Isolation and activity of Xenorhabdus antimicrobial compounds against the plant pathogens Erwinia amylovora and Phytophthora nicotianae.

AIMS: Broad-spectrum antibiotics produced by symbiotic bacteria [entomopathogenic bacterium (EPB)] of entomopathogenic nematodes keep monoxenic conditions in insect cadavers in soil. This study evaluated antibiotics produced by EPB for their potential to control plant pathogenic bacteria and oomycetes. METHODS AND RESULTS: Entomopathogenic bacterium produce antibiotics effective against the fire blight bacterium Erwinia amylovora, including streptomycin resistant strains, and were as effective in phytotron experiments as kasugamycin or streptomycin. Xenorhabdus budapestensis and X. szentirmaii antibiotics inhibited colony formation and mycelial growth of Phytophthora nicotianae. From X. budapestensis, an arginine-rich fraction (bicornutin) was adsorbed by Amberlite((R)) XAD 1180, and eluted with methanol : 1 n HCI (99 : 1). Bicornutin inactivated zoospores, and inhibited germination and colony formation of cystospores at <<25 ppm. An UV-active molecule (bicornutin-A, MW = 826), separated by HPLC and thin-layer chromatography, was identified as a novel hexa-peptide : RLRRRX. CONCLUSIONS: Xenorhabdus budapestensis produces metabolites with strong antibacterial and cytotoxic activity. Individual compounds can be isolated, identified and patented, but their full antimicrobial potential may be multiplied by synergic interactions. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Active compounds of two new Xenorhabdus species might control plant diseases caused by pathogens of great importance to agriculture such as Erw. amylovora and P. nicotianae.

Xenorhabdus antibiotics: a comparative analysis and potential utility for controlling mastitis caused by bacteria.

AIMS: The role of antibiotics produced by bacterial symbionts of entomopathogenic nematodes is to suppress growth of microbes in the soil environment. These antibiotics are active against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and were tested against mastitis isolates from dairy cows. METHODS AND RESULTS: Two bioassays were adapted for Xenorhabdus antibiotics; an overlay method on agar plates, and serially diluted, cell-free, Xenorhabdus cultures. The antimicrobial activities of the liquid cultures of 13 strains from five Xenorhabdus species were further evaluated. Antimicrobial activities of the type strains of X. nematophila, X. budapestensis and X. szentirmaii were tested on mastitis isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae with both bioassays. A previously reported antibiotic from X. nematophila, nematophin, was synthesized in three steps from tryptamine and 4-methyl-2-oxovaleric acid sodium salt. CONCLUSIONS: The antibiotics of all three Xenorhabdus strains were powerful in either bioassay, but the sensitivity of the isolates differed from each other. While Kl. pneumoniae was the least susceptible, Staph. aureus had the highest sensitivity to each Xenorhabdus strain. Xenorhabdus szentirmaii and X. budapestensis were more potent antibiotic producers than X. nematophila, and raceme nematophin was ineffective against all mastitis isolates. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: These results indicate that Xenorhabdus antibiotics are effective against mastitis isolates and should be further evaluated for their potential in mastitis control or prevention.

Synthesis of new cyclitol compounds that influence the activity of phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase isoform, PI4K230.

The synthesis, chemical derivatization, and investigation of the inhibitory properties of novel cyclitol derivatives on the phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase enzymes PI4K55 and PI4K230 involved in the phosphatidylinositol cycle are reported. Some of the prepared cyclitol derivatives (i.e. 9, 11, 12, and 14) proved to be very powerful and specific irreversible inhibitors of PI4K230 at or below a concentration of 1 mM.

[Synthesis of phosphoramide mustard analogues belonging to the L-sugar series]. / Foszforamid-mustár származékok szintézise az L-cukor sorban.

During the past decades numerous cyclophoshamide (mustard) derivatives of nucleosides and aminodeoxy sugars have been prepared for investigating their antitumor activities. The cyclophosphamide analogues of aminotrideoxy hexoses belonging to the D-series of sugars have been prepared by Monneret et al. The present paper reports the synthesis of the new phosphoramide mustards 16-17 from 12 and 15 (belonging to the L-sugar series). First compound 10 was synthesized from the L-rhamnose (9). Methyl 3-azido-2,3,6,-trideoxy-alpha-L-ribo-hexopyranoside (11) was obtained by the replacement of the 3-O-p-toluene-sulfonyl group of 10 with sodium azide. Methyl 3-azido-2,3,6,-trideoxy-alpha-L-arabino-hexopyranoside (14) was synthesized by rign opening of 13 with sodium azide. The corresponding amino sugars (12, 15) were obtained by catalytic hydrogenation (over palladium on carbon) of 11 and 14. Our compounds 12 and 15 were transformed into the cyclophosphamide derivatives 16a,b-17a,b upon treatment with bis(2-chloroethyl)phoshoramidic dichloride in the presence of triethylamine (36 h, r.t.). The approximately 1:1 mixtures of isomers (due to the different steric position of the P=O group) could be readily separated by chromatography. The 1H NMR assignments of compounds 16a, 16b, 17a and 17b, were based on one-dimensional selective decoupling experiments or two-dimensional chemical shift-correlated spectroscopy (COSY-60). The assignment of configuration to the isomeric phosphoramidates was based on the magnetic anisotropy of the P=O bond. The distinctly different chemical shift patterns of sugar protons observed for the two isomers allowed the unambiguous assignment of the P=O stereochemistry. The compounds 16a,b-17a,b (mixture of isomers) were tested for inhibitory activity using L1210 and HT29 cell lines.

[The fight against bacteria: the antibiotics policy]. / Baktérium elleni küzdelem és antibiotikum politika.

Development of bacterial resistance towards antibiotics is no longer a local phenomenon. It has by now become a European and global problem, as a result of unjustified and unprofessional administration of antibiotics in gratuitously high quantities, not only in the medicinal practice, but also in the agriculture. The resistant bacteria may spread from animals to humans, transmitted by the food-chain. A recent danger includes the appearance of the vancomycin-resistant strains (VRSA) besides the methycillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections. The number of the vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE) is also expected to grow in the future. The present paper reports the results of the international activities in the past decades, which is related to the fight against resistant bacteria. Such research involves the production of synthetic compounds, the development of semi-synthetic beta-lactam-, aminocyclitol-, macrolide-, and glycopeptide antibiotics, as well as the introduction of new enzyme-inhibitory substances. Elaboration of basic principles of the rational application of antimicrobial agents is an increasingly urgent need along with the establishment of national and European data bases in which the supply and consumption of related medicines are registered and kept under control.

Beta-lactam antibiotics functionalized with gem-bisphosphonates.

Acylation of amoxycillin and cephalexin with acids III, V and VII, and with isocyanate VIII furnished the corresponding beta-lactam antibiotics (X and XIII-XV, respectively). The antibacterial activity of these new antibiotic analogues against Helicobacter pylori was found to be identical with those of amoxycillin, Augmentin, erythromycin and ciprofloxacin.

Antiulcer effect of the N- and O-beta-D-glucopyranosides of 5-aminosalicylic acid.

Starting from methyl 5-nitrosalicylate (20) the N- and O-beta-glucopyranosyl derivatives (24, 28) of 5-aminosalicylic acid were prepared. The LD50 values of these compounds were determined on mice, and the inhibitory effect of 24 (0.83 mmol/kg) and 28 (1.2 mmol/kg) on gastric ulcer on rats, induced by indomethacin was investigated.

Synthesis of phosphoramide mustard analogues of daunomycin and carminomycin.

New phosphoramide mustards (6-8) have been prepared from the antibiotics 2 and 3, and from 5. The mixture of cyclophosphamides could be separated by preparative layer and column chromatography. The assignments of configuration to the isomeric phosphoramidates was based on the magnetic anisotropy of the P = O bond. The synthesized compounds 6a,b-8a,b (mixture of isomers) were tested for inhibitory activity on the [3H]-thymidine incorporation into the DNA of tumor cells, using ovarian carcinoma cell line.

Chemical synthesis and structural study of lincomycin sulfoxides and a sulfone.

Oxidation of lincomycin with dimethyldioxirane resulted in the sulfoxide-glycosides 3a and 3b, whose treatment with osmium tetraoxide and N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide afforded the same sulfone; 4. According to FAB-MS and CD investigations, the absolute configuration of the sulfur atom in 3a and 3b is R and S, respectively. The new, unsaturated antibiotic analog (6) derived from clindamycin exists in the 4C1 conformation. The antibiotic activities of the synthesized compounds were also studied.

Synthesis of new pseudodisaccharide aminoglycoside antibiotics from carbohydrates.

Novel pseudodisaccharide-type aminocyclitol antibiotic models, built up from D-arabinose, D-ribose, D-glucosamine, L-ristosamine and L-acosamine have been synthesized by the glycosylation of suitably protected (azido)deoxyinosose aglycones derived by the Ferrier carbocyclic ring transformation of carbohydrate precursors. An alternative approach to related pseudodisaccharides, based on the Ferrier carbocyclization of reducing disaccharides, has also been elaborated. This latter method extends the scope of the Ferrier reaction, by demonstrating that acid-labile 2-deoxydisaccharides can also be readily transformed into the corresponding pseudodisaccharides under the slightly acidic conditions of this ring-transformation.

Synthesis of a phenyl beta-avobioside derivative of the disaccharide component of avoparcins.

The synthesis of the phenyl beta-glycoside of avobiose, a disaccharide fragment present in the antibiotic avoparcin, is reported. It is based on glycosylation of phenyl 3,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside with 2,3,6-trideoxy-4-O-p-nitrobenzoyl-3-trifluoroacetamido-L-ribo-hex- 1-enitol, a fully protected glycal of L-ristosamine, in the presence of trimethylsilyl triflate.

An NMR study of eremomycin and its derivatives. Full 1H and 13C assignment, motional behavior, dimerization and complexation with Ac-D-Ala-D-Ala.

Complete 1H and 13C NMR assignments are presented for eremomycin (1) and some of its desglycosylated derivatives 2, 3 and compared to the structurally closely related glycopeptide vancomycin. Primary structure and stereochemistry of eremomycin is corroborated by the present high field total correlation spectroscopy, NOESY and heteronuclear multiple-bond correlation NMR methods. A rough motional characterization of the title compound is attempted by 13C-T1 and 13C-[1H] NOE measurements. Dimerization of eremomycin is observed both in DMSO-d6-CCl4 and D2O solutions. Complexation with cell wall analogue dipeptide Ac-D-Ala-D-Ala is also demonstrated.

A new cyclitol derivative influences inositol metabolism in Neurospora crassa.

Cyclitol derivatives have been synthesized and screened for growth inhibitory effect upon prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. One derivative, (2S,3R,5R)-3-azido-2-benzoyloxy-5-hydroxycyclohexanone, was studied in detail: it has no effect upon bacteria, but it is inhibitory to Neurospora crassa. In Neurospora crassa it increased the amount of myo-inositol-1-phosphate synthase and inhibited the activity of myo-inositol-monophosphatase. The enhanced synthesis of myo-inositol-1-phosphate synthase was the consequence of lowering the intracellular inositol concentration. Li+ treatment of Neurospora crassa has effects similar to those of P.I.-658.