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.     

A Glycosylated Cationic Block Poly(β‐peptide) Reverses Intrinsic Antibiotic Resistance in All ESKAPE Gram‐Negative Bacteria

Carbapenem‐resistant Gram‐negative bacteria (GNB) are heading the list of pathogens for which antibiotics are the most critically needed. Many antibiotics are either unable to penetrate the outer‐membrane or are excluded by efflux mechanisms. Here, we report a cationic block β‐peptide (PAS8‐b‐PDM12) that reverses intrinsic antibiotic resistance in GNB by two distinct mechanisms of action. PAS8‐b‐PDM12 does not only compromise the integrity of the bacterial outer‐membrane, it also deactivates efflux pump systems by dissipating the transmembrane electrochemical potential. As a result, PAS8‐b‐PDM12 sensitizes carbapenem‐ and colistin‐resistant GNB to multiple antibiotics in vitro and in vivo. The β‐peptide allows the perfect alternation of cationic versus hydrophobic side chains, representing a significant improvement over previous antimicrobial α‐peptides sensitizing agents. Together, our results indicate that it is technically possible for a single adjuvant to reverse innate antibiotic resistance in all pathogenic GNB of the ESKAPE group, including those resistant to last resort antibiotics.     

Isolation and Structural Elucidation of Armeniaspirols A–C: Potent Antibiotics against Gram‐Positive Pathogens

In an antibiotic lead discovery program, the known strain Streptomyces armeniacus DSM19369 has been found to produce three new natural products when cultivated on a malt‐containing medium. The challenging structural elucidation of the isolated compounds was achieved by using three independent methods, that is, chemical degradation followed by NMR spectroscopy, a computer‐assisted structure prediction algorithm, and X‐ray crystallography. The compounds, named armeniaspirol A–C ( 2 – 4 ), exhibit a compact, hitherto unprecedented chlorinated spiro[4.4]non‐8‐ene scaffold. Labeling experiments with [1‐¹³C] acetate, [1,2‐¹³C2] acetate, and [U‐¹³C] proline suggest a biosynthesis through a rare two‐chain mechanism. Armeniaspirols displayed moderate to high in vitro activities against Gram‐positive pathogens such as methicillin‐resistant S. aureus (MRSA) or vancomycin resistant E. faecium (VRE). As analogue 2 was active in vivo in an MRSA sepsis model, and showed no development of resistance in a serial passaging experiment, it represents a new antibiotic lead structure.     

Dual Fluorescent‐ and Isotopic‐Labelled Self‐Assembling Vancomycin for in vivo Imaging of Bacterial Infections

The increase of bacterial resistance demands rapid and accurate diagnosis of bacterial infections. Biosurface‐induced supramolecular assembly for diagnosis and therapy has received little attention in detecting bacterial infections. Herein we present a dual fluorescent‐nuclear probe based on self‐assembly of vancomycin (Van) on Gram‐positive bacteria for imaging bacterial infection. A Van‐ and rhodamine‐modified peptide derivative (Rho‐FF‐Van), as the imaging agent, binds to the terminal peptide of the methicillin‐resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and self‐assembles to form nanoaggregates on the surface of MRSA . In an in vivo myositis model, Rho‐FF‐Van results in a significant increased fluorescence signal at the MRSA infected site. Radiolabeled with iodine‐125, Rho‐FF‐Van shows strong radioactive signal in the MRSA ‐infected lungs in a murine model. This novel dual fluorescent and nuclear probe promises a new way for in vivo imaging of bacterial infections.     

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.     

Poly(2‐Oxazoline)‐Based Functional Peptide Mimics: Eradicating MRSA Infections and Persisters while Alleviating Antimicrobial Resistance

Peptides have important biological functions. However, their susceptibility to proteolysis limits their applications. We demonstrated here for the first time, that poly(2‐oxazoline) (POX) can work as a functional mimic of peptides. POX‐based glycine pseudopeptides, a host defense peptide mimic, had potent activities against methicillin‐resistant S. aureus, which causes formidable infections. The POX mimic showed potent activity against persisters that are highly resistant to antibiotics. S. aureus did not develop resistance to POX owning to the reactive oxygen species related antimicrobial mechanism. POX‐treated S. aureus is sensitive to common antibiotics, demonstrating no observable antimicrobial pressure or cross‐resistance in using antimicrobial POX. This study highlights POX as a new type of functional mimic of peptides and opens new avenues in designing and exploring peptide mimetics for biological functions and applications.     

Vancomycin Analogues Containing Monosaccharides Exhibit Improved Antibiotic Activity: A Combined One‐Pot Enzymatic Glycosylation and Chemical Diversification Strategy

Many natural products contain carbohydrate moieties that contribute to their biological activity. Manipulation of the carbohydrate domain of natural products through multiple glycosylations to identify new derivatives with novel biological activities has been a difficult and impractical process. We report a practical one‐pot enzymatic approach with regeneration of cosubstrates to synthesize analogues of vancomycin that contain an N‐alkyl glucosamine, which exhibited marked improvement in antibiotic activity against a vancomycin‐resistant strain of Enterococcus.     

Polymicrobial Biofilm Inhibition Effects of Acetate‐Buffered Chitosan Sponge Delivery Device

Polymicrobial biofilm‐associated implant infections present a challenging clinical problem. Through modifications of lyophilized chitosan sponges, degradable drug delivery devices for antibiotic solution have been fabricated for prevention and treatment of contaminated musculoskeletal wounds. Elution of amikacin, vancomycin, or a combination of both follows a burst release pattern with vancomycin released above minimum inhibitory concentration for Staphylococcus aureus for 72 h and amikacin released above inhibitory concentrations for Pseudomonas aeruginosa for 3 h. Delivery of a vancomycin, amikacin, or a combination of both reduces biofilm formation on polytetrafluoroethylene catheters in an in vivo model of contamination. Release of dual antibiotics from sponges is more effective at preventing biofilm formation than single‐loaded chitosan sponges. Treatment of pre‐formed biofilm with high‐dose antibiotic release from chitosan sponges shows minimal reduction after 48 h. These results demonstrate infection‐preventive efficacy for antibiotic‐loaded sponges, as well as the need for modifications in the development of advanced materials to enhance treatment efficacy in removing established biofilm.

     

An RCM‐Based Total Synthesis of the Antibiotic Disciformycin B

The total synthesis of the potent new antibiotic disciformycin B ( 2 ) is described, which shows significant activity against methicillin‐ and vancomycin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA/VRSA) strains. The synthetic route is based on macrocyclization of a tetraene substrate to the 12‐membered macrolactone core by ring‐closing olefin metathesis (RCM). Although macrocyclization was accompanied by concomitant cyclopentene formation by an alternative RCM pathway, conditions were established to give the macrocycle as the major product. Key steps in the construction of the RCM substrate include a highly efficient Evans syn‐aldol reaction, the asymmetric Brown allylation of angelic aldehyde, and the stereoselective Zn(BH₄)₂‐mediated 1,2‐reduction of an enone. The synthesis was completed by late‐stage dehydrative glycosylation to introduce the d ‐arabinofuranosyl moiety and final chemoselective allylic alcohol oxidation.     

Halogenated Phenazines that Potently Eradicate Biofilms,MRSA Persister Cells in Non‐Biofilm Cultures,and Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Conventional antibiotics are ineffective against non‐replicating bacteria (for example, bacteria within biofilms). We report a series of halogenated phenazines (HP), inspired by marine antibiotic 1 , that targets persistent bacteria. HP 14 demonstrated the most potent biofilm eradication activities to date against MRSA, MRSE, and VRE biofilms (MBEC=0.2–12.5 μM), as well as the effective killing of MRSA persister cells in non‐biofilm cultures. Frontline MRSA treatments, vancomycin and daptomycin, were unable to eradicate MRSA biofilms or non‐biofilm persisters alongside 14 . HP 13 displayed potent antibacterial activity against slow‐growing M. tuberculosis (MIC=3.13 μM), the leading cause of death by bacterial infection around the world. HP analogues effectively target persistent bacteria through a mechanism that is non‐toxic to mammalian cells and could have a significant impact on treatments for chronic bacterial infections.     

Halogenated Phenazines that Potently Eradicate Biofilms,MRSA Persister Cells in Non‐Biofilm Cultures,and Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Conventional antibiotics are ineffective against non‐replicating bacteria (for example, bacteria within biofilms). We report a series of halogenated phenazines (HP), inspired by marine antibiotic 1 , that targets persistent bacteria. HP 14 demonstrated the most potent biofilm eradication activities to date against MRSA, MRSE, and VRE biofilms (MBEC=0.2–12.5 μM), as well as the effective killing of MRSA persister cells in non‐biofilm cultures. Frontline MRSA treatments, vancomycin and daptomycin, were unable to eradicate MRSA biofilms or non‐biofilm persisters alongside 14 . HP 13 displayed potent antibacterial activity against slow‐growing M. tuberculosis (MIC=3.13 μM), the leading cause of death by bacterial infection around the world. HP analogues effectively target persistent bacteria through a mechanism that is non‐toxic to mammalian cells and could have a significant impact on treatments for chronic bacterial infections.     

Thuricin Z: A Narrow‐Spectrum Sactibiotic that Targets the Cell Membrane

Sactionine‐containing antibiotics (sactibiotics) are a growing class of peptide antibiotics belonging to the ribosomally synthesized and post‐translationally modified peptide (RiPP) superfamily. We report the characterization of thuricin Z, a novel sactibiotic from Bacillus thuringiensis. Unusually, the biosynthesis of thuricin Z involves two radical S‐adenosylmethionine (SAM) enzymes, ThzC and ThzD. Although ThzC and ThzD are highly divergent from each other, these two enzymes produced the same sactionine ring in the precursor peptide ThzA in vitro. Thuricin Z exhibits narrow‐spectrum antibacterial activity against Bacillus cereus. A series of analyses, including confocal laser scanning microscopy, ultrathin‐sectioning transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and large‐unilamellar‐vesicle‐based fluorescence analysis, suggested that thuricin Z binds to the bacterial cell membrane and leads to membrane permeabilization.     

Staphylococcus aureus Penicillin‐Binding Protein 2 Can Use Depsi‐Lipid II Derived from Vancomycin‐Resistant Strains for Cell Wall Synthesis

Vancomycin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) (VRSA) uses depsipeptide‐containing modified cell‐wall precursors for the biosynthesis of peptidoglycan. Transglycosylase is responsible for the polymerization of the peptidoglycan, and the penicillin‐binding protein 2 (PBP2) plays a major role in the polymerization among several transglycosylases of wild‐type S. aureus. However, it is unclear whether VRSA processes the depsipeptide‐containing peptidoglycan precursor by using PBP2. Here, we describe the total synthesis of depsi‐lipid I, a cell‐wall precursor of VRSA. By using this chemistry, we prepared a depsi‐lipid II analogue as substrate for a cell‐free transglycosylation system. The reconstituted system revealed that the PBP2 of S. aureus is able to process a depsi‐lipid II intermediate as efficiently as its normal substrate. Moreover, the system was successfully used to demonstrate the difference in the mode of action of the two antibiotics moenomycin and vancomycin.     

Echinosporamicin,a New Antibiotic Produced by Micromonospora echinospora ssp. echinospora,LL‐P175

Echinosporamicin ( 1 ), a novel antibiotic containing an aromatic polycyclic system and a piperazinone moiety, was isolated from the fermentation broth of a new strain of Micromonospora echinospora subspecies echinospora, LL‐P175. The structure of this compound was determined by spectroscopic analysis by using variable‐temperature NMR techniques. Compound 1 exhibited potent activity against methicillin‐resistant Staphylococci and vancomycin‐resistant Enterococci strains. The methyl, ethyl, and benzyl esters showed improved antibacterial activity against Streptococci.     

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.     

Development of a Functional cis‐Prolyl Bond Biomimetic and Mechanistic Implications for Nickel Superoxide Dismutase

During recent years several peptide‐based Ni superoxide dismutase (NiSOD) models have been developed. These NiSOD models show an important structural difference compared to the native NiSOD enzyme, which could cause a completely different mechanism of superoxide dismutation. In the native enzyme the peptide bond between Leu4 and Pro5 is cis‐configured, while the NiSOD models exhibit a trans‐configured peptide bond between these two residues. To shed light on how the configuration of this single peptide bond influences the activity of the NiSOD model peptides, a new cis‐prolyl bond surrogate was developed. As surrogate we chose a leucine/alanine‐based disubstituted 1,2,3‐triazole, which was incorporated into the NiSOD model peptide replacing residues Leu4 and Pro5. The yielded 1,5‐disubstituted triazole nickel peptide exhibited high SOD activity, which was approximately the same activity as its parent trans‐configured analogue. Hence, the conformation of the prolyl peptide bond apparently has of minor importance for the catalytic activity of the metallopeptides as postulated in literature. Furthermore, it is shown that the triazole metallopeptide is forming a stable cyanide adduct as a substrate analogue model complex.     

A novel oxazolidinone antibiotic: RWJ‐416457

The crystal structure of the antibiotic drug candidate RWJ‐416457 (systematic name: N‐{(5S)‐3‐[4‐(5,6‐dihydro‐2H,4H‐2‐methylpyrrolo[3,4‐c]pyrazol‐5‐yl)‐3‐fluorophenyl]‐2‐oxo‐1,3‐oxazolidin‐5‐yl}acetamide), C₁₈H₂₀FN₅O₃, which belongs to the first new class of antibiotics discovered in the past 30 years, has been determined at 150 K. Each molecule of this drug donates one hydrogen bond to a neighboring molecule and accepts one hydrogen bond to give (O=C—R—N—H...O=C—R—N—H...)_n linkages along the b‐axis direction. The compound contains a pyrrolopyrazole ring, which, owing to its uncommon structure, has been shown to have particular effectiveness against multi‐drug‐resistant bacteria.     

Heterospirocyclic N‐(2H‐Azirin‐3‐yl)‐L‐prolinates: New Dipeptide Synthons

The synthesis of methyl N‐(1‐aza‐6‐oxaspiro[2.5]oct‐1‐en‐2‐yl)‐L ‐prolinate ( 1e ) has been performed by consecutive treatment of methyl N‐[(tetrahydro‐2H‐pyran‐4‐yl)thiocarbonyl]‐L ‐prolinate ( 5 ) with COCl₂, 1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO), and NaN₃ (Scheme 1). As the first example of a novel class of dipeptide synthons, 1e has been shown to undergo the expected reactions with carboxylic acids and thioacids (Scheme 2). The successful preparation of the nonapeptide 16 , which is an analogue of the C‐terminal nonapeptide of the antibiotic Trichovirin I 1B, proved that 1e can be used in peptide synthesis as a dipeptide building block (Scheme 3). The structure of 7 has been established by X‐ray crystal‐structure analysis (Figs. 1 and 2).     

Sequential In Vitro Cyclization by Cytochrome P450 Enzymes of Glycopeptide Antibiotic Precursors Bearing the X‐Domain from Nonribosomal Peptide Biosynthesis

The biosynthesis of the glycopeptide antibiotics, which include vancomycin and teicoplanin, relies on the interplay between the peptide‐producing non‐ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) and Cytochrome P450 enzymes (P450s) that catalyze side‐chain crosslinking of the peptide. We demonstrate that sequential in vitro P450‐catalyzed cyclization of peptide substrates is enabled by the use of an NRPS peptide carrier protein (PCP)‐X di‐domain as a P450 recruitment platform. This study reveals that whilst the precursor peptide sequence influences the installation of the second crosslink by the P450 OxyA_tei, activity is not restricted to the native teicoplanin peptide. Initial peptide cyclization is possible with teicoplanin and vancomycin OxyB homologues, and the latter displays excellent activity with all substrate combinations tested. By using non‐natural X‐domain substrates, bicyclization of hexapeptides was also shown, which demonstrates the utility of this method for the cyclization of varied peptide substrates in vitro.     

Solid‐Phase Synthesis Using (Allyloxy)carbonyl(Alloc) Chemistry of a Putative Heptapeptide Intermediate in Vancomycin Biosynthesis Containing m‐Chloro‐3‐hydroxytyrosine

A convenient method for the solid‐phase synthesis of putative linear heptapeptide intermediates in vancomycin biosynthesis is described, in particular, the heptapeptide D ‐Leu‐Cyt‐L ‐Asn‐Hpg‐Hpg‐Cyt′‐Dhpg (Cyt=(2R,3R)‐m‐chloro‐3‐hydroxytyrosine, Hpg=(R)‐2‐(p‐hydroxyphenyl)glycine, Cyt′=(2S,3R)‐m‐chloro‐3‐hydroxytyrosine and Dhpg=(S)‐2‐(3,5‐dihydroxyphenyl)glycine). The synthesis was performed on chlorotrityl resin and employed the (allyloxy)carbonyl protecting group for temporary N(α) protection during peptide‐chain assembly.