Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xiaoyu Lu, Min Yang, Shengwen Zhou, Shuo Yang, Xiran Chen, Mehwish Khalid, Kexin Wang, Yaqun Fang, Chaoming Wang, Ren Lai, Zilei Duan
Summary: Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) infections are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, and drug resistance worsens their severity. Researchers have discovered a new antimicrobial peptide called RK22 that exhibits good antibacterial activity against S. aureus, rapidly killing the bacteria without exacerbating the coagulation system. In in vivo experiments, RK22 significantly inhibited S. aureus infection, including a clinically resistant strain, making it a potential candidate for the treatment of S. aureus infections.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Virology
Xiaohui Li, Hongwei Ji, Di Wang, Lihe Che, Li Zhang, Liang Li, Qing Yin, Quan Liu, Feng Wei, Zedong Wang
Summary: This study identified the presence of Far Eastern subtype of TBEV in Ixodes persulcatus ticks in northeastern China, with genetic variations observed among viruses from different natural foci in the region.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Alexandra Beliavskaia, Vaclav Honig, Jan Erhart, Tereza Vyhlidalova, Martin Palus, Jiri Cerny, Irina Kozlova, Daniel Ruzek, Ana M. Palomar, Lesley Bell-Sakyi
Summary: Our study demonstrates the high prevalence of Spiroplasma endosymbionts in colonised I. persulcatus through at least three generations, and confirms the utility of tick cell lines for isolation and cultivation of this bacterium.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Jian Peng, Biswajit Mishra, Rajamohammed Khader, LewisOscar Felix, Eleftherios Mylonakis
Summary: In this study, a smaller antimicrobial peptide C18 derived from cecropin 4 showed high antibacterial activity against various bacteria and yeasts, with a remarkable effect on drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. C18 also exhibited the capability to eliminate persister cells, reduce biofilm adherence, interact with DNA, and down-regulate virulence factor genes. Moreover, C18 showed promising results in a Galleria mellonella model, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic candidate for severe MRSA infections.
Article
Microbiology
Agne Namina, Alisa Kazarina, Marija Lazovska, Sarmite Akopjana, Viktorija Ulanova, Agnija Kivrane, Lauma Freimane, Darja Sadovska, Janis Kimsis, Antra Bormane, Valentina Capligina, Renate Ranka
Summary: This study compared the microbial composition of three tick species collected in Latvia using 16S rRNA profiling. The results showed significant differences in microbial diversity and composition among different tick species and life stages. The Francisella genus was closely associated with D. reticulatus ticks, while Candidatus Midichlorii and Candidatus Lariskella were associated with I. ricinus and I. persulcatus females, respectively.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xiuchuan Tan, Shenghong Xie, Xiao Jin, Ruiying Zhu, Shuangshuang Wei, Yanting Song, Xi Xie, Rong Wang, Lushuang Li, Manchuriga Wang, Yingxia Zhang
Summary: Peptides derived from Temporin-GHa cloned from Hylarana guentheri show potent antimicrobial activities against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) by damaging the bacterial membrane and inhibiting biofilm formation, with low toxicity to human erythrocytes.
ACTA BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA SINICA
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Jina Kim, Young-Won Chin
Summary: The prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria poses a global challenge. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a leading cause of infections, forms biofilms on medical devices, making them more resistant to antibiotics. A study investigated the use of Raman spectroscopy to monitor MRSA biofilm formation and found that Eugenol, when applied within the first 5 hours of biofilm formation, showed promise in breaking down the biofilm. The study also demonstrated the efficacy of Raman spectroscopy coupled with principal component analysis (PCA) in identifying planktonic bacteria from biofilm conglomerates.
Article
Microbiology
Bingqian Yuan, Xiaoyu Lu, Min Yang, Qiyi He, Zhuocen Cha, Yaqun Fang, Yan Yang, Lei Xu, Jingting Yan, Ren Lai, Aili Wang, Xiaodong Yu, Zilei Duan
Summary: Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a common pathogenic bacterium with increasing drug resistance. The antimicrobial peptide GW18 shows excellent activity against various strains of S. aureus and significantly reduces infection in animal models.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Darya V. Poshvina, Diana S. Dilbaryan, Alexey S. Vasilchenko
Summary: Antibiotic resistance is a significant issue in the medical field, and Staphylococcus aureus poses a serious threat as it is responsible for many infections and has high mortality rates. We studied the gene expression of gausemycin A-resistant S. aureus and found that changes in the cell wall and cell membrane are crucial for bacterial resistance. In the late-exponential phase, genes involved in cell wall turnover, membrane charge, phospholipid metabolism, stress response, and proteolytic system showed increased expression, while in the stationary phase, genes involved in phospholipid metabolism and proteolytic system showed decreased expression.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Maricely Ramirez-Hernandez, Javiera Norambuena, Hongnan Hu, Belvin Thomas, Chaoyun Tang, Jeffrey M. Boyd, Tewodros Asefa
Summary: The urgent need for materials that can more efficiently deliver antimicrobial agents has arisen due to the increase in microbial resistance to traditional antibiotics. This study presents the synthesis of amine-functionalized SBA-15 mesoporous silica nanomaterials loaded with rafoxanide and anchored Cu(II) ions, which exhibit enhanced antimicrobial efficacy against pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus. The structurally characterized nanomaterials demonstrate 10 times the bactericidal action compared to nanomaterials loaded with rafoxanide only, and the synthetic sequence used in the production significantly impacts their bactericidal efficacy.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Isabella Hernandez-Aristizabal, Ivan Dario Ocampo-Ibanez
Summary: The emergence of bacteria resistant to conventional antibiotics, especially VRSA and VISA strains, poses a serious threat to global health. Developing new antimicrobial alternatives, such as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), is urgently needed as a promising therapeutic strategy to combat resistant strains. Evaluating natural, artificial, and synthetic AMPs against VRSA and VISA strains shows great potential for clinical application.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Basavaprabhu Haranahalli Nataraj, Chette Ramesh, Rashmi Hogarehalli Mallappa
Summary: Metabolites of lactic acid bacteria have potential as postbiotics to inhibit the growth of undesirable microorganisms in food and pharmaceutical industries. The biosurfactants extracted from Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG showed promising antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities against staphylococcal isolates, indicating their potential as candidates for further technology intervention.
LWT-FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Zijin Yuan, Jude Juventus Aweya, Jian Li, Zhongyan Wang, Shiying Huang, Mingjing Zheng, Linfan Shi, Shanggui Deng, Shen Yang
Summary: This study identified a novel antimicrobial peptide, LCMHC, from the myosin heavy chain of Larimichthys crocea and found that it exhibited strong antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus when combined with low-intensity ultrasound treatment. The peptide was able to improve the cell membrane permeability of S. aureus and assist in the binding of DNA when combined with ultrasound.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Oxana A. Belova, Alexandra E. Polienko, Anastasia D. Averianova, Galina G. Karganova
Summary: Ixodes ricius and Ixodes persulcatus ticks are the main vectors of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV). The overlap in distribution ranges of these tick species can lead to hybridization, affecting both tick spread and arbovirus infection properties. The study found that virus transmission effectiveness and RNA copy numbers were highest in ticks, specifically hybrids, during the transmission of the Siberian subtype of TBEV. However, after molting, the transmission effectiveness decreased.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Anna Omazic, Seungeun Han, Ann Albihn, Karin Ullman, Phimphanit Choklikitumnuey, Debora Perissinotto, Giulio Grandi
Summary: Environmental and climatic changes in northern Europe have led to the establishment of new tick species and the introduction of new tick-borne pathogens. A study in northern Sweden collected ticks from different hosts in 2018 and 2019, revealing the geographical distribution and dominance of specific tick species. The results showed an expansion in the distribution area of Ixodes persulcatus compared to previous reports.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2023)