https://ogma.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Index ${session.getAttribute("locale")} 5 Molecular basis for the increased polymyxin susceptibility of Klebsiella pneumoniae strains with under-acylated lipid A https://ogma.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:19079 Wed 20 May 2020 07:11:37 AEST ]]> From breast cancer to antimicrobial: combating extremely resistant gram-negative "superbugs" using novel combinations of polymyxin B with selective estrogen receptor modulators https://ogma.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:34293 Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Acinetobacter baumannii. However, when used in combination, clinically relevant concentrations of polymyxin B and SERMs displayed synergistic killing against the polymyxin-resistant P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae, and A. baumannii isolates as demonstrated by a ≥2–3 log10 decrease in bacterial count (CFU/ml) after 24 hours. The combination of polymyxin B with toremifene demonstrated very potent antibacterial activity against P. aeruginosa biofilms in an artificial sputum media assay. Moreover, polymyxin B combined with toremifene synergistically induced cytosolic green fluorescence protein release, cytoplasmic membrane depolarization, permeabilizing activity in a nitrocefin assay, and an increase of cellular reactive oxygen species from P. aeruginosa cells. In addition, scanning and transmission electron micrographs showed that polymyxin B in combination with toremifene causes distinctive damage to the outer membrane of P. aeruginosa cells, compared with treatments with each compound per se. In conclusion, the combination of polymyxin B and SERMs illustrated a synergistic activity against XDR Gram-negative pathogens, including highly polymyxin-resistant P. aeruginosa isolates, and represents a novel combination therapy strategy for the treatment of infections because of problematic XDR Gram-negative pathogens.]]> Wed 15 Dec 2021 16:08:26 AEDT ]]> A fresh shine on cystic fibrosis inhalation therapy: antimicrobial synergy of polymyxin B in combination with silver nanoparticles https://ogma.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:34845 Thu 28 Oct 2021 12:35:34 AEDT ]]> An "unlikely" pair: the antimicrobial synergy of polymyxin B in combination with the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator drugs KALYDECO and ORKAMBI https://ogma.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:25164 Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The in vitro synergistic activity of polymyxin B combined with ivacaftor or lumacaftor was assessed using checkerboard and static time-kill assays against a panel of polymyxin-susceptible and polymyxin-resistant P. aeruginosa isolates from the lungs of CF patients. Polymyxin B, ivacaftor, and lumacaftor were ineffective when used individually against polymyxin-resistant (MIC ≥ 4 mg/L) isolates. However, when used together, the combination of clinically relevant concentrations of polymyxin B (2 mg/L) combined with ivacaftor (8 mg/L) or ivacaftor (8 mg/L) + lumacaftor (8 mg/L) displayed synergistic killing activity against polymyxin-resistant P. aeruginosa isolates as demonstrated by a 100-fold decrease in the bacterial count (CFU/mL) even after 24 h. The combinations also displayed excellent antibacterial activity against P. aeruginosa under CF relevant conditions in a sputum medium assay. The combination of lumacaftor (alone) with polymyxin B showed additivity against P. aeruginosa. The potential antimicrobial mode of action of the combinations against P. aeruginosa was investigated using different methods. Treatment with the combinations induced cytosolic GFP release from P. aeruginosa cells and showed permeabilizing activity in the nitrocefin assay, indicating damage to both the outer and inner Gram-negative cell membranes. Moreover, scanning and transmission electron micrographs revealed that the combinations produce outer membrane damage to P. aeruginosa cells that is distinct from the effect of each compound per se. Ivacaftor was also shown to be a weak inhibitor of the bacterial DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV with no effect on either human type I or type IIα topoisomerases. Lumacaftor displayed the ability to increase the cellular production of damaging reactive oxygen species. In summary, the combination of polymyxin B with KALYDECO or ORKAMBI exhibited synergistic activity against highly polymyxin-resistant P. aeruginosa CF isolates and can be potentially useful for otherwise untreatable CF lung infections.]]> Thu 04 Nov 2021 10:40:12 AEDT ]]> Unique mechanistic insights into pathways associated with the synergistic activity of polymyxin B and caspofungin against multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae https://ogma.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:52959 Mon 29 Jan 2024 18:42:22 AEDT ]]> Surface changes and polymyxin interactions with a resistant strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae https://ogma.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:17366 Mon 15 Jan 2024 14:36:47 AEDT ]]> Investigating the interaction of octapeptin A3 with model bacterial membranes https://ogma.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:31380 Pseudomonas aeruginosa using neutron reflectometry, together with fluorimetric and calorimetry methods. For the first time, our neutron reflectometry results reveal that the interaction of octapeptin A3 with the Gram-negative outer membrane involves an initial transient polar interaction with the phospholipid and lipid A headgroups, followed by the penetration of the entire octapeptin molecule into the fatty acyl core of the outer membrane. This mechanism contrasts with that of polymyxin B, which specifically targets lipid A, whereas octapeptins appear to target both lipid A and phospholipids. Furthermore, the mechanism of octapeptins does not appear to be highly dependent on an initial complementary electrostatic interaction with lipid A, which accounts for their ability to bind to lipid A of polymyxin-resistant Gram-negative bacteria that is modified with cationic moieties that act to electrostatically repel the cationic polymyxin molecule. The presented findings shed new light on the mechanism whereby octapeptins penetrate the outer membrane of polymyxin-resistant Gram-negative pathogens and highlight their potential as candidates for development as new antibiotics against problematic multi-drug-resistant pathogens.]]> Fri 18 Sep 2020 14:00:17 AEST ]]>