ORCID Profile
0000-0001-9307-0515
Current Organisation
University of Bath
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Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2009
DOI: 10.1016/J.IJANTIMICAG.2008.10.031
Abstract: The prevalence of antibiotic resistance has resulted in the need for new approaches to be developed to combat previously easily treatable infections. Here we investigated the potential of the synthetic metallomolecules [Fe(2)L(3)](4+) and [Cu(2)(L')(2)](2+) as antibacterial agents. Both molecules have been shown to bind DNA [Fe(2)L(3)](4+) binds in the major groove and causes DNA coiling, whilst [Cu(2)(L')(2)](2+) can act as an artificial nuclease. The work described here shows that only [Fe(2)L(3)](4+) is bactericidal for Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli. We demonstrate that [Fe(2)L(3)](4+) binds bacterial DNA in vivo and, strikingly, that it kills B. subtilis cells very rapidly.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2014
DOI: 10.1016/J.JINORGBIO.2014.07.012
Abstract: Biofilm-related bacterial infections pose a significant problem, as they are generally more tolerant to antibiotics and the immune system. Development of novel compounds with antibiofilm activity is therefore paramount. In this study we have analysed metal complexes of the general structure [M(IL)(AL)](2+) (where IL represents functionalised 1,10-phenanthrolines and AL represents 1S,2S- or 1R,2R-diaminocyclohexane) and [Cu(IL)3](2+). Antimicrobial activity was tested on a number of bacterial strains, showing that copper(II) compounds were active against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, albeit that activity was generally higher for the former. The antibiofilm activity was then determined against a clinical isolate of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Strikingly, the copper complexes tested showed significant activity against biofilms, and were better in the removal of biofilms than vancomycin, an antibiotic that is currently used in the treatment of MRSA infections.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 27-11-2011
DOI: 10.1038/NCHEM.1206
Abstract: The helicates--chiral assemblies of two or more metal atoms linked by short or relatively rigid multidentate organic ligands--may be regarded as non-peptide mimetics of α-helices because they are of comparable size and have shown some relevant biological activity. Unfortunately, these beautiful helical compounds have remained difficult to use in the medicinal arena because they contain mixtures of isomers, cannot be optimized for specific purposes, are insoluble, or are too difficult to synthesize. Instead, we have now prepared thermodynamically stable single enantiomers of monometallic units connected by organic linkers. Our highly adaptable self-assembly approach enables the rapid preparation of ranges of water-stable, helicate-like compounds with high stereochemical purity. One such iron(II) 'flexicate' system exhibits specific interactions with DNA, promising antimicrobial activity against a Gram-positive bacterium (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA252), but also, unusually, a Gram-negative bacterium (Escherichia coli, MC4100), as well as low toxicity towards a non-mammalian model organism (Caenorhabditis elegans).
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2012
DOI: 10.1071/CH12058
Abstract: The synthesis of eight square pyramidal copper complexes with general structure [Cu(IL)(AL)H2O]2+, where IL represents various methylated 1,10-phenanthrolines, and AL represents either 1S,2S- or 1R,2R-diaminocyclohexane, is reported, with the complexes synthesised as both the perchlorate and chloride salts. The crystal structures of [Cu(1,10-phenanthroline)(1S,2S-diaminocyclohexane](ClO4)2·H2O and [Cu(5,6-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline)(1S,2S-diaminocyclohexane](ClO4)2·1.5H2O are reported. Four square planar palladium complexes with general structure [Pd(IL)(AL)]Cl2 have also been synthesised. These complexes were synthesised in order to investigate the structure–activity relationship against both cancer cell lines and bacterial cultures. The copper complexes display anticancer activity similar to cisplatin and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) in the L1210 murine leukaemia cell line. Methylation of the phen increased the copper complex cytotoxicity by approximately four-fold, compared with the non-methylated complex. No significant difference in activity was observed by altering the chirality of the diaminocyclohexane ligand. The copper complexes demonstrated antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli however, high levels of toxicity (30–60 % of death) were observed in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. The copper complexes have also been shown to act as DNA nucleases, with the ability to cleave plasmid DNA in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. The palladium complexes all have half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of ~10 μM in the L1210 cell line, with no significant difference in the cytotoxicity of any of the compounds tested. Minimal antibacterial activity of the palladium complexes was observed.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2014
DOI: 10.1016/J.BIOORG.2014.03.009
Abstract: Resistance to antimicrobials is one of the biggest threats to our healthcare. However, in the last few decades very few truly novel antimicrobial compounds have been brought to market, creating the potential threat of a post-antibiotic era in which infections are very difficult to treat. Identification of novel compounds with antimicrobial activity is therefore paramount. Ideally, novel compounds should be designed that are active against targets that are not or barely used, as it is less likely that resistance already exists against such compounds. One ex le of an underexplored target in the treatment of infections is DNA. In this review we describe a number of DNA binding compounds and discuss potential opportunities and problems.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2011
DOI: 10.1016/J.EJPS.2010.12.004
Abstract: Multidrug resistance of bacterial pathogens is a major problem and there is a clear need for the development of new types of antibiotics. Here we investigated the antimicrobial activity of ruthenium(II) based DNA-intercalating complexes. These complexes were found to have no activity in vitro against the Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli, but the complexes were clearly active against the Gram-positive bacteria Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus. In vivo activity has also been demonstrated for one of the compounds using a simple infection model, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Importantly, this also showed that the compound tested was not toxic to the nematodes.
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
No related grants have been discovered for Albert Bolhuis.