New 7-[4-(4-(un)substituted)piperazine-1-carbonyl]- piperazin-1-yl] derivatives of fluoroquinolone: synthesis and antimicrobial evaluation.

Fluoroquinolones have been a class of important synthetic antimicrobial agents broadly and effectively used in clinic for infectious diseases. In this study, the synthesis of a range of fluoroquinolone derivatives with 4-(carbopiperazin-1-yl)piperazinyl moieties at the C7 position and their inhibition of bacterial pathogens commonly disseminated in hospital environment were described. The results indicated that a 7-[4-(4-(benzoyl)carbopiperazin-1-yl)]piperazinyl derivative 5h and two 7-[4-(4- (benzenesulfonyl)carbopiperazin-1-yl)]piperazinyl derivatives 5k and 5l showed more promising growth inhibition of ciprofloxacin-resistant P. aeruginosa (CRPA) with MIC values as low as 16 µg/mL which is 16-fold more potent than ciprofloxacin, while most of other derivatives maintained potency against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Role of amphotericin B upon enhancement of protective immunity elicited by oral administration with liposome-encapsulated-Japanese encephalitis virus nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) in mice.

Amphotericin B (AmB) is an antifungal antibiotic the activity of which has been associated with modulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines expression in cultured cells. Herein we reveal that co-administration with AmB enhances the immunogenicity of oral Lip-JENS1 vaccine which derived from liposomes functionalized with DSPC (distearoylphosphatidylcholine) and cholesterol (2:1, molar ratio)-bearing JE virus NS1 protein (600 microg ml(-1)). Oral single dose of Lip-JENS1 elicited a detectable serum NS1-specific IgG antibody response from a mouse model. Remarkably, the addition of AmB (125 microg per mouse), particularly, 2 h prior to, but not simultaneously with, the administration of Lip-JENS1 significantly enhanced the systemic antigen-specific antibody response, providing superior protection against lethal JEV challenges. Further, we observed AmB-induced the transcription of cytokine expression and translocation of transcriptional factor NF-kappaB from the cytoplasm to the nucleus for the murine macrophage J774A.1. Moreover, Peyer's-patch lymphocytes (PPL) from AmB-treated mice produced high levels of IL-1beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha expression compared to the corresponding control of cells from non-treated mice. Taken together, the results suggest that AmB exerts a profound influence upon mucosal vaccination with Lip-JENS1, possibly playing an adjuvant-augmented role to "fine-tune" humoral as well as cellular immune response, thus conferring enhanced protective immunity for immunising individuals against JE infection.

Utilizing liver-specific microRNA-122 to modulate replication of dengue virus replicon.

microRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous non-coding RNAs that spatiotemporally modulate mRNAs in a post-transcriptional manner. The engineering of viruses by insertion of a tissue-specific miRNA recognition element (MRE) into viral mRNA can restrict viral tissue tropism. In this study we employed dengue virus (DEN) replicons to investigate whether miRNAs are able to suppress flavivirus replication through the targeting of non-polyadenylated viral mRNA. Because liver infection by DEN may contribute to the virus pathogenesis, we inserted an MRE of hepatic-specific microRNA-122 (miR-122) into its 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) to test the feasibility of creating a liver-restricted DEN replicon. Our results demonstrate that incorporation of the miR-122-MRE confers upon the DEN replicon an inhibitory susceptibility to miR-122 targeting, suggesting that DEN can be engineered to exert the desired replication restriction effect to avoid infection of vital tissues/organs. This approach provides an additional layer of biosafety and thus has great potential for use in the rational development of safer flavivirus vaccines.

Preparation and antibacterial efficacy of bamboo charcoal/polyoxometalate biological protective material.

Nanocomposites based on Keggin-type polyoxometalate H5PV2Mo10O40 (POM) and porous bamboo charcoal (BC) were prepared by activation and immobilization processes. The physical properties of the BC/POM composites were examined using FTIR, UV-Vis spectroscope, 31P MAS-NMR, SEM and TEM. These techniques indicated that the POM was intact on the surface of the BC matrix after impregnation. The POM particle size was found to be less than 150 nm based on TEM. The antibacterial effects of the BC/POM composites were assessed from the zone of inhibition, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and plate-counting method, and an excellent antibacterial performance was discovered.

Secretion of biologically active human epidermal growth factor from Escherichia coli using Yersinia pestis Caf1 signal peptide.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The Caf1 secretion pathway of Yersinia pestis is one of the most well-characterized export machineries. To facilitate the secretion of human epidermal growth factor (hEGF) in Escherichia coli, a DNA fragment containing the synthetic gene for hEGF was joined to a sequence encoding the signal peptide of Yersinia pestis Caf1 protein. METHODS: The gene for hEGF was synthesized by overlapping polymerase chain reaction technique and was placed under the control of the caf1 gene promoter in the recombinant plasmid pHL401 which was used to transfect E. coli BL-21 for production of hEGF. The biological function of recombinant hEGF was measured by estimating its ability to stimulate the proliferation of human embryonic kidney-293 cells. RESULTS: The results indicated that the expressed hybrid protein was processed during the secretion process. The majority of the mature hEGF was recovered from the periplasm and medium fractions, with a small amount of the expressed hEGF deposited in the cytoplasm. Furthermore, it was found that the cell proliferation was enhanced by the recombinant hEGF. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that the recombinant hEGF was successfully secreted through the inner membrane of cells into the periplasm and then through the outer membrane into the medium via the action of the signal peptide of Y. pestis Caf1 in E. coli. The mitogenic activity of hEGF in cells was demonstrated.

Effect of melanin produced by a recombinant Escherichia coli on antibacterial activity of antibiotics.

A recombinant plasmid, pYL-1, containing a tyrosinase gene whose expression is under the control of a phage T5 promoter and 2 lac operators, was constructed. Escherichia coli JM109 harboring pYL-1 was used for production of bacterial melanin. A simple procedure for the isolation and purification of melanin was developed. The ultraviolet (UV)-visible light absorption spectra of melanin prepared by chemical synthesis and derived from different organisms, including bacteria, a plant and an animal source, were determined. Melanins produced by both bacteria and chemical synthesis showed a steady increase of absorption at wavelengths of UV light ranging from approximately 200-400 nm, while melanin derived either from plant or animal sources showed an additional discrete absorption peak at wavelength 280 nm upon a similar steady increase of absorption. This additional absorption peak could be due to the presence of protein-bound melanins in animal and plant sources while a free form of melanin was obtained from bacteria and chemical synthesis. Analysis of the effect of bacterial melanin on the activity of antibiotics against E. coli revealed that the activities of polymyxin B, kanamycin, tetracycline, and ampicillin were markedly reduced in the presence of melanin, whereas the activity of norfloxacin was not affected. The reduction of the antibacterial activity may result directly from the interaction of antibiotics with melanin. However, the mechanism of this interaction remains to be demonstrated.

Purification and characterization of inducible cephalexin synthesizing enzyme in Gluconobacter oxydans.

Cephalexin synthesizing enzyme (CSE) of Gluconobacter oxydans ATCC 9324 was purified up to about 940-fold at a yield of 12%. CSE biosynthesis in G. oxydans was found inducible in the presence of D-phenylglycine but not its substrate phenylglycine methyl ester. The purified enzyme was shown homogeneous on SDS-PAGE and exhibited a specific activity of 440 U per mg protein. The apparent molecular mass of the native enzyme was estimated to be 70 kDa over a Superdex 200 gel filtration column and 68 kDa on SDS-PAGE, indicating that the native enzyme is a monomer. Its isoelectric focusing point is 7.1, indicating a neutral character. The enzyme had maximal activity around pH 6.0 to 6.5, and this activity was thermally stable up to 40 degrees C. Synthesis of cephalexin from D-phenylglycine methyl ester and 7-amino-3-deacetoxycephalosporanic acid (7-ADCA) by the purified CSE was demonstrated. Its L-enantiomer was not accepted by CSE. Apart from cephalexin, ampicillin was also synthesized by the purified CSE from its acyl precursors and 6-aminopenicillanic acid (6-APA). Substrate specificity studies indicated that the enzyme required a free alpha amino group and an activated carboxyl group as a methyl ester of D-form phenylglycine. Interestingly, the purified enzyme did not catalyze hydrolysis of its products, e.g., cephalexin, cephradine, and ampicillin, in contrast to enzymes from other strains of Pseudomonadaceae.

In vitro and in vivo antipseudomonal activity, acute toxicity, and mode of action of a newly synthesized fluoroquinolonyl ampicillin derivative.

Compounds N-(6,7-difluoroquinolonyl)-ampicillin (AU-1) and N-(6-fluoroquinolonyl)-ampicillin (FQ-1), synthesized by coupling of the carboxyl group of 6,7-difluoroquinolone (FP-3) and 6-fluoroquinolone (FP4), respectively, with the alpha-amino-group of ampicillin side chain, exhibit antipseudomonal activity similar to and lower acute toxicity than that of norfloxacin, whereas neither ampicillin nor the fluoroquinolone moieties, compound FP-3 or FP4, alone have such activity. Also, AU-1 and FQ-1 are active against tested clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa that are highly resistant to norfloxacin, gentamicin, or both. The therapeutic efficacies of FQ-1 and norfloxacin were assessed and compared in neutropenic mice infected with a 90% lethal dose of P aeruginosa. Mice intraperitoneally administered FQ-1 (10 mg/kg) 4, 8, 24, and 48 hours after infection had survival rates as high as 80%, comparable to those of mice treated with norfloxacin at the same dosage and dosing schedule. The study of protoplast formation revealed that FQ-1 did not inhibit cell-wall biosynthesis but did induce cell filamentation of Bacillus subtilis at a level close to its minimal inhibition concentration. Both AU-1 and FQ-1 were able to intercalate into the double-stranded DNA. However, that FQ-1 lost such activity after it was treated with penicillinase suggests that the lactam-ring structure in ampicillin moiety of FQ-1 was hydrolyzed by penicillinase and that the hydrolyzed structure of FQ-1 does not own DNA-intercalation activity.