https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Index ${session.getAttribute("locale")} 5 Comparison of two transmission electron microscopy methods to visualize drug-induced alterations of gram-negative bacterial morphology https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:45054 Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, with a clear delineation of the outer and inner membrane as well as the peptidoglycan layer. We suggest that the use of ultrathin cryo-sectioning can be used to better visualize and understand drug interaction mechanisms on the bacterial cell membrane.]]> Wed 26 Oct 2022 11:36:12 AEDT ]]> In vitro synergistic activity of NCL195 in combination with colistin against Gram-negative bacterial pathogens https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:42541 Wed 24 Aug 2022 16:53:29 AEST ]]> Oral administration of a 2-aminopyrimidine robenidine analogue (NCL195) significantly reduces Staphylococcus aureus infection and reduces Escherichia coli infection in combination with sub-inhibitory colistin concentrations in a bioluminescent mouse model https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:53705 Wed 10 Jan 2024 11:03:27 AEDT ]]> In vitro activity of robenidine analog NCL195 in combination with outer membrane permeabilizers against gram-negative bacterial pathogens and impact on systemic gram-positive bacterial infection in mice https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:40008 Enterococcus faecalis/faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Enterobacte spp.), have become a public health threat worldwide. Development of new antimicrobial classes and the use of drugs in combination are potential strategies to treat MDR ESKAPE pathogen infections and promote optimal antimicrobial stewardship. Here, the in vitro antimicrobial activity of robenidine analog NCL195 alone or in combination with different concentrations of three outer membrane permeabilizers [ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), polymyxin B nonapeptide (PMBN), and polymyxin B (PMB)] was further evaluated against clinical isolates and reference strains of key Gram-negative bacteria. NCL195 alone was bactericidal against Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (MIC/MBC = 32 μg/mL) and demonstrated synergistic activity against P. aeruginosa, E. coli, K. pneumoniae, and Enterobacter spp. strains in the presence of subinhibitory concentrations of EDTA, PMBN, or PMB. The additive and/or synergistic effects of NCL195 in combination with EDTA, PMBN, or PMB are promising developments for a new chemical class scaffold to treat Gram-negative infections. Tokuyasu cryo ultramicrotomy was used to visualize the effect of NCL195 on bioluminescent S. aureus membrane morphology. Additionally, NCL195’s favorable pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile was further explored in in vivo safety studies in mice and preliminary efficacy studies against Gram-positive bacteria. Mice administered two doses of NCL195 (50 mg/kg) by the intraperitoneal (IP) route 4 h apart showed no adverse clinical effects and no observable histological effects in major organs. In bioluminescent Streptococcus pneumoniae and S. aureus murine sepsis challenge models, mice that received two 50 mg/kg doses of NCL195 4 or 6 h apart exhibited significantly reduced bacterial loads and longer survival times than untreated mice. However, further medicinal chemistry and pharmaceutical development to improve potency, solubility, and selectivity is required before efficacy testing in Gram-negative infection models.]]> Wed 06 Jul 2022 11:20:52 AEST ]]> Impact of a Novel Anticoccidial Analogue on Systemic Staphylococcus aureus Infection in a Bioluminescent Mouse Model https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:45380 Thu 27 Oct 2022 15:58:15 AEDT ]]> In vitro antimicrobial activity of Robenidine, Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and Polymyxin B Nonapeptide against important human and veterinary pathogens https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:37232 Acinetobacter baumannii [minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) mode = 8 μg/ml] and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus (MIC mode = 2 μg/ml). Against Acinetobacter spp., an additivity/indifference of the combination of robenidine/EDTA (0.53 > FICIs > 1.06) and a synergistic effect of the combination of robenidine/PMBN (0.5 < FICI) were obtained. DRIs of robenidine were significantly increased in the presence of both EDTA and PMBN from 2- to 2048-fold. Robenidine exhibited antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, in the presence of sub-inhibitory concentrations of either EDTA or PMBN. Robenidine also demonstrated potent antibacterial activity against multidrug-resistant Gram-positive pathogens and all Gram-negative pathogens isolated from cases of canine otitis externa in the presence of EDTA. Robenidine did not demonstrate antibiofilm activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. EDTA facilitated biofilm biomass degradation for both Gram-positives and Gram-negatives. The addition of robenidine to EDTA was not associated with any change in the effect on biofilm biomass degradation. The combination of robenidine with EDTA or PMBN has potential for further exploration and pharmaceutical development, such as incorporation into topical and otic formulations for animal and human use.]]> Thu 10 Sep 2020 18:17:17 AEST ]]> Evaluation of robenidine analog NCL195 as a novel broad-spectrum antibacterial agent https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:31422 E)-4-methylbenzylidene)hydrazinyl)pyrimidin-2-amine; NCL195) displays potent bactericidal activity against Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus by disrupting the cell membrane potential. NCL195 was less cytotoxic to mammalian cell lines than the parent compound, showed low metabolic degradation rates by human and mouse liver microsomes, and exhibited high plasma concentration and low plasma clearance rates in mice. NCL195 was bactericidal against Acinetobacter spp and Neisseria meningitidis and also demonstrated potent activity against A. baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterobacter spp. in the presence of sub-inhibitory concentrations of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and polymyxin B. These findings demonstrate that NCL195 represents a new chemical lead for further medicinal chemistry and pharmaceutical development to enhance potency, solubility and selectivity against serious bacterial pathogens.]]> Thu 09 Dec 2021 11:03:31 AEDT ]]> Bio-augmentation and nutrient amendment decrease concentration of mercury in contaminated soil https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:31523 Sphingobium SA2 and nutrient amendment. In a field with ~ 280 mg/kg Hg, 60% of Hg was removed by bio-augmentation in 7 days, and the removal was improved when nutrients were added. Whereas in artificially spiked soils, with ~ 100 mg/kg Hg, removal due to bio-augmentation was 33 to 48% in 14 days. In the field contaminated soil, nutrient amendment alone without bio-augmentation removed 50% of Hg in 28 days. Nutrient amendment also had an impact on Hg remediation in the spiked soils, but the best results were obtained when the strain and nutrients both were applied. The development of longer root lengths from lettuce and cucumber seeds grown in the remediated soils confirmed that the soil quality improved after bioremediation. This study clearly demonstrates the potential of Hg-reducing bacteria in remediation of Hg-contaminated soils. However, it is desirable to trap the volatilized Hg for enhanced bioremediation.]]> Sat 24 Mar 2018 08:43:51 AEDT ]]> In Vitro Activity of Robenidine Analogues NCL259 and NCL265 against Gram-Negative Pathogens https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:50925 256 µg/mL. This resistance was completely reversed in the presence of the efflux pump inhibitor phenylalanine-arginine-beta-naphthylamide (PAβN) to yield MIC values of 8–16 µg/mL and 2–4 µg/mL for NCL259 and NCL256, respectively. When NCL259 and NCL265 were tested against wild-type E. coli isolate BW 25113 and its isogenic multidrug efflux pump subunit AcrB deletion mutant (∆AcrB), the MIC of both compounds against the mutant ∆AcrB isolate was reduced 16-fold compared to the wild-type parent, indicating a significant role for the AcrAB-TolC efflux pump from Enterobacterales in imparting resistance to these robenidine analogues. In vitro cytotoxicity testing revealed that NCL259 and NCL265 had much higher levels of toxicity to a range of human cell lines compared to the parent robenidine, thus precluding their further development as novel antibiotics against Gram-negative pathogens.]]> Fri 11 Aug 2023 15:54:32 AEST ]]>