234, isolated in the Netherlands. Heteroduplex studies between RSF007 and pUB701 confirmed the fact that these plasmids were largely homologous, except that pUB701 contained the tetracycline resistance transposon TnD, whereas RSF007 contained the ampicillin resistance transposon TnA. A strain of H. parainfluenzae resistant to both chloramphenicol and tetracycline carried two species of plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid of 2.7 and 0.75 MDal. We were unable to prove that either resistance was plasmid-borne in this strain. Hybridization studies with a [3H]thymine-labeled tetracycline resistance enteric plasmid suggested that the tetracycline transposon was integrated into the chromosome of H. parainfluenzae UB2832. We conclude either that the strains we studied received R factors of the same incompatibility group bearing different resistance genes, or that different resistance genes were translocated to a commom resident plasmid of H. influenzae.

Plasmid-mediated beta-lactamase production in Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Several beta-lactamase-producing, penicillin-resistant strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae were examined for R plasmids. Penicillin-resistant strains isolated from men returning from the Far East and their contacts contained a 4.4 x 10(6)-dalton plasmid in common. Transformation studies and the isolation of a spontaneous penicillin-susceptible segregant showed that the structural gene for beta-lactamase was part of the 4.4 x 10(6)-dalton plasmid. An additional penicillin-resistant gonococcal strain isolated in London was found to harbor a 3.2 x 10(6)-dalton R plasmid. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)-DNA duplex studies revealed that the penicillin-resistant gonococcal isolates contained a significant portion (about 40%) of the transposable DNA sequence, TnA, which includes the beta-lactamase gene commonly found on R plasmids of the Enterobacteriaceae and Haemophilus influenzae.

Simple agarose gel electrophoretic method for the identification and characterization of plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid.

Agarose gel electrophoresis may be employed effectively for the detection and preliminary characterization of plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) present in clinical isolates and laboratory strains of gram-negative microorganisms. The method is sensitive and does not require radioisotopes or ultracentrifugation. The estimation of plasmid mass from the extent of DNA migration in gels compares favorably with results obtained by electron microscopy of plasmid DNA purified by equilibrium density centrifugation. The method has proved to be a useful tool for survey work and the epidemiological investigation of plasmid dissemination, as well as an important adjunct to the genetic analysis of plasmids.