Small Molecules from Medicinal Plant <i>Iris tectorum</i> as Histidine Kinase Inhibitor to Resensitize β-Lactam-Resistant <i>Escherichia coli</i>

Background: Due to the widespread use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, the problem of antibiotic resistance has become an increasingly serious global threat. One of the key mechanisms of <i>Escherichia coli</i> resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics is the production of beta-lactamase enzym...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Youqi Ji, Yinhuan Wang, Zhangkai Xu, Danlei Chen, Zhendi Yu, Qingyi Shao, Xin Hong, Zishu Liu, Dongqing Cheng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Molecules
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/3/663
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850199824717053952
author Youqi Ji
Yinhuan Wang
Zhangkai Xu
Danlei Chen
Zhendi Yu
Qingyi Shao
Xin Hong
Zishu Liu
Dongqing Cheng
author_facet Youqi Ji
Yinhuan Wang
Zhangkai Xu
Danlei Chen
Zhendi Yu
Qingyi Shao
Xin Hong
Zishu Liu
Dongqing Cheng
author_sort Youqi Ji
collection DOAJ
description Background: Due to the widespread use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, the problem of antibiotic resistance has become an increasingly serious global threat. One of the key mechanisms of <i>Escherichia coli</i> resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics is the production of beta-lactamase enzymes, which poses a dilemma for clinicians in selecting antibiotics when faced with resistant bacterial infections. However, research on the reversal of bacterial resistance is limited. Methods: This study involved the preparation of <i>Iris tectorum</i> extract and detection of its effects on antibiotics sensitivity, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) gene expression, and histidine kinase phosphorylation levels in β-lactam antibiotic-resistant <i>Escherichia coli</i>. Additionally, analyses of the active ingredients of <i>Iris tectorum</i> extract were conducted with a liquid chromatography–mass spectrometer, and the binding sites were predicted by molecular docking. Results: <i>Iris tectorum</i> extract could restore the sensitivity of <i>Escherichia coli</i> to beta-lactam antibiotics and reduce the expression levels of ESBL genes and histidine phosphorylation levels. The active ingredients of <i>Iris tectorum</i> extract may be irigenin and tectorigenin, and these two small molecules could bind to histidine kinase to inhibit phosphorylation. Conclusions: <i>Iris tectorum</i> extract may serve as an antibiotic adjuvant, restoring the sensitivity of antibiotic-resistant bacteria by inhibiting histidine kinase phosphorylation, thereby alleviating the problem of <i>Escherichia coli</i> resistance to β-lactam antibiotics.
format Article
id doaj-art-72b7e51e2b284a3ca70674de526a8d4d
institution OA Journals
issn 1420-3049
language English
publishDate 2025-02-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Molecules
spelling doaj-art-72b7e51e2b284a3ca70674de526a8d4d2025-08-20T02:12:31ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492025-02-0130366310.3390/molecules30030663Small Molecules from Medicinal Plant <i>Iris tectorum</i> as Histidine Kinase Inhibitor to Resensitize β-Lactam-Resistant <i>Escherichia coli</i>Youqi Ji0Yinhuan Wang1Zhangkai Xu2Danlei Chen3Zhendi Yu4Qingyi Shao5Xin Hong6Zishu Liu7Dongqing Cheng8School of Medical Technology and Information Engineering, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, ChinaZhejiang Institute for Food and Drug Control, Hangzhou 310052, ChinaSchool of Medical Technology and Information Engineering, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, ChinaSchool of Medical Technology and Information Engineering, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, ChinaSchool of Medical Technology and Information Engineering, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, ChinaSchool of Medical Technology and Information Engineering, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, ChinaDepartment of Green Pharmaceutical Collaborative Innovation Center, School of Pharmacy, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, ChinaCollege of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, ChinaSchool of Medical Technology and Information Engineering, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, ChinaBackground: Due to the widespread use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, the problem of antibiotic resistance has become an increasingly serious global threat. One of the key mechanisms of <i>Escherichia coli</i> resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics is the production of beta-lactamase enzymes, which poses a dilemma for clinicians in selecting antibiotics when faced with resistant bacterial infections. However, research on the reversal of bacterial resistance is limited. Methods: This study involved the preparation of <i>Iris tectorum</i> extract and detection of its effects on antibiotics sensitivity, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) gene expression, and histidine kinase phosphorylation levels in β-lactam antibiotic-resistant <i>Escherichia coli</i>. Additionally, analyses of the active ingredients of <i>Iris tectorum</i> extract were conducted with a liquid chromatography–mass spectrometer, and the binding sites were predicted by molecular docking. Results: <i>Iris tectorum</i> extract could restore the sensitivity of <i>Escherichia coli</i> to beta-lactam antibiotics and reduce the expression levels of ESBL genes and histidine phosphorylation levels. The active ingredients of <i>Iris tectorum</i> extract may be irigenin and tectorigenin, and these two small molecules could bind to histidine kinase to inhibit phosphorylation. Conclusions: <i>Iris tectorum</i> extract may serve as an antibiotic adjuvant, restoring the sensitivity of antibiotic-resistant bacteria by inhibiting histidine kinase phosphorylation, thereby alleviating the problem of <i>Escherichia coli</i> resistance to β-lactam antibiotics.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/3/663<i>Iris tectorum</i><i>Escherichia coli</i>β-lactam resistancehistidine kinasephosphorylationmolecular docking
spellingShingle Youqi Ji
Yinhuan Wang
Zhangkai Xu
Danlei Chen
Zhendi Yu
Qingyi Shao
Xin Hong
Zishu Liu
Dongqing Cheng
Small Molecules from Medicinal Plant <i>Iris tectorum</i> as Histidine Kinase Inhibitor to Resensitize β-Lactam-Resistant <i>Escherichia coli</i>
Molecules
<i>Iris tectorum</i>
<i>Escherichia coli</i>
β-lactam resistance
histidine kinase
phosphorylation
molecular docking
title Small Molecules from Medicinal Plant <i>Iris tectorum</i> as Histidine Kinase Inhibitor to Resensitize β-Lactam-Resistant <i>Escherichia coli</i>
title_full Small Molecules from Medicinal Plant <i>Iris tectorum</i> as Histidine Kinase Inhibitor to Resensitize β-Lactam-Resistant <i>Escherichia coli</i>
title_fullStr Small Molecules from Medicinal Plant <i>Iris tectorum</i> as Histidine Kinase Inhibitor to Resensitize β-Lactam-Resistant <i>Escherichia coli</i>
title_full_unstemmed Small Molecules from Medicinal Plant <i>Iris tectorum</i> as Histidine Kinase Inhibitor to Resensitize β-Lactam-Resistant <i>Escherichia coli</i>
title_short Small Molecules from Medicinal Plant <i>Iris tectorum</i> as Histidine Kinase Inhibitor to Resensitize β-Lactam-Resistant <i>Escherichia coli</i>
title_sort small molecules from medicinal plant i iris tectorum i as histidine kinase inhibitor to resensitize β lactam resistant i escherichia coli i
topic <i>Iris tectorum</i>
<i>Escherichia coli</i>
β-lactam resistance
histidine kinase
phosphorylation
molecular docking
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/3/663
work_keys_str_mv AT youqiji smallmoleculesfrommedicinalplantiiristectorumiashistidinekinaseinhibitortoresensitizeblactamresistantiescherichiacolii
AT yinhuanwang smallmoleculesfrommedicinalplantiiristectorumiashistidinekinaseinhibitortoresensitizeblactamresistantiescherichiacolii
AT zhangkaixu smallmoleculesfrommedicinalplantiiristectorumiashistidinekinaseinhibitortoresensitizeblactamresistantiescherichiacolii
AT danleichen smallmoleculesfrommedicinalplantiiristectorumiashistidinekinaseinhibitortoresensitizeblactamresistantiescherichiacolii
AT zhendiyu smallmoleculesfrommedicinalplantiiristectorumiashistidinekinaseinhibitortoresensitizeblactamresistantiescherichiacolii
AT qingyishao smallmoleculesfrommedicinalplantiiristectorumiashistidinekinaseinhibitortoresensitizeblactamresistantiescherichiacolii
AT xinhong smallmoleculesfrommedicinalplantiiristectorumiashistidinekinaseinhibitortoresensitizeblactamresistantiescherichiacolii
AT zishuliu smallmoleculesfrommedicinalplantiiristectorumiashistidinekinaseinhibitortoresensitizeblactamresistantiescherichiacolii
AT dongqingcheng smallmoleculesfrommedicinalplantiiristectorumiashistidinekinaseinhibitortoresensitizeblactamresistantiescherichiacolii