1286. Taniborbactam Inhibits Cefepime-Hydrolyzing Variants of Pseudomonas-derived Cephalosporinase (PDC)
Authors: Mack Andrew R , Bethel Christopher , Taracilla Magdalena A , van den Akker Focco , Miller Brittany A , Uehara Tsuyoshi , Six David A , Papp-Wallace Krisztina M , Bonomo Robert A 
Published: December 2021

Background

PDC is a class C β-lactamase in P. aeruginosa. PDC-88 is a variant characterized by a Thr-Pro amino acid deletion in the R2-loop (Δ289-290; Fig. 1). This deletion reduces susceptibility to cefepime (FEP), ceftazidime (CAZ), and ceftolozane-tazobactam (TOL/TZB), but the mechanism for this “gain of function” is unknown. Taniborbactam (TAN) is a novel cyclic boronate β-lactamase inhibitor (BLI) with activity against all four β-lactamase classes and is currently undergoing a phase 3 clinical trial paired with FEP. Herein, we studied the extended-spectrum AmpC (ESAC) phenotype of PDC-88 and examined the ability of TAN to inhibit this variant.

Structure of PDC-1 (PDB ID: 4GZB) with PDC-88 deleted residues in red and substitutions in green. All four amino acid substitutions (T79A, V178L, V329I, and G346A) are common (occurring in 10% or more of PDC variants) and have not been associated with resistance. Image rendered using UCSF Chimera.

Methods

Broth microdilution minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were determined in accordance with CLSI. PDC-3 and PDC-88 were purified, and steady-state enzyme kinetics were determined. Quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (Q-TOF-MS) was performed.

Results

In isogenic E. coli expressing PDC-3 or PDC-88, FEP MIC increased 8- or 128-fold, respectively, compared to the empty vector. Addition of TAN at 4 μg/ml restored FEP activity with MIC lowered to 0.25 μg/ml (Table 1) for both PDC-3 and PDC-88 bearing strains. PDC-88 demonstrated a 9-fold lower KM, 3.4-fold lower kcat, and 2.6-fold higher kcat/KM for FEP compared to PDC-3 (Table 2A). TAN Ki values were 4- to 10-fold lower than avibactam (AVI) and 40- to 95-fold lower than TZB. The TAN acylation constant (k2/K) was 7- to 12-fold greater than AVI and 133- to 366-fold higher than TZB (Table 2B). Q-TOF-MS revealed faster deacylation of FEP by PDC-88 compared to TOL and CAZ. TOL was acylated and deacylated by PDC-88 but not by PDC-3. CAZ was readily acylated but slowly deacylated by PDC-88 compared to PDC-3 (Fig. 2).

Cefepime Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) for PDC-1 and a series of partial R2-loop deletions with and without taniborbactam, avibactam, and tazobactam. In all variants, taniborbactam and avibactam restored susceptiblity while tazobactam is less effective against PDC-88 and variants.

Summary of kinetic constants. (A) Comparison of Michaelis constant (KM), turnover number (kcat), and catalytic efficiency (kcat/KM) of nitrocefin and cefepime with PDC-3 and PDC-88. (B) Comparison of inhibition constant (Ki) and acylation constant (k2/K) for avibactam, tazobactam, and taniborbactam with PDC-3 and PDC-88.

Graphical summary of mass spectrometry results for substrate acyl-enzyme complex capture experiments. FEP, cefepime; CAZ, ceftazidime; TOL, ceftolozane. Primes indicate a modified substrate (loss of R2 group). TOL does not form an acyl-enzyme complex with PDC-3.

Conclusion

Different kinetic constants are responsible for the elevated cephalosporin MICs. We posit that PDC-88 increases FEP MIC by enhanced hydrolysis; TOL MICs by enabling acylation; and CAZ MICs by both trapping and enhanced hydrolysis. TAN inhibits both PDC-3 and PDC-88 with similar kinetic profiles. Notably, TAN appears to be a more efficient inhibitor of PDC than current BLIs targeted for use against P. aeruginosa (lower Ki, higher k2/K values). The combination of TAN and FEP may represent an important treatment option for P. aeruginosa isolates that develop ESAC phenotypes.

Disclosures

Focco van den Akker, PhD, Venatorx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Grant/Research Support) Brittany A. Miller, BS, Venatorx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Employee) Tsuyoshi Uehara, PhD, Venatorx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Employee) David A. Six, PhD, Venatorx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Employee) Krisztina M. Papp-Wallace, Ph.D., Merck & Co., Inc. (Grant/Research Support)Spero Therapeutics, Inc. (Grant/Research Support)Venatorx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Grant/Research Support)Wockhardt Ltd. (Other Financial or Material Support, Research Collaborator) Robert A. Bonomo, MD, entasis (Research Grant or Support)Merck (Grant/Research Support)NIH (Grant/Research Support)VA Merit Award (Grant/Research Support)VenatoRx (Grant/Research Support)