Inhibitory effect of fidaxomicin on biofilm formation in Clostridioides difficile.

Clostridioides difficile infection results from a disturbance of the normal microbial flora of the colon, allowing proliferation of C. difficile and toxin production by toxigenic strains. Fidaxomicin, a macrocyclic antibiotic that prevents RNA synthesis in C.

The gut microbiome diversity of Clostridioides difficile-inoculated mice treated with vancomycin and fidaxomicin.

Objective: To investigate the effect of vancomycin and fidaxomicin on the diversity of intestinal microbiota in a mouse model of Clostridioides difficile infection.

Methods: Mice were divided into 11 models (4 mice per model): 6 uninoculated models and 5 models inoculated with C. difficile BI/NAP1/027.

Antiviral efficacy of the helicase-primase inhibitor amenamevir in murine models of severe herpesvirus infection.

Existing treatments have limited efficacy against severe infection associated with herpes simplex virus (HSV) and herpes zoster virus (VZV), particularly in immunocompromized patients and those with multidermatomal infection. This issue, along with issues regarding drug resistance, support the need for improved therapeutic options. To investigate the antiviral effect of amenamevir, a VZV and HSV helicase-primase inhibitor, in severe infection conditions, mouse models of severe HSV-1 infection were developed by immunosuppression or multidermatomal infection.

Integrative pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling and simulation of amenamevir (ASP2151) for treatment of recurrent genital herpes.

Amenamevir is a novel drug that targets the viral helicase-primase complex. While dose-dependent efficacy had been observed in non-clinical studies, no clear dose dependence has been observed in humans. We therefore developed a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) model to explain this inconsistency between species and to clarify the immune-related healing of amenamevir in humans.

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of ASP2151, a helicase-primase inhibitor, in a murine model of herpes simplex virus infection.

ASP2151 (amenamevir) is a helicase-primase inhibitor against herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), HSV-2, and varicella zoster virus. Here, to determine and analyze the correlation between the pharmacodynamic (PD) and pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters of ASP2151, we examined the PD profile of ASP2151 using in vitro plaque reduction assay and a murine model of HSV-1 infection. ASP2151 inhibited the in vitro replication of HSV-1 with a mean 50% effective concentration (EC(50)) of 14 ng/ml.

Synergistic activity of amenamevir (ASP2151) with nucleoside analogs against herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 and varicella-zoster virus.

ASP2151 (amenamevir) is a helicase-primase complex inhibitor with antiviral activity against herpes simplex virus HSV-1, HSV-2, and varicella-zoster virus (VZV). To assess combination therapy of ASP2151 with existing antiherpes agents against HSV-1, HSV-2, and VZV, we conducted in vitro and in vivo studies of two-drug combinations. The combination activity effect of ASP2151 with nucleoside analogs acyclovir (ACV), penciclovir (PCV), or vidarabine (VDB) was tested via plaque-reduction assay and MTS assay, and the data were analyzed using isobolograms and response surface modeling.

Characterization of virus strains resistant to the herpes virus helicase-primase inhibitor ASP2151 (Amenamevir).

ASP2151 is an antiherpes agent targeting the helicase-primase complex of herpes simplex virus (HSV)-1, HSV-2, and varicella-zoster virus (VZV). We characterized the ASP2151-resistant HSV-1 and HSV-2 variants or mutants based on findings from sequencing analysis, growth, pathogenicity, and susceptibility testing, identifying several single base-pair substitutions resulting in amino acid changes in the helicase and primase subunit of ASP2151-resistant mutants. Amino acid alterations in the helicase subunit were clustered near helicase motif IV in the UL5 helicase gene of both HSV-1 and HSV-2, while the primase subunit substitution associated with reduced susceptibility, R367H, was found in ASP2151-resistant HSV-1 mutants.

Susceptibility of herpes simplex virus isolated from genital herpes lesions to ASP2151, a novel helicase-primase inhibitor.

ASP2151 (amenamevir) is a helicase-primase inhibitor against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), HSV-2, and varicella-zoster virus. To evaluate the anti-HSV activity of ASP2151, susceptibility testing was performed on viruses isolated from patients participating in a placebo- and valacyclovir-controlled proof-of-concept phase II study for recurrent genital herpes. A total of 156 HSV strains were isolated prior to the dosing of patients, and no preexisting variants with less susceptibility to ASP2151 or acyclovir (ACV) were detected.

Effect of ASP2151, a herpesvirus helicase-primase inhibitor, in a guinea pig model of genital herpes.

ASP2151 is a herpesvirus helicase-primase inhibitor with antiviral activity against varicella zoster virus and herpes simplex virus types 1 (HSV-1) and 2 (HSV-2). Here, we examined the potency and efficacy of ASP2151 against HSV in vitro and in vivo. We found that ASP2151 was more potent in inhibiting the replication of HSV-1 and HSV-2 in Vero cells in the plaque reduction assay and had greater anti-HSV activity in a guinea pig model of genital herpes than did acyclovir and valacyclovir (VACV), respectively.

ASP2151, a novel helicase-primase inhibitor, possesses antiviral activity against varicella-zoster virus and herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2.

Objectives: To evaluate and describe the anti-herpesvirus effect of ASP2151, amenamevir, a novel non-nucleoside oxadiazolylphenyl-containing herpesvirus helicase-primase complex inhibitor.

Methods: The inhibitory effect of ASP2151 on enzymatic activities associated with a recombinant HSV-1 helicase-primase complex was assessed. To investigate the effect on viral DNA replication, we analysed viral DNA in cells infected with herpesviruses [herpes simplex virus (HSV), varicella-zoster virus (VZV) and human cytomegalovirus].

Mucosal acid causes gastric mucosal microcirculatory disturbance in nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-treated rats.

The mechanism by which nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) suppress gastric mucosal blood flow is not fully understood, although the depletion of mucosal prostaglandin E2 has been proposed as one possible explanation. We investigated the role of gastric acid on gastric mucosal blood flow in NSAID-treated rats. A rat stomach was mounted in an ex vivo chamber, and gastric mucosal blood flow was measured sequentially in a 5-mm2 area of the gastric corpus using a scanning laser Doppler perfusion image system.

A cell model study of calcium influx mechanism regulated by calcium-dependent potassium channels in Purkinje cell dendrites.

The present study was designed to elucidate the roles of dendritic voltage-gated K+ channels in Ca2+ influx mechanism of a rat Purkinje cell using a computer simulation program. First, we improved the channel descriptions and the maximum conductance in the Purkinje cell model to mimic both the kinetics of ion channels and the Ca2+ spikes, which had failed in previous studies. Our cell model is, therefore, much more authentic than those in previous studies.

Non-ocular dermal photoreception in the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis.

Based on the results of previous behavioral experiments, researchers believe that sensitivity to light stimuli is not restricted to the eyes in the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis. To determine the presence of a non-ocular dermal photoreception system and to examine the synaptic connections between this peripheral system and the central nervous system, we electrophysiologically examined the activities of the pedal nerves in L. stagnalis by light stimulation.