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Tuberculosis causes nearly two million deaths per year world-wide. In addition multidrug-resistant mycobacterial strains rapidly emerge so novel therapeutic approaches are needed. Recently, several promising mycobacterial target molecules were identified, which are involved in bacterial or host cell signalling e.g. the serine/threonine protein kinases, PknB and PknG, NAD kinase and the NAD synthetase. Here we describe some early efforts in the development of novel signal transduction inhibitory anti-mycobacterial drugs using a multiple target approach, with special emphasis on the kinase inhibitory field. Initially, we are using the Nested Chemical Library (NCL) technology and pharmacophore modelling. A hit-finding library, consisting of approximately 19000 small molecules with a bias for prototypic kinase inhibitors from our NCL library and commercial sources was virtually screened against these validated target molecules. Protein structures for the virtual screening were taken from the published three dimensional crystal structures of the enzymes. The hits from the virtual screening were subsequently tested in enzymatic assay systems. Potent hits were then tested for biological activity in macrophages, infected with mycobacteria. The final goal of this exercise is not only to identify potent anti-mycobacterial substances, but also a common pharmacophore for the mycobacterial target PknG in combination with PknB, NAD kinase and/or NAD synthetase. This common pharmacophore still needs to be a unique pharmacophore for the mycobacterial target proteins over human off-targets. Such a pharmacophore might then drive the optimization of a completely new profile of an antibiotic agent with activity against latent mycobacteria and resistance mycobacterial strains.

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Recent investigations of oil reservoirs in a variety of locales have indicated that these habitats may harbor active thermophilic prokaryotic assemblages. In this study, we used both molecular and culture-based methods to characterize prokaryotic consortia associated with high-temperature, sulfur-rich oil reservoirs in California. Enrichment cultures designed for anaerobic thermophiles, both autotrophic and heterotrophic, were successful at temperatures ranging from 60 to 90 degrees C. Heterotrophic enrichments from all sites yielded sheathed rods (Thermotogales), pleomorphic rods resembling Thermoanaerobacter, and Thermococcus-like isolates. The predominant autotrophic microorganisms recovered from inorganic enrichments using H(2), acetate, and CO(2) as energy and carbon sources were methanogens, including isolates closely related to Methanobacterium, Methanococcus, and Methanoculleus species. Two 16S rRNA gene (rDNA) libraries were generated from total community DNA collected from production wellheads, using either archaeal or universal oligonucleotide primer sets. Sequence analysis of the universal library indicated that a large percentage of clones were highly similar to known bacterial and archaeal isolates recovered from similar habitats. Represented genera in rDNA clone libraries included Thermoanaerobacter, Thermococcus, Desulfothiovibrio, Aminobacterium, Acidaminococcus, Pseudomonas, Halomonas, Acinetobacter, Sphingomonas, Methylobacterium, and Desulfomicrobium. The archaeal library was dominated by methanogen-like rDNAs, with a lower percentage of clones belonging to the Thermococcales. Our results strongly support the hypothesis that sulfur-utilizing and methane-producing thermophilic microorganisms have a widespread distribution in oil reservoirs and the potential to actively participate in the biogeochemical transformation of carbon, hydrogen, and sulfur in situ.

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From a shallow marine hydrothermal system at Vulcano (Italy), a new hyperthermophilic member of the Archaea was isolated. The cells are coccoid - shaped and possess up to five flagella. They grow between 56 degrees and 93 degrees C (optimum 85 degrees C) and pH 5.0-9.5 (optimum 9.0). The organism is strictly anaerobic and grows heterotrophically on defined amino acids and complex organic substrates such as casamino acids, yeast extract, peptone, meat extract, tryptone, and casein. Polysulfide and elemental sulfur are reduced to H2S. In the absence of polysulfide or elemental sulfur, the isolate grows at a significantly reduced rate. Growth is not influenced by the presence of H2. DNA- DNA hybridization and 16S rRNA partial sequences indicated that the new isolate belongs to the genus Thermococcus, and represents a new species, Thermococcus acidaminovorans. The type stain is isolate AEDII10 (DSM 11906).

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A novel, irregular, coccoid-shaped archaeum was isolated from a hydrothermally heated black smoker wall at the TAG site at the Mid Atlantic Ridge (depth 3650 meters). It grew at between 90 degrees C and 113 degrees C (optimum 106 degrees C) and pH 4.0-6.5 (optimum 5.5) and 1%-4% salt (optimum 1.7%). The organism was a facultatively aerobic obligate chemolithoautotroph gaining energy by H2-oxidation. Nitrate, S2O3(2-), and low concentrations of O2 (up to 0.3% v/v) served as electron acceptors, yielding NH4+, H2S, and H2O as end products, respectively. Growth was inhibited by acetate, pyruvate, glucose, starch, or sulfur. The new isolate was able to form colonies on plates (at 102 degrees C) and to grow at a pressure of 25000 kPa (250 bar). Exponentially growing cultures survived a one-hour autoclaving at 121 degrees C. The GC content was 53 mol%. The core lipids consisted of glycerol-dialkyl glycerol tetraethers and traces of 2,3-di-O-phytanyl-sn-glycerol. The cell wall was composed of a surface layer of tetrameric protein complexes arranged on a p4-lattice (center-to-center distance 18.5 nm). By its 16S rRNA sequence, the new isolate belonged to the Pyrodictiaceae. Based on its GC-content, DNA homology, S-layer composition, and metabolism, we describe here a new genus, which we name Pyrolobus (the "fire lobe"). The type species is Pyrolobus fumarii (type strain 1A; DSM 11204).

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The strictly anaerobic Archaeon Ferroglobus placidus was grown chemolithoautotrophically on H2 and nitrate and analyzed for enzymes and coenzymes possibly involved in autotrophic CO2 fixation. The following enzymes were found [values in parentheses = µmol min-1 (mg protein)-1]: formylmethanofuran dehydrogenase (0.2), formylmethanofuran:tetrahydromethanopterin formyltransferase (0.6), methenyltetrahydromethanopterin cyclohydrolase (10), F420-dependent methylenetetrahydromethanopterin dehydrogenase (1.5), F420-dependent methylenetetrahydromethanopterin reductase (0.4), and carbon monoxide dehydrogenase (0.1). The cells contained coenzyme F420 (0.4 nmol/mg protein), tetrahydromethanopterin (0.9 nmol/ mg protein), and cytochrome b (4 nmol/mg membrane protein). From the enzyme and coenzyme composition of the cells, we deduced that autotrophic CO2 fixation in F. placidus proceeds via the carbon monoxide dehydrogenase pathway as in autotrophically growing Archaeoglobus and Methanoarchaea species. Evidence is also presented that cell extracts of F. placidus catalyze the reduction of two molecules of nitrite to 1 N2O with NO as intermediate (0.1 µmol N2O formed per min and mg protein), showing that - at least in principle - F. placidus has a denitrifying capacity.

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A novel coccoid, anaerobic, Fe2+-oxidizing archaeum was isolated from a shallow submarine hydrothermal system at Vulcano, Italy. In addition to ferrous iron, H2 and sulfide served as electron donors. NO3- was used as electron acceptor. In the presence of H2, also S2O32- could serve as electron acceptor. The isolate was a neutrophilic hyperthermophile that grew between 65 degrees C and 95 degrees C. It represents a novel genus among the Archaeoglobales that we name Ferroglobus. The type species is Ferroglobus placidus (DSM 10642).

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A novel coccoid-shaped, hyperthermophilic, heterotrophic member of the archaea was isolated from a shallow marine hydrothermal system at Vulcano Island, Italy. The isolate grew between 56 and 90 degrees C with an optimum around 85 degrees C. The pH range for growth was 6.5 to 10.5, with an optimum around 9.0. Polysulfide and elemental sulfur were reduced to H2S. Sulfur stimulated the growth rate. The isolate fermented yeast extract, peptone, meat extract, tryptone, and casein. Isovalerate, isobutyrate, propionate, acetate, CO2, NH3, and H2S (in the presence of S degrees ) were detected as end products. Growth was not inhibited by H2. Based on DNA-DNA hybridization and 16S rRNA partial sequences, the new isolate represents a new species of Thermococcus, which we named Thermococcus alcaliphilus. The type strain is isolate AEDII12 (DSM 10322).

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