Article
Environmental Sciences
C. Saravanakumar, C. S. Neethu, R. Purvaja, G. Sunantha, R. S. Robin, R. Ramesh
Summary: This study investigated the co-occurrence of resistance and virulence in aquatic bacteria and found that strains from polluted rivers and canals exhibited higher resistance and virulence. Furthermore, there were differences in the distribution of virulence genes in different aquatic environments, with secretion system proteins and motility-related genes being the most abundant.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Review
Infectious Diseases
Oskar A. Palacios, Jaime Raul Adame-Gallegos, Blanca Estela Rivera-Chavira, Guadalupe Virginia Nevarez-Moorillon
Summary: Monitoring multidrug-resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes in mangroves can provide insights into environmental contamination. While mangrove ecosystems may act as reservoirs for dispersing antibiotic resistance to human pathogens, they also have the potential to filter out drug-resistant genes. However, the mechanisms by which mangroves reduce emerging contaminants like antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes require further study.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Zainab Naseem, Muhammad Naveed, Hafiz Naeem Asghar, Mansoor Hameed
Summary: This study evaluated the effective concentration levels of textile wastewater and endophytic bacteria in improving the growth of tomato plants by remediating heavy metals. The results showed that irrigating with 25% textile wastewater and applying Enterobacter cloacae ZA14 can mitigate the phytotoxicity of dyes and heavy metals, leading to improved growth of tomatoes.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yan Li, Zhihao Xu, Liqin Tang, Fujun Wang, Lu Wang
Summary: This study developed nano-fibrous wound dressings with synergistic antibacterial activity. The dressings were made by layerwise co-assembly of benzalkonium chloride (BC) and metal-organic framework nanoparticles (MOFs, PCN-224) onto electrospun nanofibrous membranes (ENMs) using a tannic acid (TA)-assisted adhesion strategy. The dressings exhibited high loading efficiency of PCN-224, good physiological stability, desirable biocompatibility, and were able to achieve bactericidal rates exceeding 99.99% against bacteria with only 10 minutes of irradiation. This breakthrough has important implications for wound disinfection in clinical settings.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Lucie Peyclit, Sophie Alexandra Baron, Linda Hadjadj, Jean-Marc Rolain
Summary: This study collected a group of multidrug-resistant bacteria and conducted a high-throughput screening of a drug library, finding that multiple drugs have inhibitory effects on these bacteria, some of which also have anticancer activity. Drug repurposing is a promising strategy for specific bacteria.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mian Chen, Jiangjiang Zhang, Jie Qi, Ruihua Dong, Hongmei Liu, Decheng Wu, Huawu Shao, Xingyu Jiang
Summary: Researchers have integrated bacterial-binding boronic acid ligands and photosensitized porphyrins into a single metal-organic framework (MOF), enhancing its antibacterial capabilities. The introduction of boronic acid groups significantly improves the ability to eradicate multi-drug-resistant bacteria and the MOFs also exhibit excellent biocompatibility. This study provides a new strategy for targeted bacterial therapy.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Jie Zhuang, Yiming Yu, Rui Lu
Summary: Due to abuse of antibiotics, antibiotic resistance has become a global health threat. Many existing antibiotics have lost their effectiveness against drug-resistant bacteria, and the discovery of new antibiotics is becoming increasingly difficult. It is necessary to develop new strategies to combat antibiotic resistance. Nano-drug delivery systems, particularly mesoporous silica nano-particles (MSNs), have been extensively investigated as carriers of antibiotics. MSNs improve the delivery of antibiotics by reducing size, modifying surface, and regulating shapes. Furthermore, MSNs hybridized with metal ions or nanoparticles enhance the antibacterial effect by controlling the release of metal ions or increasing active oxygen species. Metal-capped MSNs can also load antibiotics to exert a synergistic antibacterial effect. This paper reviews the current application of various nanomaterials as antibacterial agents, with a focus on MSNs and approaches for improving their antibacterial effect.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Parikshita Rathore, Sherina Sara Joy, Radheshyam Yadav, Wusirika Ramakrishna
Summary: Soil contains a treasure trove of beneficial bacteria with diverse applications. Metagenomic analysis identified various bacteria and predicted functional pathways associated with different soil types. Phosphate solubilizing bacteria were prevalent in all soils, while salt-tolerant, metal-tolerant, and antibiotic-resistant bacteria showed varying abundance.
Letter
Immunology
Patrick T. Mc Gann, Francois Lebreton, Brendan T. Jones, Henry D. Dao, Melissa J. Martin, Messiah J. Nelson, Ting Luo, Andrew C. Wyatt, Jason R. Smedberg, Joanna M. Kettlewell, Brain M. Cohee, Joshua S. Hawley-Molloy, Jason W. Bennett
Summary: Blood and surveillance cultures from an injured service member from Ukraine revealed multiple antibiotic-resistant strains, including Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterococcus faecium, and 3 distinct strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These isolates showed resistance to most antibiotics and possessed a range of antibiotic-resistant genes, including carbapenemases (bla(IMP-1), bla(NDM-1), bla(OXA-23), bla(OXA-48), bla(OXA-72)) and 16S methyltransferases (armA and rmtB4).
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Chuanqing Zhong, Yingping Zhou, Jia Zhao, Jiafang Fu, Tianyi Jiang, Bing Liu, Feiyong Chen, Guangxiang Cao
Summary: The study found a high abundance and diversity of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in aquaculture waters in Shandong Province, China, with most being resistant to multiple antibiotics. It is crucial to control the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria to prevent the distribution of resistance genes to other environments.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Meirong Song, Ying Liu, Tingting Li, Xiaojia Liu, Zhihui Hao, Shuangyang Ding, Pharkphoom Panichayupakaranant, Kui Zhu, Jianzhong Shen
Summary: This study demonstrates the potential of natural flavonoids from plants against multidrug resistant bacteria, with a focus on the structure-activity relationship analysis of two compounds, alpha-mangostin and isobavachalcone. These compounds show rapid bactericidal activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and mechanism studies suggest they target bacterial membrane phospholipids. The efficacy of these natural products in infection or contamination models highlights them as a promising and underappreciated resource for combating antibiotic resistance.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Bongkotrat Suyamud, Jenyuk Lohwacharin, Yuyi Yang, Virender K. Sharma
Summary: This study investigated the presence of antibiotics, antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB), and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in aquaculture waters, as well as the removal effects of ferrate (Fe(VI), FeO42-). It found that water quality parameters significantly influenced the dissemination of tetracycline resistance genes in aquaculture waters, and the efficiency of antibiotics removal by Fe(VI) depended on the structural moieties of antibiotics. The results suggest that the constituents of farming water enhance the efficacy of antibiotics removal by Fe(VI), and an acidic pH environment can enhance Fe(VI) inactivation of ARB over circumneutral pH.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Dale Liebenberg, Bhavna Gowan Gordhan, Bavesh Davandra Kana
Summary: Drug resistant tuberculosis is a significant global burden that needs to be addressed holistically, including interrupting transmission, developing rapid diagnostics, contact tracing, preventing evolution of drug resistant strains, developing shorter regimens, and evaluating clinical endpoints.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Krishnendu Pramanik, Pavel Sengupta, Shalini Dasgupta, Pallab Datta, Priyabrata Sarkar
Summary: A solar-driven electrochemical column was developed for simultaneous removal of heavy metals and inactivation of pathogenic bacteria in wastewater, producing revitalized drinking water with boosted mineral nutrients and dissolved oxygen. The use of graphene oxide as cathode and anode resulted in efficient bacterial inactivation and heavy metal removal, with minimal energy consumption.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Biology
Yuan Liu, Ziwen Tong, Jingru Shi, Yuqian Jia, Tian Deng, Zhiqiang Wang
Summary: Benzydamine acts as an antibiotic adjuvant, enhancing the bactericidal activity of tetracyclines against multidrug-resistant bacteria by dissipating membrane potential and promoting tetracycline uptake.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2021)
Letter
Immunology
Vania Lucia Silva, Vanessa Cordeiro Dias, Aripuana Sakurada Aranha Watanabe, Alessandra Barbosa Ferreira Machado, Aline Oliveira Furtado, Claudio Galuppo Diniz
JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY IMMUNOLOGY AND INFECTION
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Caroline de Souza Pereira, Karine Braga Enes, Angelina Maria de Almeida, Camille Carvalho de Mendonca, Vania Lucia da Silva, Claudio Gallupo Diniz, Mara Rubia Costa Couri, Heveline Silva
Summary: This study synthesized three ligands derived from phenyl-oxadiazole-ethylenediamine and their platinum(II) and palladium(II) complexes, and evaluated their antibacterial activity and cytotoxicity. The presence of metal and groups NO2 and CF3 contributed to antibacterial activity with low cytotoxicity, based on the results obtained.
JOURNAL OF COORDINATION CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
A. C. L. de Paula, Julliane Dutra Medeiros, G. R. Fernandes, V. L. da Silva, Claudio Galuppo Diniz
Summary: Knowledge about microbiota in cheeses plays a key role in improving safety and quality, with high throughput sequencing revealing unique bacterial profiles in Minas Frescal Cheese. Potential spoilage microbiota and opportunistic pathogens were found in cheeses, along with possible correlations between bacteria and antimicrobial resistance.
LWT-FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Suzane Fernandes da Silva, Isabela Brito Reis, Melina Gabriela Monteiro, Vanessa Cordeiro Dias, Alessandra Barbosa Ferreira Machado, Vania Lucia da Silva, Claudio Galuppo Diniz
Summary: The study found that there are antimicrobial resistance genes in the human gut microbiota with different eating habits, although no clear relationship between diet and resistance genes was observed. Vegetables and minimally processed foods are the main source of antimicrobial resistance genes for the human gut microbiota. The complexity of antimicrobial resistance phenomenon should be addressed by a One Health approach.
Article
Microbiology
Michele Cristine Ribeiro de Freitas, Patricia Elaine de Almeida, Werner Vieira Vieira, Alessandra Barbosa Ferreira-Machado, Juliana Alves Resende, Vania Lucia da Silva, Claudio Galuppo Diniz
Summary: This study reproduced an experimental infection of Bacteroides fragilis using a tissue cage model to evaluate the subinhibitory concentration (SIC) of metronidazole in OMV production patterns and immunological and histological characteristics. The results showed that in the experimental group, the total counts of leukocytes and neutrophils were higher, and there was an exacerbated inflammatory infiltrate. Additionally, there was a massive production and release of OMV. These results confirm the potential involvement of OMV in the pathogenicity of B. fragilis.
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Ana Laura A. Perez, Luiza C. Piva, Julia P. C. Fulber, Lidia M. P. de Moraes, Janice L. De Marco, Hugo L. A. Vieira, Cintia M. Coelho, Viviane C. B. Reis, Fernando A. G. Torres
Summary: Optogenetics, a technology that uses light to control cellular functions, has been widely used in neurobiology and basic research. Its application in bioprocess development, specifically for the precise control of protein or metabolite production in yeast, is still emerging. This review covers the strategies for constructing yeast strains, operational considerations, and discusses the main applications and challenges of optogenetic switches in yeast systems.
BIOTECHNOLOGY ADVANCES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Geanne Aparecida de Paula, Nubya Nascimento Costa, Thais Martins da Silva, Kamila Areas Bastos, Mariana Drummond Costa Ignacchiti, Juliana Aparecida Severi, Rodrigo Lambert Orefice, Lilian Gasparelli Carreira, Janaina Cecilia Oliveira Villanova, Juliana Alves Resende
Summary: Polymeric films containing pomegranate peel extract show promising potential as a drug-delivery platform for topical treatment of candidiasis, as they exhibit adequate mechanical properties and antifungal activity against various Candida species.
NATURAL PRODUCT RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Plant Sciences
Mayna da Silveira Gomide, Matheus de Castro Leitao, Cintia Marques Coelho
Summary: This review examines the progress and key elements of biocircuits technology in synthetic biology, focusing on the transcriptional control systems and computational tools. It discusses the challenges in delivering and stabilizing synthetic structures, and explores the positive and limiting aspects through research experiences. Additionally, it highlights the potential of modulatory structural features and finer gene regulation in the design of synthetic chromosomes for developing plants and algae with new or improved functions.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Sophia Garcia de Resende, Ana Carolina Campos Batista, Mayna da Silveira Gomide, Luis Henrique Scarparo Pandolfo, Leonardo Ferreira da Silva, Ildinete Silva-Pereira, Cintia Marques Coelho
Summary: This study presents a database containing 23 biological parts for Cryptococcus neoformans, the etiologic agent of cryptococcosis, which could contribute to a better understanding of this lethal disease through synthetic biology.
MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCE ANNOUNCEMENTS
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Renata da Costa Barros Silva, Jessica Andrade, Vanessa Cordeiro Dias, Jessica Carla Sequeto, Nayara Felga Santos, Vania Lucia da Silva, Claudio Galuppo Diniz
Summary: This study examined the antibiotic susceptibility patterns and physiological aspects of enterobacteria isolated from meat and fish samples in a Brazilian urban Centre. The majority of isolated bacteria were resistant to at least one antimicrobial, with some showing resistance to multiple drugs. The multidrug-resistant isolates exhibited higher tolerance to toxic metals and increased activity of efflux pumps.
Article
Microbiology
Kassia Vidal Menezes, Bruna Maria Fia Pimentel, Joyce Aparecida Correa Da Costa, Nicolly Soares Ferreira, Mariana Drummond Costa Ignacchiti, Juliana Alves Resende
Summary: This study aimed to assess the presence of Escherichia coli in fresh cheese sold in the southern region of Espirito Santo, Brazil, as well as their antimicrobial susceptibility profiles and ability to form biofilms. The results showed that some strains exhibited resistance to antimicrobials, highlighting the significant public health concerns associated with contaminated food. This emphasizes the importance of implementing hygienic-sanitary controls at all stages of production.
BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Camila Magalhaes Cardador, Luis Alexandre Muehlmann, Cintia Marques Coelho, Luciano Paulino Silva, Aisel Valle Garay, Alexandra Maria dos Santos Carvalho, Izabela Marques Dourado Bastos, Joao Paulo Figueiro Longo
Summary: The use of nucleotides in biomedical applications has been a longstanding desire in the scientific community. Nucleotides are unstable molecules and require additional protection to prolong their shelf life in a biological environment. Nano-sized liposomes have proven to be an effective tool for overcoming the instability of nucleotides. Due to their low immunogenicity and ease of preparation, liposomes have been selected as the main strategy for delivering mRNA in COVID-19 immunization. This review article presents examples of liposomes used to protect and deliver nucleotides for cancer therapy, immunostimulatory activities, enzymatic diagnostic applications, veterinarian use, and the treatment of neglected tropical diseases.
Article
Education & Educational Research
Heloisa Oss Boll, Matheus de Castro Leitao, Aisel Valle Garay, Ana Carolina Campos Batista, Sophia Garcia de Resende, Leonardo Ferreira da Silva, Viviane Castelo Branco Reis, Emerson Monteiro Vieira, Cintia Marques Coelho
Summary: Synthetic biology combines engineering and biology to design and create living organisms and systems for new or improved functionalities. However, teaching synthetic biology can be challenging due to a lack of specific educational materials and techniques. This study demonstrates the use of computer-assisted design (CAD) and 3D printing to create molecular models of a synthetic biological circuit, the genetic toggle switch, which positively impacted students' learning process and understanding.
FRONTIERS IN EDUCATION
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Fernanda Alvarenga Cardoso Medeiros, Job Alves de Souza Filho, Jose Ronaldo Barbosa, Lucas Edel Donato, Fabiano Borges Figueiredo, Guilherme Loureiro Werneck, Gustavo Fontes Paz, Mayerson Thompson, Andreza Pain Marcelino
Summary: The ELISA-Vetlisa/BIOCLIN prototype showed high sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing canine visceral leishmaniasis, with consistent performance across dogs with different clinical statuses. The agreement between repeated test results was almost perfect, indicating promising potential for use in Brazil.
CADERNOS DE SAUDE PUBLICA
(2021)