Article
Microbiology
Yifei Cai, Liangjun Zheng, Yao Lu, Xu Zhao, Yanting Sun, Xingyuan Tang, Jinhe Xiao, Chen Wang, Chao Tong, Lili Zhao, Yingping Xiao, Xin Zhao, Huping Xue
Summary: The study found that resistance of Staphylococcus sciuri strains to beta-lactam antibiotics was induced by oxacillin, and this induced resistance remained stable for a period of time. The induced resistance was mainly due to increased wall teichoic acid synthesis that thickened the cell wall, leading to slower growth rate, decreased adhesion ability, and biofilm thickness. The induced beta-lactam resistance challenged traditional antibiotic sensitivity tests, showing that initially sensitive strains could develop resistance in a matter of days.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ronit Vogt Sionov, Shreya Banerjee, Sergei Bogomolov, Reem Smoum, Raphael Mechoulam, Doron Steinberg
Summary: This study demonstrates that the endocannabinoid Anandamide (AEA) affects multiple biochemical processes, resulting in the sensitization of drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus to antibiotics.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Wanwan Hou, Shimo Kang, Jiang Chang, Xiaorong Tian, Chunlei Shi
Summary: The study demonstrated that by inducing GlpQ to degrade WTA, LBA effectively inhibits the biofilm formation of Staphylococcus aureus, reducing its adhesive ability.
Article
Microbiology
Selvi C. Ersoy, Barbara Goncalves, Goncalo Cavaco, Adhar C. Manna, Rita G. Sobral, Cynthia C. Nast, Richard A. Proctor, Henry F. Chambers, Ambrose Cheung, Arnold S. Bayer
Summary: This study investigates the impact of NaHCO3 on MRSA, particularly on the synthesis of wall teichoic acid (WTA), revealing the direct effects of NaHCO3 on responsive MRSA strains. The research demonstrates that NaHCO3 can increase the susceptibility of certain MRSA strains to beta-lactam antibiotics, providing a new target for the design of novel agents.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Xia Wu, Jing Han, Guoli Gong, Mattheos A. G. Koffas, Jian Zha
Summary: Wall teichoic acids (WTAs) are charged glycopolymers containing phosphodiester-linked polyol units, serving important physiological functions in Gram-positive cell division, gene transfer, surface adhesion, drug resistance, and biofilm formation. WTAs play critical roles in antimicrobial resistance, virulence, interaction with bacteriolytic enzymes, and regulation of cell metabolism, with wide applications in antibacterial drug discovery, vaccine development, pathogen detection, and microbial production. Major challenges and potential future directions in exploring WTA physiology and applications are also discussed.
FEMS MICROBIOLOGY REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Christopher Campbell, Claire Fingleton, Merve S. Zeden, Emilio Bueno, Laura A. Gallagher, Dhananjay Shinde, Jongsam Ahn, Heather M. Olson, Thomas L. Fillmore, Joshua N. Adkins, Fareha Razvi, Kenneth W. Bayles, Paul D. Fey, Vinai C. Thomas, Felipe Cava, Geremy C. Clair, James P. 'Gara
Summary: Mutations in the TCA cycle gene sucC increased susceptibility to beta-lactam antibiotics in MRSA, accompanied by accumulation of succinyl-CoA and perturbation of lysine succinylation in the proteome. Interference with the MRSA succinylome may help overcome beta-lactam resistance through controlling cell wall phenotypes.
Article
Cell Biology
Jingxian Yang, Janine Zara Bowring, Janes Krusche, Esther Lehmann, Tom Grunert, Benjamin Svejdal Bejder, Stephanie Fulaz Silva, Martin Saxtorph Bojer, Andreas Peschel, Hanne Ingmer
Summary: Bacteria use quorum sensing to coordinate group behavior, and some phages also respond to quorum sensing. These interactions likely impact bacterial group behavior, microbial ecology, and the efficacy of phage therapies.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Elizabeth V. K. Ledger, Stephane Mesnage, Andrew M. Edwards
Summary: The host environment can significantly impact the efficacy of antimicrobial therapies through diverse mechanisms, including inducing changes in the composition of bacterial membrane and cell wall. Understanding the influence of the host environment on treatment outcomes can help develop combination therapies to mitigate antibiotic resistance.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Fatimah Muhammad Ballah, Md. Saiful Islam, Md. Liton Rana, Md. Ashek Ullah, Farhana Binte Ferdous, Fahim Haque Neloy, Samina Ievy, Md. Abdus Sobur, A. M. M. Taufiquer Rahman, Mst. Minara Khatun, Marzia Rahman, Md. Tanvir Rahman
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the virulence factors and methicillin resistance in biofilm-forming Staphylococcus aureus isolates from different foods and food handlers in Bangladesh. The results showed that these isolates carried various resistance genes and virulence factors, and exhibited resistance to multiple antibiotics. These findings suggest a potential threat to public health from biofilm-forming S. aureus in Bangladesh.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yinglan Guo, Nina M. Pfahler, Simon L. Volpel, Thilo Stehle
Summary: Peptidoglycan (PG) is the major structural polymer of the bacterial cell wall, and the PG layer of gram-positive bacterial pathogens is permeated with anionic glycopolymers known as wall teichoic acids (WTAs) and lipoteichoic acids (LTAs). The WTA structures in gram-positive bacteria, particularly in Staphylococcus aureus, play a crucial role in phage adhesion, bacterial biofilm formation, and virulence. Enzymes TarM, TarS, and TarP glycosylate the WTA of S. aureus at different locations, with recent structural information aiding in the understanding of S. aureus' resistance mechanisms.
CURRENT OPINION IN STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ophthalmology
Yin-Hsi Chang, Yhu-Chering Huang, Hung-Chi Chen, David H. K. Ma, Lung-Kun Yeh, Kuo-Hsuan Hung, Ching-Hsi Hsiao
Summary: This study investigated the molecular and phenotypic characteristics of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE) isolated from healthy conjunctiva and ocular infections. The results showed that MRSE isolates from both sources exhibited overlapping molecular types and phenotypic traits. Specific strain ST59 showed distinctive characterizations compared to other strains.
INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tobias Dorr
Summary: This article examines the tolerance of bacteria to cell wall-active antibiotics, including its manifestations, mechanisms, and clinical significance, defines tolerance and detection methods, discusses the mechanism of action of these antibiotics, and explores how bacteria mitigate the potentially lethal effects to become tolerant.
ANNALS OF THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Shuying Chen, Lulin Rao, Chunchan Lin
Summary: This study reports the prevalence of fusidic acid resistance among clinical isolates of Staphylococcus epidermidis from a tertiary hospital in Wenzhou, China. The study found a high prevalence of fusidic acid resistance in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE) isolates and a high positive rate of the fusB gene. The study also showed that the fusidic acid-resistant S. epidermidis isolates had high rates of resistance to other non-β-lactam antimicrobials.
INFECTION AND DRUG RESISTANCE
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Ting Pan, Jing Guan, Yujie Li, Baolin Sun
Summary: The study identified the LcpB protein in Staphylococcus aureus as crucial for cell wall synthesis and virulence, acting as a pyrophosphatase responsible for wall teichoic acid synthesis. Knockout of lcpB in CA-MRSA resulted in enhanced hemolytic activity and increased leukocyte infiltration, revealing a dual role of LcpB in regulating virulence in an agr-independent manner.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Jonathan Asante, Bakoena A. Hetsa, Daniel G. Amoako, Akebe L. K. Abia, Linda A. Bester, Sabiha Y. Essack
Summary: Staphylococcus epidermidis has become a significant nosocomial pathogen with multidrug resistance. This study aimed to describe the genomic characteristics of methicillin-resistant S. epidermidis and understand the genetic basis of antibiotic resistance, virulence, and potential pathogenicity. The findings revealed high levels of multidrug resistance, presence of virulence genes, and diverse mobile genetic elements in the isolates.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anh K. Lam, Cassandra L. Wouters, Erika L. Moen, Jennifer Pusavat, Charles V. Rice
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Anh K. Lam, Hannah Panlilio, Jennifer Pusavat, Cassandra L. Wouters, Erika L. Moen, Andrew J. Neel, Charles V. Rice
ACS MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2020)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Anh K. Lam, Hannah Panlilio, Jennifer Pusavat, Cassandra L. Wouters, Erika L. Moen, Charles Rice
ACS INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2020)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Anh K. Lam, Hannah Panlilio, Jennifer Pusavat, Cassandra L. Wouters, Erika L. Moen, Robert E. Brennan, Charles V. Rice
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Anh K. Lam, Erika L. Moen, Jennifer Pusavat, Cassandra L. Wouters, Hannah Panlilio, Maya J. Ferrell, Matthew B. Houck, Daniel T. Glatzhofer, Charles Rice
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Hannah Panlilio, Charles V. Rice
Summary: Advances in biotechnology have greatly improved human health and modern societies, but challenges remain in overcoming biological factors that impede pharmaceutical therapeutics. The importance of extracellular DNA in biofilms is now recognized, with interactions between eDNA and biofilm components being explored as potential anti-biofilm strategies. Creative approaches are needed to disrupt biofilms, with diverse interactions with eDNA playing a key role in biofilm structure and stability.
BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Hannah Panlilio, Anh K. Lam, Neda Heydarian, Tristan Haight, Cassandra L. Wouters, Erika L. Moen, Charles Rice
Summary: The rise of life-threatening carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) infections has become a critical medical threat. Some of the most dangerous CRE bacteria can produce enzymes that degrade a wide range of antibiotics, including carbapenems and beta-lactams. Infections by CRE have a high mortality rate, and survivors can have severe morbidity from treatment with toxic antibiotics. The potential of low-molecular weight branched polyethylenimine (600 Da BPEI) and its poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)ylated derivative (PEG-BPEI) to potentiate meropenem and imipenem against CRE is demonstrated, showing the ability to improve antibiotic efficacy and increase susceptibility to certain antibiotics.
ACS INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Neda Heydarian, Cassandra L. Wouters, Andrew Neel, Maya Ferrell, Hannah Panlilio, Tristan Haight, Tingting Gu, Charles V. Rice
Summary: Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) are emerging pathogens that evade antibiotic treatments by producing enzymes that degrade a wide range of antibiotics including carbapenems and beta-lactams. Biofilm formation aggravates CRE infections, leading to persistent infection and non-healing wounds. 600 Da branched polyethyleneimine (BPEI) and its derivative PEG350-BPEI have been shown to overcome antimicrobial resistance and eradicate biofilms in various antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jiayi He, Eleni Spanolios, Clarice E. Froehlich, Cassandra L. Wouters, Christy L. Haynes
Summary: Neurotransmitters act as chemical messengers, and abnormal levels are related to various diseases. Electrochemical and electronic sensors for neurotransmitter detection play a crucial role in achieving sensitive and selective detection. These sensors offer the potential for wireless, miniaturized, and multichannel capabilities, allowing for long-term implantable sensing unachievable by other methods. This article reviews recent advances in the development and characterization of these sensors, identifying progress and knowledge gaps in the field.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Cassandra L. Wouters, Neda Heydarian, Jennifer Pusavat, Hannah Panlilio, Anh K. Lam, Erika L. Moen, Robert E. Brennan, Charles V. Rice
Summary: This study focuses on using branched polyethylenimine (BPEI) modified with polyethylene glycol (PEG) to target virulence from Gram-negative bacterial pathogens. Results show that the beta-lactam antibiotic oxacillin can be potentiated by 600 Da BPEI to kill some Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Modification of 600 Da BPEI with PEG increases drug safety and improves activity. The ability to use oxacillin against Gram-negative pathogens expands effective treatment options and simplifies complicated treatment regimens.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES
(2023)
