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Staphylococcus aureus ventriculitis treated with single-dose intraventricular vancomycin or daptomycin (LY146032): bacterial and antibiotic kinetics in hydrocephalic rabbits.

Vancomycin and a new antibiotic, daptomycin (LY146032), were tested in vitro and in vivo against Staphylococcus aureus. In vivo tests were performed with rabbits with kaolin-induced hydrocephalus. Five groups of rabbits were studied: untreated ventriculitis, intraventricular vancomycin only, and ventriculitis treated with intraventricular vancomycin (30 micrograms or 120 micrograms) or daptomycin (7.5 micrograms). Results of this study were as follows. (i) S. aureus demonstrated static growth in cerebrospinal fluid in vitro and in ventriculitis at a maximum titer of 10(5) to 10(6) CFU/ml. (ii) In vitro time kill curves in cerebrospinal fluid matched those in vivo. (iii) Single-dose intraventricular vancomycin did not lower S. aureus concentrations over 8 h, whereas daptomycin did. (iv) Ventriculitis did not significantly alter the clearance of intraventricular vancomycin. (v) Intraventricular half-lives were approximately 2.8 h (maximum) for vancomycin and 4.5 h for daptomycin. (vi) Vancomycin was detectable in the periventricular white matter only in the presence of ventriculitis. Daptomycin was also detectable in the periventricular white matter of rabbits with ventriculitis, but in amounts too small to quantitate. We concluded that daptomycin achieved greater bactericidal activity, more rapid killing kinetics, and a longer half-life in the ventricle than vancomycin did in this model.

Animals↗

Lipoteichoic acid as a new target for activity of antibiotics: mode of action of daptomycin (LY146032).

Daptomycin at the MIC allowed the cell mass increase of enterococcal strains and Bacillus subtilis to continue for 2 to 3 h at rates comparable to those of the controls. During this time the cell shape of the former changed to a rod configuration and that of the latter changed to long rods. In these bacteria, in which cell mass continued to increase, the MIC of daptomycin inhibited peptidoglycan synthesis by no more than 20% after 20 min of incubation and by roughly 50% after 2 h of incubation. Other macromolecules, such as DNA, RNA, and proteins, were only slightly affected. In contrast, incorporation of [14C]acetate into lipids was reduced by about 50% in the various strains after 20 min of treatment with daptomycin at the MIC. When the effect of the major lipid-containing polymers on synthesis was evaluated in detail, it was found that under conditions in which peptidoglycan and the other macromolecules mentioned above were inhibited only slightly (20%) and total lipid synthesis was inhibited by 50%, synthesis of teichoic and lipoteichoic acid was inhibited by 50 and 93%, respectively. Daptomycin was not found to enter the cytoplasm of either bacterial or mammalian cells. It bound, in the presence of calcium ions only, to whole bacterial cells, cell walls (both those that contained and those that did not contain membranes), and isolated membranes of bacterial and mammalian cells. Washing with EDTA removed daptomycin from all cells mentioned above and cell fractions except the bacterial membrane. It is concluded that lipoteichoic acid is most likely the primary target of daptomycin.

Acetates↗

Investigation of the early killing of Staphylococcus aureus by daptomycin by using an in vitro pharmacodynamic model.

The purpose of this study was to develop a pharmacodynamic model to describe the dependency of the rate of Staphylococcus aureus killing upon the concentration of daptomycin. A range of free (unbound) daptomycin concentrations ranging from 0.12 to 27 times the MIC were simulated in the peripheral compartment of a two-compartment pharmacokinetic model. Log-linear regression of free daptomycin concentrations versus growth or kill rate constants showed a significant correlation (r = -0.90; P less than 0.001). A Lineweaver-Burk plot of the reciprocal transformation of these data yielded a poor fit (r = -0.38; P greater than 0.05). When a Lineweaver-Burk-type regression analysis was performed on the reciprocal of the change in the rate constant rather than the rate constant itself, the result demonstrated good correlation (r = 0.90; P less than 0.0001). The observations were also well described by a sigmoidal maximum plateau pharmacologic effect model, in which the pharmacologic effect of daptomycin is a reduction in the bacterial exponential growth rate constant from the baseline in the absence of antibiotic to a lower (positive) growth or (negative) death rate constant observed in the presence of antibiotic. These data confirm that daptomycin exhibits concentration-dependent killing over a wide range of free daptomycin concentrations relative to the MIC and suggest that this is a saturable process similar to the Michaelis-Menten pharmacokinetic elimination of certain drugs.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Daptomycin or teicoplanin in combination with gentamicin for treatment of experimental endocarditis due to a highly glycopeptide-resistant isolate of Enterococcus faecium.

Using an experimental endocarditis model, we studied the activity of daptomycin used alone or in combination with gentamicin against an Enterococcus faecium strain that was highly resistant to glycopeptides and susceptible to gentamicin. In vitro, the MIC of daptomycin was 1 micrograms/ml. In vivo, daptomycin appeared to be effective only when it was used in a high-dose regimen, i.e., 12 mg/kg of body weight every 8 h (-2.5 log10 CFU/g versus controls; P < 0.05), particularly when it was combined with gentamicin (-5.0 log10 CFU/g versus controls; P < 0.01). Since the distribution of daptomycin into cardiac vegetations, as evaluated by autoradiography, appeared to be homogeneous, the poor in vivo activity of daptomycin was considered to be related to its high degree of protein binding, as suggested by killing curves studies. Since the MIC of teicoplanin for the vancomycin-resistant E. faecium strain used in the study was only 64 micrograms/ml and since an in vitro synergy between teicoplanin at high dose and gentamicin was observed, a high-dose regimen of teicoplanin, i.e., 40 mg/kg every 12 h, was also assessed in vivo. This treatment provided marginal activity only when it was combined with gentamicin (-2.3 log10 CFU/g versus controls; P < 0.05). These results suggest that the levels of daptomycin or teicoplanin in serum required to cure experimental endocarditis caused by a highly glycopeptide-resistant strain of E. faecium would not be achievable in humans.

Animals↗

Single-dose pharmacokinetics and antibacterial activity of daptomycin, a new lipopeptide antibiotic, in healthy volunteers.

Three separate single-dose studies were performed to define the disposition and pharmacokinetics of daptomycin in healthy volunteers. Daptomycin was administered as a single 14C-labeled dose (1.0 mg/kg of body weight) and as single doses between 0.5 and 6.0 mg/kg. All doses were intravenous. Antibacterial activity was determined from doses of 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, and 6.0 mg/kg against two strains of Staphylococcus aureus (one methicillin resistant) and one Enterococcus strain. After administration of 14C-labeled daptomycin, recovery of 14C in urine and feces accounted for 83% of the administered dose, with the greatest fraction (78%) appearing in the urine. Specific analysis for daptomycin in both urine and plasma indicated that metabolic products were present in urine, but total 14C in plasma consisted of daptomycin only. Doses between 0.5 and 6 mg/kg were linear, with a limited total body clearance (0.13 to 0.21 ml/min/kg) and a small volume of distribution (0.10 to 0.15 liter/kg). The small volume of distribution may be a factor of the high plasma protein binding (90 to 95%). Renal clearance made up 34 to 54% of total body clearance. Daptomycin demonstrated in vivo antibacterial activity against all three test strains, with the greatest activity observed against methicillin-resistant S. aureus. The predicted MIC for all three strains was approximately 13 micrograms/ml, corresponding to total (bound plus unbound) drug. On the basis of the drug's pharmacokinetics and antibacterial activity, doses of 4 to 6 mg/kg/day, possibly in divided doses, are predicted to be effective.

Adult↗

Comparison of daptomycin, vancomycin, and ampicillin-gentamicin for treatment of experimental endocarditis caused by penicillin-resistant enterococci.

Infections with enterococci that are resistant to multiple antibiotics are an emerging clinical problem. We evaluated the antibiotic treatment of experimental enterococcal endocarditis caused by two strains with different mechanisms of penicillin resistance. Enterococcus faecalis HH-22 is resistant to aminoglycosides and penicillin on the basis of plasmid-mediated modifying enzymes; Enterococcus raffinosus SF-195 is susceptible to aminoglycosides but is resistant to penicillin on the basis of low-affinity penicillin-binding proteins. Animals infected with strain HH-22 received 5 days of treatment with the following: no treatment; daptomycin (20 mg/kg of body weight twice daily [b.i.d.], intramuscularly [i.m.]), vancomycin (20 mg/kg b.i.d., intravenously), or ampicillin (100 mg/kg three times daily, i.m.) plus gentamicin (2.5 mg/kg b.i.d. i.m.). Although vancomycin was superior to ampicillin-gentamicin (P less than 0.01), daptomycin was significantly better than all other treatment regimens (P less than 0.01) in reducing intravegetation enterococcal densities, although no vegetations were rendered culture negative by this agent. Animals infected with strain SF-195 received 5 days of no therapy, ampicillin, ampicillin-gentamicin, vancomycin, or daptomycin (all at the dosage regimens described above). Daptomycin, vancomycin, and ampicillin-gentamicin each lowered intravegetation enterococcal densities significantly better than did ampicillin monotherapy or no treatment (P less than 0.01); moreover, these three treatment regimens rendered significantly more vegetations culture negative than did ampicillin monotherapy or no treatment (P less than 0.05). Serum daptomycin levels remained above the MICs and MBCs for both enterococcal strains throughout the 12-h dosing interval used in the study. Daptomycin and vancomycin were both active in vivo in these models of experimental enterococcal endocarditis caused by penicillin-resistant strains, irrespective of the mechanism of resistance. This activity correlated with the unique cell wall sites of action of these agents (binding to lipoteichoic acid and pentapeptide precursor, respectively) compared with the sites of action of beta-lactams (penicillin-binding proteins). Beta-Lactamase production by strain HH-22 precluded in vivo efficacy with ampicillin-gentamicin combinations. In contrast, this combination was active in vivo against strain SF-195, which exhibited intermediate-level penicillin resistance (MIC, 32 micrograms/ml), likely reflecting the ability of high-dose ampicillin to achieve enough binding to low-affinity penicillin-binding proteins to cause augmented aminoglycoside uptake.

Ampicillin↗

Identification of daptomycin-binding proteins in the membrane of Enterococcus hirae.

Daptomycin, a lipopeptide antibiotic active against gram-positive bacteria, was preliminarily shown to inhibit lipoteichoic acid (LTA) synthesis as a consequence of membrane binding in the presence of Ca2+ (P. Canepari, M. Boaretti, M. M. Lleó, and G. Satta, Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 34:1220-1226, 1990). In the present study, it is shown that, along with binding bacterial-membrane components, daptomycin binds the protein fraction with a noncovalent bond, as suggested by the instability of the bond in the presence of ionic detergents such as sodium dodecyl sulfate. Analysis of membrane proteins by isoelectric focusing electrophoresis reveals that five bands with isoelectric points ranging from 5.9 to 6.2 bind radioactive daptomycin. These proteins are therefore called daptomycin-binding proteins. In an attempt to correlate these proteins to the main inhibition observed during LTA synthesis, two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography of lipids synthesized during daptomycin treatment was performed. A threefold increase in diglucosyl diacylglycerol is demonstrated, while the compounds phosphatidyl-alpha-kojibiosyldiacylglycerol, glycerophospho-phosphatidyl-alpha-kojibiosyldiacylglycerol, and glycerophospho-kojibiosyldiacylglycerol, which follow diglucosyl diacylglycerol in LTA synthesis, decrease progressively with time during the course of daptomycin treatment.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

In vitro activity of daptomycin against vancomycin-resistant enterococci of various Van types and comparison of susceptibility testing methods.

The increasing prevalence of vancomycin-resistant enterococcal (VRE) infections and the limited number of antimicrobial agents for their treatment emphasize a need for new, more effective agents. In this study, the in vitro activity of daptomycin was determined against a collection of 156 VRE from seven different institutions. Van types were characterized by PCR, and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis was performed to exclude isolates with >85% relatedness by dendrogram. Included were 126 Enterococcus faecium (109 vanA, 17 vanB) isolates, 5 Enterococcus faecalis (3 vanA, 2 vanB) isolates, 2 Enterococcus avium (vanA) isolates, 1 Enterococcus durans (vanA) isolate, 10 Enterococcus gallinarum (vanC1) isolates, and 12 Enterococcus casseliflavus (vanC2) isolates. MICs of daptomycin and five additional agents were determined by the NCCLS broth microdilution method with Mueller-Hinton (MH) broth containing supplemental calcium. MICs were also determined using two investigational E-test strip formulations, and disk diffusion testing was performed by the standard NCCLS method. The MIC of daptomycin at which 50% of the isolates tested were inhibited for this isolate collection was 4 microg/ml, and the MIC at which 90% of the isolates tested were inhibited was 8 microg/ml. Two isolates of vanA E. faecium were resistant to linezolid, and one isolate was resistant to quinupristin-dalfopristin. MICs of daptomycin determined by the E test with and without added calcium varied by 8- to 16-fold, and disk diffusion zones varied by 3 to 6 mm according to the calcium content of the commercial MH agar lots used in the study. This study has shown daptomycin to have good activity against a diverse collection of contemporary VRE isolates. However, improved standardization of the calcium content of MH agar will be important for reliable testing of daptomycin by clinical laboratories using either the E test or disk diffusion methods.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Correlation of daptomycin bactericidal activity and membrane depolarization in Staphylococcus aureus.

The objective of this study was to further elucidate the role of membrane potential in the mechanism of action of daptomycin, a novel lipopeptide antibiotic. Membrane depolarization was measured by both fluorimetric and flow cytometric assays. Adding daptomycin (5 micro g/ml) to Staphylococcus aureus gradually dissipated membrane potential. In both assays, cell viability was reduced by >99% and membrane potential was reduced by >90% within 30 min of adding daptomycin. Cell viability decreased in parallel with changes in membrane potential, demonstrating a temporal correlation between bactericidal activity and membrane depolarization. Decreases in viability and potential also showed a dose-dependent correlation. Depolarization is indicative of ion movement across the cytoplasmic membrane. Fluorescent probes were used to demonstrate Ca(2+)-dependent, daptomycin-triggered potassium release from S. aureus. Potassium release was also correlated with bactericidal activity. This study demonstrates a clear correlation between dissipation of membrane potential and the bactericidal activity of daptomycin. A multistep model for daptomycin's mechanism of action is proposed.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Daptomycin clearance during modeled continuous renal replacement therapy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Pharmacotherapy in critically ill patients receiving continuous renal replacement therapies (CRRT) is challenging due to the lack of published information to base dosing regimens. METHODS: Daptomycin's transmembrane clearance during continuous hemofiltration and hemodialysis was assessed using an in vitro model with AN69 and polysulfone hemodiafilters at varying ultrafiltrate and dialysate flow rates (1, 2, 3 and 6 l/h). RESULTS: During continuous hemofiltration, mean daptomycin sieving coefficient ranged from 0.14 to 0.20. Transmembrane clearances were significantly different between filter types for ultrafiltration rates of 2, 3 and 6 l/h. For continuous hemodialysis, mean daptomycin saturation coefficient ranged from 0.05 to 0.15. AN69-based daptomycin clearances were significantly lower than polysulfone values at dialysate flow rates of 2, 3 and 6 l/h. CONCLUSION: The extent of daptomycin's transmembrane clearance is dependent on hemodiafilter type, dialysate and ultrafiltration rates. CRRT with high ultrafiltrate or dialysate rates may result in substantial daptomycin clearances.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

Comparison of in vitro inhibitory and bactericidal activities of daptomycin (LY 146032) and four reference antibiotics, singly and in combination, against gentamicin-susceptible and high-level-gentamicin-resistant enterococci.

The in vitro inhibitory and bactericidal activities of daptomycin and reference antibiotics were determined by serial macrobroth dilution for 23 gentamicin-susceptible (MIC: < 2,000 mg/l) and 21 high-level-gentamicin-resistant (HLGR) Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, and Enterococcus avium isolates. The activities of daptomycin, vancomycin, and teicoplanin were independent of the gentamicin susceptibility profile and species tested. For all the isolates, the inhibitory activity of daptomycin (MIC90: 2 mg/l) was comparable to vancomycin (MIC90: 2 mg/l), but less than that of teicoplanin (MIC90: 0.5 mg/l). Daptomycin demonstrated excellent bactericidal activity against all enterococci tested (MBC90: 8 mg/l). In contrast, all microorganisms were tolerant to vancomycin and teicoplanin. Ampicillin and ciprofloxacin MICs and MBCs were dependent on enterococcal gentamicin resistance profile and species, with MICs and MBCs that ranged between 1 and > 64 mg/l. By time-kill curves, the combination of daptomycin plus ampicillin demonstrated synergistic bactericidal activity against gentamicin-susceptible and HLGR E. faecalis. Daptomycin, singly and in combination, may be useful in treating enterococcal infections, including those caused by HLGR microorganisms.

Ampicillin↗

Moderate liver impairment has no influence on daptomycin pharmacokinetics.

Daptomycin (N-decanoyl-L-tryptophyl-L-asparaginyl-L-aspartyl-L-threonylglycyl-L-ornithyl-L-aspartyl-D-alanyl-L-aspartylglycyl-D-seryl-threo-3-methyl-L-glutamyl-3-anthraniloyl-L-alanine-lactone) is a novel cyclic lipopeptide antibiotic derived from the fermentation of Streptomyces roseosporus. Daptomycin was recently approved for the treatment of complicated skin and skin structure infections caused by aerobic gram-positive bacteria, including those caused by methicillin-resistant and methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus. This single-dose, parallel-design, matched-controlled study was designed to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of daptomycin in subjects between ages 18 and 80 years with moderately impaired hepatic function (Child-Pugh Class B, n = 10). Subjects were administered a single intravenous dose (6 mg/kg total body weight) over 30 minutes using a syringe pump. A normal volunteer control group matched by weight (+/-25 lb/11 kg), age (+/-10 years), and sex was included in this study for comparison to the hepatic-impaired group. The pharmacokinetic parameters of daptomycin were similar in both groups. Adverse events occurred only in the hepatic-impaired patients and were consistent with the subjects' disease state. In conclusion, subjects with moderate hepatic impairment receiving daptomycin do not require an adjustment in daptomycin dose or dose regimen.

Adult↗

Management of cSSTIs: the role of daptomycin.

BACKGROUND: Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) and complicated SSTIs (cSSTIs), particularly those caused by Gram-positive pathogens, are among the most common human bacterial infections. The emergence of resistance to antibiotics such as methicillin and vancomycin has compromised treatment options for these infections and stimulated the search for new antimicrobial therapies. Daptomycin, the first in a class of agents known as cyclic lipopeptides, is a novel antibiotic with potent activity against most Gram-positive pathogens, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. SCOPE: This review examines the novel properties of daptomycin and describes its therapeutic efficacy and tolerability, particularly in the treatment of cSSTIs. The data search strategy included identification of original research papers, review articles, meeting reports and editorials by searches of MEDLINE and references from relevant articles. FINDINGS: In vitro studies have demonstrated that daptomycin has superior bactericidal activity compared with vancomycin and the newer anti-Gram-positive agents, quinupristin/dalfopristin and linezolid. Robust, randomised, phase III clinical trials have shown daptomycin to be effective and well tolerated for the treatment of cSSTIs caused by Gram-positive bacteria, with equivalent clinical success rates and a similar safety profile to those of comparator agents. Data from these studies suggest a trend toward shorter duration of therapy and faster resolution of symptoms with daptomycin. CONCLUSIONS: Given the pressing need for new antibiotics to combat infections caused by Gram-positive organisms, and to overcome the problem of resistance to conventional antibiotics, daptomycin is a welcome addition to the treatment options for the management of cSSTIs.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Physical and chemical compatibility of daptomycin with nine medications.

BACKGROUND: Hospitalized patients with serious gram-positive infections tend to require concomitant therapy. Unfortunately, a number of antimicrobial agents have demonstrated incompatibility with other agents commonly administered intravenously. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the physical compatibility and chemical stability of the novel lipopeptide antibiotic daptomycin, at 20 mg/mL, with 9 commonly administered intravenous medications: aztreonam, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, dopamine, gentamicin, fluconazole, heparin, levofloxacin, and lidocaine to support simultaneous Y-site administration. METHODS: Daptomycin was admixed with each medication separately in NaCl 0.9%, incubated at room temperature, and assayed at 30, 60, and 120 minutes. Physical stability was assessed by visual inspection and by turbidity measurements. Chemical stability was assessed by HPLC analysis using standard methods. RESULTS: All 9 daptomycin admixtures remained clear solutions, free of visible particulates. There were also few changes in turbidity (range 0 to -0.7 nephelometric turbidity units) during the study. In general, pH changes were within +/- 0.06 of baseline readings for all admixtures. HPLC analysis indicated no significant reduction (<4%) in daptomycin potency after 120 minutes at room temperature compared with baseline values in all 9 admixtures tested. In addition, there was no significant reduction (<5%) in potency compared with baseline values of the 9 medications tested in the daptomycin admixtures. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that solutions of 9 commonly administered intravenous medications simultaneously Y-site administered with daptomycin are stable and compatible, based on both physical and chemical potency analyses.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Daptomycin for the treatment of gram-positive bacteremia and infective endocarditis: a retrospective case series of 31 patients.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcomes in patients with bacteremia and/or infective endocarditis who were treated with daptomycin. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. SETTING: A university-affiliated medical center in Chicago, Illinois, and a regional hospital in Fountain Valley, California. PATIENTS: Thirty-one inpatients treated with daptomycin for bacteremia and/or infective endocarditis. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Patients were given daptomycin 4-6 mg/kg intravenously every 24-48 hours based on the practitioner's discretion and depending on the patient's clinical condition and presence of comorbidities. Primary end points were resolution of signs and symptoms of infection and discharge from the hospital. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ([MRSA] 11 patients) and vancomycin-resistant entercocci ([VRE] 11 patients) were the most common pathogens, whereas 7 patients had methicillin-sensitive S. aureus infection and 1 patient had coagulasenegative Staphylococcus infection. One patient with endocarditis had a negative culture result. Overall, 24 (77%) of the 31 patients achieved clinical resolution and were discharged, including all patients infected with MRSA; 7 patients died, 6 of whom had VRE infection. Duration of treatment for infective endocarditis lasted longer (typically 22-43 days) than that for bacteremia only (< or = 14 days), and no patients discontinued daptomycin because of adverse events. CONCLUSION: In these patients, daptomycin was safe and well tolerated even for extended durations of treatment. Daptomycin may provide an effective option for treating drug-resistant gram-positive bloodstream infections and endocarditis.

Adult↗

The safety and efficacy of daptomycin for the treatment of complicated skin and skin-structure infections.

Daptomycin is the first available agent from a new class of antibiotics, the cyclic lipopeptides, that has activity against a broad range of gram-positive pathogens, including organisms that are resistant to methicillin, vancomycin, and other currently available agents. Daptomycin (4 mg/kg intravenously [iv] every 24 h for 7-14 days) was compared with conventional antibiotics (penicillinase-resistant penicillins [4-12 g iv per day] or vancomycin [1 g iv every 12 h]) in 2 randomized, international trials involving 1092 patients with complicated skin and skin-structure infections. Among 902 clinically evaluable patients, clinical success rates were 83.4% and 84.2% for the daptomycin- and comparator-treated groups, respectively (95% confidence interval, -4.0 to 5.6). Among patients successfully treated with iv daptomycin, 63% required only 4-7 days of therapy, compared with 33% of comparator-treated patients (P<.0001). The frequency and distribution of adverse events were similar among both treatment groups. Overall, the safety and efficacy of daptomycin were comparable with conventional therapy.

Adult↗

Development of linezolid and daptomycin resistance in vancomycin resistant Enterococcus faecium during antibiotic treatment.

The increasing incidence of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) over the past decade has reduced treatment options largely to linezolid and daptomycin. However, the emergence of resistance to both agents further complicates the management of VRE infections. While the mechanisms of linezolid resistance are relatively well understood, those underlying daptomycin resistance remain less clearly defined. In this study, we analyzed genomic changes associated with the development of linezolid and daptomycin resistance in initially susceptible isolates following treatment at a Danish university hospital. Phenotypic susceptibility testing and whole-genome sequencing were performed on eight isolates obtained from the same patient. We identified two distinct Enterococcus&#xa0;faecium clones with different mechanisms of linezolid resistance. Linezolid resistance was associated with a G2576T mutation in the 23S rRNA gene (ST80 clone) and the presence of the poxtA gene (ST3082 clone). The ST80 clone also developed daptomycin resistance during therapy. We found that daptomycin resistance might result from either a G173R substitution in a gene annotated as an "ABC transporter ATP-binding protein (LolD)" or a nonsense mutation (Q58*) in phosphoketolase, with both alterations potentially acting synergistically, but further studies are warranted to confirm if these mutations can confer resistance. Together with these findings, the study demonstrates that a single patient may harbor multiple E. faecium clones simultaneously, highlighting the risk of treatment failure if all clones are not accurately identified.

Daptomycin↗

A well-defined amphipathic conformation for the calcium-free cyclic lipopeptide antibiotic, daptomycin, in aqueous solution.

Daptomycin is a 13-residue cyclic lipopeptide with Ca2+-dependent bactericidal activity against a variety of high-risk pathogens. Ring closure in daptomycin is via an ester linkage between the side chain of Thr4 and the C-terminal carboxyl of the main chain; the N-terminal residue is capped by a decanoyl aliphatic chain. Extensive NMR data obtained under solution conditions that minimize aggregation have provided constraints for a detailed conformational analysis of daptomycin in aqueous solution, which should facilitate the rational design of improved analogs and enhance understanding of its mode of action. Transannular and shorter-range nuclear Overhauser effects (NOEs) as well as amide temperature shifts and 3J(NH alpha) coupling constants indicate that daptomycin adopts a well-defined conformation containing a distorted hairpin formed by Gly5-D-Ala6 type II' beta-turn. A number of hydrophobic moieties (the lipid N-cap and the Trp1 and Kyn13 side chains) are clustered at one end of the hairpin, while neutral polar and anionic residues are localized on the other end, leading to amphipathicity in the molecule. These features suggest a mode of action in which the large hydrophobic cluster of the peptide interacts with the acyl chain region of a membrane. This interaction may be facilitated by Ca2+ ions, both by neutralizing the anionic charges and by favoring association with the membrane head groups. Interestingly, our findings differ from two recent articles in which the aqueous conformation of Ca2+-free daptomycin is reported to lack a well-defined conformation (D. Jung, A. Rozek, M. Okron, and R. E. W. Hancock, Chemistry & Biology, 2004, Vol. 11, pp. 949-957) or is suggested to populate an alternate conformation (L.-J. Ball, C. M. Goult, J. A. Donarski, J. Micklefield, and V. Ramesh, Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry, 2004, Vol. 2, pp. 1872-1878).

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗