We have developed compounds with a promising activity
against Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas
aeruginosa, which are both on the WHO priority list
of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Starting from DNA gyrase inhibitor 1, we identified compound 27, featuring a 10-fold
improved aqueous solubility, a 10-fold improved inhibition of topoisomerase
IV from A. baumannii and P. aeruginosa, a 10-fold decreased inhibition of
human topoisomerase IIα, and no cross-resistance to novobiocin.
Cocrystal structures of 1 in complex with Escherichia coli GyrB24 and (S)-27 in complex with A. baumannii GyrB23 and P. aeruginosa GyrB24 revealed
their binding to the ATP-binding pocket of the GyrB subunit. In further
optimization steps, solubility, plasma free fraction, and other ADME
properties of 27 were improved by fine-tuning of lipophilicity.
In particular, analogs of 27 with retained anti-Gram-negative
activity and improved plasma free fraction were identified. The series
was found to be nongenotoxic, nonmutagenic, devoid of mitochondrial
toxicity, and possessed no ion channel liabilities.
A new series of dual low nanomolar benzothiazole inhibitors
of
bacterial DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV were developed. The resulting
compounds show excellent broad-spectrum antibacterial activities against
Gram-positive
Enterococcus faecalis
,
Enterococcus faecium
and multidrug
resistant (MDR)
Staphylococcus aureus
strains [best compound minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs):
range, <0.03125–0.25 μg/mL] and against the Gram-negatives
Acinetobacter baumannii
and
Klebsiella
pneumoniae
(best compound MICs: range, 1–4
μg/mL). Lead compound
7a
was identified with favorable
solubility and plasma protein binding, good metabolic stability, selectivity
for bacterial topoisomerases, and no toxicity issues. The crystal
structure of
7a
in complex with
Pseudomonas
aeruginosa
GyrB24 revealed its binding mode at the
ATP-binding site. Expanded profiling of
7a
and
7h
showed potent antibacterial activity against over 100 MDR
and non-MDR strains of
A. baumannii
and several other Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains. Ultimately,
in vivo efficacy of
7a
in a mouse model of vancomycin-intermediate
S. aureus
thigh infection was also demonstrated.
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) causes a potentially fatal respiratory disease. Although it is most common in the Arabian Peninsula, it has been exported to 17 countries outside the Middle East, mostly through air travel. The Risk Assessment Guidelines for Infectious Diseases transmitted on Aircraft (RAGIDA) advise authorities on measures to take when an infected individual travelled by air. The aim of this systematic review was to gather all available information on documented MERS-CoV cases that had travelled by air, to update RAGIDA. The databases used were PubMed, Embase, Scopus and Global Index Medicus; Google was searched for grey literature and hand searching was performed on the EU Early Warning and Response System and the WHO Disease Outbreak News. Fortyseven records were identified, describing 21 cases of MERS that had travelled on 31 flights. Contact tracing was performed for 17 cases. Most countries traced passengers sitting in the same row and the two rows in front and behind the case. Only one country decided to trace all passengers and crew. No cases of in-flight transmission were observed; thus, considering the resources it requires, a conservative approach may be appropriate when contact tracing passengers and crew where a case of MERS has travelled by air.
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