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Osteomyelitis and orthopedic infections are major clinical problems, limited by a lack of antibiotics specialized for such applications. In this paper, we describe the design and synthesis of a novel bone-binding antibiotic (BBA-1) and its subsequent structural and functional characterization. The synthesis of BBA-1 was the result of a two-step chemical conjugation of cationic selective antimicrobial-90 (CSA-90) and the bisphosphonate alendronate (ALN) via a heterobifunctional linker. This was analytically confirmed by HPLC, FT-IR, MS and NMR spectroscopy. BBA-1 showed rapid binding and high affinity to bone mineral in an in vitro hydroxyapatite binding assay. Kirby—Baur assays confirmed that BBA-1 shows a potent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus comparable to CSA-90. Differentiation of cultured osteoblasts in media supplemented with BBA-1 led to increased alkaline phosphatase expression, which is consistent with the pro-osteogenic activity of CSA-90. Bisphosphonates, such as ALN, are inhibitors of protein prenylation, however, the amine conjugation of ALN to CSA-90 disrupted this activity in an in vitro protein prenylation assay. Overall, these findings support the antimicrobial, bone-binding, and pro-osteogenic activities of BBA-1. The compound and related agents have the potential to ensure lasting activity against osteomyelitis after systemic delivery.

Objectives: The ceragenins, or CSAs, were designed to mimic the activities of antimicrobial peptides and represent a new class of antimicrobial agent. The aim of this study was to comparatively investigate the antimicrobial activities of first/second generation ceragenins and various antibiotics against multidrug-resistant (MDR) Klebsiella pneumoniae, including colistin-resistant bacteria. Also, the synergistic effects of two ceragenins with colistin or meropenem were investigated with six K. pneumoniae strains presenting different resistant patterns. Methods: Minimal inhibition concentrations (MICs) were determined by the microdilution method according to the CLSI. Antibiotic combination studies were evaluated by the time&ndash, kill curve method. Results: MIC50 and MIC90 values of tested ceragenins ranged from 8 to 32 mg/L and 16 to 128 mg/L. Overall, among the ceragenins tested, CSA-131 showed the lowest MIC50 and MIC90 values against all microorganisms. The MICs of the ceragenins were similar or better than tested antibiotics, except for colistin. Synergistic activities of CSA-131 in combination with colistin was found for strains both at 1&times, MIC and 4&times, MIC. No antagonism was observed with any combination. Conclusions: First-generation ceragenins CSA-13 and CSA-44 and second-generation ceragenins CSA-131, CSA-138 and CSA-142 have significant antimicrobial effects on MDR K. pneumoniae. Mechanisms allowing resistance to clinical comparator antibiotics like colistin did not impact the activity of ceragenins. These results suggest that ceragenins may play a role in treating infections that are resistant to known antibiotics.

The recognition of CD1-lipid complexes by T cells was discovered twenty years ago and has since been an emerging and expanding field of investigation. Unlike protein antigens, which are presented on MHC class I and II molecules, lipids can only be presented by CD1 molecules, a unique family of MHC-like proteins whose singularity is a hydrophobic antigen binding groove. The processing and loading of lipid antigens inside this groove of CD1 molecules require localization to late endosomal and lysosomal subcellular compartments and their acidic pHs. This particular environment provides the necessary glycolytic enzymes and lipases that process lipid and glycolipid antigens, as well as a set of lipid transfer proteins that load the final version of the antigen inside the groove of CD1. The overall sequence of events needed for efficient presentation of lipid antigens is now understood and presented in this review. However, a large number of important details have been elusive. This elusiveness is linked to the inherent technical difficulties of studying lipids and the lipid-protein interface in vitro and in vivo. Here, we will expose some of those limitations and describe new approaches to address them during the characterization of lipids and glycolipids antigen presentation.

The nature of the endogenous ligands for natural killer T (NKT) cells has been debated for more than a decade. Because the mammalian glycosylceramide synthases are invertases, it is believed that in mammals all glycosylceramides are β anomers. However, the possibility that an alternative enzymatic pathway, an unfaithful enzyme, or unique physico-chemical environments could allow the production of small quantities of α anomers should be entertained. Classic biochemical and chemical analysis approaches are not well suited for this challenge as they lack sensitivity. Using a combination of biological assays and new technological approaches, we have unequivocally demonstrated that α glycosylceramides were constitutively produced by mammalian immune cells, loaded onto CD1d and presented to NKT cells both in the thymus and in the periphery. Their amount is controlled tightly by catabolic enzymes, and can be altered in vitro and in vivo to modify NKT cell behavior.

The relationship between mold and asthma has been recognized for decades, but the molecular triggers of asthma generated by molds have not been fully elucidated. A glycolipid generated by Aspergillus species has recently been identified that triggers airway hyperreactivity via natural killer T cell activation. The synthesis of this glycolipid and structural variants designed to allow identification of the features of this glycolipid required for recognition by natural killer T cells is described.

Aims: CSA-13 is an antimicrobial cationic steroid with some toxicity against eukaryotic cells. The purpose of this work was to test whether pluronic acid F-127 could interfere with the toxicity of CSA-13 on human umbilical vein endothelial (HUVEC) without modifying its bactericidal activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Methods and Results: The addition of pluronic acid F-127 slightly decreased the number of dead cells after exposure to CSA-13. Pluronic acid F-127 blocked the permeabilizing effect of CSA-13 on the plasma membrane of HUVEC (uptake of ethidium bromide, release of lactate dehydrogenase) without modifying its toxic effect on their mitochondrial function (MTT test, uptake of tetramethyl rhodamine ethyl ester). Conclusion: Pluronic acid F-127 decreased the toxicity of CSA-13 against eukaryotic cells without completely protecting them from mitochondrial damage at high concentrations of the drug. Significance and Impact of the Study: This work establishes that studies on the toxic effects of synthetic antimicrobials on eukaryotic cells should not only focus on the permeability of the plasma membrane but also on the integrity of the mitochondria.

Aims: Cationic steroids like CSA-13 have been designed by analogy with antimicrobial cationic peptides and have bactericidal properties. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the effect of a low concentration (1 mg l(-1)) of CSA-13 on the formation of a biofilm by eight strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (four mucoid and four nonmucoid strains) on an inert surface. Method and Results: The biofilm formation was measured with the Crystal Violet method. CSA-13 inhibited the formation of a biofilm by three strains. The zeta potential varied among the strains. The inhibition by the cationic steroid analogue affected the populations of bacteria with the lowest zeta potential. P. aeruginosa bound a fluorescent, more hydrophobic analogue of CSA-13 but there was no correlation between this binding and the inhibition by CSA-13 of biofilm formation. The interaction of CSA-13 with bacteria did not modify their ability to produce rhamnolipids. Conclusions: A low concentration of CSA-13 inhibits the formation of a biofilm by P. aeruginosa through electrostatic interactions and without affecting the production of rhamnolipids. Significance and Impact of the Study: A low, nontoxic concentration of CSA-13 might be beneficial for the prevention of biofilm formation.

The chemical warfare agent O -ethyl S -(2-diisopropylaminoethyl) methyl phosphonothiolate (VX) and many related degradation products produce poorly diagnostic electron ionization (EI) mass spectra by transmission quadrupole mass spectrometry. Thus, chemical ionization (CI) is often used for these analytes. In this work, pseudomolecular ([M+H] + ) ion formation from self-chemical ionization (self-CI) was examined for four VX degradation products containing the diisopropylamine functional group. A person-portable toroidal ion trap mass spectrometer with a gas chromatographic inlet was used with EI, and both fixed-duration and feedback-controlled ionization time. With feedback-controlled ionization, ion cooling (reaction) times and ion formation target values were varied. Evidence for protonation of analytes was observed under all conditions, except for the largest analyte, bis(diisopropylaminoethyl)disulfide which yielded [M+H] + ions only with increased fixed ionization or ion cooling times. Analysis of triethylamine- d 15 provided evidence that [M+H] + production was likely due to self-CI. Analysis of a degraded VX sample where lengthened ion storage and feedback-controlled ionization time were used resulted in detection of [M+H] + ions for VX and several relevant degradation products. Dimer ions were also observed for two phosphonate compounds detected in this sample.

Eczema vaccinatum is a potentially fatal, disseminated viral skin infection that develops in individuals with atopic dermatitis after exposure to the vaccinia virus (VV). Despite advances in modern medicine, there are few options for those suffering from disseminated VV infections. Ceragenins (CSAs) are synthetic antimicrobial compounds designed to mimic the structure and function of endogenous antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). We show that CSA-13 exhibits potent antiviral activity against VV by (1) direct antiviral effects against VV; and (2) stimulating the expression of endogenous AMPs with known antiviral activity against VV. In addition, we show that a topical application of CSA-13 penetrates the skin and reduces subsequent satellite lesion formation. This suggests that treatment with CSA-13 may be an intervention for individuals with a disseminated VV skin infection.JID JOURNAL CLUB ARTICLE: For questions, answers, and open discussion about this article, please go to http://network.nature.com/group/jidclb

The prevalence of drug-resistant bacteria drives the quest for new antimicrobials, including those that are not expected to readily engender resistance. One option is to mimic Nature's most ubiquitous means of controlling bacterial growth, antimicrobial peptides, which have evolved over eons. In general, bacteria remain susceptible to these peptides. Human antimicrobial peptides play a central role in innate immunity, and deficiencies in these peptides have been tied to increased rates of infection. However, clinical use of antimicrobial peptides is hampered by issues of cost and stability. The development of nonpeptide mimics of antimicrobial peptides may provide the best of both worlds: a means of using the same mechanism chosen by Nature to control bacterial growth without the problems associated with peptide therapeutics. The ceragenins were developed to mimic the cationic, facially amphiphilic structures of most antimicrobial peptides. These compounds reproduce the required morphology using a bile-acid scaffolding and appended amine groups. The resulting compounds are actively bactericidal against both gram-positive and gram-negative organisms, including drug-resistant bacteria. This antimicrobial activity originates from selective association of the ceragenins with negatively charged bacterial membrane components. Association has been studied with synthetic models of bacterial membrane components, with bacterial lipopolysaccharide, with vesicles derived from bacterial phospholipids, and with whole cells. Comparisons of the antimicrobial activities of ceragenins and representative antimicrobial peptides suggest that these classes of compounds share a mechanism of action. Rapid membrane depolarization is caused by both classes as well as blebbing of bacterial membranes. Bacteria express the same genes in response to both classes of compounds. On the basis of the antibacterial activities of ceragenins and preliminary in vivo studies, we expect these compounds to find use in augmenting or replacing antimicrobial peptides in treating human disease.

Stimulation of iNKT cells is highly dependent on the structures of the glycolipids presented by CD1d. Furthermore, antigen processing and CD1d loading in lysosomes play central roles in controlling the stimulatory properties of glycolipid antigens. Previously, we determined that substitution at C6'' on alpha-galactosylceramides did not significantly impact stimulatory properties; however, it was not known if substitution at this position influenced lysosomal processing of oligoglycosylceramides. We have prepared a series of mono- and di-galactosylceramides to observe the impact of C6'' substitution on glycosidase truncation of these glycolipids. We found that substitution did not significantly impact glycosidase activity or loading into CD1d.

The complexation equilibria of the phenolic diazacrown ether derivatives L1–L11 with transition and heavy metal ions (Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Cd2+, Hg2+ and Pb2+) have been studied in methanol using UV absorption spectrophotometry. A majority of the systems studied formed only ML complexes. Using a ligand with a different position of the substituents on the phenolic side arms (denoted L7) leads to ML2 formation with most of the metal ions. Every ligand forms very strong ML and ML2 complexes with Pb2+, and, in nearly all cases, only a lower limit could be derived for the stability constant. The stability of the complexes generally increases as the length of the para-substituents on the phenol groups increases. Among the metal ions tested, Zn2+ and Hg2+ are the least preferred by alkyl and alkoxy derivatives, respectively.

Ceragenins are cationic bile salt derivatives having antimicrobial activity. The interactions of several ceragenins with phospholipid bilayers were tested in different systems. The ceragenins are capable of forming specific associations with several phospholipid species that may be involved with their antimicrobial action. Their antimicrobial activity is lower in bacteria that have a high content of phosphatidylethanolamine. Gram negative bacteria with a high content of phosphatidylethanolamine exhibit sensitivity to different ceragenins that corresponds to the extent of interaction of these compounds with phospholipids, including the ability of different ceragenins to induce leakage of aqueous contents from phosphatidylethanolamine-rich liposomes. A second class of bacteria having cell membranes composed largely of anionic lipids and having a low content of phosphatidylethanolamine are very sensitive to the action of the ceragenins but they exhibit similar minimal inhibitory concentrations with most of the ceragenins and for different strains of bacteria. Although Gram negative bacteria generally have a high content of phosphatidylethanolamine, there are a few exceptions. In addition, a mutant strain of Escherichia coli has been made that is essentially devoid of phophatidylethanolamine, although 80% of the lipid of the wild-type strain is phosphatidylethanolamine. Furthermore, certain Gram positive bacteria are also exceptions in that they can have a high content of phosphatidylethanolamine. We find that the antimicrobial action of the ceragenins correlates better with the content of phosphatidylethanolamine in the bacterial membrane than whether or not the bacteria has an outer membrane. Thus, the bacterial lipid composition can be an important factor in determining the sensitivity of bacteria to antimicrobial agents.

Glycosphingolipids (GSLs) from the Sphingomonadaceae family of bacteria have been reported to be potent stimulators of natural killer T cells. These glycolipids include mono-, tri- and tetraglycosylceramides. Here we have prepared the GSL-1 to GSL-4 series of glycolipids and tested their abilities to stimulate natural killer T cells. Among these glycolipids, only GSL-1 (1) is a potent stimulator. Using a series of synthetic diglycosylceramides, we show that oligoglycosylceramides from Sphingomonadaceae are not effectively truncated to GSL-1 in lysosomes in antigen-presenting cells, possibly because the higher-order GSLs are poor substrates for lysosomal acyltransfer enzymes.

Katarzyna Niemirowicz,1 Izabela Prokop,2 Agnieszka Z Wilczewska,3 Urszula Wnorowska,1 Ewelina Piktel,1 Marzena Wątek,4 Paul B Savage,5 Robert Bucki1,6 1Department of Microbiological and Nanobiomedical Engineering, Medical University of Bialystok, 2Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Medical University of Bialystok, 3Institute of Chemistry, University of Bialystok, Bialystok, 4Department of Hematology, Holy Cross Oncology Center of Kielce, Kielce, Poland; 5Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA; 6Department of Physiology, Pathophysiology and Microbiology of Infections, The Faculty of Health Sciences of the Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce, Kielce, Poland Abstract: The pleiotropic activity of human cathelicidin LL-37 peptide includes an ability to suppress development of colon cancer cells. We hypothesized that the anticancer activity of LL-37 would improve when attached to the surface of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). Using colon cancer culture (DLD-1 cells and HT-29 cells), we evaluated the effects of MNPs, LL-37 peptide, its synthetic analog ceragenin CSA-13, and two novel nanosystems, ie, MNP@LL-37 and MNP@CSA-13, on cancer cell viability and apoptosis. Treatment of cancer cells with the LL-37 peptide linked to MNPs (MNP@LL-37) caused a greater decrease in cell viability and a higher rate of apoptosis compared with treatment using free LL-37 peptide. Additionally, we observed a strong ability of ceragenin CSA-13 and MNP@CSA-13 to induce apoptosis of DLD-1 cells. We found that both nanosystems were successfully internalized by HT-29 cells, and cathelicidin LL-37 and ceragenin CSA-13 might play a key role as novel homing molecules. These results indicate that the previously described anticancer activity of LL-37 peptide against colon cancer cells might be significantly improved using a theranostic approach. Keywords: anticancer activity, colorectal cancer, ceragenin, cathelicidin LL-37, magnetic nanoparticles

Natural killer T cells express a conserved, semi-invariant αβ T cell receptor that has specificity for self glycosphingolipids and microbial cell wall α-glycuronosylceramide antigens presented by CD1d molecules. Here we report the crystal structure of CD1d in complex with a short-chain synthetic variant of α-galactosylceramide at a resolution of 2.2 A. This structure elucidates the basis for the high specificity of these microbial ligands and explains the restriction of the α-linkage as a unique pathogen-specific pattern-recognition motif. Comparison of the binding of altered lipid ligands to CD1d and T cell receptors suggested that the differential T helper type 1–like and T helper type 2–like properties of natural killer T cells may originate largely from differences in their 'loading' in different cell types and hence in their tissue distribution in vivo.

Derivatives of 8-hydroxyquinoline were used as model compounds to probe the pathways of non-radiative relaxation of fluorophores in two fluorescent chemosensors. Results suggest that both photo-induced proton transfer and photo-induced electron transfer contribute to quenching the fluorescence of the chemosensors. Crystal structures of an 8-hydroxyquinoline-containing chemosensor complexed to various metal ions indicate that a proton shift occurs concomitant with complex formation. This proton shift precludes both photo-induced proton and electron transfer allowing fluorescence emission from chemosensor-metal ion complexes.

A key factor in the potential clinical utility of membrane-active antibiotics is their cell selectivity (i.e., prokaryote over eukaryote). Cationic steroid antibiotics were developed to mimic the lipid A binding character of polymyxin B and are shown to bind lipid A derivatives with affinity greater than that of polymyxin B. The outer membranes of Gram-negative bacteria are comprised primarily of lipid A, and a fluorophore-appended cationic steroid antibiotic displays very high selectivity for Gram-negative bacterial membranes over Gram-positive bacteria and eukaryotic cell membranes. This cell selectivity of cationic steroid antibiotics may be due, in part, to the affinity of these compounds for lipid A.

It is now established that CD1 molecules present lipid antigens to T cells, although it is not clear how the exchange of lipids between membrane compartments and the CD1 binding groove is assisted. We report that mice deficient in prosaposin, the precursor to a family of endosomal lipid transfer proteins (LTP), exhibit specific defects in CD1d-mediated antigen presentation and lack Vα14 NKT cells. In vitro, saposins extracted monomeric lipids from membranes and from CD1, thereby promoting the loading as well as the editing of lipids on CD1. Transient complexes between CD1, lipid, and LTP suggested a “tug-of-war” model in which lipid exchange between CD1 and LTP is on the basis of their respective affinities for lipids. LTPs constitute a previously unknown link between lipid metabolism and immunity and are likely to exert a profound influence on the repertoire of self, tumor, and microbial lipid antigens.

Cationic steroid antibiotics have been developed that display broad-spectrum antibacterial activity. These compounds are comprised of steroids appended with amine groups arranged to yield facially amphiphilic morphology. Examples of these antibiotics are highly bactericidal, while related compounds effectively permeabilize the outer membranes of Gram-negative bacteria sensitizing these organisms to hydrophobic antibiotics. Cationic steroid antibiotics exhibit various levels of eukaryote vs. prokaryote cell selectivity, and cell selectivity can be increased via charge recognition of prokaryotic cells. Studies of the mechanism of action of these antibiotics suggest that they share mechanistic aspects with cationic peptide antibiotics.

Two novel fluorophores, 12 and 13 , composed of diaza-18-crown-6 ligands containing two quinoline-based sidearms which are structurally similar to Zn(II) fluorophores TSQ ( 1 ) and Zinquin ( 2 ) were synthesized as potential Zn(II) fluorophores by reductive amination of 8-benzenesulfonamido-2-quinoline carboxaldehyde 6 and 8-benzenesulfonamido-6-quinolyloxyacetate-2-carboxaldehyde 11 with diaza-18-crown-6 using sodium triacetoxyborohydride (NaBH(OAc)3) as the reducing agent. Preliminary photophysical properties of ligands 12 and 13 show that they possess the properties necessary to be effective chemosensors for Zn2+. The solid state structure of 12 is also reported.

2-Chlorobenzylidenemalononitrile (CS riot control agent) has been shown to produce a number of thermal degradation products when dispersed at high temperature. We hypothesized that these CS-derived compounds are formed by energy input from heating during the dispersion process. Here we identified organic CS-derived compounds formed from purified CS subjected to temperatures ranging from 300 to 900 degrees C in an inert atmosphere with analysis of tube furnace effluent by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. We conclude that the production of many CS-derived compounds previously observed during high-temperature dispersion is likely to be heat related.

α-Galactosylceramides are potent stimulators of human T cells. Stimulation occurs through binding of the glycolipids by CD1d, presentation to T cells, and formation of a CD1d−glycolipid−T cell receptor complex. To facilitate the elucidation of the structural features of glycolipids necessary for T cell stimulation, α-galactosylceramides have been prepared with small molecules appended at the C6 position of the sugar. The appended molecules do not significantly influence the abilities of the glycolipids to stimulate T cells.

Novel cationic antibiotics have been developed to mimic the cationic, facial amphiphilic structures of naturally occurring peptide antibiotics. Several series of designed peptide antibiotics have been reported, as well as examples based on β-peptides and steroids. The antibacterial activities of these compounds are derived from the disruption and/or permeabilization of bacterial membranes, and many display potent antibacterial activity and selectivity for bacterial cells. These antibiotics may prove valuable in combating bacterial infections, especially those from drug-resistant organisms.

Novel 7,16-bis(8-amino-2-quinolinylmethyl)- and 7,16-bis(8-amino-7-quinolinylmethyl)-diaza-18-crown-6 ligands (12 and 16) have been synthesized by reductive amination of 8-(di-tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino-2-quinolinecarboxaldehyde (followed by removal of the Boc protecting groups) or 8-amino-7-quinolinecarboxaldehyde with diaza-18-crown-6 using triacetoxyborohydride (NaBH(OAc)3) as the reducing agent. The crystal structure of ligand 16 is also given. The absorption spectra of 12 and 16 are dominated by two intense bands at 250±5 and 238±1 nm which are blue shifted upon addition of alkaline earth and heavy metal ions in acetonitrile. In addition, intensities of the fluorescence bands of 12 and 16 are reduced in the presence of metal ions.

5-Chloro-8-methoxyquinoline appended diaza-18-crown-6 ( 1 ) selectively responds to Cd 2+ over other tested metal ions via a large increase in fluorescence. In addition, 1 selectively binds Cd 2+ over Zn 2+ . Compound 1 may be useful in measuring Cd 2+ concentrations in waste effluent streams and in food products.

A series of novel fluorophores, consisting of macrocyclic polyamines containing two dansylamidoethyl side arms were synthesized as potential zinc (II) fluoroionophores by the reaction of the appropriate macrocyclic polyamines with N-dansylaziridine in acetonitrile at reflux temperature. Preliminary photophysical studies of ligand 3a, 1,7-dimethyl-4,10-bis(dansylamidoethyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane, 3j, 8,13-bis(dansylamidoethyl)-3-hydroxymethyl-1,3,10-trithia-8,13-diazacyclopentadecane, and their complexes with Cu2+, Zn2+, Cd2+, and Hg2+ are described.

[structure:see text] Anionic facial amphiphiles have been prepared from cholic acid. These compounds offer antipodes of recently reported cationic amphiphiles derived from cholic acid. The synthesis of the anionic amphiphiles was accomplished in few steps from a common intermediate. In contrast to many other anionic facial amphiphiles, the cholic acid derived amphiphiles appeared to aggregate at relatively low concentration.

[reaction: see text] Novel cholic acid-derived antimicrobial agents that decompose under mildly basic conditions have been prepared. These compounds range in biological properties from potent antibacterial activity to effective permeabilization of the outer membranes of Gram-negative bacteria.

Bisphenol-containing diaza-18-crown-6 ligands (1–16) were synthesized as potential membrane-forming amphiphilesvia the one-pot Mannich reaction. Sonication of the crude products in a small amount of MeOH followed by filtration and drying proved to be an efficient method of purifying nearly all compounds. Compounds8 and9 were selected for assay as amphiphiles. Compared to simple, alkylated diazacrown ethers, the stability of the amphisomes formed from these monomers is lower possibly because intramolecular hydrogen bonding prevents formation of intermolecular hydrogen bonds. Bisphenol-containing diaza-18-crown-6 ligands (1–16) were synthesized as potential membrane-forming amphiphiles. Download : Download full-size image

Attachment of amino acids to cholic acid derivatives yielded compounds that sensitize Gram-negative bacteria to hydrophobic antibiotics. Incorporation of three amino acid onto a cholic acid derivative via ester bonds was only achieved with non-α-branched amino acids. Three non-α-branched or three α-branched amino acids were coupled to the steroid backbone via amide bonds.

Reduction of the trioxime derivative of dehydrocholic acid methyl ester with NaBH4TiCl4 yielded triamine-derivatives of cholic acid. The major product from the reduction was the 3α, 7α, 12α diastereomer. Stereochemistry of the reduction products was determined via NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography.

Cholic acid derivatives appended with amine groups have been prepared for use as permeabilizers of the outer membranes of Gram-negative bacteria. These compounds interact synergistically with antibiotics such as erythromycin and novobiocin to inhibit growth of Gram-negative bacteria. When a hydrophobic chain is included on the permeabilizers, they can be converted into potent antibiotics. The role of the hydrophobic chain is to facilitate self-promoted transport of the cholic acid derivatives across the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. These compounds share activities found with polymyxin B and derivatives.

Diaza-18-crown-6 appended with two 5-chloro-8-hydroxyquinoline groups can serve as an effective chemosensor for Mg2+. The modified macrocycle will fluoresce in the presence of Mg2+ but not with other alkaline earth ions at pH 7.2. Mg2+ concentrations can be measured in the presence of Na2+, K+, Ca2+, Sr2+ and Ba2+.

New 3′,6′-dideoxy-3′,6′-epithio and 2′,6′-dideoxy-2′,6′-epithionucleosides were prepared from 3′,6′-dideoxy-3′,6′-epithioglucofuranose derivatives, which were obtained from 3-trifluoromethanesulfonyl diacetone allose.

A simple synthetic pathway for the preparation of oxime- and Schiff base-containing aza- and diazacrown ethers is reported. N-Methoxymethyl-substituted aza-15-crown-5 and aza-18-crown-6 as well as N,N′-bis(methoxymethyl)-substituted diaza-18-crown-6 were treated with 5-bromosalicylaldehyde to produce the N-(2′-hydroxy-3′-carbonyl-5′-bromobenzyl)-substituted aza-15-crown-5 (8), aza-18-crown-6 (9) and N,N′-bis(2′-hydroxy-3′-carbonyl-5′-bromobenzyl)-substituted diaza-18-crown-6 (10) compounds. Compounds 8 and 10 were treated with hydroxylamine to give oxime-substituted ligands 12 and 13. A series of bis-Schiff base-containing diaza-18-crown-6 ligands were prepared by reacting 10 with 2-hydroxyaniline (to form 14), 5-nitro-2-hydroxyaniline (15), 2-aminopyridine (16), 2-hydrazinopyridine (17) and N-aminomorpholine (18). Compounds 12–18 are potential complexing agents for simultaneous binding of soft transition and hard alkali or alkaline earth metal ions in one molecule. These new oxime- and Schiff base-containing ligands interacted strongly with Na+ and K+ in methanol. The interaction of the aromatic portions of 9, 10, and 12–15 with transition metal ions was shown by the UV spectra of the metal ion complexes in 50% aqueous DMF. The X-ray structure of 10 is reported.

An enantioselective synthesis of (+)-epoxydictymene (1) is reported. Condensation of the enantiopure aldehydo ester 5 with (S)-3-isopropylcyclopentenyllithium proceeds selectively to afford 13. Once this lactone was methylenated with the Tebbe reagent, the newly formed allyl vinyl ether was induced into Claisen rearrangement under catalysis with triisobutylaluminum. Sequential hydroboration−oxidation of the resulting dicyclopentacyclooctenone derivative was followed by angular methylation and deoxygenation of the carbonyl functionality. Following epimerization at C-11, an α-hydroxyl was introduced regio- and stereoselectively. Some functional group manipulation led to 57 and 58, both of which underwent efficient cyclization to deliver the complete framework of the target molecule when irradiated with visible light in cyclohexane solution containing iodosobenzene diacetate and iodine. The generality of this key reaction, which efficiently constructs the strained oxabicyclo[3.3.0]octane subunit of 1, is dem...

Macrocyclic phosphine oxide-disulfoxides 1a - e and 2a - e were synthesized by oxidation of the corresponding dithioethers with CPBA. Four stereoisomers are possible, but a single stereoisomer was 02 isolated as the major product in each case. This paper describes the structural characterization of several trioxides as well as studies designed to determine the origin of oxidation selectivity.

An enantioselective synthesis of (+)-epoxydictymene, which involves efficient construction of the strained oxabicyclo[3.3.0]octane subunit by irradiation with iodosobenzene diacetate and iodine in cyclohexane solution, is reported.

Fungal infections, especially those caused by antibiotic resistant pathogens, have become a serious public health problem due to the growing number of immunocompromised patients, including those subjected to anticancer treatment or suffering from HIV infection. In this study we assessed fungicidal activity of the ceragenins CSA-13, CSA-131 and CSA-192 against four fluconazole–resistant Candida strains. We found that ceragenins activity against planktonic Candida cells was higher than activity of human LL-37 peptide and synthetic cationic peptide omiganan. Compared to LL-37 peptide, ceragenins in the presence of DNase I demonstrated an increased ability to kill DNA-induced Candida biofilm. Microscopy studies show that treatment with LL-37 or ceragenins causes Candida cells to undergo extensive surface changes indicating surface membrane damage. This conclusion was substantiated by observation of rapid incorporation of FITC-labeled CSA-13, CSA-131 or LL-37 peptide into the more lipophilic environment of the Candida membrane. In addition to activity against Candida spp., ceragenins CSA-131 and CSA-192 display strong fungicidal activity against sixteen clinical isolates including Cryptococcus neoformans and Aspergillus fumigatus. These results indicate the potential of ceragenins for future development as new fungicidal agents.

Human Vα24− CD1d-restricted T cells use variation in their CDR1α loop to respond to lipid antigens presented by CD1d, altering their specificities from that of invariant natural killer T cells., CD1d-mediated presentation of glycolipid antigens to T cells is capable of initiating powerful immune responses that can have a beneficial impact on many diseases. Molecular analyses have recently detailed the lipid antigen recognition strategies utilized by the invariant Vα24-Jα18 TCR rearrangements of iNKT cells, which comprise a subset of the human CD1d-restricted T cell population. In contrast, little is known about how lipid antigens are recognized by functionally distinct CD1d-restricted T cells bearing different TCRα chain rearrangements. Here we present crystallographic and biophysical analyses of α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer) recognition by a human CD1d-restricted TCR that utilizes a Vα3.1-Jα18 rearrangement and displays a more restricted specificity for α-linked glycolipids than that of iNKT TCRs. Despite having sequence divergence in the CDR1α and CDR2α loops, this TCR employs a convergent recognition strategy to engage CD1d/αGalCer, with a binding affinity (∼2 µM) almost identical to that of an iNKT TCR used in this study. The CDR3α loop, similar in sequence to iNKT-TCRs, engages CD1d/αGalCer in a similar position as that seen with iNKT-TCRs, however fewer actual contacts are made. Instead, the CDR1α loop contributes important contacts to CD1d/αGalCer, with an emphasis on the 4′OH of the galactose headgroup. This is consistent with the inability of Vα24− T cells to respond to α-glucosylceramide, which differs from αGalCer in the position of the 4′OH. These data illustrate how fine specificity for a lipid containing α-linked galactose is achieved by a TCR structurally distinct from that of iNKT cells., Author Summary Certain lineages of T cells can recognize lipids as stimulatory antigens when presented in the context of CD1 molecules. We know how most Natural Killer T (NKT) cells react with this unusual ligand because they use a single invariant T cell receptor (TCR) alpha chain to do the job. NKT cells place particular emphasis on their CDR3α and CDR2β loops in recognition of antigen—these complementarity determining regions (CDRs) are the hypervariable parts of the TCR that “complement” an antigen's shape. How do these other T cells recognize closely related yet distinct lipid antigens? Here we show that human CD1d-restricted T cells, typically called Vα24− T cells due to their use of diverse Vα domains in their TCRs, use similar molecular strategies to respond to lipid antigens presented by CD1d. To this end we present a 2.5 Å complex structure of a Vα24− TCR complexed with CD1d presenting the protypical lipid, α-galactosylceramide (αGalCer). The TCR examined in this study notably shifts its binding slightly, placing more emphasis on the interaction with the CDR1α loop as revealed through alanine scanning mutagenesis. This shift explains the inability of these T cells to respond to lipids that vary at this site of contact (the 4'OH), like the related α-linked glucosylceramide. These results provide a molecular basis for the fine-specificity of different CD1d-restricted T cell lineages.

The human gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori modifies host cholesterol via glycosylation and incorporates the glycosylated cholesterol into its membrane; however, the benefits of cholesterol to H. pylori are largely unknown. We speculated that cholesterol in the H. pylori membrane might alter the susceptibility of these organisms to membrane-disrupting antibacterial compounds. To test this hypothesis, H. pylori strains were cultured in Ham's F-12 chemically defined medium in the presence or absence of cholesterol. The two cultures were subjected to overnight incubations with serial 2-fold dilutions of 10 bile salts and four ceragenins, which are novel bile salt derivatives that mimic membrane-disrupting activity of antimicrobial peptides. H. pylori cultured with cholesterol was substantially more resistant to seven of the bile salts and three ceragenins than H. pylori cultured without cholesterol. In most cases, these cholesterol-dependent differences ranged from 2 to 7 orders of magnitude; this magnitude depended on concentration of the agent. Cholesterol is modified by glycosylation using Cgt, a cholesteryl glycosyltransferase. Surprisingly, a cgt knockout strain still maintained cholesterol-dependent resistance to bile salts and ceragenins, indicating that cholesterol modification was not involved in resistance. We then tested whether three putative, paralogous inner membrane efflux pumps, HefC, HefF, or HefI, played a role. While HefF and HefI appeared unimportant, HefC was shown to play a critical role in the resistance to bile salts and ceragenins by multiple methods in multiple strain backgrounds. Thus, both cholesterol and the putative bile salt efflux pump HefC play important roles in H. pylori resistance to bile salts and ceragenins.

Cholic acid derivatives appended with amine groups have been prepared for use as permeabilizers of the outer membranes of Gram-negative bacteria. These compounds interact synergistically with antibiotics such as erythromycin and novobiocin to inhibit growth of Gram-negative bacteria. When a hydrophobic chain is included on the permeabilizers, they can be converted into potent antibiotics. The role of the hydrophobic chain is to facilitate self-promoted transport of the cholic acid derivatives across the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. These compounds share activities found with polymyxin B and derivatives.

Novel cationic antibiotics have been developed to mimic the cationic, facial amphiphilic structures of naturally occurring peptide antibiotics. Several series of designed peptide antibiotics have been reported, as well as examples based on β-peptides and steroids. The antibacterial activities of these compounds are derived from the disruption and/or permeabilization of bacterial membranes, and many display potent antibacterial activity and selectivity for bacterial cells. These antibiotics may prove valuable in combating bacterial infections, especially those from drug-resistant organisms.

Oxidation of macrocyclic phosphine oxide-dithioether 1 produces only the dl form of disulfoxide 2. This selectivity can be rationalized by comparing the crystal structures of starting material and product, and on the basis of VT NMR data, which suggest that the starting macrocycle is conformationally constrained in solution.

Natural killer T cells (NKT cells) respond to presentation of specific glycolipids with release of a variety of proinflammatory and immunomodulatory cytokines. The repertoire of glycolipid antigens for these cells includes alpha-glycosylceramides, alpha-glycosyldiacylglycerols, and the triglycosylceramide iGb3. Two features of iGb3 set it apart from these other antigens: (i) three sugars are required for stimulation and (ii) the glycosidic bond between ceramide and the proximal sugar is beta in iGb3, whereas it is alpha in other antigens. We have synthesized the alpha versions of iGb3 and Gb3 and demonstrate that they are effective antigens for NKT cells and that they do not require lysosomal processing to the monoglycosylceramides for stimulation. These triglycosylceramides constitute a new class of antigen that stimulates NKT cells comparably to monoglycosylceramides.

The prevalence of drug-resistant bacteria drives the quest for new antimicrobials, including those that are not expected to readily engender resistance. One option is to mimic Nature’s most ubiquitous means of controlling bacterial growth, antimicrobial peptides, which have evolved over eons. In general, bacteria remain susceptible to these peptides. Human antimicrobial peptides play a central role in innate immunity, and deficiencies in these peptides have been tied to increased rates of infection. However, clinical use of antimicrobial peptides is hampered by issues of cost and stability. The development of nonpeptide mimics of antimicrobial peptides may provide the best of both worlds: a means of using the same mechanism chosen by Nature to control bacterial growth without the problems associated with peptide therapeutics. The ceragenins were developed to mimic the cationic, facially amphiphilic structures of most antimicrobial peptides. These compounds reproduce the required morphology using a bile-ac...

Objectives: Cationic antimicrobial peptides (CAPs) are the effector molecules of innate immunity, similar in potency to classic antibiotics that function in the first-line of defence against infectious agents. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of negatively charged mucins on the antibacterial activity of the positively charged cathelicidin LL-37 peptide, its synthetic analogue WLBU2 and the antimicrobial cationic steroid CSA-13. Methods: Mucin, DNA, F-actin and hCAP-18/LL-37 in saliva samples were evaluated by microscopy or immunoblotting. Bacterial killing assays and determination of MICs were used to determine bactericidal activity. Binding of rhodamine-B-labelled LL-37 peptide to mucin was fluorimetrically assessed. Results: Microscopic evaluation of saliva after addition of rhodamine-B-labelled LL-37 showed localization similar to that observed after the addition of a specific mucin-binding lectin. Immunoblotting confirmed the presence of hCAP-18/LL-37 in saliva samples and LL-37 peptide bound to isolated submaxillary gland mucin-coated plates. Mucin/LL-37 binding was partially prevented by treatment of mucin with neuraminidase, indicating involvement of sialic acid moieties. Decreased LL-37 and WLBU2 antibacterial activity was observed in the presence of mucin or dialysed human saliva, whereas CSA-13 antibacterial activity was significantly resistant to inhibition by mucins. Conclusions: This study shows that the antibacterial LL-37 peptide and its synthetic analogue WLBU2 are inhibited by salivary mucin and that the cationic steroid CSA-13 retains most of its function in the presence of an equal amount of mucin or saliva.

Degranulation of basophils and mast cells plays a central role in allergic reactions. Degranulation is a response to cell surface receptor aggregation caused by association of receptors with antibodies bound to multivalent antigens. Tools used in studying this process have included small-molecule divalent antigens, but they suffer from weak signaling apparently due to small aggregate size. We have prepared trivalent antigens that allow formation of larger aggregates and potent responses from mast cells.