Article
Infectious Diseases
Minghui Jia, Wanli Zhou, Dehua Luo, Heng Xue, Fen Hu, Xiaomei Zhang, Zirong Zhao, Mingyue Zhong, Xinfeng Li, Jin He, Hongping Wei, Hang Yang
Summary: This study investigated the influence of calcium on the activity and host range of a chimeric lysin, ClyF, and found that physiological calcium improves its bactericidal activity and expands its range of target bacteria, providing a promising candidate for the treatment of infections caused by multiple staphylococci and streptococci.
JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL CHEMOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rabia Tabassum, Abdul Basit, Iqbal Ahmed Alvi, Muhammad Asif, Shafiq Ur Rehman
Summary: In this study, a lytic bacteriophage TSP was isolated from hospital wastewater against MRSA. The TSP phage showed strong lytic activity and stability at varying temperatures and pH values. It is a potential candidate for phage therapy against MRSA infections.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
He Liu, Zhen Hu, Mengyang Li, Yi Yang, Shuguang Lu, Xiancai Rao
Summary: G(+) bacterial infections pose a significant burden and require urgent development of antimicrobial agents due to the prevalence of multidrug-resistant G(+) bacteria. Endolysins, phage-encoded enzymes, are promising alternatives for combating resistance due to their low bacterial resistance. This review classifies and summarizes the mechanisms, efficacy, and advantages of endolysins as antibacterial drug candidates targeting G(+) bacteria. Safety, challenges, and potential solutions are also addressed, with indications that endolysin-based drugs will be approved in the near future.
JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Yoshimitsu Masuda, Shun Kawabata, Tatsuya Uedoi, Ken-ichi Honjoh, Takahisa Miyamoto
Summary: In this study, a novel antimicrobial agent, LLB-phage, was constructed by introducing the LLB structural gene into the lytic phage genome through genetic engineering. The LLB-phage demonstrated the ability to produce a significant amount of bacteriocin Q while enhancing the lytic activity of the phage and preventing the emergence of bacterial populations resistant to the phage. These results indicate the potential of designing a variety of LLB-phages to efficiently control different bacterial contaminations and infectious diseases.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Susana Escobedo, Mikel Perez de Pipaon, Claudia Rendueles, Ana Rodriguez, Beatriz Martinez
Summary: The study aimed to investigate the effects of modifications in the bacterial cell wall on endolysin activity and phage infection outcome. Three lactococcal endolysins with distinct catalytic domains were purified from different phages and tested against lactococcal mutants with modifications in the cell envelope and peptidoglycan composition. The results showed that the degree of peptidoglycan acetylation influenced the exolytic activity of endolysins.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Justin Falardeau, Aljosa Trmcic, Siyun Wang
Summary: Listeria monocytogenes poses a food safety risk in ready-to-eat foods like fresh and soft/semisoft cheeses. Researchers have investigated various biocontrol strategies such as bacteriocins, bacteriophages, and competition with native microbiota to inhibit the growth of L. monocytogenes in susceptible cheeses. While these strategies have shown success in reducing L. monocytogenes populations in cheeses, regrowth of surviving cells remains a common issue.
COMPREHENSIVE REVIEWS IN FOOD SCIENCE AND FOOD SAFETY
(2021)
Review
Infectious Diseases
Mary Garvey
Summary: Food safety and sustainable food production are essential for the health and wellbeing of humans, animals, and the environment. Implementing green biocontrol options, such as bacteriophages, is crucial for preventing and mitigating infectious diseases in food production. Bacteriophages offer advantages over traditional chemical-based solutions and have demonstrated efficacy against foodborne pathogens.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Joanna Zebrowska, Malgorzata Witkowska, Anna Struck, Patrycja E. Laszuk, Edyta Raczuk, Malgorzata Ponikowska, Piotr M. Skowron, Agnieszka Zylicz-Stachula
Summary: Antibiotic resistance has rapidly spread among clinically relevant pathogens in recent decades. Natural molecules produced by soil microorganisms are a key source of new antimicrobial agents. Bacteria from the Geobacillus and Parageobacillus genera have significant potential in producing strong antimicrobial compounds.
Article
Virology
Roberto Vazquez, Ernesto Garcia, Pedro Garcia
Summary: Phage-encoded lytic enzymes, or lysins, are a promising alternative to common antibiotics for combating resistant bacterial infections. Research has shown that lysins exhibit different physicochemical properties based on the bacterial hosts they infect, which could lead to new possibilities in antimicrobial drug development.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yang Shen, Ioanna Kalograiaki, Alessio Prunotto, Matthew Dunne, Samy Boulos, Nicholas M. I. Taylor, Eric T. Sumrall, Marcel R. Eugster, Rebecca Martin, Alicia Julian-Rodero, Benjamin Gerber, Petr G. Leiman, Margarita Menendez, Matteo Dal Peraro, Francisco Javier Canada, Martin J. Loessner
Summary: This study reveals the molecular interaction mechanism between the Listeria phage endolysin domain CBD500 and its cell wall teichoic acid (WTA) ligands, showing that 3' O-acetylated GlcNAc residues are the key epitope recognized by CBD. The findings provide insights into a previously unknown recognition mechanism that phage endolysin specifically targets WTA, suggesting a flexible model for regulating endolysin specificity.
Review
Infectious Diseases
Kathryn Cater, Ryszard Miedzybrodzki, Vera Morozova, Slawomir Letkiewicz, Marzanna Lusiak-Szelachowska, Justyna Rekas, Beata Weber-Dabrowska, Andrzej Gorski
Summary: Bacterial sexually transmitted infections (BSTIs) are becoming increasingly concerning as antibiotic treatment options decrease. Phage therapy has been utilized in some countries for bacterial illnesses, but has not yet been used for BSTIs. The potential efficacy of phage therapy in treating BSTIs requires further research and exploration, as it presents a possible alternative to traditional antibiotic treatments.
Review
Food Science & Technology
Kirupa Sankar Muthuvelu, Baranitharan Ethiraj, Shreyasi Pramnik, N. Keerthish Raj, Swethaa Venkataraman, Devi Sri Rajendran, Priyadharshini Bharathi, Elakiya Palanisamy, Anusri Sathiya Narayanan, Vinoth Kumar Vaidyanathan, Shanmugaprakash Muthusamy
Summary: Despite advancements in technology, food safety remains a significant concern. Consumers are increasingly seeking less processed and naturally preserved food options. Food biopreservation, utilizing natural antimicrobials, offers a promising approach to reduce the reliance on chemically synthesized preservatives and improve food shelf-life.
FOOD SCIENCE AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Ana Catarina Duarte, Lucia Fernandez, Vincent De Maesschalck, Diana Gutierrez, Ana Belen Campelo, Yves Briers, Rob Lavigne, Ana Rodriguez, Pilar Garcia
Summary: Staphylococcus aureus is a priority pathogen due to its increasing antibiotic resistance, and it can form stubborn biofilms. Bacteriophages and their lysins may be a strategy to combat staphylococcal biofilms, with the combination of the lytic protein CHAPSH3b and bacteriophage phiIPLA-RODI showing synergy in reducing bacterial counts and limiting regrowth. This combination also demonstrated promising results in an ex vivo pig skin model.
NPJ BIOFILMS AND MICROBIOMES
(2021)
Review
Microbiology
Mi Nguyen-Tra Le, Miki Kawada-Matsuo, Hitoshi Komatsuzawa
Summary: Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are potential therapeutic drugs against multidrug-resistant bacteria due to their high efficacy and the poor ability of microorganisms to develop resistance to them.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Virology
Anja P. Keller, Shera Ly, Steven Daetwyler, Fritz Eichenseher, Martin J. Loessner, Mathias Schmelcher
Summary: Staphylococcus aureus is a major pathogen causing bovine mastitis. With the increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant strains, novel therapeutic approaches are urgently needed. In this study, a library of 80 peptidoglycan hydrolases (PGHs) was screened, and 12 enzymes with high activity against S. aureus in raw bovine milk were identified. Bacteriocins lysostaphin and ALE-1, as well as the chimeric PGH M23LST(L)_SH3b2638, showed rapid reduction of bacterial numbers in raw milk. Three CHAP-based PGHs demonstrated increasing activity with dilution of raw milk. Additionally, the combination of CHAPGH15_SH3bAle1 and LST exhibited synergistic activity. Furthermore, modification of four PGHs with cell-penetrating peptide TAT significantly enhanced the eradication of intracellular S. aureus.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Amel Sami, Imad Elimairi, C. Anthony Ryan, R. Paul Ross, Catherine Stanton
Summary: This study investigates the impact of the smokeless tobacco product Toombak on the body's cortisol response and analyzes the psycho-dependency level of Toombak users. The results show that Toombak users have significantly lower hair cortisol levels compared to non-users, and they exhibit high levels of psycho-dependency and nicotine tolerance.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Oliver W. Bayfield, Andrey N. Shkoporov, Natalya Yutin, Ekaterina V. Khokhlova, Jake L. R. Smith, Dorothy E. D. P. Hawkins, Eugene V. Koonin, Colin Hill, Alfred A. Antson
Summary: CrAssphage and related crassviruses are the most abundant viruses in the human gut, with some individuals having up to 95% of viral sequences from these viruses. By reconstructing Bacteroides intestinalis virus fcrAss001 using cryo-electron microscopy, we gained insights into the structure and function of its proteins. The muzzle protein forms a new fold called the 'crass fold' and acts as a gatekeeper for controlling cargo release. Additionally, the fcrAss001 virus provides ample storage space for cargo proteins in both the capsid and the tail, with a mechanism for protein ejection involving partial unfolding during extrusion through the tail.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Amel Sami, Imad Elimairi, C. Anthony Ryan, Catherine Stanton, Dhrati Patangia, R. Paul Ross
Summary: There are an estimated 6-10 million smokeless tobacco (Toombak) users in Sudan, the majority being males. This study explores the oral microbiome in Toombak users and non-users, finding significant differences in the abundance of certain bacterial and fungal genera. Toombak users carry an altered oral microbiome that may contribute to the development and progression of oral cancer, while also increasing the potential for a poorer prognosis.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Catherine O'Reilly, Ghjuvan M. Grimaud, Mairead Coakley, Paula M. O'Connor, Harsh Mathur, Veronica L. Peterson, Ciara M. O'Donovan, Peadar G. Lawlor, Paul D. Cotter, Catherine Stanton, Mary C. Rea, Colin Hill, R. Paul Ross
Summary: Nisin, a broad spectrum bacteriocin, can survive intact through the pig gastrointestinal tract and affect the composition and functioning of the microbiota. It leads to reversible changes in the abundance of Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria, as well as the synthesis pathways of short chain fatty acids. These findings demonstrate the potential of bacteriocins like nisin to shape mammalian microbiomes and impact the functionality of the community.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Claire Magner, Dominic Jenkins, Fatma Koc, Mong Hoi Tan, Molly O'Toole, Jordan Boyle, Niamh Maguire, Sophie Duignan, Kiera Murphy, Paul Ross, Catherine Stanton, Colin J. McMahon
Summary: This study aims to investigate the gut microbiota and urine metabolome of infants with congenital heart disease (CHD) undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) surgery. Stool and urine samples, as well as demographic and clinical data, will be collected and analyzed using shotgun metagenome sequencing and urine metabolomic analysis. The impact of various factors on the gut microbiota and metabolome will be explored by comparing the data with a control group of healthy infants. This study is of great importance for understanding the effects of early surgery on the gut microbiota in infants.
Article
Instruments & Instrumentation
Aoibhin Ryan, Pratikkumar Patel, Poonam Ratrey, Paula M. O'Connor, Julie O'Sullivan, R. Paul Ross, Colin Hill, Sarah P. Hudson
Summary: Chronic wounds have a global impact and their healing is being hindered by antimicrobial-resistant bacterial infections like MRSA. A study proposes the use of a lacticin 3147 solid lipid nanoparticle gel as a topical treatment for S. aureus and MRSA wound infections. Encapsulation of lacticin 3147 into solid lipid nanoparticles improved its physicochemical properties and resulted in a long-lasting gel with increased activity against S. aureus.
DRUG DELIVERY AND TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Colin Buttimer, Ekaterina V. Khokhlova, Lisa Stein, Cara M. Hueston, Bianca Govi, Lorraine A. Draper, R. Paul Ross, Andrey N. Shkoporov, Colin Hill
Summary: This study isolates and characterizes six bacteriophages that can infect Ruminococcus gnavus, a gut microbe associated with inflammatory bowel disease. The phages have a temperate lifestyle and can coexist with the host bacterium without causing a significant reduction in its abundance. Analysis of gut virome data reveals a high abundance of these phages in individuals with IBD. This work provides insight into the interaction between phages and R. gnavus in the human gut microbiome.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Daniel Merenstein, Bruno Pot, Gregory Leyer, Arthur C. Ouwehand, Geoffrey A. Preidis, Christopher A. Elkins, Colin Hill, Zachery T. Lewis, Andrea L. Shane, Niv Zmora, Mariya I. Petrova, Maria Carmen Collado, Lorenzo Morelli, Gina A. Montoya, Hania Szajewska, Daniel J. Tancredi, Mary Ellen Sanders
Summary: Probiotics are used by both healthy individuals and in clinical settings, but there are potential risks associated with their consumption. This has led to the need for concise recommendations on how to ensure the safe and effective use of new probiotic strains and products, especially in vulnerable populations.
Article
Microbiology
Neda Nezam-Abadi, Christopher J. R. Turkington, Lorraine A. Draper, Andrey N. Shkoporov, R. Paul Ross, Colin Hill
Summary: Here, we present the draft genome sequence of Legionella pneumophila subsp. pneumophila strain DSM 25199, a serogroup 1 strain with a genome size of 3,426,844 bp. The assembly consists of 24 contigs with an N-50 of 300,843 bp.
MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCE ANNOUNCEMENTS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Shona Uniacke-Lowe, Fergus W. J. Collins, Colin Hill, R. Paul Ross
Summary: With the increase in antimicrobial resistance, the deep-sea fish microbiome can serve as a potential source of antimicrobials, including bacteriocins. In this study, bacterial isolates recovered from deep-sea fish were screened for antimicrobial activity and their genomic DNA was analyzed for bacteriocin and other antimicrobial metabolite genes. The study identified 147 candidate biosynthetic gene clusters, including 35 bacteriocin clusters, and discovered unique bacteriocin gene clusters encoding novel peptides. This dual approach provided insights into the bacteriocinogenic potential and antimicrobial molecules of the deep-sea isolates.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Yang Chen, He Gao, Jianxin Zhao, R. Paul Ross, Catherine Stanton, Hao Zhang, Wei Chen, Bo Yang
Summary: This review comprehensively summarizes the epidemic trend and pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and highlights the potential regulatory mode and mechanisms of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in alleviating IBD. LAB exhibits numerous advantages, such as producing bioactive metabolites, regulating gut immunity, protecting the intestinal mechanical barriers, inhibiting oxidative damage, and restoring unbalanced gut microbiota. The review also provides recommendations for screening effective LAB, controlling optimal intake, encapsulating LAB, investigating mechanisms, and improving clinical study design to improve the lives of IBD patients.
TRENDS IN FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Friederike Uhlig, Alicja K. Warda, Cara M. Hueston, Lorraine A. Draper, Gilles Chauviere, Erik Eckhardt, Colin Hill, Niall P. Hyland
Summary: Lactobacillus LB, generated through fermentation, has beneficial effects on intestinal ion transport and motility, alleviating acute diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome symptoms. Low-lactose Lactobacillus LB (LL-LB) increases baseline short-circuit current and is partially mediated by sodium-D-glucose transporter 1. Preparations produced from a single strain fermentate of L. fermentum have a stronger effect on baseline short-circuit current and carbachol-induced contractions compared to LL-LB.
JOURNAL OF FUNCTIONAL FOODS
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
David Healy, Shuo Wang, Ghjuvan Grimaud, Alicja Katarzyna Warda, Paul Ross, Catherine Stanton, Eugene M. Dempsey
Summary: This study aims to investigate the changes in microbiome during the admission of preterm infants and examine the relationship between these changes and different management practices, such as the use of antibiotics, advancement of feeds, and administration of probiotics.
Review
Microbiology
Des Field, Miguel Fernandez de Ullivarri, R. Paul Ross, Colin Hill
Summary: Nisin, a highly post-translationally modified peptide, has been extensively studied over the past 100 years. While it has been used successfully as a food preservative, its potent activity against multidrug resistant microbes and potential for therapeutic use in treating bacterial infections has shifted the focus of research towards its biomedical applications. Recent developments have shed light on the biosynthesis, cellular location, and genetic regulation of nisin, and there is growing interest in its potential role in influencing the microbiome and in bioengineering novel variants for biomedical applications.
FEMS MICROBIOLOGY REVIEWS
(2023)