LpxC inhibitors evaluation : a new promising antimicrobial class

L’émergence et la diffusion de la résistance aux antibiotiques au sein des bactéries à Gram négatif (BGN) sont aujourd’hui des enjeux de Santé Publique nationaux et internationaux. La multi-résistance aux antibiotiques concerne non seulement des espèces fréquemment responsables d’infections nosocomiales mais aussi des espèces hautement virulentes comme Yersinia pestis, agent de la peste et du bioterrorisme. Dans ce contexte, la mise au point de nouvelles molécules actives sur d’autres cibles bactériennes est primordiale. La métallo-enzyme LpxC catalyse la première étape irréversible de la biosynthèse du lipide A, constituant majeur de la membrane externe des bactéries à Gram négatif. Des inhibiteurs de LpxC sont ainsi développés depuis une vingtaine d’années mais leur spectre sur les BGN était initialement limité aux entérobactéries et leur activité partielle sur P. aeruginosa. Dans ce travail nous avons participé à l’optimisation de la structure chimique de ces molécules grâce à une approche dynamique des interactions enzymes/inhibiteurs utilisant la résonance magnétique nucléaire (RMN). Cette technique a permis l’élaboration d’un nouvel inhibiteur de LpxC, le LPC-058, caractérisé par une forte affinité pour l’enzyme (Ki = 3,5 ± 0,2 pM). Nous avons évalué in vitro l’activité antibiotique du LPC-058 et de trois autres composés (CHIR-090, LPC-011 et LPC-087) vis-à-vis de 369 souches cliniques responsables d’infections nosocomiales aux profils de résistance variés. Le LPC-058 présentait le plus large spectre d’activité en particulier sur A. baumannii et les valeurs de CMI les plus basses (CMI90 = 0,12 mg/L pour les entérobactéries et 0,5 mg/L pour P. aeruginosa). Il était bactéricide vis-à-vis de souches multi-résistantes et son action était synergique avec les C3G, l’imipénème, l’amikacine et la ciprofloxacine vis-à-vis de souches de K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa et A. baumannii productrice de carbapénémases, respectivement KPC-2, VIM-1 et OXA-23. Le LPC-058 présentait néanmoins une forte fixation protéique et, in vivo, son volume de distribution était limité au compartiment sanguin (Vd = 1,1 L/kg). Nous avons évalué son activité in vivo dans un modèle murin de peste bubonique car il s’agit de l’une des infections les plus virulentes pour l’homme. Nous avons obtenu une survie de 87 % après 5 jours de traitement à la posologie de 10 mg/kg q8h par voie veineuse. Le LPC-058 occasionnant des diarrhées chez le rongeur, nous avons évalué un de ses dérivés, le LPC-B, caractérisé par une moindre fixation protéique, un plus grand volume de distribution et l’absence d’effets secondaires chez la souris, même à fortes doses. Nous avons démontré qu’à la posologie de 200 mg/kg par voie veineuse, cet antibiotique était aussi efficace que la doxycycline (traitement de référence de la peste). L’ensemble de ces travaux souligne le rôle potentiel des inhibiteurs de LpxC dans la prise en charge des infections par des bactéries multi-résistantes ou hautement virulentes.Antimicrobial resistance among Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) has become a national and international public health concern. Resistant strains are involved in nosocomial diseases and in highly virulent infections, such as plague caused by Yersinia pestis, a potential biological terrorism agent. In this context the development of new antimicrobial compounds efficient on new bacterial targets is critical. LpxC metallo-enzyme catalyzes the first commitment step of the lipid A biosynthesis, a major component of the Gram negative cell wall. LpxC inhibitors have been developed for twenty years but their activity was restricted to enterobacteria and weak against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In this study, we have collaborated in the chemical optimization of the compounds thanks to a dynamic approach of enzyme/inhibitor interactions brought by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). This technology enabled the development of LPC-058, a new inhibitor, showing a high potency against LpxC (Ki = 3.5 ± 0.2 pM). We studied the in vitro efficacy of LPC-058 and three other compounds (CHIR-090, LPC-011 and LPC-087) against 369 clinical strains responsible for nosocomial infections with various antibiotic resistance profiles. In this part, LPC-058 displayed the broadest spectrum of efficacy, even on Acinetobacter baumannii with the lowest MIC values (MIC90 = 0.12 mg/L against enterobacteria and 0.5 mg/L against P. aeruginosa). It showed bactericidal activity against multi-resistant strains and synergistic activity in association with third generation cephalosporins, imipenem, amikacin and ciprofloxacin against carbapenemase producing Klebsiella pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa et A. baumannii strains (respectively KPC-2, VIM-1 and OXA-23). However, LPC-058 was constrained by strong protein interactions and a small volume of distribution (Vd = 1.1 L/kg). In vivo efficacy was studied in a murine model of bubonic plague. A 87% survival rate was obtained after five days of 10 mg/kg q8h intravenous administration. As LPC-058 treatment was associated to diarrheas in mice, we evaluated another derivate, LPC-B, characterized by a larger volume of distribution, minor protein fixation and less side effects, even for a high dose posology. We demonstrated a comparable efficacy between 200 mg/kg LPC-B treatment and doxycyclin administration (recommended in plague treatment). This work highlights the potential use of LpxC inhibitors in the management of infections caused by multi-resistant or highly virulent Gram-negative bacteria

Evaluation d’une nouvelle classe d’antibiotiques : les inhibiteurs de LpxC

Antimicrobial resistance among Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) has become a national and international public health concern. Resistant strains are involved in nosocomial diseases and in highly virulent infections, such as plague caused by Yersinia pestis, a potential biological terrorism agent. In this context the development of new antimicrobial compounds efficient on new bacterial targets is critical. LpxC metallo-enzyme catalyzes the first commitment step of the lipid A biosynthesis, a major component of the Gram negative cell wall. LpxC inhibitors have been developed for twenty years but their activity was restricted to enterobacteria and weak against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In this study, we have collaborated in the chemical optimization of the compounds thanks to a dynamic approach of enzyme/inhibitor interactions brought by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). This technology enabled the development of LPC-058, a new inhibitor, showing a high potency against LpxC (Ki = 3.5 ± 0.2 pM). We studied the in vitro efficacy of LPC-058 and three other compounds (CHIR-090, LPC-011 and LPC-087) against 369 clinical strains responsible for nosocomial infections with various antibiotic resistance profiles. In this part, LPC-058 displayed the broadest spectrum of efficacy, even on Acinetobacter baumannii with the lowest MIC values (MIC90 = 0.12 mg/L against enterobacteria and 0.5 mg/L against P. aeruginosa). It showed bactericidal activity against multi-resistant strains and synergistic activity in association with third generation cephalosporins, imipenem, amikacin and ciprofloxacin against carbapenemase producing Klebsiella pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa et A. baumannii strains (respectively KPC-2, VIM-1 and OXA-23). However, LPC-058 was constrained by strong protein interactions and a small volume of distribution (Vd = 1.1 L/kg). In vivo efficacy was studied in a murine model of bubonic plague. A 87% survival rate was obtained after five days of 10 mg/kg q8h intravenous administration. As LPC-058 treatment was associated to diarrheas in mice, we evaluated another derivate, LPC-B, characterized by a larger volume of distribution, minor protein fixation and less side effects, even for a high dose posology. We demonstrated a comparable efficacy between 200 mg/kg LPC-B treatment and doxycyclin administration (recommended in plague treatment). This work highlights the potential use of LpxC inhibitors in the management of infections caused by multi-resistant or highly virulent Gram-negative bacteria.L’émergence et la diffusion de la résistance aux antibiotiques au sein des bactéries à Gram négatif (BGN) sont aujourd’hui des enjeux de Santé Publique nationaux et internationaux. La multi-résistance aux antibiotiques concerne non seulement des espèces fréquemment responsables d’infections nosocomiales mais aussi des espèces hautement virulentes comme Yersinia pestis, agent de la peste et du bioterrorisme. Dans ce contexte, la mise au point de nouvelles molécules actives sur d’autres cibles bactériennes est primordiale. La métallo-enzyme LpxC catalyse la première étape irréversible de la biosynthèse du lipide A, constituant majeur de la membrane externe des bactéries à Gram négatif. Des inhibiteurs de LpxC sont ainsi développés depuis une vingtaine d’années mais leur spectre sur les BGN était initialement limité aux entérobactéries et leur activité partielle sur P. aeruginosa. Dans ce travail nous avons participé à l’optimisation de la structure chimique de ces molécules grâce à une approche dynamique des interactions enzymes/inhibiteurs utilisant la résonance magnétique nucléaire (RMN). Cette technique a permis l’élaboration d’un nouvel inhibiteur de LpxC, le LPC-058, caractérisé par une forte affinité pour l’enzyme (Ki = 3,5 ± 0,2 pM). Nous avons évalué in vitro l’activité antibiotique du LPC-058 et de trois autres composés (CHIR-090, LPC-011 et LPC-087) vis-à-vis de 369 souches cliniques responsables d’infections nosocomiales aux profils de résistance variés. Le LPC-058 présentait le plus large spectre d’activité en particulier sur A. baumannii et les valeurs de CMI les plus basses (CMI90 = 0,12 mg/L pour les entérobactéries et 0,5 mg/L pour P. aeruginosa). Il était bactéricide vis-à-vis de souches multi-résistantes et son action était synergique avec les C3G, l’imipénème, l’amikacine et la ciprofloxacine vis-à-vis de souches de K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa et A. baumannii productrice de carbapénémases, respectivement KPC-2, VIM-1 et OXA-23. Le LPC-058 présentait néanmoins une forte fixation protéique et, in vivo, son volume de distribution était limité au compartiment sanguin (Vd = 1,1 L/kg). Nous avons évalué son activité in vivo dans un modèle murin de peste bubonique car il s’agit de l’une des infections les plus virulentes pour l’homme. Nous avons obtenu une survie de 87 % après 5 jours de traitement à la posologie de 10 mg/kg q8h par voie veineuse. Le LPC-058 occasionnant des diarrhées chez le rongeur, nous avons évalué un de ses dérivés, le LPC-B, caractérisé par une moindre fixation protéique, un plus grand volume de distribution et l’absence d’effets secondaires chez la souris, même à fortes doses. Nous avons démontré qu’à la posologie de 200 mg/kg par voie veineuse, cet antibiotique était aussi efficace que la doxycycline (traitement de référence de la peste). L’ensemble de ces travaux souligne le rôle potentiel des inhibiteurs de LpxC dans la prise en charge des infections par des bactéries multi-résistantes ou hautement virulentes

Détection rapide de la méticillino-résistance dans les infections ostéo-articulaires chroniques sur prothèse

En cas de suspicion d IOAcP, une antibiothérapie probabiliste est administrée en per-opératoire afin de limiter la colonisation d un nouvel implant, en attendant les résultats microbiologiques. La place des staphylocoques résistants à la méticilline (SRM) incite à utiliser des antibiotiques à large spectre tels que la vancomycine. Cette stratégie n est pas sans conséquence sur l écologie bactérienne, et comporte des risques d effets indésirables, sans pour autant assurer une efficacité bactéricide maximale. Cette étude évalue une technique de détection rapide par PCR de la présence de SRM, directement sur les prélèvements per-opératoires, afin d optimiser l antibiothérapie probabiliste et de limiter l utilisation de la vancomycine aux seuls cas d infections avérées à SRM. 104 prélèvements issus de 30 patients suspects d IOAcP (hanche, genou) ont été étudiés. Après mise en culture, l ensemble des échantillons a été analysé par une technique de PCR mettant en évidence ou non la présence du gène mecA, support de la méticillino-résistance. Parmi les 35 prélèvements stériles, aucune amplification du gène mecA n a été retrouvée par PCR. Parmi les 69 prélèvements non stériles, la présence de SRM a été retrouvée en culture dans 28 cas, la présence de staphylocoques sensibles à la méticilline dans 37 cas et une espèce autre que Staphylococcus dans 4 cas. Parallèlement, le gène mecA était amplifié dans 27 prélèvements, correspondant tous à des infections à SRM. La performance du test exprimée en terme de sensibilité, spécificité, valeur prédictive positive (VPP) et valeur prédictive négative (VPN) étaitrespectivement de 87,1%, 100%, 100% et 94,5% tous prélèvements confondus, et de 92,3%, 100%, 100% et 94,4% tous patients confondus. Par conséquent, ce test rapide de détection de la méticillino-résistance aurait permis de s affranchir de l utilisation d un antibiotique à large spectre tel que la vancomycine pour 17 de ces 30 patients, limitant ainsi les effets indésirables potentiels (notamment veino et nephro-toxiques) ainsi que la pression de sélection liés à l usage de cette molécule. Cette technique de détection rapide de la méticillino-résistance permettrait la mise en place d une antibiothérapie probabiliste adaptée à la présence ou non de SRM dans un délai d environ une heure, et de réduire considérablement l utilisation d antibiotiques à large spectre.LILLE2-BU Santé-Recherche (593502101) / SudocSudocFranceF

Physicochemical and Microbiological Stability of a New Oral Clonidine Solution for Paediatric Use

As many drugs are unavailable for paediatric use, hospital pharmacies are often required to develop suitable formulations themselves. Clonidine is commonly used in paediatrics (in severe hypertension, in opiate withdrawal syndrome, in tics and Gilles de la Tourette syndrome or in anaesthetic premedication) but no appropriate formulation has been drawn up. The aims of this work were to develop an oral solution of clonidine dedicated to children and to assess its physicochemical and microbiological stability

Physicochemical and Microbiological Stability of a New Oral Clonidine Solution for Paediatric Use

As many drugs are unavailable for paediatric use, hospital pharmacies are often required to develop suitable formulations themselves. Clonidine is commonly used in paediatrics (in severe hypertension, in opiate withdrawal syndrome, in tics and Gilles de la Tourette syndrome or in anaesthetic premedication) but no appropriate formulation has been drawn up. The aims of this work were to develop an oral solution of clonidine dedicated to children and to assess its physicochemical and microbiological stability.MethodsFormulation of an oral solution of clonidine hydrochloride suitable for neonates and paediatrics was developed using the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), with as few excipients as possible and without any complex excipient vehicle. A stability study was made according to GERPAC-SFPC guidelines. At each point in time (D0, D1, D7, D15, D29, D60 and D90), visual aspect (limpidity), pH and osmolality were established. Clonidine concentration was quantified using a stability-indicating HPLC-UV-DAD method previously developed from a forced degradation study and validated according to SFSTP Pharma. Microbiological stability was also tested according to the European Pharmacopeia monograph with the best adapted method (by comparing membrane filtration and inclusion). Solutions were stored in amber glass bottles with an oral adapter for up to 3 months in two different conditions: 5 °C +/– 3 °C and at 25 °C +/– 2 °C with 60 % residual humidity (climatic chamber).ResultsThe formulated oral solution is composed of API at a concentration of 10 µg/mL and of potassium sorbate (0.3 %), citric acid, potassium citrate (pH 5 buffer) and sodium saccharine (0.025 %). Forced degradation highlighted six degradation products and the method was validated in the acceptance limits of ± 5 %. On D29, the mean percentages of the initial clonidine concentrations (+/–standard deviation) were 92.95+/–1.28 % in the solution stored at 25 °C +/– 2 °C and 97.44+/–1.21 % when stored at 5 °C +/– 3 °C. On D90, means were respectively 81.82+/–0.41 % and 93.66+/–0.71 %. The visual aspect did not change. Physical parameters remained stable during the study: pH varied from 4.94 to 5.09 and osmolality from 82 to 92 mOsm/kg in the two conditions tested here. Membrane filtration appeared to be the more sensitive method. Whatever the storage conditions,<1 micro-organism/mL was identified (only environmental) with no detected E.coli.ConclusionsThis formulation is stable for at least 3 months at 5 °C +/– 3 °C in amber glass bottles and for one month when stored at room temperature. Microbiological stability was proven in accordance with the European Pharmacopeia

Characterization of the protective immune response to Yersinia pseudotuberculosis infection in mice vaccinated with an LcrV-secreting strain of Lactococcus lactis

International audienceBACKGROUND: Pseudotuberculosis is an infection caused by the bacterial enteropathogen Yersinia pseudotuberculosis and is considered to be a significant problem in veterinary medicine. We previously found that intranasal administration of a recombinant Lactococcus lactis strain that secretes the low-calcium response V (LcrV) antigen from Y. pseudotuberculosis (Ll-LcrV) confers protection against a lethal Y. pseudotuberculosis infection. Here, we aimed at characterizing the immunological basis of this LcrV-elicited protective response and at determining the duration of vaccine-induced immunity.METHODS: Splenocytes from BALB/c mice intranasally immunized with Ll-LcrV or Ll as control were immunostained then analyzed by flow cytometry. Protection against a lethal intravenous injection of Y. pseudotuberculosis was also determined (i) in immunized BALB/c mice depleted or not of CD4+, CD8+ or CD25+ cells and (ii) in naïve BALB/c mice receiving serum from immunized mice by counting the number of bacteria in liver and spleen. Lastly, survival rate of immunized BALB/c mice following a lethal intravenous injection of Y. pseudotuberculosis was followed up to 9-months.RESULTS: We found that T and B lymphocytes but not non-conventional lymphoid cells were affected by Ll-LcrV immunization. We also observed that depletion of CD4+ and CD25+ but not CD8+ cells in immunized mice eradicated protection against a lethal systemic Y. pseudotuberculosis infection, suggesting that activated CD4+ T lymphocytes are required for vaccine-induced protection. Adoptive transfer of LcrV-specific antibodies from Ll-LcrV-immunized animals significantly reduced the bacterial counts in the liver compared to non-vaccinated mice. Lastly, the protective immunity conferred by Ll-LcrV decreased slightly over time; nevertheless almost 60% of the mice survived a lethal bacterial challenge at 9months post-vaccination.CONCLUSION: Mucosal vaccination of mice with Ll-LcrV induced cell- and antibody-mediated protective immunity against Y. pseudotuberculosis infection in the mouse and the protection is long-lasting

Characterization of the protective immune response to Yersinia pseudotuberculosis infection in mice vaccinated with an LcrV-secreting strain of Lactococcus lactis

International audienceBACKGROUND: Pseudotuberculosis is an infection caused by the bacterial enteropathogen Yersinia pseudotuberculosis and is considered to be a significant problem in veterinary medicine. We previously found that intranasal administration of a recombinant Lactococcus lactis strain that secretes the low-calcium response V (LcrV) antigen from Y. pseudotuberculosis (Ll-LcrV) confers protection against a lethal Y. pseudotuberculosis infection. Here, we aimed at characterizing the immunological basis of this LcrV-elicited protective response and at determining the duration of vaccine-induced immunity.METHODS: Splenocytes from BALB/c mice intranasally immunized with Ll-LcrV or Ll as control were immunostained then analyzed by flow cytometry. Protection against a lethal intravenous injection of Y. pseudotuberculosis was also determined (i) in immunized BALB/c mice depleted or not of CD4+, CD8+ or CD25+ cells and (ii) in naïve BALB/c mice receiving serum from immunized mice by counting the number of bacteria in liver and spleen. Lastly, survival rate of immunized BALB/c mice following a lethal intravenous injection of Y. pseudotuberculosis was followed up to 9-months.RESULTS: We found that T and B lymphocytes but not non-conventional lymphoid cells were affected by Ll-LcrV immunization. We also observed that depletion of CD4+ and CD25+ but not CD8+ cells in immunized mice eradicated protection against a lethal systemic Y. pseudotuberculosis infection, suggesting that activated CD4+ T lymphocytes are required for vaccine-induced protection. Adoptive transfer of LcrV-specific antibodies from Ll-LcrV-immunized animals significantly reduced the bacterial counts in the liver compared to non-vaccinated mice. Lastly, the protective immunity conferred by Ll-LcrV decreased slightly over time; nevertheless almost 60% of the mice survived a lethal bacterial challenge at 9months post-vaccination.CONCLUSION: Mucosal vaccination of mice with Ll-LcrV induced cell- and antibody-mediated protective immunity against Y. pseudotuberculosis infection in the mouse and the protection is long-lasting

Clinical relevance of Clostridium bacteremia: An 8-year retrospective study

International audienceClostridium spp. are recovered from 25% of the blood culture positive with anaerobes. However, the clinical relevance of Clostridium bacteremia has been controverted in the literature, particularly for C. perfringens. We aimed to evaluate the clinical relevance of Clostridium bacteremia, either due to C. perfringens or other Clostridium species, and to identify the risk factors of mortality in these patients. A retrospective cohort study was conducted from January 2010 to April 2018. All the patients with at least one blood culture positive with any Clostridium species were included. Eighty-one patients with a least one blood culture positive with any Clostridium species were included. Seventy patients (86.4%) fulfilled the criteria for clinically relevant bacteremia. Bacteremia due to C. perfringens tended to be less clinically relevant than other Clostridium species but this was not statistically significant (76% vs 91.2%, P = 0.09). In case of clinically relevant bacteremia, the 30-day mortality rate was 31.4%. In multivariate analysis, adequate empiric antimicrobial therapy was significantly associated with survival (P = 0.03). In conclusion, bacteremia due to C. perfringens or other Clostridium species is usually clinically relevant. This finding was also supported by an improved survival at 30 days when adequate empiric antimicrobial therapy was administered

Distinct Immune Response in Two MERS-CoV-Infected Patients: Can We Go from Bench to Bedside?

International audienceOne year after the occurrence of the first case of infection by the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) there is no clear consensus on the best treatment to propose. The World Health Organization, as well as several other national agencies, are still working on different clinical approaches to implement the most relevant treatment in MERS-CoV infection. We compared innate and adaptive immune responses of two patients infected with MERS-CoV to understand the underlying mechanisms involved in the response and propose potential therapeutic approaches. Broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) of the first week and sera of the first month from the two patients were used in this study. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRTPCR) was performed after extraction of RNA from BAL cells of MERS-CoV infected patients and control patients. BAL supernatants and sera were used to assess cytokines and chemokines secretion by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The first patient died rapidly after 3 weeks in the intensive care unit, the second patient still recovers from infection. The patient with a poor outcome (patient 1), compared to patient 2, did not promote type-1 Interferon (IFN), and particularly IFNα, in response to double stranded RNA (dsRNA) from MERS-CoV. The absence of IFNα, known to promote antigen presentation in response to viruses, impairs the development of a robust antiviral adaptive Th-1 immune response. This response is mediated by IL-12 and IFNγ that decreases viral clearance; levels of both of these mediators were decreased in patient 1. Finally, we confirm previous in vitro findings that MERS-CoV can drive IL-17 production in humans. Host recognition of viral dsRNA determines outcome in the early stage of MERS-CoV infection. We highlight the critical role of IFNα in this initial stage to orchestrate a robust immune response and bring substantial arguments for the indication of early IFNα treatment during MERS-CoV infection