Identification of Natural Compounds as CTX-M-15 Inhibitors for the Management of Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria: An in-silico study

Full Length Research Article

Identification of Natural Compounds as CTX-M-15 Inhibitors for the Management of Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria: An in-silico study

Mohammad Zubair Alam1,2*, Absarul Haque1,2

Adv. life sci., vol. 10, no. 4, pp. 543-548, December 2023
*- Corresponding Author: Mohammad Zubair Alam (mohdzubairalam@yahoo.com)
Authors' Affiliations

 1. King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah – Saudi Arabia
2. Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah – Saudi Arabia 
 
[Date Received: 10/09/2023; Date Revised: 30/09/2023; Date Published: 31/12/2023]

Abstractaa download_button
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
References 

Abstract

Background: Antibiotic resistance is a major global threat to the efficacy of bacterial infection treatment. Resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics in bacteria is primarily caused by the production of extended-spectrum-lactamases, with the CTX-M variant, particularly CTX-M-15, being the most common. The need for an effective CTX-M-15 inhibitor is currently pressing.

Methods: This study screened a library of natural compounds from the ZINC database against the CTX-M-15 protein using the PyRx 0.8 tool. The SwissADME web platform was used to predict the ADMET properties of the five most promising compounds.

Result: The identified hits compounds, ZINC1857626342, ZINC403692, ZINC408773, ZINC57926, and ZINC790938591 exhibited strong binding with CTX-M-15. These compounds interacted with crucial catalytic site residues in the CTX-M-15 protein, particularly Ser70 and Ser130. Notably, the binding energies of these compounds were higher than those of the reference compound avibactam. Furthermore, they exhibited pharmacologically favorable characteristics.

Conclusion: These compounds show promise as potential CTX-M-15 inhibitors to combat bacterial resistance. However, more experimental research is needed to optimize these compounds for their role as CTX-M-15 inhibitors.

Keywords: Antibiotic resistance; β-lactam antibiotics; CTX-M-15; ESBLs; Virtual screening   

Introduction6th button-01

The global threat of pathogenic microorganisms that are resistant to established antibiotics has had significant ramifications for the treatment of infectious diseases. This situation is primarily caused by increased or inappropriate use of antibiotics in human medical practice, agricultural activities, and veterinary medicine [1,2]. Evidently, there has been a concerning increase in the prevalence of antibiotic resistance among bacterial strains responsible for both community-based and nosocomial infections. Mitigating the persistent and impending threat of antibiotic resistance remains a difficult task for clinicians and microbiologists worldwide [3-6].

The production of beta-lactamases is the primary cause of resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics in Gram-negative bacteria [7]. These enzymes aid in the cleavage of the amide linkage within the beta-lactam ring structure, effectively neutralizing the antibacterial efficacy of beta-lactam antibiotics [8]. Extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) play an important role in providing bacterial pathogens with resistance to a variety of antibiotics, most notably advanced-generation cephalosporins [9]. CTX-M is one of the most common ESBLs, with the CTX-M-15 variant emerging as the most common form [10,11].

The discovery and development of novel beta-lactamase inhibitors to combat the persistent and imminent threat posed by multidrug-resistant bacteria remains a major focus in clinical practice, microbiology, and drug discovery research [12]. The current demand for a potent CTX-M inhibitor is high. Computer-aided drug design represents a paradigm shift away from traditional pharmacological approaches and toward computational approaches [13,14]. The substantial financial and time investments associated with the attrition of candidate drugs in conventional pharmacology drive this transition, making it necessary. The use of computational database screening in pharmaceutical research has grown significantly. Virtual screening (VS) methodologies use computer-driven techniques to identify novel ligands by using biological structural information as a foundation for discovery [15-17]. This study aimed to find natural CTX-M-15 inhibitor using the in-silico tools.

Methods6th button-01

Protein preparation

The 3D conformation of the CTX-M-15 protein in conjunction with avibactam (PDB ID: 4HBU) was acquired from the Protein Data Bank. Following that, the avibactam co-crystal ligand was excised, and preparatory procedures on the protein structure were carried out, and the protein was saved in .pdb format.

Natural compound library

The ZINC database, an open-access repository designed for VS purposes, was used to obtain natural compounds from their respective database websites [18]. Subsequently, 500 natural compounds were acquired and subjected to docking-based screening procedures.

Virtual screening

The compounds were screened using the PyRx 0.8 tool against the CTX-M-15 protein [19]. The SDF-formatted compound library was imported into the PyRx workspace and subjected to a series of minimization procedures. The refined ligand structures were then converted into the pdbqt format using the PyRx platform's Open Babel functionality. Finally, the most promising compounds based on binding energy (BE) were subjected to an in-depth interaction analysis.

Drug-Likeness

The SwissADME web platform [20] was used to predict the Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicity (ADMET) properties of the five most promising compounds. ADMET prediction is an essential part of the discovery process, where the precise results aid in the identification of optimal pharmaceutical candidates.

Results6th button-01

This study screened the natural compounds against the one of most prevalent beta-lactamase i.e. CTX-M-15. Following the preparation of the compound library, VS was conducted to evaluate their efficacy against the CTX-M-15 protein, using the avibactam as a reference compound. Subsequent to this procedure, top 10 compounds were chosen based on their higher BE relative to the avibactam (Table 1). Figure 1 depicts the top ten compounds along with avibactam in the CTX-M-15 binding pocket.

Based on their BE and interactions with CTX-M-15 key residues (Ser70 and Ser130), top five compounds (ZINC1857626342, ZINC403692, ZINC408773, ZINC57926, and ZINC790938591) were chosen for comprehensive interaction analysis. ZINC1857626342 interacted with Ser70, Lys73, Asn104, Tyr105, Ser130, Asn132, Asn170, Thr216, Lys234, Thr235, Gly236, Ser237, Thr243, Ser272, and Arg274 residues of CTX-M-15 protein. The Ser70, Lys73, Asn132, Ser130, Thr235, and Arg274 residues were H-bonded with ZINC1857626342 (Figure 2A). ZINC403692 was found to bind with Ser70, Lys73, Tyr105, Ser130, Asn132, Asn170, Thr216, Ala219, Thr235, Gly236, Ser237, and Arg274 residues of CTX-M-15 protein. The Ser70, Lys73, and Ser130, residues were H-bonded with ZINC403692 (Figure 2B). ZINC408773 interacted with Ser70, Lys73, Asn104, Tyr105, Ser130, Asn132, Asn170, Thr216, Ser220, Lys234, Thr235, Gly236, Ser237, Gly238, Thr243, and Arg274 residues of CTX-M-15 protein. The Asn104, and Ser130, residues were H-bonded with ZINC408773 (Figure 2C). ZINC57926 was found to bind with Ser70, Lys73, Asn104, Tyr105, Ser130, Asn170, Thr216, Ser220, Thr235, Gly236, Ser237, Thr243, and Arg274 residues of CTX-M-15 protein. The Ser70, and Ser237 residues were H-bonded with ZINC57926 (Figure 2D). In addition, ZINC790938591 interacted with Ser70, Lys73, Asn104, Tyr105, Ser130, Asn132, Asn170, Thr216, Ala219, Thr235, Gly236, Ser237, and Arg274 residues of CTX-M-15 protein. The Ser70, Asn104, Ser130, and Asn132 residues were H-bonded with ZINC790938591 (Figure 2E).

Furthermore, the co-crystal ligand avibactam was found to interact with Ser70, Lys73, Tyr105, Ser130, Asn132, Asn170, Thr216, Ser220, Ala219, Thr235, Gly236, Ser237, and Arg274 residues of CTX-M-15 protein (Figure 2F). The structures of selected compounds have been shown in table 2.

A comprehensive analysis of the physicochemical properties, adherence to drug-like criteria, and toxicity profiles of the hit compounds (ZINC1857626342, ZINC403692, ZINC408773, ZINC57926, and ZINC790938591) in the current study demonstrates that they exhibit virtually all of the essential attributes required for their potential as future drug candidates (Table 3).

Figures & Tables

 

 

Discussion6th button-01

Beta-lactamase inhibitors have emerged as a viable option for mitigating the effects of beta-lactam antibiotic resistance [21]. Here, the natural compounds from ZINC database were screened against the CTX-M-15. The top five compounds (ZINC1857626342, ZINC403692, ZINC408773, ZINC57926, and ZINC790938591) were chosen for in-depth interaction analysis based on their BE and interactions with CTX-M-15 key residues.

To gain a comprehensive understanding of the interacting residues within the CTX-M-15 protein for the selected compounds (ZINC1857626342, ZINC403692, ZINC408773, ZINC57926, and ZINC790938591), an analysis was conducted by re-docking the co-crystal ligand avibactam into the CTX-M-15 protein which revealed that Ser70, Lys73, Tyr105, Ser130, Asn132, Asn170, Thr216, Ser220, Ala219, Thr235, Gly236, Ser237, and Arg274 residues participated in the binding with avibactam. Notably, Ser70, Lys73, Tyr105, Ser130, Asn170, Thr216, Thr235, Gly236, Ser237, and Arg274 were common CTX-M-15 binding residues with the top five compounds (ZINC1857626342, ZINC403692, ZINC408773, ZINC57926, and ZINC790938591) as well as the avibactam. This indicates that these compounds bind to same binding pocket within the CTX-M-15 protein as avibactam.

Docking serves as an alternative strategy for preliminary compound evaluation prior to in vivo experimental validation [22]. This method is useful for predicting the energetically favorable binding orientations of ligands within the active site of a receptor/protein. Therefore, docking has received widespread recognition in the scientific community for its ability to reduce the time and money required for drug development [23]. In docking study, a high negative BE signifies robust interactions within the ligand-protein complex [24-26]. Notably, the selected compounds—ZINC1857626342, ZINC403692, ZINC408773, ZINC57926, and ZINC790938591 have higher BEs than the reference compound avibactam, indicating potent interactions with the CTX-M-15 protein.

The CTX-M-15 enzyme is important in hydrolysis of beta-lactam antibiotics during both the acylation and deacylation phases of its catalytic cycle. The interaction of these antibiotics with CTX-M-15 significantly enhances the deacylation rate, allowing for rapid regeneration of the CTX-M-15 enzyme. CTX-M-15 inhibitors, on the other hand, exert their inhibitory effects by lowering the deacylation rate or the enzyme's ability to regenerate, which is accomplished by the creation of stable acyl complexes with CTX-M-15. As a result, the efficiency of CTX-M-15 inhibitors is dependent on the enzyme's interaction between high acylation rates and low deacylation rates [27]. Ser70 and Ser130 are essential interaction residues of CTX-M-15 in the context of the acylation process with its inhibitor [28-30]. It is worth noting that the identified hits in this investigation (ZINC1857626342, ZINC403692, ZINC408773, ZINC57926, and ZINC790938591) were found to bind to Ser70 and Ser130 residues of the CTX-M-15 enzyme.

A compound's absorption is influenced by characteristics such as intestinal absorption in humans, water solubility, and Caco2 permeability [31]. Indeed, the therapeutic compounds must go via several routes in the body before reaching its destination. A compound's water solubility is critical in regulating absorption and subsequent distribution. Low water solubility compounds often have inferior absorption characteristics. Numerous examples of failed drug development can be attributed to poor pharmacokinetic profiles and unsatisfactory bioavailability, which are factors other than potency and toxicity. The hit compounds (ZINC1857626342, ZINC403692, ZINC408773, ZINC57926, and ZINC790938591) demonstrate druglike properties.

Given the increasing prevalence of life-threatening bacterial infections, as well as their proclivity to develop resistance to current therapeutic approaches, there is an urgent need for the discovery and development of novel compounds capable of combating them. These molecules must have low toxicity, precise target action, and high bioavailability. Natural products have emerged as a critical source of potential pharmacological agents, serving as key templates for the development of new pharmaceuticals ranging from anti-cancer therapy to antibiotics [32,33]. The primary motivation for researching natural products with antimicrobial activity stems from the ongoing spread of plasmid-mediated antibiotic resistance genes, as well as the emergence of diseases, particularly those affecting the respiratory and nervous systems, that remain unaddressed by existing natural or plant-derived compounds. In the absence of conventional medicines, WHO encourages for the use of medicinal plants as supplementary therapy. This approach emphasizes extensive research into bioactive substances, their chemical compositions, and the pharmacological potential of various plant species in producing drugs with lower toxicity profiles than existing ones. Natural substances have found use in the treatment of a variety of ailments, including microbial infections, inflammatory processes, and cancer, due to their numerous benefits [34]. The hit compounds described in this study are natural compounds that have showed strong binding affinities with the CTX-M-15 protein and may thus be effective in tackling the challenge of bacterial resistance.

ESBLs play a pivotal role in the development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria. CTX-M is a common ESBL, with the CTX-M-15 variant emerging as the most prominent. This study used computational tools to screen natural compounds against the CTX-M-15 protein in order to identify promising CTX-M-15 inhibitors. Notably, the compounds ZINC1857626342, ZINC403692, ZINC408773, ZINC57926, and ZINC790938591 demonstrated strong binding affinities to CTX-M-15, interacted with critical residues (Ser70 and Ser130) of CTX-M-15 protein, and exhibited pharmacologically favorable properties. These compounds could be used as potential CTX-M-15 inhibitors to combat bacterial resistance. Nonetheless, additional experimental studies are required to optimize these compounds as CTX-M-15 inhibitors. 

Acknowledgment

This project was funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research (DSR) at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, under grant no. (G-529-141-1436). The author, therefore, acknowledges with thanks DSR for technical and financial support.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Author Contributions

MZA and AH conceived the idea, MZA collected and analyzed the data. AH prepared the graphs, tables and prepared the manuscript. MZA and AH wrote the manuscript.

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