Project description:Efflux pumps are a significant challenge for the development of new antibacterial agents. Overcoming efflux requires an in-depth understanding of efflux pump functions, substrate specificities, and the development of inhibitors. However, the complexities of drug efflux networks have limited such studies. To address these challenges, we report the generation of Efflux KnockOut-35 (EKO-35), a highly susceptible Escherichia coli strain lacking 35 efflux pumps. We demonstrate the utility of this strain by constructing an efflux platform consisting of strains individually expressing genes encoding efflux pumps forming tripartite complexes with the outer membrane channel TolC. This platform was profiled against a curated diverse compound collection, which enabled us to define physicochemical properties that contribute to transport. We also show the E. coli drug efflux network is conditionally essential for growth, and that the platform can be used to investigate efflux pump inhibitor specificities and also efflux pump interplay. We believe EKO-35 and the efflux platform will have widespread application for the study of drug efflux.
Project description:Target (MexB) and efflux based mechanisms decreasing the effectiveness of the efflux pump inhibitor D13-9001 in P. aeruginosa PAO1: uncovering a new role for MexMN-OprM in efflux of β-lactams and a novel regulatory circuit (MmnRS) controlling MexMN expression Efflux pumps contribute to antibiotic resistance in Gram-negative pathogens. Correspondingly, efflux pump inhibitors (EPIs) may reverse this resistance. D13-9001 specifically inhibits MexAB-OprM in P. aeruginosa. Mutants with decreased susceptibility to MexAB-OprM inhibition by D13-9001 were identified and these fell into two categories; those having alterations in the target MexB (F628L and ΔV177) and those with mutations in PA1438 (L172P substitution) which encoded a putative sensor kinase of unknown function. The alterations in MexB were consistent with reported structural studies of D13-9001 interaction with MexB. The PA1438L172P alteration mediated a >150-fold upregulation of MexMN pump gene expression and >50-fold upregulation of PA1438 and the neighboring response regulator gene PA1437. We propose that these be renamed as mmnR/mmnS for MexMN Regulator and Sensor. MexMN was shown to partner with the outer membrane channel protein OprM and to pump several β-lactams, monobactams and tazobactam. Upregulated MexMN functionally replaced MexAB-OprM to efflux these compounds but was insusceptible to inhibition by D13-9001. MmnSL172P also mediated a decrease in susceptibility to imipenem / biapenem that was independent of MexMN-OprM. Expression of oprD, encoding the uptake channel for these compounds was downregulated, suggesting that this channel is also part of the MmnSR regulon. RNA-seq of cells encoding MmnSL172P revealed among other things an interrelationships between regulation of mexMN and genes involved in heavy metal resistance.
Project description:Efflux pumps of the resistance-nodulation-division (RND) superfamily, particularly the AcrAB-TolC and MexAB-OprM, besides mediating intrinsic and acquired resistance, also intervene in bacterial pathogenicity. Inhibitors of such pumps could restore activities of antibiotics and curb bacterial virulence. Here, we identify pyrrole-based compounds that boost antibiotic activity in Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa by inhibiting their archetype RND transporters. The discovered efflux pump inhibitors (EPIs) inhibit the efflux of fluorescent probes, attenuate persister formation, and diminish resistant mutant development. Molecular docking and biophysical studies revealed that the EPIs bind to AcrB. EPIs also possess an anti-pathogenic potential and attenuate P. aeruginosa virulence in vivo. The excellent efficacy of the EPI-antibiotic combination was evidenced in animal lung infection and sepsis protection models. These findings indicate that EPIs discovered herein with no off-target effects and negligible toxicity are potential antibiotic adjuvants to address life-threatening bacterial infections.
Project description:Previous studies have shown that the MpeR transcriptional regulator produced by Neisseria gonorrhoeae represses expression of mtrF, which encodes a putative inner membrane protein that works with the MtrC-MtrD-MtrE efflux pump to allow gonococci to resist high levels of multiple hydrophobic antimicrobials. Regulation of mpeR has been reported to occur by an iron-dependent mechanism involving Fur (Ferric uptake regulator). Collectively, these observations suggest the presence of an interconnected regulatory system in gonococci that modulates expression of drug efflux pump protein-encoding genes in an iron-responsive manner. Herein, we describe this connection and report that levels of gonococcal resistance to a substrate of the mtrCDE-encoded efflux pump can be modulated by MpeR and the availability of free iron. Using microarray analysis, we found that the mtrR gene, which encodes the direct transcriptional repressor (MtrR) of mtrCDE, is an MpeR-repressed determinant in the late-logarithmic phase of growth when free iron levels would be reduced due to bacterial consumption. MpeR-mediated repression of mtrR appeared to be direct, as judged by DNA-binding analyses, and was enhanced by conditions of iron-limitation, which resulted in increased expression of the mtrCDE efflux pump operon. Taken together, our results indicate that both genetic and physiologic parameters can influence expression of the mtr efflux system and that these can modulate levels of gonococcal susceptibility to efflux pump substrates. two strains, two growth phases, three replicates each.
Project description:MepR is a substrate-responsive repressor of mepR and mepA, which encode itself and a MATE family multidrug efflux pump. Microarray analyses of Staphylococcus aureus SH1000 and its mepR-disrupted derivative revealed changes in expression of many genes in addition to mepR and mepA, notably several involved in virulence Keywords: Staphylococcus aureus, MATE efflux pump, MepR
Project description:Previous studies have shown that the MpeR transcriptional regulator produced by Neisseria gonorrhoeae represses expression of mtrF, which encodes a putative inner membrane protein that works with the MtrC-MtrD-MtrE efflux pump to allow gonococci to resist high levels of multiple hydrophobic antimicrobials. Regulation of mpeR has been reported to occur by an iron-dependent mechanism involving Fur (Ferric uptake regulator). Collectively, these observations suggest the presence of an interconnected regulatory system in gonococci that modulates expression of drug efflux pump protein-encoding genes in an iron-responsive manner. Herein, we describe this connection and report that levels of gonococcal resistance to a substrate of the mtrCDE-encoded efflux pump can be modulated by MpeR and the availability of free iron. Using microarray analysis, we found that the mtrR gene, which encodes the direct transcriptional repressor (MtrR) of mtrCDE, is an MpeR-repressed determinant in the late-logarithmic phase of growth when free iron levels would be reduced due to bacterial consumption. MpeR-mediated repression of mtrR appeared to be direct, as judged by DNA-binding analyses, and was enhanced by conditions of iron-limitation, which resulted in increased expression of the mtrCDE efflux pump operon. Taken together, our results indicate that both genetic and physiologic parameters can influence expression of the mtr efflux system and that these can modulate levels of gonococcal susceptibility to efflux pump substrates.
Project description:Streptococcus suis is a zoonotic pathogen with a high incidence and mortality rate in both swine and humans. Following antibiotic treatment, the organism has evolved many resistance mechanisms, among of which efflux pump overexpression can promote drug extrusion out of the cell. This study clarified the role of CiaRH in fluoroquinolone resistance. A deletion of the ciaRH genes showed decreased susceptibility to tested antibiotics, an invariant growth rate, and reduced intracellular substrates. This research also demonstrated that the overexpression of efflux pump, SatAB, was the main cause of ∆ciaRH resistance. In addition, CiaR could combine with the promoter region of satAB, to further directly suppress target gene transcription. Simultaneously, satAB was also directly regulated by SatR. Our findings may provide novel insight into the development of drug targets, and help exploit corresponding inhibitors to combat bacterial multidrug resistance.