The Microbial Toxin Microcin B17: Prospects for the Development of New Antibacterial Agents.

Microcin B17 (MccB17) is an antibacterial peptide produced by strains of Escherichia coli harboring the plasmid-borne mccB17 operon. MccB17 possesses many notable features. It is able to stabilize the transient DNA gyrase-DNA cleavage complex, a very efficient mode of action shared with the highly successful fluoroquinolone drugs. MccB17 stabilizes this complex by a distinct mechanism making it potentially valuable in the fight against bacterial antibiotic resistance. MccB17 was the first compound discovered from the thiazole/oxazole-modified microcins family and the linear azole-containing peptides; these ribosomal peptides are post-translationally modified to convert serine and cysteine residues into oxazole and thiazole rings. These chemical moieties are found in many other bioactive compounds like the vitamin thiamine, the anti-cancer drug bleomycin, the antibacterial sulfathiazole and the antiviral nitazoxanide. Therefore, the biosynthetic machinery that produces these azole rings is noteworthy as a general method to create bioactive compounds. Our knowledge of MccB17 now extends to many aspects of antibacterial-bacteria interactions: production, transport, interaction with its target, and resistance mechanisms; this knowledge has wide potential applicability. After a long time with limited progress on MccB17, recent publications have addressed critical aspects of MccB17 biosynthesis as well as an explosion in the discovery of new related compounds in the thiazole/oxazole-modified microcins/linear azole-containing peptides family. It is therefore timely to summarize the evidence gathered over more than 40 years about this still enigmatic molecule and place it in the wider context of antibacterials.

Targeting quorum sensing by designing azoline derivatives to inhibit the N-hexanoyl homoserine lactone-receptor CviR: Synthesis as well as biological and theoretical evaluations.

To counteract bacterial resistance, we investigated the interruption of quorum sensing mediated by non-classical bioisosteres of the N-hexanoyl homoserine lactone with an azoline core. For this purpose, a set of selected 2-substituted azolines was synthesized, establishing the basis for a new protocol to synthesize 2-amino imidazolines. The synthesized compounds were evaluated as inhibitors of violacein production in Chromobacterium violaceum. Theoretical studies on bioisostere-protein interactions were performed using CviR. The results show that some azolines decreased violacein production, suggesting an antiquorum sensing profile against Gram-negative bacteria. Docking and molecular dynamic simulations together with binding free energy calculations revealed the exact binding and inhibitory profiles. These theoretical results show relationship with the in vitro activity of the azoline series.

Synthesis of amino acid derivatives of quinolone antibiotics.

Optically pure conjugates of quinolone antibiotics with naturally occurring amino acids are synthesized in 40-98% yields.

Synthesis, primary photophysical and antibacterial properties of naphthyl ester cinoxacin and nalidixic acid derivatives.

We have synthesized two naphthyl ester quinolone derivates and determined their ability to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as (1)O(2), ()OH, H(2)O(2) upon photolysis with UV-A light. The ability of cinoxacin (1) and nalidixic acid (2), and their naphthyl ester derivatives (3 and 4) to generate a dose-dependent amount of singlet oxygen and ROS (()(-)O(2), ()OH) in cell-free systems was detected by histidine assay and by luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence (LCL), respectively. Their electronic absorption and emission spectra were quantified and their photostability was determined. Their tendency to generate peroxidic derivative species showed the following order: 3>4; in contrast, their ability to generate singlet oxygen was 4>3 and these were better sensitizers than their parent quinolones 1 and 2. The antibacterial activity in darkness and under irradiation of compounds 3 and 4 was tested on Escherichia coli and compared with that of their parent compounds. An enhanced antibacterial activity by irradiation of the naphthyl esters of cinoxacin and nalidixic acid on E. coli was observed.

Structure and medium effects on the photochemical behavior of nonfluorinated quinolone antibiotics.

The photophysical behavior of the quinolone antibiotics, oxolinic (OX), cinoxacin (CNX) and pipemidic (PM) acids was studied as a function of pH and solvent properties. The ground state of these compounds exhibits different protonated forms, which also exist in the first excited states. Theoretical calculations of the Fukui indexes allowed to assigning the different protonation equilibria. The pK values indicate that the acidity of the 3-carboxylic and 4-carbonyl groups increases with the N-atom at position 2 in CNX. It has been found that fluorescence properties are strongly affected by pH, the more fluorescent species is that with protonated carboxylic acid, protonated species at the carbonyl group and the totally deprotonated form present very low fluorescence. The fluorescence behavior also depends on the chemical structure of the quinolone and on the solvent properties. The analysis of the solvent effect on the maximum and the width of the fluorescence band of OX, using the linear solvent-energy relation solvatochromic equation, indicates that the polarizability and hydrogen bond donor ability are the parameters that condition the spectral changes. The hydrogen bond acceptor ability of the solvents also contributes to the spectral shifts of CNX. The compound bearing the piperazinyl group at the position 7, PM only is fluorescent in high protic solvents. These results are discussed in terms of the competition between the intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The irradiation of OX, CNX and PM using 300 nm UV light led to a very low photodecomposition rate. Under the same conditions the nalidixic acid (NA), a structurally related quinolone, photodecomposes two orders of magnitude faster.

Endosymbiotic alga from green hydra under the influence of cinoxacin.

Cinoxacin (Cxn) showed a strong effect on the endosymbiotic alga Chlorella; it was significantly damaged. Changes in algal color, position, structure and ultrastructure were found. In some algal cells ultrastructures were completely destroyed. The antichloroplastal and antimitochondrial effect was especially expressed. Damage to the thylakoid system of chloroplasts was more pronounced with increasing Cxn concentration. Some of the mitochondria were swollen and some of them were completely destroyed. From the evolutionary point of view, the correlation between antibacterial, and antichloroplastal and antimitochondrial effect of Cxn points to the evolutionary connection of chloroplasts and mitochondria with eubacteria.

Vibrational spectroscopic characterization of fluoroquinolones.

Quinolones are important gyrase inhibitors. Even though they are used as active agents in many antibiotics, the detailed mechanism of action on a molecular level is so far not known. It is of greatest interest to shed light on this drug-target interaction to provide useful information in the fight against growing resistances and obtain new insights for the development of new powerful drugs. To reach this goal, on a first step it is essential to understand the structural characteristics of the drugs and the effects that are caused by the environment in detail. In this work we report on Raman spectroscopical investigations of a variety of gyrase inhibitors (nalidixic acid, oxolinic acid, cinoxacin, flumequine, norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, lomefloxacin, ofloxacin, enoxacin, sarafloxacin and moxifloxacin) by means of micro-Raman spectroscopy excited with various excitation wavelengths, both in the off-resonance region (532, 633, 830 and 1064 nm) and in the resonance region (resonance Raman spectroscopy at 244, 257 and 275 nm). Furthermore DFT calculations were performed to assign the vibrational modes, as well as for an identification of intramolecular hydrogen bonding motifs. The effect of small changes in the drug environment was studied by adding successively small amounts of water until physiological low concentrations of the drugs in aqueous solution were obtained. At these low concentrations resonance Raman spectroscopy proved to be a useful and sensitive technique. Supplementary information was obtained from IR and UV/vis spectroscopy.

Selective action of fluoroquinolones against intracellular amastigotes of Leishmania (Viannia) panamensis in vitro.

We have demonstrated that fluoroquinolones, a class of antibacterial agents that act through inhibition of type II DNA topoisomerases, exert selective action against intracellular amastigotes of Leishmania (Viannia) panamensis at concentrations that are achievable in vivo. Drug cytotoxicity assays employing the luciferase reporter gene revealed that intracellular amastigotes were 6.6- to 25.9-fold more sensitive than human macrophages (P < 0.05) to second-generation fluoroquinolones in vitro. The most selective agents (enoxacin and ciprofloxacin) exhibited 2 orders of magnitude greater potency against parasites (50% effective dose [ED50] = 54.9-83.4 microM) than host cells (ED50 = 1,425-1,740 microM). Linear regression analysis of ED50 data confirmed a complete lack of correlation (r = 0.001) between the relative drug sensitivities of parasites and host cells. A potential relationship between the structures of fluoroquinolones and their relative leishmanicidal activities was observed. The key substituents of the basic pyridone beta-carboxylic acid nucleus accounting for enhanced antiparasite potency and selectivity appear to be a nitrogen at position 8 of the bicyclic nucleus (enoxacin), a cyclopropyl substituent at the R1 site (ciprofloxacin), and linkage of the R1 and X8 groups by a CH3CHO bridge to form a tricyclic compound (ofloxacin). These findings support the potential of fluoroquinolones and derivatives as novel antileishmanials and encourage their clinical evaluation.

Anaphylactic reaction to cinoxacin: report of one case associated with inferior acute myocardial infarction.

Cinoxacin is an oral synthetic antibacterial agent, of the second generation quinolones group, with excellent efficacy in respiratory, intra-abdominal, pelvic, and skin and soft tissue infections. Overall, quinolones are well tolerated drugs, although phototoxicity and photoallergenicity is well demonstrated experimentally. In this report we show you a case of a man who presented a anaphylactic reaction associated with myocardial infarction, after taking a capsule of cinoxacin. We suppose that there is a direct participation of the heart in anaphylactic reactions, because acttivated mast-cells mediators can determine cardiovascular effects. Then performed double-blind placebo controlled challenge test with an alternative drug. We did not observe any adverse immediate or late adverse reaction to this drug.

Novel thrombin inhibitors incorporating non-basic partially saturated heterobicyclic P1-arginine mimetics.

The design, synthesis and biological activity of non-covalent thrombin inhibitors incorporating 4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindazole, 2-methyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindazole, 4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoindole, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinazoline and 5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinazolin-2-amine as novel, partially saturated, heterobicyclic P(1)-arginine side-chain mimetics is described. The binding mode of the most potent candidate in the series co-crystallized with human alpha-thrombin, which exhibited an in vitro K(i) of 140nM and more that 478-fold selectivity against trypsin, is discussed.

Corneal and scleral permeability of quinolones--a pharmacokinetics study.

PURPOSE: To investigate the corneal and scleral permeability of nalidixic acid and synthesized fluoroquinolones and their in vivo pharmacokinetics in rabbits. METHODS: The corneal and scleral permeability coefficients of ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, cinoxacin, enoxacin, and ofloxacin were determined in rabbits using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The aqueous humor levels of norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin were measured separately by topical instillation of 0.3% solutions of the two drugs onto rabbit eyes. RESULTS: Nalidixic acid had a higher corneal permeability coefficient (17.3 +/- 3.56 x 10(-6) cm/second) than all other drugs tested (p < 0.01). Corneal permeability coefficients in rabbits among ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, cinoxacin, enoxacin, and ofloxacin were not significantly different (p > 0.1). Comparing the corneal and scleral permeability coefficients, only values for nalidixic acid were not significantly different (17.35 +/- 3.56 x l0(-6) cm/second versus 22.69 +/- 5.19 x 10(-6) cm/second, p > 0.05), while all other drugs had scleral permeability coefficients 8 to 10 times greater than corneal permeability coefficients. The mean aqueous humor concentration of norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin at 60 minutes to 180 minutes after instillation was around 0.3 microg/mL, a value higher than MIC90 of most bacteria.

Transformation of cinoxacin by Beauveria bassiana.

The ability of the fungus Beauveria bassiana ATCC 7159 to transform the antibacterial agent cinoxacin was investigated. Cultures in sucrose-peptone broth were dosed with cinoxacin, grown for 20 days, and then extracted with ethyl acetate. Two metabolites were detected and purified by high-performance liquid chromatography. The major metabolite was identified by mass and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectra as 1-ethyl-1,4-dihydro-3-(hydroxymethyl)[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-g]cinnolin-4-one and the minor metabolite was identified as 1-ethyl-1,4-dihydro-6,7-dihydroxy-3-(hydroxymethyl)cinnolin-4-one. B. bassiana also reduced quinoline-3-carboxylic acid to 3-(hydroxymethyl)quinoline.

Interactions of metal ions with two quinolone antimicrobial agents (cinoxacin and ciprofloxacin). Spectroscopic and X-ray structural characterization. Antibacterial studies.

Several novel metal-quinolone compounds have been synthesized and characterized by analytical, spectroscopic and X-ray diffraction methods. The crystal structure of the four compounds, Na(2)[(Cd(Cx)3)(Cd(Cx)3(H2O))].12H2O, [Co(Cp)2(H2O)2].9H2O, [Zn(Cp)2(H2O)2].8H2O and [Cd(HCp)2(Cl)2].4H2O, is presented and discussed: HCx=1-ethyl-1,4-dihydro-4-oxo(1,3)-dioxolo(4,5-g)cinnoline-3-carboxylic acid and HCp=1-cyclopropyl-6-fluoro-1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-7-(1-piperazinyl)-3-quinoline carboxylic acid. In all these compounds the quinolone acts as a bidentate chelate ligand that binds through one carboxylate oxygen atom and the exocyclic carbonyl oxygen atom. Complexes of ciprofloxacin were screened for their activity against several bacteria, showing activity similar to that of the ligand. In addition, the number of bacteria killed after 3 h of incubation with the ligand, [Co(Cp)2(H2O)2].9H2O, Ni(Cp)2.10H2O and Cu(Cp)2.6H2O, was determined against S. aureus ATCC25923. There is a direct relationship between the growth rate and the lethal rate. Against growing bacteria, the ligand is the most bactericidal and Cu(Cp)2.6H2O is the less bactericidal. On the contrary, against non-dividing bacteria, the complexes were more bactericidal than the ligand, with Cu(Cp)(2).6H(2)O the most bactericidal compound.

Changes in serum levels of quinolones in rats under the influence of experimental trauma.

Administration of antibiotics is considered an important factor during, or after, operational procedures in the maxillofacial area, in order to avoid post-surgical complications. In the present study, the levels of quinolones in serum and tissues such as the parotid gland, the tongue and the bone of the jaws were estimated during traumatic injury in the oral cavity. For this purpose, two groups (A and B) of Wistar rats, consisting of 35 animals each were used. Group A (control) and group B (experimental) were divided in five subgroups (A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, and B1, B2, B3, B4, B5). In the experimental group, model traumatic injury was performed through the whole lenght of the cheek. Subjects received orally ciprofloxacin, pefloxacin, norfloxacin, ofloxacin and cinoxacin. The concentration of quinolones in serum and in most of the tissues was significantly higher in the experimental groups than in controls. In addition, the FFA levels and the weight of adrenals (as indicators of stress) were higher in the trauma groups. Stress seemed to affect many pathophysiological mechanisms which are responsible for the alterations observed.

Complexation of antibacterial quinolonic acid and cinolonic derivatives with Zn(II) and Al(III): application to their determination in human urine.

Nalidixic acid, 7-hydroxymethylnalidixic acid, oxolinic acid, pipemidic acid and cinoxacine form complexes with zinc(II) in the presence of acetate buffer of pH 5.5 and oxolinic acid, pipemidic acid and cinoxacine form complexes with aluminium(III) in the presence of chloroacetate buffer of pH 3.0. In all cases, an enhancement of the fluorescence emission was observed. Fluorimetric studies on the spectral characteristics of the complexes were performed. A 1:1 stoichiometry for all the complexes was established. The association constants were calculated, by using the changes in the fluorescence of all antibacterials, that occurred when the complexes were formed. The fluorescence reactions were used to develop methods for the determination of all of the above compounds, showing a higher sensitivity than in the absence of the cationic ions. The methods were satisfactorily applied to the determination of these compounds in urine.

Cinoxacin complexes with divalent metal ions. Spectroscopic characterization. Crystal structure of a new dinuclear Cd(II) complex having two chelate-bridging carboxylate groups. Antibacterial studies.

Several cinoxacin (HCx) complexes with divalent metal ions have been prepared and characterized by spectroscopic techniques. The crystal structure of [Cd2(Cx)4(H2O)2].10H2O has been determined by X-ray diffraction. The complex is triclinic, space group P1 with unit-cell dimensions: a = 10.412(2), b = 11.119(2), c = 13.143(6)A, chi== 76.78(4) degrees, beta = 74.59(3) degrees, gamma = 77.12(3) degrees, V = 1406.0(8) A3. In this complex each cadmium atom is heptacoordinated: the metal environment is formed by two Oketo and two Ocarbox atoms from two different cinoxacinate monoanions, two carboxylate oxygen atoms from a third cinoxacinate ligand and by one water oxygen atom on the seventh position. Two of the cinoxacinate ions act as tridentate chelate and bridging ligands and the other one as a bidentate chelate ligand. In the bridging monoanions the carboxylate group is behaving as a chelate ligand. All the complexes were screened for their activity against several bacteria, showing activity similar to that of cinoxacin. Additionally, the number of bacteria killed after 3 h of incubation with cinoxacin, [Cu(Cx)2].2H2O and [Co(Cx)3]Na.10H2O complexes was determined against E. coli ATCC 25922; the copper compound presents paradoxical effect which has been described and related to the mechanism of action of quinolones.

Determination of the chemotherapeutic quinolonic and cinolonic derivatives in urine by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet and fluorescence detection in series.

An HPLC method with ultraviolet and fluorimetric detection has been established for the separation and determination of six quinolonic and cinolonic antibiotics. A Nova-Pak C18 column (150 x 3.9 mm) and a Waters 486 UV and a Waters 470 fluorescence detector have been used. The influence of variables such as mobile-phase composition and flow-rate, has been studied. An acetonitrile-aqueous solution of oxalic acid 4x10(-4) M (28:72, v/v) has been selected as optimum. The wavelength for the photometric detection of the six antibiotics was 265 nm. For the fluorimetric detection two pairs of excitation/emission wavelengths, 260/360 or 270/440 nm, were selected for the determination of nalidixic acid, 7-hydroxymethylnalidixic acid and oxolinic acid, and for the determination of pipemidic acid and cinoxacin, respectively. The analytical parameters and detection and quantification limits of the method have been determined. The proposed method has been applied for the determination of the six compounds in urine, applying different procedures depending on their concentration, the results being very acceptable.

Stability constants of copper(II) mixed complexes with some 4-quinolone antibiotics and (N-N) donors.

Studies of complexation equilibria of the antibiotic anions nalidixate and cinoxacinate with [Cu(phen)]2+ and [Cu(bipy)]2+ are reported. These studies indicate that the stability of this type of complex is strongly related to the metal environment. A correlation between the stability constants, determined here, with the sigma donation character of the ligand is proposed. This study shows that the stability constant for the reaction between the quinolones and the moiety [Cu(N-N)]2+ is dependent on the coordinate diamine to the metal ion. This is in agreement with previous studies where other physical properties as their electronic absorption spectra in the visible region, display similar behavior. These results suggest that inside the living cells, a possible interaction with some metal ion will be strongly controlled by the type of ligand bound to the cation.

Synthesis, characterization, and crystal structure of [Cu(cinoxacinate)2].2H2O complex: a square-planar CuO4 chromophore. Antibacterial studies.

The structural and spectroscopic properties of a new copper (II) complex of cinoxacin (HCx) have been investigated. The complex [Cu(Cx)2].2H2O crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P2(1)/c. The cell dimensions are: a = 7.998(2), b = 7.622(1), c = 18.955(6) A, beta = 94.38(2) degree, V = 1154.6(6) A3, Z = 2. The structure was refined to R = 0.051. The crystal is composed of [Cu(Cx)2] units and uncoordinated water molecules. The Cu(II) ion, at a center of symmetry, is coordinated to two cinoxacinate (Cx) ligands related by the inversion center. Each cinoxacinate acts as bidentate ligand bonded to the cation through its carboxylate oxygen atom and through its exocyclic carbonyl oxygen atom, resulting in a CuO4 chromophore in a crystallographically planar configuration. The complex was screened for its activity against several bacteria, showing the same antimicrobial activity as the corresponding ligand.