Project description:The present study examines changes in global gene expression patterns and in virulence factor-associated genes in an extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing UPEC (ESBL019) during the morphologic transitions induced by an ineffective antibiotic and in the presence of human primary bladder epithelial cells. The morphological shifts induced by ineffective antibiotics are associated with significant transcriptional virulence alterations in ESBL-producing UPEC, which may affect survival and persistence in the urinary tract.
Project description:Treatment of urinary tract infections is today a challenge due to the increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant ESBL-producing uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). There is an urgent need for new treatment strategies for multidrug-resistant UPEC and preferably with targets that have low potential for development of resistance. Carbon monoxide-releasing molecules (CORMs) are novel and potent antibacterial agents. The present study examines the transcriptomic targets of CORM-2 in a multidrug-resistant ESBL-producing UPEC isolate (ESBL7) in response to a single exposure to CORM-2 and after repeated exposure to CORM-2. The bacterial viability and minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) were also examined after repeated exposure to CORM-2. Microarray analysis revealed that a wide range of processes were affected by CORM-2, including a general trend of down-regulation in energy metabolism and biosynthesis pathways and up-regulation of the SOS response and DNA repair. Several genes involved in virulence (ibpB), antibiotic resistance (marAB, mdtABC) and biofilm formation (bhsA, yfgF) were up-regulated, while some genes involved in virulence (kpsC, fepCEG, entABE), antibiotic resistance (evgA) and biofilm formation (artIP) were down-regulated. Repeated exposure to CORM-2 did not alter the gene expression patterns, the growth inhibitory response to CORM-2 or the MIC values for CORM-2, cefotaxime, ciprofloxacin and trimethoprim.
Project description:The global surge in multi-drug resistant bacteria, including extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli has led to a growing need for new antibacterial compounds. Despite being promising, the potential of fish-derived antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in combating ESBL-E. coli is largely unexplored. In this study, native peptides were extracted from the skin mucus of farmed African Catfish, Clarias gariepinus, using a combination of 10 % acetic acid solvent hydrolysis, 5 kDa ultrafiltration, and C18 hydrophobic interactions. Peptides were then sequenced using Orbitrap Fusion Lumos Tribrid Mass Spectrometry. The identified peptides were screened for potential antibacterial activity using Random Forest and AdaBoost machine learning algorithms. The most promising peptide was then chemically synthesized and evaluated in vitro for safety on Rabbit red blood cells and activity against ESBL-E. coli (ATCC 35218) utilizing the spot-on-lawn and broth dilution methods. Eight short peptides were identified with 13 - 22 amino acid residues and molecular weight range of 968.42 to 2434.11 Da. Peptide, FACAP-II was non-hemolytic to rabbit erythrocytes (p>0.05), with Zone of Inhibition (ZOI) of 22.7 mm and Minimum Inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 91.3 μg/mL. The peptide is thus a candidate antibacterial compound with enormous potential applications in the pharmaceutical industry. However, further studies are still required to establish the upscale production strategy and optimize its activity and safety in vivo.