Submit to IJERPH Review for IJERPH Propose a Special Issue

Journal Browser

Recent Advances towards the Design of Environment-Friendly Quinolone Antibiotics based on Theoretical Approach

Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Published Papers

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Science and Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2020) | Viewed by 13585

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Yu Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

College of Environmental Science and Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing, China
Interests: environmental chemistry; theoretical chemistry; environmental pollution control; pollutant form migration and transformation; environmental planning and impact assessment

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In our society, many natural and synthetic compounds are widely used in the medical field. Antibiotics, a product of both natural and synthetic, have been developed to treat various bacterial infections or inhibit pathogenic microbial infections, such as intestinal infections, respiratory infections, and other diseases. Quinolones are a kind of antibiotic with keto acid as the common framework. They have been widely used for the clinical treatment of human and veterinary diseases because of their broad spectrum of antibacterial activity, high antibacterial action, and strong tissue penetration. Unfortunately, the extensive use of quinolones leads to the continuous infusion of quinolones and their active ingredients into the water, making them frequently detected in environmental samples. The persistence of quinolones residues in the aquatic system could lead to a serious and unpredictable threat to the ecosystem and human health.

Quinolones enter into the water environment through the direct discharge of human and animal feces, and the aquaculture industry’s drug use and wastewater. This kind of water environment contains various toxic organic compounds, which are difficult to degrade and have high concentrations of active ingredients. Although the water has been heavily treated beforehand, the components of quinolones and their residues still have a strong inhibition on the growth of microorganisms in the wastewater. Due to the characteristics of large water quality and water fluctuation, quinolones will continue to migrate and diffuse in water.

Aside from the low degradability of quinolones, their metabolites also have the same or even stronger toxicity than the quinolones, and may be transformed into antibiotic drugs. For example, moxifloxacin, as a kind of quinolone, can produce chlorinated products with higher genotoxicity in a low-dose chlorination reaction. A high-dose chlorination reaction, on the other hand, can easily produce many chlorinated products with an isomeric effect.

To overcome the above problems, the aim of this Special Issue is to summarize recent research findings in the field of rational drug design through using the molecular model of the structural characteristics of the ligands and receptors. Thus, the inclusion of degradation studies, metabolites analysis, environmental pollution, adverse reaction, drug design, and theoretical studies of the structure–activity relationship of quinolones are welcome. The critical visions from the contributors will help us to understand and emphasize the advances in our knowledge of the degradation of quinolones and their metabolites.

Prof. Dr. Yu Li
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

Modification of quinolone antibiotics to be environment-friendly based on a theoretical approach
Assessment on the environmental pollution control and human health effect of antimicrobial/antibiotics
Degradation of antimicrobial/antibiotic residues in the environment, such as biodegradation and photodegradation
Detection aspects of antimicrobial/antibiotic residues in the environment
Assessment of the risks of various antimicrobial/antibiotic conversion products in the environment or the combined toxicity to the environment and organisms
Reduction of multiple adverse reactions of antimicrobial/antibiotic in the environment
Remediation of antimicrobial/antibiotic metal resistant genes/bacteria in the environment, focusing on issues related to antimicrobial/antibiotic residues/resistance in the environment
Toxic mechanism of antimicrobial/antibiotics

Published Papers (5 papers)

Download All Papers

Research

25 pages, 1306 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Integration of Fuzzy Matter-Element Method and 3D-QSAR Model for Generation of Environmentally Friendly Quinolone Derivatives

by Xixi Li, Baiyu Zhang, Wendy Huang, Cuirin Cantwell and Bing Chen

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(9), 3239; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph17093239 - 6 May 2020

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2119

Abstract

The environmental pollution of quinolone antibiotics (QAs) has caused rising public concern due to their widespread usage. In this study, Gaussian 09 software was used to obtain the infrared spectral intensity (IRI) and ultraviolet spectral intensity (UVI) of 24 QAs based on the Density Functional Theory (DFT). Rather than using two single-factor inputs, a fuzzy matter-element method was selected to calculate the combined effects of infrared and ultraviolet spectra (CI). The Comparative Molecular Field Analysis (CoMFA) was then used to construct a three-dimensional quantitative structure–activity relationship (3D-QSAR) with QAs’ molecular structure as the independent variable and CI as the dependent variable. Using marbofloxacin and levofloxacin as target molecules, the molecular design of 87 QA derivatives was carried out. The developed models were further used to determine the stability, functionality (genetic toxicity), and the environmental effects (bioaccumulation, biodegradability) of these designed QA derivatives. Results indicated that all QA derivatives are stable in the environment with their IRI, UVI, and CI enhanced. Meanwhile, the genetic toxicity of the 87 QA derivatives increased by varying degrees (0.24%–29.01%), among which the bioaccumulation and biodegradability of 43 QA derivatives were within the acceptable range. Through integration of fuzzy matter-element method and 3D-QSAR, this study advanced the QAs research with the enhanced CI and helped to generate the proposed environmentally friendly quinolone derivatives so as to aid the management of this class of antibiotics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances towards the Design of Environment-Friendly Quinolone Antibiotics based on Theoretical Approach)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 7969 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Double-Activity (Green Algae Toxicity and Bacterial Genotoxicity) 3D-QSAR Model Based on the Comprehensive Index Method and Its Application in Fluoroquinolones’ Modification

by Lu-ze Yang and Miao Liu

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(3), 942; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph17030942 - 3 Feb 2020

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 2663

Abstract

The comparative molecular similarity index analysis (CoMSIA) model of double-activity quinolones targeting green algae toxicity and bacterial genotoxicity (8:2) was constructed in this paper on the basis of the comprehensive index method. The contour maps of the model were analyzed for molecular modifications with high toxicities. In the CoMSIA model, the optimum number of components n was 7, the cross-validated q² value was 0.58 (>0.5), the standard deviation standard error of estimate (SEE) was 0.02 (<0.95), F was 1265.33, and the non-cross-validated R² value was 1 (>0.9), indicating that the model had a good fit and predicting ability. The scrambling stability test parameters Q², cross-validated standard error of prediction (cSDEP), and dq²/dr²yy were 0.54, 0.25, and 0.8 (<1.2), respectively, indicating that the model had good stability. The external verification coefficient r²_pred was 0.73 (>0.6), and standard error of prediction (SEP) was 0.17, indicating that the model had a good external prediction ability. The contribution rates of the steric fields, electrostatic fields, hydrophobic fields, hydrogen bond donor, and acceptor fields were 10.9%, 19.8%, 32.7%, 13.8%, and 22.8%, respectively. Large volume groups were selected for modification of ciprofloxacin (CIP), and the derivatives with increased double-activity characterization values were screened; the increase ratio ranged from 12.31–19.09%. The frequency of derivatives were positive and total energy, bioaccumulation, and environmental persistence was reduced, indicating that the CIP derivatives had good environmental stability and friendliness. Predicted values and CoMSIA model constructed of single activities showed that the CoMSIA model of double activities had accuracy and reliability. In addition, the total scores of the derivatives docking with the D1 protein, ferredoxin-NADP (H) reductases (FNRs), and DNA gyrase increased, indicating that derivatives can be toxic to green algae by affecting the photosynthesis of green algae. The mechanism behind the bactericidal effect was also explained from a molecular perspective. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances towards the Design of Environment-Friendly Quinolone Antibiotics based on Theoretical Approach)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 3710 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Combined 2D-QSAR, Principal Component Analysis and Sensitivity Analysis Studies on Fluoroquinolones’ Genotoxicity

by Meijin Du, Dan Zhang, Yilin Hou, Xiaohui Zhao and Yu Li

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(21), 4156; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph16214156 - 28 Oct 2019

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 3088

Abstract

In this paper, two-dimensional quantitative structure–activity relationship (2D-QSAR) and principal component analysis (PCA) methods were employed to screen the main parameters affecting the genotoxicity of fluoroquinolones (FQs), and the rules affecting the genetic toxicity of FQs were investigated by combining 2D-QSAR and PCA with the sensitivity analysis method. First, four types of parameters were calculated, namely, the geometric parameters (7), electronic parameters (5), physical and chemical parameters (8), and spectral parameters (7), but the physical and chemical parameters heat of formation (HF) and critical volume (CV) were excluded after the establishment of the 2D-QSAR model. Then, after PCA, it was found that the first principal component represented the main driving factors affecting the molecular genetic toxicity of FQs. In addition, after comprehensive analysis of the factor loading of the first, second, and third principal components, seven parameters affecting the genotoxicity of the FQs were screened out, namely, total energy (TE), critical temperature (CT), and molecular weight (Mol Wt) (increased with increasing genotoxicity of the FQs) and steric parameter (MR), quadrupole moment Q_XX (Q_XX), quadrupole moment Q_YY (Q_YY), and boiling point (BP) (decreased with increasing genotoxicity of the FQs); the above key parameters were also verified by sensitivity analysis. The obtained rules could be used to determine the substitution sites and the substitution groups associated with higher genotoxicity in the process of FQ modification, and these rules agreed well with the hologram quantitative structure–activity relationship (HQSAR) model. Finally, it was also found through SPSS analysis that the parameters screened in this paper were significantly correlated with FQ derivatives’ genetic toxicity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances towards the Design of Environment-Friendly Quinolone Antibiotics based on Theoretical Approach)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

33 pages, 4406 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Molecular Modification of Fluoroquinolone-Biodegrading Enzymes Based on Molecular Docking and Homology Modelling

by Si-cheng Liu, Shi-jun Sun, Peng Cui and Yi-fan Ding

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(18), 3407; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph16183407 - 13 Sep 2019

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2946

Abstract

To improve the biodegradation efficiency of fluoroquinolone antibiotics during sewage treatment, fluoroquinolone aerobic, anaerobic and facultative degrading enzymes for fluoroquinolone degradation were modified by molecular docking and homology modelling. First, amino acid residues of the binding sites of degrading enzymes for the target fluoroquinolones ciprofloxacin (CIP), norfloxacin (NOR) and ofloxacin (OFL) were analysed by the molecular docking method. The hydrophobic amino acid residues within 5 Å of the target fluoroquinolone molecules were selected as the modification sites. The hydrophobic amino acid residues at the modified sites were replaced by the hydrophilic amino acid residues, and 150 amino acid sequence modification schemes of the degrading enzymes were designed. Subsequently, a reconstruction scheme of the degrading enzyme amino acid sequence reconstruction scheme was submitted to the SWISS-MODEL server and a selected homology modelling method was used to build a new structure of the degrading enzyme. At the same time, the binding affinities between the novel degrading enzymes and the target fluoroquinolones (represented by the docking scoring function) were evaluated by the molecular docking method. It was found that the novel enzymes can simultaneously improve the binding affinities for the three target fluoroquinolones, and the degradation ability of the six modification schemes was increased by more than 50% at the same time. Among the novel enzymes, the affinity effect of the novel anaerobic enzyme (6-1) with CIP, NOR and OFL was significantly increased, with increases of 129.24%, 165.06% and 169.59%, respectively, followed by the facultative enzyme and aerobic enzyme. In addition, the designed degrading enzymes had certain selectivity for the degradation of the target quinolone. Among the novel enzymes, the binding affinities of the novel anaerobic enzyme (6-3) and CIP, the novel aerobic enzyme (3-6) and NOR, and the novel facultative enzyme (13-6) and OFL were increased by 149.71%, 178.57% and 297.12% respectively. Calculations using the Gaussian09 software revealed that the degradation reaction barrier of the novel degrading enzyme (7-1) and CIP NOR and OFL decreased by 37.65 kcal·mol⁻¹, 6.28 kcal·mol⁻¹ and 6.28 kcal·mol⁻¹, respectively, which would result in efficient degradation of the target fluoroquinolone molecules. By analysing the binding affinity of the degrading enzymes before and after the modification with methanol, it was further speculated that the degradation effect of the modified aerobic degrading enzymes on organic matter was lower than that before the modification, and the increase or decrease in the degradation effect was less than 10%. The mechanism analysis found that the interaction between the modified amino acid residues of the degrading enzymes and the fluoroquinolone molecules increased. The average distance between the amino acid residues and the fluoroquinolone molecules represented a comprehensive affinity effect, and its value was positively correlated with the degradation effect of the novel degrading enzymes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances towards the Design of Environment-Friendly Quinolone Antibiotics based on Theoretical Approach)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 3958 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation Assistant 3D-QSAR of Environmentally Friendly FQs to Reduce ADRs

by Zhixing Ren, Yingwei Wang, Haihong Xu, Yufei Li and Song Han

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(17), 3161; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph16173161 - 29 Aug 2019

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 2463

Abstract

Most studies on adverse drug reactions (ADRs) of fluoroquinolones (FQs) have focused on the mechanisms of single ADRs, and no quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) method studies have been carried out that combine several ADRs of FQs. In this study, an improved three-dimensional (3D) QSAR method was established using fuzzy comprehensive evaluation. This method could simultaneously consider three common ADRs of FQs using molecular parameters. The improved method could comprehensively predict three ADRs of FQs and provide direction for the development of new drugs with lower ADRs than the originals. According to the improved method, 48 derivatives with lower ADRs (decreased by 4.86% to 50.92%) were designed from pazufloxacin. Three derivatives with a higher genotoxicity, higher photodegradation, and lower bioconcentration than pazufloxacin were selected using the constructed QSAR methods of the FQs. Finally, three traditional 3D-QSAR methods of single ADR were constructed to validate the improved method. The improved method was reasonable, with a relative error range of 0.96% to 4.30%. This study provides valuable reference data and will be useful for the development of strategies to produce new drugs with few ADRs. In the absence of complementary biological studies of these adverse drug reactions, the results reported here may be quite divergent from those found in humans or experimental animals in vivo. One major reason for this is that many adverse drug reactions are dependent upon enzyme-catalyzed metabolic activation (toxication) or on non-enzymatic conversion to toxic products and are not due to the parent drug moiety. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances towards the Design of Environment-Friendly Quinolone Antibiotics based on Theoretical Approach)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Recent Advances towards the Design of Environment-Friendly Quinolone Antibiotics based on Theoretical Approach

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Published Papers (5 papers)

Research

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI