Abstract
Infections caused by resistant microorganisms often fail to respond to conventional therapy, resulting in prolonged illness, increased treatment costs and greater risk of death. Consequently, the development of novel antimicrobial drugs is becoming more demanding every day since the existing drugs either have too many side-effects or they tend to lose effectiveness due to the selection of resistant strains. In view of these facts, a number of new strategies to obstruct vital biological processes of a microbial cell have emerged; one of these is focused on the use of metal-chelating agents, which are able to selectively disturb the essential metal metabolism of the microorganism by interfering with metal acquisition and bioavailability for crucial reactions. The chelation activity is able to inhibit the biological role of metal-dependent proteins (e.g., metalloproteases and transcription factors), disturbing the microbial cell homeostasis and culminating in the blockage of microbial nutrition, growth and development, cellular differentiation, adhesion to biotic (e.g., extracellular matrix components, cell and/or tissue) and abiotic (e.g., plastic, silicone and acrylic) structures as well as controlling the in vivo infection progression. Interestingly, chelating agents also potentiate the activity of classical antimicrobial compounds. The differences between the microorganism and host in terms of the behavior displayed in the presence of chelating agents could provide exploitable targets for the development of an effective chemotherapy for these diseases. Consequently, metal chelators represent a novel group of antimicrobial agents with potential therapeutic applications. This review will focus on the anti-fungal and anti-protozoan action of the most common chelating agents, deciphering and discussing their mode of action.
Keywords: Alternative chemotherapy, antimicrobial activity, chelating agents, growth, differentiation, fungi, interaction, opportunistic infections, pathogenesis, protozoa, virulence
Current Medicinal Chemistry
Title:Antimicrobial Action of Chelating Agents: Repercussions on the Microorganism Development, Virulence and Pathogenesis
Volume: 19 Issue: 17
Author(s): A. L.S. Santos, C. L. Sodre, R. S. Valle, B. A. Silva, E. A. Abi-chacra, L. V. Silva, A. L. Souza-Goncalves, L. S. Sangenito, D. S. Goncalves, L. O.P. Souza, V. F. Palmeira, C. M. d'Avila-Levy, L. F. Kneipp, A. Kellett, M. McCann and M. H. Branquinha
Affiliation:
Keywords: Alternative chemotherapy, antimicrobial activity, chelating agents, growth, differentiation, fungi, interaction, opportunistic infections, pathogenesis, protozoa, virulence
Abstract: Infections caused by resistant microorganisms often fail to respond to conventional therapy, resulting in prolonged illness, increased treatment costs and greater risk of death. Consequently, the development of novel antimicrobial drugs is becoming more demanding every day since the existing drugs either have too many side-effects or they tend to lose effectiveness due to the selection of resistant strains. In view of these facts, a number of new strategies to obstruct vital biological processes of a microbial cell have emerged; one of these is focused on the use of metal-chelating agents, which are able to selectively disturb the essential metal metabolism of the microorganism by interfering with metal acquisition and bioavailability for crucial reactions. The chelation activity is able to inhibit the biological role of metal-dependent proteins (e.g., metalloproteases and transcription factors), disturbing the microbial cell homeostasis and culminating in the blockage of microbial nutrition, growth and development, cellular differentiation, adhesion to biotic (e.g., extracellular matrix components, cell and/or tissue) and abiotic (e.g., plastic, silicone and acrylic) structures as well as controlling the in vivo infection progression. Interestingly, chelating agents also potentiate the activity of classical antimicrobial compounds. The differences between the microorganism and host in terms of the behavior displayed in the presence of chelating agents could provide exploitable targets for the development of an effective chemotherapy for these diseases. Consequently, metal chelators represent a novel group of antimicrobial agents with potential therapeutic applications. This review will focus on the anti-fungal and anti-protozoan action of the most common chelating agents, deciphering and discussing their mode of action.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
L.S. Santos A., L. Sodre C., S. Valle R., A. Silva B., A. Abi-chacra E., V. Silva L., L. Souza-Goncalves A., S. Sangenito L., S. Goncalves D., O.P. Souza L., F. Palmeira V., M. d'Avila-Levy C., F. Kneipp L., Kellett A., McCann M. and H. Branquinha M., Antimicrobial Action of Chelating Agents: Repercussions on the Microorganism Development, Virulence and Pathogenesis, Current Medicinal Chemistry 2012; 19 (17) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/092986712800609788
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/092986712800609788 |
Print ISSN 0929-8673 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-533X |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Advances in Medicinal Chemistry: From Cancer to Chronic Diseases.
The broad spectrum of the issue will provide a comprehensive overview of emerging trends, novel therapeutic interventions, and translational insights that impact modern medicine. The primary focus will be diseases of global concern, including cancer, chronic pain, metabolic disorders, and autoimmune conditions, providing a broad overview of the advancements in ...read more
Approaches to the treatment of chronic inflammation
Chronic inflammation is a hallmark of numerous diseases, significantly impacting global health. Although chronic inflammation is a hot topic, not much has been written about approaches to its treatment. This thematic issue aims to showcase the latest advancements in chronic inflammation treatment and foster discussion on future directions in this ...read more
Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Non-Infectious Inflammatory Diseases: Focus on Clinical Implications
The Special Issue covers the results of the studies on cellular and molecular mechanisms of non-infectious inflammatory diseases, in particular, autoimmune rheumatic diseases, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and other age-related disorders such as type II diabetes, cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, etc. Review and research articles as well as methodology papers that summarize ...read more
Chalcogen-modified nucleic acid analogues
Chalcogen-modified nucleosides, nucleotides and oligonucleotides have been of great interest to scientific research for many years. The replacement of oxygen in the nucleobase, sugar or phosphate backbone by chalcogen atoms (sulfur, selenium, tellurium) gives these biomolecules unique properties resulting from their altered physical and chemical properties. The continuing interest in ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
The Role of Genes (and Environmental Stress) in Depression: An Update
Current Psychiatry Reviews Antiangiogenesis Drug Design: Multiple Pathways Targeting Tumor Vasculature
Current Medicinal Chemistry Inflammatory Mechanisms in Atherosclerosis: The Impact of Matrix Metalloproteinases
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Can We Move Forward After ADVANCE?
Vascular Disease Prevention (Discontinued) Resveratrol and Stroke: from Chemistry to Medicine
Current Neurovascular Research Cardiac Complications in Hypertension and Diabetes: Role of Sympathetic Nervous Activity
Current Hypertension Reviews Management of Hypertension in Relation to Acute Coronary Syndromes and Revascularisation
Current Pharmaceutical Design Increased Risk of Dementia in Patients with Non-Apnea Sleep Disorder
Current Alzheimer Research Proinflammatory Gene Polymorphisms and Ischemic Stroke
Current Pharmaceutical Design Key Sites for P2X Receptor Function and Multimerization: Overview of Mutagenesis Studies on a Structural Basis
Current Medicinal Chemistry Development of Functional Dark Chocolate by Incorporating Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) Oil and Honey with Improved Organoleptic and Textural Attributes
Current Nutrition & Food Science Vitamin D Biology in Heart Failure: Molecular Mechanisms and Systematic Review
Current Drug Targets Drugs Designed to Improve Endothelial Function: Effects on Erectile Dysfunction
Current Pharmaceutical Design Multifaceted Individualities in Pharmacological Treatments of Obesity
Current Clinical Pharmacology Sleep Disorders Research From 1945 to 2020: A Bibliometric Analysis
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Common Variants in Toll-Like Receptor 4 Confer Susceptibility to Alzheimer’s Disease in a Han Chinese Population
Current Alzheimer Research Chemokines and Chemokine Receptors Blockers as New Drugs for the Treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Current Medicinal Chemistry Therapeutic Options for Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia: The Role of Lomitapide
Current Medicinal Chemistry Immune-Inflammatory Activation in Acute Coronary Syndromes: A Look into the Heart of Unstable Coronary Plaque
Current Cardiology Reviews Understanding and Avoiding Antiretroviral Adverse Events
Current Pharmaceutical Design