Computer-Based Identification of Potential Druggable Targets in Multidrug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii: A Combined In Silico, In Vitro and In Vivo Study

Bibliographic Details
Title: Computer-Based Identification of Potential Druggable Targets in Multidrug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii: A Combined In Silico, In Vitro and In Vivo Study
Authors: Omar H. Badie, Ahmed F. Basyony, Reham Samir
Source: Microorganisms, Vol 10, Iss 10, p 1973 (2022)
Publisher Information: MDPI AG, 2022.
Publication Year: 2022
Collection: LCC:Biology (General)
Subject Terms: Acinetobacter baumannii, multidrug-resistant, subtractive proteomics, drug targets, aspartate 1-decarboxylase, malonic acid, Biology (General), QH301-705.5
More Details: The remarkable rise in antimicrobial resistance is alarming for Acinetobacter baumannii, which necessitates effective strategies for the discovery of promising anti-acinetobacter agents. We used a subtractive proteomics approach to identify unique protein drug targets. Shortlisted targets passed through subtractive channels, including essentiality, non-homology to the human proteome, druggability, sub-cellular localization prediction and conservation. Sixty-eight drug targets were shortlisted; among these, glutamine synthetase, dihydrodipicolinate reductase, UDP-N-acetylglucosamine acyltransferase, aspartate 1-decarboxylase and bifunctional UDP-N-acetylglucosamine diphosphorylase/glucosamine-1-phosphate N-acetyltransferase were evaluated in vitro by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of candidate ligands, citric acid, dipicolinic acid, D-tartaric acid, malonic acid and 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid (MES), respectively, which ranged from 325 to 1500 μg/mL except for MES (25 mg/mL). The candidate ligands, citric acid, D-tartaric acid and malonic acid, showed good binding energy scores to their targets upon applying molecular docking, in addition to a significant reduction in A. baumannii microbial load in the wound infection mouse model. These ligands also exhibited good tolerability to human skin fibroblast. The significant increase in the MIC of malonic acid in β-alanine and pantothenate-supplemented media confirmed its selective inhibition to aspartate 1-decarboxylase. In conclusion, three out of sixty-eight potential A. baumannii drug targets were effectively inhibited in vitro and in vivo by promising ligands.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 2076-2607
Relation: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/10/10/1973; https://doaj.org/toc/2076-2607
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10101973
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/96945c53eeb94323ad74239aaf4ded9c
Accession Number: edsdoj.96945c53eeb94323ad74239aaf4ded9c
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
More Details
ISSN:20762607
DOI:10.3390/microorganisms10101973
Published in:Microorganisms
Language:English