Enzyme‐Responsive Polymeric Vesicles for Bacterial‐Strain‐Selective Delivery of Antimicrobial Agents

Antimicrobial resistance poses serious public health concerns and antibiotic misuse/abuse further complicates the situation; thus, it remains a considerable challenge to optimize/improve the usage of currently available drugs. We report a general strategy to construct a bacterial strain‐selective delivery system for antibiotics based on responsive polymeric vesicles. In response to enzymes including penicillin G amidase (PGA) and β‐lactamase (Bla), which are closely associated with drug‐resistant bacterial strains, antibiotic‐loaded polymeric vesicles undergo self‐immolative structural rearrangement and morphological transitions, leading to sustained release of antibiotics. Enhanced stability, reduced side effects, and bacterial strain‐selective drug release were achieved. Considering that Bla is the main cause of bacterial resistance to β‐lactam antibiotic drugs, as a further validation, we demonstrate methicillin‐resistant S. aureus (MRSA)‐triggered release of antibiotics from Bla‐degradable polymeric vesicles, in vitro inhibition of MRSA growth, and enhanced wound healing in an in vivo murine model.     

Direct Determination of Bacterial Cell Viability Using Carbon Nanotubes Modified Screen‐printed Electrodes

For the early detection of bacterial infection, there is a need for rapid, sensitive, and label‐free assays. Thus, in this study, nanostrucured microbial electrochemical platform is designed to monitor the viability and cell growth of S. aureus. Using multi‐walled carbon nanotube modified screen‐printed electrodes (MWCNTs/SPE), the cyclic voltammetric measurements showed only one irreversible oxidation peak at 600 mV vs Ag/AgCl that accounts for the viable and metabolically active bacterial cells. The assay was optimized and the secreted metabolites, in the extracellular matrix, were directly detected. The peak current showed a positive correlation with viable cell numbers ranging from OD_{600 nm} of 0.1 to 1.1, indicating that the activity of live cells can be quantified. Consequently, responses of viable and non‐viable cells of S. aureus to the effects of antibiotic and respiratory chain inhibitors were determined. Thus, the proposed nanostructure‐based bacterial sensor provides a reasonable and reliable way for real‐time monitoring of live‐dead cell functions, and antibacterial profiling.     

An E1‐Catalyzed Chemoenzymatic Strategy to Isopeptide‐N‐Ethylated Deubiquitylase‐Resistant Ubiquitin Probes

Triazole‐based deubiquitylase (DUB)‐resistant ubiquitin (Ub) probes have recently emerged as effective tools for the discovery of Ub chain‐specific interactors in proteomic studies, but their structural diversity is limited. A new family of DUB‐resistant Ub probes is reported based on isopeptide‐N‐ethylated dimeric or polymeric Ub chains, which can be efficiently prepared by a one‐pot, ubiquitin‐activating enzyme (E1)‐catalyzed condensation reaction of recombinant Ub precursors to give various homotypic and even branched Ub probes at multi‐milligram scale. Proteomic studies using label‐free quantitative (LFQ) MS indicated that the isopeptide‐N‐ethylated Ub probes may complement the triazole‐based probes in the study of Ub interactome. Our study highlights the utility of modern protein synthetic chemistry to develop structurally and new families of tool molecules needed for proteomic studies.     

Rational Tuning of Fluorobenzene Probes for Cysteine‐Selective Protein Modification

Fluorobenzene probes for protein profiling through selective cysteine labeling have been developed by rational reactivity tuning. Tuning was achieved by selecting an electron‐withdrawing para substituent in combination with variation of the number of fluorine substituents. Optimized probes chemoselectively arylated cysteine residues in proteins under aqueous conditions. Probes linked to azide, biotin, or a fluorophore were applicable to labeling of eGFP and albumin. Selective inhibition of cysteine proteases was also demonstrated with the probes. Additionally, probes were tuned for site‐selective labeling of cysteine residues and for activity‐based protein profiling in cell lysates.     

Rapid superparamagnetic‐beads‐based automated immunoseparation of Zn‐proteins from Staphylococcus aureus with nanogram yield

Pathogenic bacteria have become a serious socio‐economic concern. Immunomagnetic separation‐based methods create new possibilities for rapidly recognizing many of these pathogens. The aim of this study was to use superparamagnetic particles‐based fully automated instrumentation to isolate pathogen Staphylococcus aureus and its Zn(II) containing proteins (Zn‐proteins). The isolated bacteria were immediately purified and disintegrated prior to immunoextraction of Zn‐proteins by superparamagnetic beads modified with chicken anti‐Zn(II) antibody. S. aureus culture was treated with ZnCl₂. Optimal pathogen isolation and subsequent disintegration assay steps were carried out with minimal handling. (i) Optimization of bacteria capturing: Superparamagnetic microparticles composed of human IgG were used as the binding surface for acquiring live S. aureus. The effect of antibodies concentration, ionic strength, and incubation time was concurrently investigated. (ii) Optimization of zinc proteins isolation: pure and intact bacteria isolated by the optimized method were sonicated. The extracts obtained were subsequently analyzed using superparamagnetic particles modified with chicken antibody against zinc(II) ions. (iii) Moreover, various types of bacterial zinc(II) proteins precipitations from particle–surface interactions were tested and associated protein profiles were identified using SDS‐PAGE. Use of a robotic pipetting system sped up sample preparation to less than 4 h. Cell lysis and Zn‐protein extractions were obtained from a minimum of 100 cells with sufficient yield for SDS‐PAGE (tens ng of proteins). Zn(II) content and cell count in the extracts increased exponentially. Furthermore, Zn(II) and proteins balances were determined in cell lysate, extract, and retentate.     

Target‐Based Whole‐Cell Screening by 1H NMR Spectroscopy

An NMR‐based approach marries the two traditional screening technologies (phenotypic and target‐based screening) to find compounds inhibiting a specific enzymatic reaction in bacterial cells. Building on a previous study in which it was demonstrated that hydrolytic decomposition of meropenem in living Escherichia coli cells carrying New Delhi metallo‐β‐lactamase subclass 1 (NDM‐1) can be monitored in real time by NMR spectroscopy, we designed a cell‐based NMR screening platform. A strong NDM‐1 inhibitor was identified with cellular IC₅₀ of 0.51 μM , which is over 300‐fold more potent than captopril, a known NDM‐1 inhibitor. This new screening approach has great potential to be applied to targets in other cell types, such as mammalian cells, and to targets that are only stable or functionally competent in the cellular environment.     

Synthetically Tuning the 2‐Position of Halogenated Quinolines: Optimizing Antibacterial and Biofilm Eradication Activities via Alkylation and Reductive Amination Pathways

Agents capable of eradicating bacterial biofilms are of great importance to human health as biofilm‐associated infections are tolerant to our current antibiotic therapies. We have recently discovered that halogenated quinoline (HQ) small molecules are: 1) capable of eradicating methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE) and vancomycin‐resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE) biofilms, and 2) synthetic tuning of the 2‐position of the HQ scaffold has a significant impact on antibacterial and antibiofilm activities. Here, we report the chemical synthesis and biological evaluation of 39 HQ analogues that have a high degree of structural diversity at the 2‐position. We identified diverse analogues that are alkylated and aminated at the 2‐position of the HQ scaffold and demonstrate potent antibacterial (MIC≤0.39 μm ) and biofilm eradication (MBEC 1.0–93.8 μm ) activities against drug‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Enterococcus faecium strains while demonstrating <5 % haemolysis activity against human red blood cells (RBCs) at 200 μm . In addition, these HQs demonstrated low cytotoxicity against HeLa cells. Halogenated quinolines are a promising class of antibiofilm agents against Gram‐positive pathogens that could lead to useful treatments against persistent bacterial infections.     

Single‐Enzyme Biofuel Cells

Herein, we demonstrate that the intramolecular electron transfer within a single enzyme molecule is an important alternative pathway that can be harnessed to generate electricity. By decoupling the redox reactions within a single type of enzyme (for example, Trametes versicolor laccase), we harvested electricity efficiently from unconventional fuels including recalcitrant pollutants (for example, bisphenol A and hydroquinone) in a single‐laccase biofuel cell. The intramolecular electron‐harnessing concept was further demonstrated with other enzymes, including power generation during CO₂ bioconversion to formate catalyzed by formate dehydrogenase from Candida boidinii . The novel single‐enzyme biofuel cell is shown to have potential for utilizing wastewater as a fuel as well as for generating energy while driving bioconversion of chemical feedstock from CO₂.     

Development of Luminescent Coelenterazine Derivatives Activatable by β‐Galactosidase for Monitoring Dual Gene Expression

Two bioluminogenic caged coelenterazine derivatives (bGalCoel and bGalNoCoel) were designed and synthesized to detect β‐galactosidase activity and expression by means of bioluminescence imaging. Our approach addresses the instability of coelenterazine by introducing β‐galactose caging groups to block the auto‐oxidation of coelenterazine. Both probes contain β‐galactosidase cleavable caging groups at the carbonyl group of the imidazo–pyrazinone moiety. One of the probes in particular, bGalNoCoel, displayed a fast cleavage profile, high stability, and high specificity for β‐galactosidase over other glycoside hydrolases. bGalN‐oCoel could detect β‐galactosidase activity in living HEK‐293T cell cultures that expressed a mutant Gaussia luciferase. It was determined that coelenterazine readily diffuses in and out of cells after uncaging by β‐galactosidase. We showed that this new caged coelenterazine derivative, bGalNoCoel, could function as a dual‐enzyme substrate and detect enzyme activity across two separate cell populations.     

Construction of Antibacterial N‐Halamine Polymer Nanomaterials Capable of Bacterial Membrane Disruption for Efficient Anti‐Infective Wound Therapy

The increasing occurrence of bacterial infection at the wound sites is a serious global problem, demanding the rapid development of new antibacterial materials for wound dressing to avoid the abuse of antibiotics and thereby antibiotic resistance. In this work, the authors first report on antibacterial N‐halamine polymer nanomaterials based on a strategic copolymerization of 3‐allyl‐5,5‐dimethylhydantoin (ADMH) and methyl methacrylate (MMA), which exhibits in vitro and in vivo antimicrobial efficacy against pathogenic bacteria including Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Particularly, when a biological evaluation is run for wound therapy, the N‐halamine polymer nanomaterials exhibit a powerful antibacterial efficiency and wound healing ability after a series of histological examination of mouse wound. After the evaluation of biological and chemical surroundings, the proposed four‐stage mechanism suggests that, with unique antibacterial N? Cl bonds, the N‐halamine polymer nanomaterials can disrupt the bacterial membrane, as a result causing intracellular content leaked out and thereby cell death. Based on the synergistic action of antibacterial and wound therapy, the N‐halamine polymer nanomaterials are expected to be promising as wound dressing materials in medical healing and biomaterials.     

Design,Synthesis and Molecular Modeling of Nonsteroidal Anti‐inflammatory Drugs Tagged Substituted 1,2,3‐Triazole Derivatives and Evaluation of Their Biological Activities

A novel series of 1,4‐disubstituted‐1,2,3‐triazole derivatives 3a – l and 5a – i were one‐pot synthesized via CuAAC‐alkyne click chemistry and evaluated for their antibacterial activity against four organisms and screened for their anticancer activity against human colon cancer cell line HT‐29 and human lung cancer cell line HTB‐29. These hybrid molecules structure elucidation has been performed by IR, ¹H‐NMR, ¹³C‐NMR, and mass spectral analysis. Synthesized nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs‐triazoles evaluated for their antibacterial activities against bacterial microorganisms Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Klebsiella pneumonia. Final compounds 3i , 3c , and 5b showed magnificent broad spectrum activity against P. aeruginosa, K. pneumonia, E. coli, and S. aureus with zone of inhibition values of 20, 15, 17, and 16 mm, respectively. Among the series of compound, 3j showed the best antibacterial activity against all the strains. Further, the compounds 3i and 5a were more cytotoxic than cisplatin against all tested two human cancer cell lines, with 50.8%, and 52.3% and 73.4% and 75.3% of growth, respectively. The synthesized compounds were tested for kinase inhibitory activity against glycogen synthase kinase‐3 protein kinases, in addition, for cytotoxic activity against two different human cancer cell lines.     

The Kalimantacin Polyketide Antibiotics Inhibit Fatty Acid Biosynthesis in Staphylococcus aureus by Targeting the Enoyl‐Acyl Carrier Protein Binding Site of FabI

The enoyl‐acyl carrier protein reductase enzyme FabI is essential for fatty acid biosynthesis in Staphylococcus aureus and represents a promising target for the development of novel, urgently needed anti‐staphylococcal agents. Here, we elucidate the mode of action of the kalimantacin antibiotics, a novel class of FabI inhibitors with clinically‐relevant activity against multidrug‐resistant S. aureus. By combining X‐ray crystallography with molecular dynamics simulations, in vitro kinetic studies and chemical derivatization experiments, we characterize the interaction between the antibiotics and their target, and we demonstrate that the kalimantacins bind in a unique conformation that differs significantly from the binding mode of other known FabI inhibitors. We also investigate mechanisms of acquired resistance in S. aureus and identify key residues in FabI that stabilize the binding of the antibiotics. Our findings provide intriguing insights into the mode of action of a novel class of FabI inhibitors that will inspire future anti‐staphylococcal drug development.     

Highly Selective and Sensitive Near‐Infrared‐Fluorescent Probes for the Detection of Cellular Hydrogen Sulfide and the Imaging of H2S in Mice

Herein, we report the development of two fluorescent probes for the highly selective and sensitive detection of H₂S. The probes take advantage of a Cu^II? cyclen complex, which acts as a reaction center for H₂S and as a quencher of BODIPY (boron‐dipyrromethene)‐based fluorophores with emissions at 765 and 680 nm, respectively. These non‐fluorescent probes could only be turned on by the addition of H₂S, and not by other potentially interfering biomolecules, including reactive oxygen species, cysteine, and glutathione. In a chemical system, both probes detected H₂S with a detection limit of 80 nM . The probes were successfully used for the endogenous detection of H₂S in HEK 293 cells, for measuring the H₂S‐release activity of dietary organosulfides in MCF‐7 cells, and for the in vivo imaging of H₂S in mice.     

Specific Detection and Imaging of Enzyme Activity by Signal‐Amplifiable Self‐Assembling 19F MRI Probes

Specific turn‐on detection of enzyme activities is of fundamental importance in drug discovery research, as well as medical diagnostics. Although magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is one of the most powerful techniques for noninvasive visualization of enzyme activity, both in vivo and ex vivo, promising strategies for imaging specific enzymes with high contrast have been very limited to date. We report herein a novel signal‐amplifiable self‐assembling ¹⁹F NMR/MRI probe for turn‐on detection and imaging of specific enzymatic activity. In NMR spectroscopy, these designed probes are “silent” when aggregated, but exhibit a disassembly driven turn‐on signal change upon cleavage of the substrate part by the catalytic enzyme. Using these ¹⁹F probes, nanomolar levels of two different target enzymes, nitroreductase (NTR) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), could be detected and visualized by ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy and MRI. Furthermore, we have succeeded in imaging the activity of endogenously secreted MMP in cultured media of tumor cells by ¹⁹F MRI, depending on the cell lines and the cellular conditions. These results clearly demonstrate that our turn‐on ¹⁹F probes may serve as a screening platform for the activity of MMPs.     

Synthesis,Docking, ADME‐Tox Study of 2‐(2‐(2‐Chlorophenyl)quinoline‐4‐carbonyl)‐N‐substituted hydrazinecarbothioamide Derivatives and Their Biological Evaluation

A series of 2‐(2‐(2‐chlorophenyl)quinoline‐4‐carbonyl)‐N‐substituted hydrazinecarbothioamide derivatives were synthesized by facile and efficient conventional method. The structures of the compounds were elucidated with the aid of an elemental analysis, IR, ESI‐MS, ¹H‐NMR, and ¹³C‐NMR spectral data. The synthesized compounds were evaluated for their in vitro antibacterial, antifungal, antimalarial, and antituberculosis activity against standard drugs. The bacterial studies were determined against gram‐positive and negative bacteria. These compounds were found to a broad spectrum of activity against the screened bacteria, but poor activity was observed against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli. Compounds 8d , 8f , 8i , 8l , and 8n showed the potent activity against Staphylococcus aureus. Compounds 8d , 8g , 8k , 8l , and 8q show the potent activity against antimalarial as compared with the standard drugs Chloroquine, Quinine and compounds 8h , 8n , and 8o shows mild activity against H37Rv strain. Molecular docking revealed that synthesized derivatives and target proteins were actively involved in a binding pattern and had a significant corelation with biological activity. We have also performed a molecular dynamics and ADME‐Tox parameters for the synthesized compounds.     

Smart Titanium Coating Composed of Antibiotic Conjugated Peptides as an Infection‐Responsive Antibacterial Agent

Antibacterial coating is rapidly emerging as a pivotal strategy for mitigating spread of bacterial pathogens. However, many challenges still need to be overcome in order to develop a smart coating that can achieve on‐demand antibacterial effects. In this study, a Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) sensitive peptide sequence is designed, and an antibiotic is then conjugated with this tailor‐made peptide. The antibiotic‐peptide conjugate is then linked to the surface of a titanium implant, where the peptide can be recognized and cleaved by an enzyme secreted by S. aureus. This allows for the release of antibiotics in the presence of S. aureus, thus achieving delivery of an antibacterial specifically when an infection occurs.     

Synthesis and Bioactivity of Quinoline‐3‐carboxamide Derivatives

Twelve novel substituted 2‐chloroquinoline‐3‐carboxamide derivatives were prepared from acetanilides using the Vilsmeier–Haack reaction, producing 2‐chloro‐3‐carbaldehyde quinolines, followed by oxidation of the 3‐carbaldehyde to the carboxylic acid and coupling this group with various anilines. The structures of the synthesized compounds were confirmed by NMR, mass spectrometry, and single crystal X‐ray diffraction. The chemical shifts of H‐5 and H‐8 were shown to be influenced by the substituent at C‐6. The substituent at C‐6 was also seen to affect the chemical shift of C‐5, C‐7, and C‐8, with C‐5 and C‐7 being more shielded in 5j (F substituted) in comparison with 5g (Cl substituted) and 5d (CH₃ substituted). The compounds showed weak activity in the mM range against Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria of which 5b , 5d , and 5f showed the best activity with minimum bactericidal concentration values for 5b being 3.79 mM against methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus and 5d and 5f having minimum bactericidal concentration values of 3.77 and 1.79 mM against S. aureus ATCC 25923, respectively.     

Synthesis and Antimicrobial Activity of Some New N‐substituted‐5‐arylidene‐thiazolidine‐2,4‐diones

A total of 17 new N‐substituted derivatives ( 2b , 2c , 2d , 2e , 2f , 2g , 2h , 2i , 2j , 2k and 3b , 3c , 3d , 3e , 3f , 3g , 3h ) of 5‐((2‐phenylthiazol‐4‐yl)methylene) thiazolidine‐2,4‐dione ( 2a ) and 5‐(2,6‐dichloro‐ benzylidene)thiazolidine‐2,4‐dione ( 3a ) were synthesized. The structural elucidation of the newly synthesized compounds was based on elemental analysis and spectroscopic data (MS, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR), and their antimicrobial activities were assessed in vitro against several strains of Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria and one fungal strain (Candida albicans) as growth inhibition diameter. Some of them showed modest to good antibacterial activity against Gram‐negative Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium and Gram‐positive Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, and Enterococcus fecalis bacterial strains, whereas almost all the compounds were inactive against Listeria monocytogenes. All of the synthesized compounds showed moderate to very good activity against C. albicans.     

SLAP: Small Labeling Pair for Single‐Molecule Super‐Resolution Imaging

Protein labeling with synthetic fluorescent probes is a key technology in chemical biology and biomedical research. A sensitive and efficient modular labeling approach (SLAP) was developed on the basis of a synthetic small‐molecule recognition unit (Ni‐trisNTA) and the genetically encoded minimal protein His_6‐10‐tag. High‐density protein tracing by SLAP was demonstrated. This technique allows super‐resolution fluorescence imaging and fulfills the necessary sampling criteria for single‐molecule localization‐based imaging techniques. It avoids masking by large probes, for example, antibodies, and supplies sensitive, precise, and robust size analysis of protein clusters (nanodomains).     

Tailor‐made biomimetic random copolymers for medical applications

Biospecific copolymers were synthesized by random substitution of a preformed polymer with suitable chemical groups or by random copolymerization of suitable functional monomers. Such polymers contain arrangements of the chemical functions that mimic natural biospecific sites. The probability of occurrence of such arrangements will depend on the average composition of the copolymer. Two examples of such bioactive copolymers are presented. Some O‐[(N‐benzylcarbamoyl)methyl]dextrans (DMCB) exhibit an inhibitory effect on the growth of human breast cancer cell lines. Its derivatives, associated or conjugated to sodium phenylacetate (NaPA), were found to have a strong antitumoral activity on malignant human melanoma 1205LU. Preliminary in vivo tests on nude mice are performed. Adhesion of Staphylococcus aureus to biospecific random polystyrene derivatives or acrylic terpolymers carrying sulfate and carboxylate groups is hindered in a composition‐dependent way. In addition, a correlation between the bacterial adhesion and proliferation has been evidenced. As a result, biospecific random copolymers endowed with both bacteriophobic and bacteriostatic activities were synthesized.