Denaturing gradient gel electrophoretic multilocus sequence typing of Staphylococcus aureus isolates

To obviate the need for multilocus sequencing, a method using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) was developed for the multilocus sequence typing (MLST) of Staphylococcus aureus isolates. Sequence types (STs) were obtained on the basis of sequences of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products from seven housekeeping genes and compared to the reference MLST database. The melt curves, sequences and DGGE profiles were compared for 100 STs (i) to determine PCR conditions with 40-mer GC-clamps attached to the forward and reverse primers; (ii) to choose single restriction enzyme sites for digestion of PCR products into two fragments each with a GC-clamp attached and (iii) to optimize DGGE conditions. When the DGGE types (DT) were analyzed, the majority of DTs (76/100) were accurately classified into one ST (95% of nucleotide changes were detected), 10 DTs were classified into one of two STs corresponding to a single nucleotide ambiguity and 14 DTs were classified into 3 or 4 STs corresponding to 4 or 5 nucleotide ambiguities. A combination of STs and DTs were used to obtain septuplet sets of STs (7-ST) for 25 S. aureus isolates. When compared to the reference MLST database, one methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) isolate had the same genotype as the first MRSA clone. The DGGE-MLST method can be used as a rapid, accurate and 20-fold less expensive method than DNA sequencing for the detection of all sequence types. This combined laboratory and in silico approach could have wide applicability not only to MLST methods for other bacteria but to the screening of multilocus nucleotide differences deposited in other mutation databases.     

Use of double gradient denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis to detect (AT)n polymorphisms in the UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1 gene promoter associated with Gilbert's syndrome.

Gilbert's syndrome, due to reduced hepatic bilirubin glucuronidation is associated with the presence of two extra nucleotides (TA) in the promoter region of the UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1 (UGT1A1) gene. A rapid method was developed to detect this genetic polymorphism, using double gradient denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DG-DGGE). The promoter region of the UGT1A1 gene was amplified with a 40-mer GC-clamp attached to the 5'-end of the reverse primer. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product was then separated by DG-DGGE using denaturant concentrations of 15-25% and polyacrylamide concentrations of 6-12%. The (TA)6/(TA)6 homozygotes were clearly distinguished from both (TA)7/(TA)7 homozygotes and (TA)6/(TA)7 heterozygotes. The (TA)7 allele frequency was consistent with that previously reported and elevated bilirubin levels correlated with the presence of the (TA)7 allele. The DG-DGGE method described will make detection for this polymorphism fast, simple, nonradioactive and suitable for a clinical routine diagnostic laboratory, helping to establish the role of this polymorphism in individuals with jaundice due to multiple causes.     

金黄色葡萄球菌及其甲氧苯青霉素耐药性的MALDI-TOF MS鉴定

用MALDI－TOS MS细菌指纹图谱鉴定细菌，建立区分金黄色葡萄球菌甲氧苯青霉素耐药株和敏感株的MALDI－TOF MS分析方法，检测了76株从临床标本中分离得到的金黄色葡萄球菌，用软件进行聚类分析，以nuc(耐热核酸酶）基因和mecA(耐药）基因聚合酶链反应（PCR）检测结果为参照，74％的菌株经MALDI－TOF MS给出了正确的鉴定结果；金黄色葡萄球菌甲氧苯青霉素耐药株和敏感株的质谱图有很大差别，各自有其特征峰；经过软件聚类分析，76株实验菌株划敏感群和耐药群；与PCR检测结果对照，有7株菌PCR检测mecA基因为阴性，而经MALDI－TOF MS鉴定为耐药株，表型鉴定表明其中有5株为敏感株；利用细菌指纹图谱和数据库检索对大多数菌株实现了正确鉴定；MALDI－TOF MS分辨率高，甚至可以区分株间的差异，实现了区分金黄色葡萄球菌甲氧苯青霉素耐药株和敏感株；结果表明MALDI－TOF MS提供了一个很有前景的鉴定细菌的快速方法。     

Detection of Staphylococcus aureus cell walls by enzyme-linked immunoassay using antibodies prepared from a semi-synthetic peptidoglycan precursor

The peptidoglycan layer of Staphylococcus aureus contains a (Gly)(5) cross-link which is not found in other bacteria, and which could be used to develop a specific immunoassay for detection of S. aureus in MRSA infections. A semi-synthetic route was used to prepare the S. aureus peptidoglycan precursor UDPMurNAc-L-Ala-γ-D-Glu-L-Lys(Gly)(5)-D-Ala-D-Ala, which was covalently attached to carrier protein bovine serum albumin via the UDP nucleotide. Serum raised using this antigen showed specificity for chemically immobilised peptidoglycan monomer containing (Gly)(5), using an ELISA immunoassay. ELISA assays using 0.1 or 1.0 μg samples of cell walls prepared from two MRSA strains and one penicillin-sensitive S. aureus strain, and from three other bacteria, showed the highest response against cell walls containing (Gly)(5), with a particularly high response against cell walls from one MRSA strain. Competition assays to investigate antibody selectivity demonstrated that the antibody response could be most effectively antagonised using ligands containing (Gly)(5). These data demonstrate that it is possible to generate antibodies with high affinity and selectivity for the (Gly)(5) containing monomer in S. aureus peptidoglycan, that could be used to develop an immunoassay for S. aureus.     

Synthesis and Antibacterial Activities of Pyran Annulated Heterocyclic Compounds

Two novel pyran annulated heterocyclic compounds(1 and 2) were synthesized and characterized via IR, 1H NMR and H RMS. The structure of compound 1 was verified by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The in vitro antibacterial activities of the two compounds against Staphylococcus aureus(S. aureus ATCC 29213), methicillin-resistant S. aureus(MRSA XJ 75302), vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus(Mu50 ATCC 700699), and USA 300(Los Angeles County clone, LAC) were evaluated by observing the minimum inhibitory concentration.     

Internally quenched peptides for the study of lysostaphin: An antimicrobial protease that kills Staphylococcus aureus

Lysostaphin (EC. 3.4.24.75) is a protein secreted by Staphylococcus simulans biovar staphylolyticus and has been shown to be active against methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA). The design and synthesis of three internally quenched substrates for lysostaphin based on the peptidoglycan crossbridges of S. aureus, and their use in fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) assays is reported. These substrates enabled the gathering of information about the endopeptidase activity of lysostaphin and the effect that mutations have on its enzymatic ability. Significant problems with the inner filter effect and substrate aggregation were encountered; their minimisation and the subsequent estimation of the kinetic parameters for the interaction of lysostaphin with the substrates is described, as well as a comparison of substrates incorporating two FRET pairs: Abz-EDDnp and DABCYL-EDANS. In addition to this, the points of cleavage caused by lysostaphin in Abz-pentaglycine-EDDnp have been determined by HPLC and mass spectrometry analysis to be between glycines 2 and 3(approximately 60%) and glycines 3 and 4 (approximately 40%).     

The inhibitory potential of Thai mango seed kernel extract against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Plant extracts are a valuable source of novel antibacterial compounds to combat pathogenic isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a global nosocomial infection. In this study, the alcoholic extract from Thai mango (Mangifera indica L. cv. 'Fahlun') seed kernel extract (MSKE) and its phenolic principles (gallic acid, methyl gallate and pentagalloylglucopyranose) demonstrated potent in vitro antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and 19 clinical MRSA isolates in studies of disc diffusion, broth microdilution and time-kill assays. Electron microscopy studies using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy revealed impaired cell division and ultra-structural changes in bacterial cell morphology, including the thickening of cell walls, of microorganisms treated with MSKE; these damaging effects were increased with increasing concentrations of MSKE. MSKE and its phenolic principles enhanced and intensified the antibacterial activity of penicillin G against 19 clinical MRSA isolates by lowering the minimum inhibitory concentration by at least 5-fold. The major phenolic principle, pentagalloylglucopyranose, was demonstrated to be the major contributor to the antibacterial activity of MSKE. These results suggest that MSKE may potentially be useful as an alternative therapeutic agent or an adjunctive therapy along with penicillin G in the treatment of MRSA infections.     

The antimicrobial activity of inert oligonuclear polypyridylruthenium(II) complexes against pathogenic bacteria, including MRSA

The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of a series of synthetic inert polypyridylruthenium(II) complexes against four strains of bacteria--Gram positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), and Gram negative Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa)--have been determined. The results demonstrate that for the dinuclear ruthenium(II) complexes ΔΔ/ΛΛ-[{Ru(phen)(2)}(2){μ-bb(n)}](4+) {where phen = 1,10-phenanthroline; bb(n) = bis[4(4'-methyl-2,2'-bipyridyl)]-1,n-alkane (n = 2, 5, 7, 10, 12 or 16)} the complexes linked by the bb(12), bb(14) and bb(16) ligands are highly active, with MIC values of 1 μg mL(-1) against both S. aureus and MRSA, and 2-4 and 8-16 μg mL(-1) against E. coli and P. aeruginosa, respectively. The mononuclear complex [Ru(Me(4)phen)(3)](2+) showed equal activity (on a mole basis) against S. aureus compared with the Rubb(12), Rubb(14) and Rubb(16), but was considerably less active against MRSA and the two Gram negative bacteria. For the dinuclear Rubb(n) family of complexes, the antimicrobial activity was related to the octanol-water partition coefficient (logP). However, the highly lipophilic mononuclear complex Δ-[Ru(phen)(2)(bb(16))](2+) was significantly less active than Rubb(16), highlighting the importance of the dinuclear structure. Preliminary toxicity assays were also carried out for the ΔΔ isomers of Rubb(7), Rubb(10), Rubb(12) and Rubb(16) against two human cells lines, fresh red blood cells and THP-1 cells. The results showed that the dinuclear ruthenium complexes are significantly less toxic to human cells compared to bacterial cells, with the HC(50) and IC(50) values 100-fold higher than the MIC for the complex that showed the best potential--ΔΔ-Rubb(12).     

Synthesis of Novel Flavanone Derivatives and Their Anti Staphylococcus aureus Evaluation

The authors synthesized two novel flavanones bearing iso-pentenyl side chain and evaluated their anti Staphylococcus aureus(S. aureus) activity. The target compounds 7a[2-5'-(1",2"-dimethylallyl)-2'-methoxy-4',5,7-tetrahydroxyflavanone] and 7b[2-5'-(1",2"-dimethylallyl)-3'-methoxy-4',5,7-tetrahydroxyflavanone] were synthesized respectively through total four steps starting from 2,4,6-trihydroxy acetophenone(3) and the corresponding iso-pentenyl substituted benzaldehyde(1), in which the 1,2-dimethyl-2-propenyl group had been introduced previously via abnormal Claisen rearrangement. The bioactivities of the two flavanones against S. aureus strains ATCC 25923, 29213, and MRSA 252 were evaluated, showing the same minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC) value of 16 μg/mL.     

BRAF mutation detection and identification by cycling temperature capillary electrophoresis

BRAF mutations are found in many human tumors, namely melanomas ( approximately 70%) and colon carcinomas ( approximately 15%). This paper presents a method for identification of exon 15 BRAF mutations by denaturant capillary electrophoresis (CE), an analysis method that is sensitive, cost-effective (involving only polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and electrophoresis) and capable of high-throughput screening. In total, we found 21 (70%) out of 30 melanoma cell lines with BRAF mutations in exon 15: two of which were the p.Val600Asp (c.1799-800TG>AT) mutation, one cell line contained the p.Val600Arg (c.1798-99GT>AG) mutation, and 18 cell lines contained the p.Val600Glu (c.1799T>A) mutation. Of the nine cell lines that did not contain a BRAF mutation, five contained an NRAS mutation at exon 2, and no mutations were detected in NRAS exon 1. There was no overlap of NRAS and BRAF mutations in the same cell line. In addition, we looked at 221 colon biopsy samples and identified one further BRAF mutation, the p.Asp594Gly (c.1781A>G) mutation, in seven samples. The p.Val600Glu mutation was identified in 11 of the colon biopsy samples. Using the four mutations of BRAF exon 15, we then constructed a denaturing CE standard capable of distinguishing between each of the mutations; therefore, sequencing does not need to be performed to confirm the mutation. In conclusion, this sensitive, cost-effective mutation assay for BRAF (and RAS) will provide the opportunity to detect and determine mutations without the need to purify samples for sequencing. Future large-scale studies will provide the clinical usefulness of such mutations.     

Synergistic antibacterial and antibiotic effects of bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids on clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

The antibacterial activity of two bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids, tetrandrine (Tet) and demethyltetrandrine (d-Tet), alone and in combination with the antibiotics ampicillin (AMP), azithromycin (AZM), cefazolin (CFZ) and levofloxacin (LEV) against 10 clinical isolates of staphylococcal chromosomal cassette mec (SCCmec) III type methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was studied. Susceptibility to each agent alone was tested using a broth microdilution method. The chequerboard and time-kill tests were used for the combined evaluations. The minimal inhibitory concentrations/minimal bactericidal concentrations (MICs/MBCs, μg/mL) ranges alone were 64-128/256-1,024 for both Tet and d-Tet. Significant synergies against 90% of the isolates were observed for the Tet/CFZ combination, with their MICs being reduced by 75-94% [fractional inhibitory concentration indices (FICIs) ranged from 0.188 to 0.625], respectively. An additive bactericidal result was also observed for the Tet (d-Tet)/CFZ combination in the time-kill experiments. These results demonstrated that Tet and d-Tet enhanced the in vitro inhibitory efficacy of CFZ. Their potential for combinatory therapy of patients infected with MRSA warrants further pharmacological investigation.     

Phenolic constituents of licorice. VIII. Structures of glicophenone and glicoisoflavanone, and effects of licorice phenolics on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Two new phenolic compounds, glicophenone (1) and glicoisoflavanone (2), were isolated from commercial licorice, and their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data. Antibacterial assays of licorice phenolics for Staphylococcus aureus, including four strains of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), and also for Escherichia coli K12 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1, were then examined. Two compounds among them, 8-(gamma,gamma-dimethylallyl)-wighteone (21) and 3'-(gamma,gamma-dimethylallyl)-kievitone (28), showed remarkable antibacterial effects [minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs), 8 microg/ml on the MRSA strains and methicillin-sensitive S. aureus. Licochalcone A (14), gancaonin G (20), isoangustone A (24), glyasperins C (30) and D (31), glabridin, (32), licoricidin (33), glycycoumarin (34) and licocoumarone (40) showed antibacterial effects on the MRSA strains with MIC values of 16 microg/ml. Effects on the beta-lactam resistance of the MRSA strains were also examined, and licoricidin (33) noticeably decreased the resistance of the MRSA strains against oxacillin, as shown by the reduction in the MICs of oxacillin (lower than 1/128-1/1000 in the presence of 8 microg/ml of 33, and 1/8-1/32 in the presence of 4 microg/ml of 33). Mechanistic study suggested that 33 does not inhibit the formation of penicillin-binding protein 2' (PBP2'), but affects the enzymatic function of PBP2'.     

Assessment of head-space gas-liquid chromatography for the rapid detection of growth in blood cultures

Blood for transfusion was inoculated with between 10(0) and 10(2) colony-forming units (CFU) per ml of each of 59 microbial isolates and added to cooked meat broth. At intervals up to 72 h incubation, the cultures were examined by conventional visual inspection and automated head-space gas-liquid chromatography (HS-GLC). Forty-six isolates including all those examined of Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, S. pneumoniae, S. faecalis, S. milleri, S. mitior, S. mitis, S. salivarius, S. sanguis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, K. oxytoca, Proteus mirabilis, Morganella morganii, Serratia sp., Enterobacter cloacae, Bacterioides fragilis, Clostridium perfringens, Candida albicans, C. krusei and Torulopsis glabrata, and three isolates of Staphylococcus epidermidis, were detected by HS-GLC. HS-GLC failed to detect the growth of eleven isolates including all those of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus. Haemophilus influenzae, Corynebacterium sp. and two isolates of S. epidermidis. The growth of all 59 isolates were detected by visual inspection. No significant difference was found between HS-GLC analysis and visual inspection in the speed of detection of bacterial isolates. All the yeast isolates were detected by HS-GLC after 24 h incubation, indicating that it may be possible to detect fungemias earlier by HS-GLC analysis than by other methods.     

Co-opting the cell wall in fighting methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: potent inhibition of PBP 2a by two anti-MRSA beta-lactam antibiotics

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a global bacterial scourge that has become resistant to many classes of antibiotics, and treatment options for MRSA infections are limited. The cause of MRSA resistance to all commercially available beta-lactam antibiotics is the acquisition of the gene mecA, which encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP 2a). PBP 2a is a transpeptidase, which in contrast to the other transpeptidases of S. aureus does not experience inhibition by beta-lactam antibiotics. The lack of inhibition is due to a closed conformation for the active site for PBP 2a, which opens up only in the course of the catalytic function of the protein. Here we show that two new anti-MRSA antibiotics now undergoing clinical trials, ceftaroline and ME1036, are able to inhibit PBP 2a effectively, a process that is enhanced in the presence of a cell wall structural surrogate. It is likely that in the course of bacterial growth the occupancy of the allosteric site for the cell wall is co-opted by these antibiotics, and under these conditions the second-order rate constant for the encounter of the antibiotic and PBP 2a approaches the clinically useful value of 10(4)-10(5) M-1 s-1. These compounds are potent inhibitors of PBP 2a as well as PBPs from other species, and have potential as therapeutic agents for treatment of serious infections by MRSA and other resistant bacterial pathogens.     

Synthesis and biological activity of 2-aminoimidazole triazoles accessed by Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling

A pilot library of 2-aminoimidazole triazoles (2-AITs) was synthesized and assayed against Acinetobacter baumannii and methicillin-resistant Staphylococus aureus (MRSA). Results from these studies show that these new derivatives have improved biofilm dispersal activities as well as antibacterial properties against A. baumannii. With MRSA biofilms they are found to possess biofilm inhibition capabilities at low micromolar concentrations.     

Theoretical Study on the Dehydrogenation Reaction of H2S by VS+ (3∑-)

The dehydrogenation reaction of H2S by the 3∑- ground state of VS+: VS+ + H2S → VS2+ + H2 has been studied by using Density Functional Theory (DFT) at the B3LYP/DZVP level. It is found that the reaction proceeds along two possible pathways (A and B) yielding two isomer dehydrogenation products VS2+-1 (3B2) and VS2+-2 (3A1), respectively. For both pathways,the reaction has a two-step-reaction mechanism that involves the migration of two hydrogen atoms from S2 to V+, respectively. The migration of the second hydrogen via TS3 and that of the first via TS4 are the rate-determining steps for pathways A and B, respectively. The activation energy is 17.4 kcal/mol for pathway A and 22.8 kcal/mol for pathway B relative to the reactants. The calculated reaction heat of 9.9 kcal/mol indicates the endothermicity of pathway A and that of -11.9 kcal/mol suggests the exothermicity of pathway B.     

Synthesis and potent antimicrobial activity of some novel N-(alkyl)-2-phenyl-1H-benzimidazole-5-carboxamidines

A series of 22 novel 1,2-disubstituted-1H-benzimidazole-N-alkylated-5- carboxamidine derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for in vitro antibacterial activity against S. aureus and methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA), E. coli, E. faecalis and for antifungal activity against C. albicans. Compound 59 [1-(2,4-dichlorobenzyl)-N- (2-diethylaminoethyl)-1H-benzimidazole-5-carboxamidine], with a 3,4-dichlorophenyl group at the C-2 position, displayed the greatest activity (MIC = 3.12 microg/mL against both some bacteria and the fungus C. albicans).     

A Biosurfactant‐Inspired Heptapeptide with Improved Specificity to Kill MRSA

The emergence and rapid spread of methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) poses a serious threat to public health. New antibiotics and strategies are urgently needed to combat S. aureus associated infections. Bacaucin, a novel cyclic lipopeptide from Bacillus subtilis CAU21, is reported. Bacaucin shows broad antibacterial activity against Gram‐positive bacteria, but is also hemolytic and cytotoxic. However, bacaucin‐1, a bacaucin‐inspired ring‐opened heptapeptide, shows specific antibacterial activity against MRSA by a membrane‐disruptive mechanism without detectable toxicity to mammalian cells or induction of bacterial resistance. Bacaucin‐1 was efficient in preventing infections in both in vitro and in vivo models and is a valuable prototype antibiotic with high potential against S. aureus infections.     

Synthesis and Antibacterial Activity of Oxazolidinone Derivatives Containing Nitro Heteroaromatic Moiety

A series of novel oxazolidinone derivatives containing nitro heteroaromatic moiety was synthesized and characterized by means of ¹H NMR and MS spectra. All target compounds were evaluated for their in vitro antibacterial activities against S.au 29213, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus(VRE) by minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC) assay. Most of them exhibited antibacterial activity against S. au 29213, MRSA and VRE. Among them, compounds 10e and 10f displayed better activity than the control.