Rapid detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis cells by using microtip-based immunoassay

This paper describes a microtip-based approach of concentrating target analytes for a highly sensitive bioassay. As an example, rapid screening of bacterial whole cells is presented to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), a pathogenic bacterium for human tuberculosis (TB). The concentration and detection is performed with three sequential steps of (1) attracting bacterial whole cells in the vicinity of a microtip by alternating current electroosmotic flow; (2) capturing the cells onto the microtip by capillary action; (3) binding fluorophore-labeled polyclonal antibodies to the cells followed by fluorescence measurement (immunofluorescence). Through this mechanism, MTB cells have been detected to the concentration of 8,000 cells/mL within 10 min. This sensitivity is comparable to that of Ziehl–Neelsen smear microscopy, a common culture-free screening method for diagnosis of TB. For comparison, Escherichia coli O157:H7 cells have also been detected to the concentration of 30,000 cells/mL in the same way.     

Analysis of fatty acids in sputum from patients with pulmonary tuberculosis using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry preceded by solid-phase microextraction and post-derivatization on the fiber

A method based on solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and post-derivatization on the fiber coupled to gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) was developed for the analysis of fatty acids in sputum from patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. The sputum specimens were digested, hydrolyzed, extracted, derivertized, injected and analyzed without cultivation or isolation of the microorganism. Under optimized conditions, the relative standard deviations (RSD, n = 5) for all analytes were below 17% and the limits of detection varied from 1.68 (C_24:0) to 150.4 μg L⁻¹ (C_12:0). Good linearity was observed for all the fatty acids studied except for C_12:0 within a wide concentration range of three orders of magnitudes with the correlation coefficients ranging from 0.91 (C_24:0) to 0.99 (C_14:0). Fatty acids in sputum specimens from 21 persons were directly analyzed using the proposed method. The results show that in all the sputum specimens from patients, who were clinically diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB), tuberculosis stearic acid (TBSA) was detected, while in all the sputum samples from persons without TB, TBSA was not found. The possibility of using the proposed method to detect mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) via the identification of TBSA in sputum was discussed. The comparison with other methods including sputum culture and microscopy of direct smears indicated that the proposed method is fast and sensitive for the analysis of fatty acids in sputum and offers an alternative for the detection of MTB in sputum.     

Composition of three essential oils, and their mammalian cell toxicity and antimycobacterial activity against drug resistant-tuberculosis and nontuberculous mycobacteria strains

Tuberculosis (TB) is the most ancient epidemic disease in the world and a serious opportunistic disease in HIV/AIDS patients. The increase in multidrug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MDR-TB, XDR-TB) demands the search for novel antimycobacterial drugs. Essential oils (EOs) have been widely used in medicine and some EOs and their major components have been shown to be active against M. tuberculosis. The aim of this work was to evaluate the antimycobacterial and cell toxicity activities of three EOs derived from Salvia aratocensis, Turnera diffusa and Lippia americana, aromatics plants collected in Colombia. The EOs were isolated by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC/MS techniques. The EOs were tested against 15 Mycobacterium spp using a colorimetric macrodilution method and against mammalian Vero and THP-1 cells by MTT. The activity was expressed as minimal concentration in microg/mL that inhibits growth, and the concentration that is cytotoxic for 50 or 90% of the cells (CC50 and CC90). The major components were epi-alpha-cadinol (20.1%) and 1,10-di-epi-cubenol (14.2%) for Salvia aratocensis; drima-7,9(11)-diene (22.9%) and viridiflorene (6.6%) for Turnera diffusa; and germacrene D (15.4%) and trans-beta- caryophyllene (11.3%) for Lippia americana. The most active EO was obtained from S. aratocensis, with MIC values below 125 microg mL(-1) for M. tuberculosis Beijing genotype strains, and 200 to 500 microg mL(-1) for nontuberculous mycobacterial strains. The EOs were either partially or non toxic to Vero and THP-1 mammalian cells with CC50 values from 30 to > 100 microg mL(-1), and a CC90 > 100 microg mL(-1). The EOs obtained from the three aromatic Colombian plants are an important source of potential compounds against TB. Future studies using the major EO components are recommended.     

A new azafluorenone from the roots of Polyalthia cerasoides and its biological activity

Chromatographic separation of the ethyl acetate extract of roots of Polyalthia cerasoides has led to the isolation of the new compound, 6,8-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-1-methyl-azafluorenone. This compound exhibited potent cytotoxic activities with IC50 values in the range of 2.64-3.58 microg x mL(-1) for A549, GLC4 and GLC4/Adr cells, but was not recognized by ABCC1/MRP1 protein. The compound also showed very strong inhibition of M. tuberculosis using a broth microdilution method, with an MIC value of 0.78 microg x mL(-1), which was equal to that of ofloxacin, one of the four antibiotic drugs used as a positive control.     

Early effect of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection on Mac-1 and ICAM-1 expression on mouse peritoneal macrophages

Effect of M. tuberculosis infection was studied on the expression of intercellular adhesion molocule-1 (ICAM-1) and Mac-1 markers on murine peritoneal macrophages. Intraperitoneal administration of M. tuberculosis resulted in a marked increase in the proportion of Mac-1(+) cells whereas the proportion of ICAM-1(+) cells declined sharply 4 h post infection. Absolute numbers of Mac-1(+) and ICAM-1(+) cells however increased at all time points after the infection. Comparison of kinetics of changes observed in Mac-1(+) and ICAM-1(+) cell populations with differential leukocyte counts in peritoneal cells indicated that these alterations could be due to cellular influx, especially that of neutrophils, or up regulation of these markers on macrophages and other peritoneal cells. In adherent peritoneal macrophages infected in vitro with M. tuberculosis, proportion of Mac-1(+) and ICAM-1(+) cells increased markedly within 24 h of infection. Mean expression of these markers on per cell basis also increased significantly. Similar results were obtained by using RAW 264.7 mouse macrophage cell line, suggesting that the enhanced expression of Mac-1 and ICAM-1 markers was a direct effect of M. tuberculosis infection and not mediated by contaminating cell types present in adherent macrophage preparations. Mac-1 and ICAM-1 expression was further studied on macrophages that had actually engulfed M. tuberculosis and compared with bystander macrophages without intracellular M. tuberculosis. For this purpose M. tuberculosis pre-stained with DilC18 fluorescent dye were used for infecting adherent peritoneal macrophages. Mac-1 and ICAM-1 expression on gated DilC18 positive and negative cell populations was analyzed. Our results indicate that the expression of Mac-1 and ICAM- 1 markers was significantly enhanced on all macrophages incubated with M. tuberculosis but was more pronounced on macrophages with internalized mycobacteria. Taken together, our results suggest that the expression of Mac-1 and ICAM-1 markers is significantly up regulated as a result of exposure and infection with M. tuberculosis. Since these markers play important role in the uptake of mycobacteria as well as in the process of antigen presentation by macrophages, their upregulation may be beneficial for generation of a protective immune response to M. tuberculosis.     

A rapid method of diagnosing pulmonary tuberculosis using stir bar sorptive extraction-thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A fast method for detection of tuberculostearic acid (TBSA) in sputum samples is described. The samples, obtained from patients with known or suspected pulmonary tuberculosis, were decontaminated and concentrated before being analyzed by stir bar sorptive extraction-thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SBSE-TD-GC-MS). Prior to extraction, the mycobacterial lipids were hydrolyzed and then derivatized with ethyl chloroformate to increase the sorption of the compounds by the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) stir bar coating. The limit of detection (LOD) is 0.2 ng ml(-1). Four sputum samples that were classified by direct microscopy as smear-positive or negative were analyzed by GC-MS. TBSA was detected at concentrations ranging from 0.47 to 2.3 ng ml(-1). The method is sufficiently sensitive to detect TBSA directly in clinical samples without the need to culture the organisms.     

Rapid diagnosis of M. tuberculosis using a piezoelectric immunosensor.

A piezoelectric immunosensor was developed for detecting Mycobacteria Tuberculosis (M. TB). Protein A was modified onto a silver-coated piezoelectric quartz-crystal sensor. Antibodies could be bond onto the crystal surface in an ordered orientation through protein A. An impendence analyzer was employed to record the admittance-frequency curve. The experimental results showed a successful and less-rigid bonding of protein A and antibodies. Compared with other traditional detection methods of TB, the method suggested in this paper was sensitive, selective and effective. The nonspecific response was limited by using control antibody-rabbit anti-honey bee venom (anti-HBV). A glycine-HCI buffer solution (pH = 2.4) was used to release antibodies from a crystal coated with protein A, and 0.5 mg/mL anti-TB was used to remove TB from a crystal that was bonded by an antibody. Good reusability was exhibited. Spike samples of sputum and saliva from normal people with and without adding M. tuberculosis were diagnosed using the proposed method. Good results were obtained.     

The detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in sputum sample based on a wireless magnetoelastic-sensing device

This paper presents a real-time detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. TB) using a wireless magnetoelastic sensor. The sensor is fabricated by coating a magnetoelastic ribbon (Metglas 2826MB) with a polyurethane protecting film. M. TB consumes the nutrients of a liquid culture medium in growing and reproducing process, which results in properties changes (viscosity, density, elasticity, ion concentration, etc.) of the culture medium, and consequently changes in the resonance frequency of the magnetoelastic sensor. Using the described technique M. TB is quantified and sensor response is proportional to logarithmic values of the M. TB concentration from 10(4) to 10(9)cells ml(-1), with a detection limit of 10(4)cells ml(-1) at a noise level of approximately 10 Hz. The sensor can be used effectively for monitoring the bacterial growth and good results were obtained when used in sputum sample. The drug-resistance of isoniazid (INH) and rifampin (RFP) on M. TB growth in culture medium was evaluated based on this proposed method. The wireless nature of the presented device facilitates the aseptic operations.     

A new antimycobacterial furanolignan from Leucophyllum frutescens

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the minor active fractions obtained from the root bark of Leucophyllumfrutescens (Berl.) I. M. Johnst. led to isolation from the n-hexane extract of a new compound with moderate activity against the H37Rv Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain (MIC 63 microg/mL), and low cytotoxicity, as shown by the IC5o against Vero cells. The compound was identified by 1D/2D NMR spectroscopy a s2',5"-dimethoxysesamin.     

Antioxidant, antitubercular and cytotoxic activities of Piper imperiale

Phenolic compounds are widely distributed in Nature and act as pharmacologically active constituents in many herbal medicines. They have multiple biological properties, most notably antioxidant, antibacterial and cytotoxic activities. In the present study an attempt to correlate the phenolic composition of leaf, flower and wood extracts of Piper imperiale, with antioxidant, antitubercular and cytotoxic activities was undertaken. The total phenol content ranged from 1.98 to 6.94 mg GAE/gDW among ethanolic extracts, and gallic acid, catechin, epicatechin, ferulic acid, resveratrol and quercetin were identified and quantified by HPLC. DPPH and ABTS assays showed high antioxidant activity of the leaf extract (EC(50ABTS) = 15.6 μg/mL, EC(50DPPH) = 27.3 μg/mL) with EC?? in the same order of magnitude as the hydroxyquinone (EC(50ABTS) = 10.2 μg/mL, EC(50DPPH) = 15.7 μg/mL). The flower extract showed strong antimicrobial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H??Rv. All the extracts exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxic effects against MCF-7 cancer cells. This is the first time that a Piper extract has been found to be highly active against M. tuberculosis. This study shows the biological potential of Piper imperiale extracts and gives way to bio-guided studies with well-defined biological activities.     

A fast method for the identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in sputum and cultures based on thermally assisted hydrolysis and methylation followed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

A fast gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) method with minimum sample preparation is described for early diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB). The automated procedure is based on the injection of sputum samples which are then methylated inside the GC injector using thermally assisted hydrolysis and methylation (THM). The THM–GC–MS procedure was optimized for the injection of sputum samples. For the identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis the known marker tuberculostearic acid (TBSA) and other potential markers were evaluated. Hexacosanoic acid in combination with TBSA was found to be specific for the presence of M. tuberculosis. For validation of the method several sputum samples with different viscosities spiked with bacterial cultures were analyzed. Finally, 18 stored sputum samples collected in Vietnam from patients suspected to suffer from TB were re-analyzed in Amsterdam by microscopy after decontamination/concentration and using the new THM–GC–MS method. No false positives were found by THM–GC–MS and all patients who were diagnosed with TB were also found positive using our newly developed THM–GC–MS method. These results show that the new fast and sensitive THM–GC–MS method holds great potential for the diagnosis of TB.     

Simultaneous LC–MS/MS analysis of eicosanoids and related metabolites in human serum,sputum and BALF

The differences among individual eicosanoids in eliciting different physiological and pathological responses are largely unknown because of the lack of valid and simple analytical methods for the quantification of individual eicosanoids and their metabolites in serum, sputum and bronchial alveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Therefore, a simple and sensitive LC–MS/MS method for the simultaneous quantification of 34 eicosanoids in human serum, sputum and BALF was developed and validated. This method is valid and sensitive with a limit of quantification ranging from 0.2 to 3 ng/mL for the various analytes, and has a large dynamic range (500 ng/mL) and a short run time (25 min). The intra‐ and inter‐day accuracy and precision values met the acceptance criteria according to US Food and Drug Administration guidelines. Using this method, detailed eicosanoid profiles were quantified in serum, sputum and BALF from a pilot human study. In summary, a reliable and simple LC–MS/MS method to quantify major eicosanoids and their metabolites was developed and applied to quantify eicosanoids in human various fluids, demonstrating its suitability to assess eicosanoid biomarkers in human clinical trials.     

Identification of individual DNA molecule of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by nested PCR-RFLP and capillary electrophoresis

The improvement of sensitivity and differentiation in rapidly identifying a small amount of mycobacteria in sputum has significant implications for reducing tuberculosis transmission. We previously applied the conventional PCR and capillary electrophoresis (CE) to establish the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) pattern of mycobacterial 65-kDa heat shock protein (hsp65) gene from colony specimens. However, the previous analysis did not provide enough sensitivity for sputum specimens in which the limitation of analysis might be hindered by PCR inhibitors and primer-dimers formation during amplification. In the current study, nested PCR (nPCR) had been redesigned for PCR-RFLP analysis (PRA) of mycobacterial hsp65 gene using CE. The results show both Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and mycobacteria other than tuberculosis could be identified in the presence of PCR inhibitors. The interference due to primer-dimers was also minimized. Based on the Poisson distribution, the repeatability of single DNA molecule detection was greatly affected by sampling probability and might be improved significantly by increasing the sample loading. The PRA using nPCR and CE is not only able to detect the individual mycobacterial DNA molecule but also potentially differentiate the species.     

Synthesis of potent inhibitors of β-ketoacyl-acyl carrier protein synthase III as potential antimicrobial agents

Mycobacterium tuberculosis FabH, an essential enzyme in the mycolic acid biosynthetic pathway, is an attractive target for novel anti-tubercolosis agents. Structure-based design and synthesis of 1-(4-carboxybutyl)-4-(4-(substituted benzyloxy)phenyl)-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylic acid derivatives 7a-h, a subset of eight potential FabH inhibitors, is described in this paper. The Vilsmeier-Haack reaction was employed as a key step. The structures of all the newly synthesized compounds were identified by IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, ESI-MS and HRMS. The alamarBlue? microassay was employed to evaluate the compounds 7a-h against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H??Rv. The results demonstrate that the compound 7d possesses good in vitro antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H??Rv (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration value [MIC], 12.5 μg/mL).These compounds may prove useful in the discovery and development of new anti-tuberculosis drugs.     

Synthesis and structure of azole-fused indeno[2,1-c]quinolines and their anti-mycobacterial properties

Prompted by our discovery of a new class of conformationally-locked indeno[2,1-c]quinolines as anti-mycobacterials, compounds 2a and 3a (Fig. 1; MIC < 0.39 μg mL(-1) and 0.78 μg mL(-1), respectively)(14) with a freely rotating C2-imidazolo substituent, we herein describe the synthesis of pentacyclic azole-fused quinoline derivatives 4 and 5, in which we have restricted the rotation of the C2-imidazolo moiety by fusing it to the adjacent quinoline-nitrogen to give a five-membered fused azole heterocycle. The idea of locking the flexibility of the system by conformational constraint was simply to reduce its entropy, thereby reducing the overall free-energy of its binding to the target receptor. Out of 22 different azole-fused indeno[2,1-c]quinoline derivatives, seven structurally distinct compounds, 9, 15, 17, 25, 27, 28 and 29, have shown 79-99% growth inhibition of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv at a fixed dose of 6.25 μg mL(-1). The efficacies of these compounds were evaluated in vitro for 8/9 consecutive days using the BACTEC radiometric assay upon administration of single dose on day one. Of these, two compounds, 9 and 28, inhibited growth of M. tuberculosis very effectively at MIC < 0.39 μg mL(-1) (0.89 μM and 1 μM, respectively). These active compounds 9, 15, 17, 25, 27, 28 and 29 were screened for their cytotoxic effect on mammalian cells (human monocytic cell line U937), which showed that the human cell survival is almost unperturbed (100% survival), except for compound 25, hence these new compounds with new scaffolds have been identified as potent anti-mycobacterials, virtually with no toxicity. Thus these "hit" molecules constitute our important "leads" for further optimization by structure-activity relationship against TB.     

Specific electrochemical phage sensing for Bacillus cereus and Mycobacterium smegmatis

The rapid and reliable detection of pathogenic microorganisms is an important issue for the safety and security of our society. Here we describe the use of a sensitive, inexpensive, amperometric, phage-based biosensor for the detection of extremely low concentrations of Bacillus cereus and Mycobacterium smegmatis as models for Bacillus anthracis (the causative agent of anthrax) and for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (the causative agent of tuberculosis), respectively. The detection procedure developed here enabled the determination of bacteria at a low concentration of 10 viable cells/mL within 8 h. This experimental setup allows the simultaneous analysis of up to eight independent samples, using disposable screen-printed electrodes.     

Analysis of ibuprofen,pantoprazole, and itopride combination therapeutic drugs in human plasma by solid phase membrane microtip extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography methods using new generation core shell C18 column

Iron nanocomposite adsorbent was synthesized by green technology with 90% yield. The surface was amorphous and irregular in nature. The iron nanocomposite adsorbent was applied in solid phase membrane microtip extraction (SPMMTE) procedure for the extraction of ibuprofen, pantoprazole, and itopride drugs. SPMMTE was used to extract these drugs from plasma. SunShell C₁₈ column was used with phosphate buffer (10 mM, pH 7.0):acetonitrile (70:30, v/v) as mobile phase at 1.0 mL min^?1 flow rate with a detection at 220 nm. The retention factor values were 2.23, 3.25, and 5.38. The values of separation and resolution factors were 1.41 and 1.65, and 5.00 and 12.14, respectively. The percentage recoveries were ibuprofen (90%), pantoprazole (80%), and itopride (75%) in standard solution. The reported SPMMTE and HPLC methods were fast, inexpensive, specific, precise, accurate, and robust for the analysis of the reported drugs. These results indicated that the reported nanocomposite adsorbent-based SPMMTE and HPLC methods may be used to monitor the reported drugs in any unknown matrices.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 2-(3-fluoro-4-nitro phenoxy)-n-phenylacetamide derivatives as novel potential affordable antitubercular agents

A novel series of 2-(3-fluoro-4-nitrophenoxy)-N-phenylacetamide compounds were designed, synthesized and in vitro assessed for their antitubercular activities by a microdilution method. All the novel derivatives exerted potent or moderate active against M. tuberculosis H??Rv, with MIC values ranging from 4 to 64 μg/mL. The most potent derivative 3m showed an identical MIC value of 4 μg/mL for both M. tuberculosis H??Rv and rifampin-resistant M. tuberculosis 261. It demonstrated no inhibitory effects against six different tumor cell lines by a MTT assay and had a good safety profile in a vero cell line, providing a good lead for subsequent optimization in search of novel affordable antitubercular agents.     

Synthesis, characterisation and antitubercular activities of a series of pyruvate-containing aroylhydrazones and their Cu-complexes

A series of eight pyruvate-based aroylhydrazones was synthesised and characterised. The reaction of the sodium salts of the aroylhydrazones with one equivalent of copper(II) chloride allowed the isolation of neutral 1:1 complexes in which the hydrazones occupy three basal coordination sites of a square pyramidal Cu(II)-centre, with two solvent molecules completing the coordination sphere. Structural details were obtained through the determination of the crystal structures of two representative pyruvate-based aroylhydrazones and three Cu(II) complexes. The evaluation of the antimycobacterial activity of the sodium salts of the eight pryruvate hydrazones showed that the compounds are essentially inactive in their anionic form. The corresponding neutral Cu(II) complexes, however, exhibit promising antimycobacterial activities if tested under high iron (8 μg Fe per mL) conditions. As observed for the related antimycobacterial agent isoniazid, the activity of the complexes decreases if the M. tuberculosis cells are grown under low iron (0.02 μg Fe per mL) conditions. The Cu(II) complexes may thus have a similar mode of action and may require an iron-containing heme-dependent peroxidase for activation.     

Design,Synthesis and In Vitro Anti‐mycobacterial Activity of Propylene‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazole‐4‐methylene‐tethered Isatin‐moxifloxacin Hybrids

Ten propylene‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazole‐4‐methylene‐tethered isatin‐moxifloxacin hybrids 5a–j were synthesized via Cu‐promoted azide‐alkyne cycloaddition reaction, and screened for their in vitro anti‐mycobacterial activities against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H₃₇Rv and multidrug‐resistant tuberculosis. The results showed that all the synthesized hybrids [minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC): 0.25–4.0 μg/mL] displayed considerable activities against the tested two strains, but all less active than the parent moxifloxacin (MIC: 0.10 and 0.12 μg/mL). The resistance index of the most targets was around 1, suggesting this kind of hybrids could reduce the cross–resistance to some extent. Among them, hybrid 5 g was found most active against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H₃₇Rv with MIC of 0.39 μg/mL, which was comparable with rifampicin (MIC: 0.39 μg/mL), while conjugate 5a (MIC: 0.25 μg/mL) was 128– > 512 times more active than rifampicin (MIC: 32 μg/mL) and isoniazid (MIC: >128 μg/mL) against multidrug‐resistant tuberculosis.