Donald G. Lindmark

Antitrichomonad Action, Mutagenicity, and Reduction of Metronidazole and Other Nitroimidazoles

Twelve 4- and 5-nitroimidazole derivatives, including metronidazole and two of its metabolites, tinidazole, dimetridazole, and nimorazole, were tested for antitrichomonad action on Tritrichomonas foetus (KV1) and Trichomonas vaginalis (ATCC 30001) for mutagenicity on a nitroreductase-positive (TA 100) and a nitroreductase-deficient (TA 100-FR1) strain of Salmonella typhimurium, as well as for the reducibility of the nitro group by T. foetus homogenates. Compounds with activity <1% of that of metronidazole are regarded as inactive. All antitrichomonad compounds induce mutations and can be reduced. S. typhimurium TA 100 gave mutations under both aerobiosis and anaerobiosis; TA 100-FR1, however, gave mutations only under anaerobiosis. Certain compounds that are reducible, and the nonreducible derivatives, were inactive. Metronidazole and its inactive 4-nitro analogue were reduced in a four-electron process in ferredoxin- or methyl viologen-mediated reactions with the same velocity. The results underscore the role of the reduction of the nitro group in the antitrichomonad and in the mutagenic activity of nitroimidazoles.

Energy metabolism of the anaerobic protozoon Giardia lamblia

Cells of the aerotolerant anaerobe Giardia lamblia respire in the presence of oxygen. Endogenous respiration is stimulated by glucose but not by other carbohydrates and Krebs cycle intermediates. Endogenous and glucose-stimulated respiration are insensitive to cyanide, malonate, and 2,4-dinitrophenol, but are inhibited by atabrin and iodoacetamide. G. lamblia produces ethanol, acetate and CO2 both aerobically and anaerobically either from endogenous reserves or exogenous glucose. Molecular hydrogen is not produced. The following enzyme activities were detected in homogenates: hexokinase, fructose-biphosphate aldolase, pyruvate kinase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, malate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase (decarboxylating), pyruvate synthase, acetyl-CoA synthetase, alcohol dehydrogenase (NADP+), NADH dehydrogenase, NADPH dehydrogenase, NADPH oxidoreductase and superoxide dismutase. The enzymes of energy and carbohydrate metabolism are nonsedimentable (109 000 x g for 30 min). Activities of lactate dehydrogenase, hydrogenase, phosphate acetyltransferase, acetate kinase, citrate synthase, succinate dehydrogenase, fumarate hydratase and catalase were below the limits of detection. The results suggest the occurrence of glycolysis, energy production by substrate level phosphorylation and a flavin, iron-sulfur protein mediated electron transport system as well as the absence of cytochrome mediated oxidative phosphorylation and functional Krebs cycle.

Uptake of Metronidazole and Its Effect on Viability in Trichomonads and Entamoeba invadens Under Anaerobic and Aerobic Conditions

[14C]metronidazole used at the chemotherapeutic concentration of 10 μg/ml is taken up rapidly by the anaerobic protozoa Tritrichomonas foetus, Trichomonas vaginalis, and Entamoeba invadens kept under anaerobic conditions. It can be calculated that within 30 to 60 min the intracellular concentration of the label is 50 to 100 times higher than in the medium. The presence of air markedly suppresses the uptake in the trichomonads and abolishes it in E. invadens. The suppression disappears after anaerobic conditions are established. The rate of uptake in T. foetus is dependent on the concentration of the drug in the range studied (1 to 200 μg/ml). Analysis of double reciprocal plots suggests that the drug enters the cells predominantly or exclusively by diffusion. The major factor driving the uptake is most likely the intracellular biotransformation of the compound. If less than 3 μg of drug per mg of protein is taken up by T. foetus no decrease in viability is observed. Above this level the cytotoxic activity corresponds roughly to the amount accumulated in the cell, irrespective of whether the conditions are anaerobic or aerobic.

Assay Conditions and the Demonstration of Nitroimidazole Resistance in Tritrichomonas foetus

Tritrichomonas foetus KV1, a nitroimidazole-susceptible strain, and KV1/M100, its nitroimidazole-resistant daughter strain, differed markedly in their in vivo susceptibility to metronidazole. In vitro susceptibility testing in multiwell plates and tubes with different trichomonad media containing no, or low concentrations of, ascorbate demonstrated that the resistant strain behaves like the susceptible one, if tested under anaerobic conditions (deep cultures in tubes or multiwell plates in anaerobic jars), but shows resistance if tested in the presence of air (multiwell plates exposed to air). In media containing high concentrations of ascorbate, no resistance was observed even in air. The results suggest that the two strains differ in the regulation of internal redox systems and underscore the role testing methods may play in the in vitro detection of nitroimidazole-resistant protozoan parasites.

Inorganic pyrophosphatase and nucleoside diphosphatase in the parasitic protozoon, Entamoeba histolytica☆

Abstract Entamoeba histolytica contains two acid pyrophosphatases. One is an inorganic pyrophosphatase with a relatively high Km ( ⋍ 1 mM) and no cation requirement. The other is a nucleoside diphosphatase with a relatively low Km ( ⋍ 50 μM) and Ca2+ requirement. No Mg2+ dependent neutral or alkaline inorganic pyrophosphatase is present. The pyrophosphatases are localized in subcellular particles, display structure-linked latency and are tightly bound to membranes.

Biliary and renal excretion, hepatic metabolism, and hepatic subcellular distribution of metronidazole in the rat

Abstract We studied the biliary and renal excretion, hepatic metabolism, and hepatic subcellular distribution of [14C]metronidazole in bile fistula rats. An average of 71.1 per cent of an intraduodenal or intravenous dose of [14C]metronidazole was excreted in 24 hr, 23.9 per cent in bile and 47.6 per cent in urine. Renal pedicle ligation caused a 150 per cent increase in biliary excretion of label, whereas phenobarbital pretreatment had no effect. The majority of label in bile and urine was associated with a polar derivative, tentatively identified by thin-layer chromatography and enzymatic hydrolysis as the monoglucuronide conjugate of metronidazole. After intraduodenal administration of purified conjugated [14C]metronidazole to rats with ligated renal pedicles, only a small amount of label (12.6 per cent of dose in 24 hr) appeared in bile. Growth inhibition studies showed the glucuronide conjugate to be devoid of antimicrobial activity against a metronidazole-sensitive organism, Tritrichomonas foetus. Uptake studies indicated that these organisms were incapable of concentrating conjugated metronidazole. Fractionation of rat liver homogenates by differential centrifugation after intravenous [14C]metronidazole showed that 90 per cent of label present in liver was in the non-particulate fraction. Our results in rats indicate that metronidazole undergoes an enterohepatic circulation and that the liver plays a major role in the metabolism and excretion of this compound.

Respiration of Tritrichomonas foetus: Components detected in hydrogenosomes and in intact cells by electron paramagnetic resonance spectrometry

Electron paramagnetic resonance spectrometry (EPR) techniques revealed a complex set of redox components in intact respiring cells of Tritrichomonas foetus, an aerotolerant anaerobic protozoon which lacks mitochondria. One of the two main systems of terminal respiration of this organism is the hydrogenosomal system, which oxidizes pyruvate and other substrates. EPR analysis of hydrogenosome-enriched fractions, prepared by differential centrifugation, revealed the presence of at least five redox components with midpoint potentials ranging from -305 to -115 mV; most of these are likely to represent iron-sulfur clusters. Signals indicating relatively stable flavin free radicals were also observed. Involvement of these multiple redox components in the electron transport system of T. foetus hydrogenosomes is suggested.

Effects of 2,4-dinitrophenol on trichomonads and Entamoeba invadens.

1. 2,4-Dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP) in substrate level concentrations (200 microM-1 mM) temporarily inhibits H2 production by Tritrichomonas foetus and Trichomonas vaginalis as well as the accumulation of metronidazole, dependent on its reduction by the two trichomonad species and by Entamoeba invadens. 2. 2,4-DNP competes for the reducing equivalents which are necessary for H2 production or for the reduction of metronidazole, thereby inhibiting these processes. 2,4-DNP is reduced to 2-amino, 4-nitrophenol. 3. 2,4-DNP in concentrations up to 800 microM has no effect on the uptake of O2 by these organisms. 4. 2,4-DNP has some toxicity for T. foetus.