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Molecules and Nanoparticles to Fight Resistant Pathogens 2.0
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Molecules and Nanoparticles to Fight Resistant Pathogens 2.0

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2022) | Viewed by 23200

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Alina Maria Holban

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
Interests: microbiology; immunology; new antimicrobial agents; host–pathogen signaling; infection control; antimicrobial nanomaterials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are facing a great challenge regarding emergent and difficult-to-treat microbial infections, mostly involving resistant pathogens.

In this context, novel and alternative approaches to prevent, diagnose, and treat such diseases are urgently needed. The purpose of this Special Issue is to provide an up-to-date collection of research and review papers focusing on the greatest progress and new tools developed to fight resistant microorganisms. Here, we approach molecules, nanoparticles, and other materials engineered at the nanoscale to provide efficient antimicrobial tools. It is well known that classical antibiotics can select resistant microbial populations and elicit huge pollution potential, being accumulated in the soil and waters. On the other hand, by understanding their behavior at the molecular scale, we can develop tailored approaches to modulate their virulence, social behavior, interaction with the host, persistence, and the overall progress of the infectious process. The current focus is on identifying molecules and developing nanostructured systems able to modulate key virulence and resistance factors, such as microbial attachment, biofilm formation, persistence, resistance to various drugs, etc. Additionally, the field of nanotechnology is currently investigated for new diagnosis tools in infectious diseases as nanobiomaterials offer great versatility, specificity, tracking, and delivery possibilities, as well as unlimited potential to develop new applications.

Dr. Alina Maria Holban
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • virulence modulators
  • signalling molecules
  • biofilms
  • microbial resistance
  • antimicrobial
  • nanoparticles
  • nanobiomolecules
  • nanocoatings

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 3199 KiB  
Article
Effect of the pH on the Antibacterial Potential and Cytotoxicity of Different Plasma-Activated Liquids
by Aline da Graça Sampaio, William Chiappim, Noala Vicensoto Moreira Milhan, Benedito Botan Neto, Rodrigo Pessoa and Cristiane Yumi Koga-Ito
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(22), 13893; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232213893 - 11 Nov 2022
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 1938
Abstract
In this study, different plasma-activated liquids were evaluated for their antimicrobial effects against Escherichia coli, as well as for their cytotoxicity on mammalian cells. The PALs were prepared from distilled (DIS), deionized (DI), filtered (FIL), and tap (TAP) water. Additionally, 0.9% NaCl [...] Read more.
In this study, different plasma-activated liquids were evaluated for their antimicrobial effects against Escherichia coli, as well as for their cytotoxicity on mammalian cells. The PALs were prepared from distilled (DIS), deionized (DI), filtered (FIL), and tap (TAP) water. Additionally, 0.9% NaCl saline solution (SAL) was plasma-activated. These PALs were prepared using 5 L/min air gliding arc plasma jet for up to 60.0 min of exposure. Subsequently, the physicochemical properties, such as, the oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), the pH, the conductivity, and the total dissolved solids (TDS) were characterized by a water multiparameter. The PALs obtained showed a drastic decrease in the pH with increasing plasma exposure time, in contrast, the conductivity and TDS increased. In a general trend, the UV-vis analyses identified a higher production of the following reactive species of nitrogen and oxygen (RONS), HNO2, H2O2, NO3−, and NO2−. Except for the plasma-activated filtered water (PAW-FIL), where there was a change in the position of NO2− and NO3− at some pHs, The higher production of HNO2 and H2O2-reactive species was observed at a low pH. Finally, the standardized suspensions of Escherichia coli were exposed to PAL for up to 60.0 min. The plasma-activated deionized water (PAW-DI pH 2.5), plasma-activated distilled water (PAW-DIS pH 2.5 and 3), and plasma-activated tap water (PAW-TAP 3.5) showed the best antimicrobial effects at exposure times of 3.0, 10.0, and 30.0 min, respectively. The MTT analysis demonstrated low toxicity of all of the PAL samples. Our results indicate that the plasma activation of different liquids using the gliding arc system can generate specific physicochemical conditions that produce excellent antibacterial effects for E. coli with a safe application, thus bringing future contributions to creating new antimicrobial protocols. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecules and Nanoparticles to Fight Resistant Pathogens 2.0)
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16 pages, 3832 KiB  
Article
Hemolytic Activity, Cytotoxicity, and Antimicrobial Effects of Silver Nanoparticles Conjugated with Lincomycin or Cefazolin
by Dmitriy Korolev, Michael Shumilo, Galina Shulmeyster, Alexander Krutikov, Alexey Golovkin, Alexander Mishanin, Anna Spiridonova, Olga Kulagina and Michael Galagudza
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(22), 13709; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232213709 - 08 Nov 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1144
Abstract
The overuse of antibiotics has led to the emergence of resistant bacteria. A good alternative is silver nanoparticles, which have antibacterial activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, including multidrug-resistant strains. Their combination with already known antibiotics has a synergistic effect. In this work, [...] Read more.
The overuse of antibiotics has led to the emergence of resistant bacteria. A good alternative is silver nanoparticles, which have antibacterial activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, including multidrug-resistant strains. Their combination with already known antibiotics has a synergistic effect. In this work, we studied the synthesis of conjugates of silver nanoparticles with two antibiotics, lincomycin and cefazolin. Albumin and glutathione were used as spacer shells with functional groups. The physicochemical properties of the obtained conjugates, their cytotoxicity and synergism of antimicrobial activity were studied. The 50% antimicrobial activity of the obtained samples was shown, which allows them to be recommended for use as topical drug preparations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecules and Nanoparticles to Fight Resistant Pathogens 2.0)
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16 pages, 6805 KiB  
Article
The Protective Effects of Lactoferrin on Aflatoxin M1-Induced Compromised Intestinal Integrity
by Ya-Nan Gao, Song-Li Li, Xue Yang, Jia-Qi Wang and Nan Zheng
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(1), 289; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23010289 - 28 Dec 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1880
Abstract
Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), the only toxin with maximum residue levels in milk, has adverse effects on the intestinal barrier, resulting in intestinal inflammatory disease. Lactoferrin (LF), one of the important bioactive proteins in milk, performs multiple biological functions, but knowledge of the protective [...] Read more.
Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), the only toxin with maximum residue levels in milk, has adverse effects on the intestinal barrier, resulting in intestinal inflammatory disease. Lactoferrin (LF), one of the important bioactive proteins in milk, performs multiple biological functions, but knowledge of the protective effects of LF on the compromised intestinal barrier induced by AFM1 has not been investigated. In the present study, results using Balb/C mice and differentiated Caco-2 cells showed that LF intervention decreased AFM1-induced increased intestinal permeability, improved the protein expression of claudin-3, occludin and ZO-1, and repaired the injured intestinal barrier. The transcriptome and proteome were used to clarify the underlying mechanisms. It was found that LF reduced the intestinal barrier dysfunction caused by AFM1 and was associated with intestinal cell survival related pathways, such as cell cycle, apoptosis and MAPK signaling pathway and intestinal integrity related pathways including endocytosis, tight junction, adherens junction and gap junction. The cross-omics analysis suggested that insulin receptor (INSR), cytoplasmic FMR1 interacting protein 2 (CYFIP2), dedicator of cytokinesis 1 (DOCK1) and ribonucleotide reductase regulatory subunit M2 (RRM2) were the potential key regulators as LF repaired the compromised intestinal barrier. These findings indicated that LF may be an alternative treatment for the compromised intestinal barrier induced by AFM1. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecules and Nanoparticles to Fight Resistant Pathogens 2.0)
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Review

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28 pages, 4807 KiB  
Review
Biofilms and Benign Colonic Diseases
by Busara Songtanin, Christopher J. Peterson, Adebayo J. Molehin and Kenneth Nugent
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(22), 14259; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232214259 - 17 Nov 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2470
Abstract
The colon has a very large surface area that is covered by a dense mucus layer. The biomass in the colon includes 500–1000 bacterial species at concentrations of ~1012 colony-forming units per gram of feces. The intestinal epithelial cells and the commensal [...] Read more.
The colon has a very large surface area that is covered by a dense mucus layer. The biomass in the colon includes 500–1000 bacterial species at concentrations of ~1012 colony-forming units per gram of feces. The intestinal epithelial cells and the commensal bacteria in the colon have a symbiotic relationship that results in nutritional support for the epithelial cells by the bacteria and maintenance of the optimal commensal bacterial population by colonic host defenses. Bacteria can form biofilms in the colon, but the exact frequency is uncertain because routine methods to undertake colonoscopy (i.e., bowel preparation) may dislodge these biofilms. Bacteria in biofilms represent a complex community that includes living and dead bacteria and an extracellular matrix composed of polysaccharides, proteins, DNA, and exogenous debris in the colon. The formation of biofilms occurs in benign colonic diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome. The development of a biofilm might serve as a marker for ongoing colonic inflammation. Alternatively, the development of biofilms could contribute to the pathogenesis of these disorders by providing sanctuaries for pathogenic bacteria and reducing the commensal bacterial population. Therapeutic approaches to patients with benign colonic diseases could include the elimination of biofilms and restoration of normal commensal bacteria populations. However, these studies will be extremely difficult unless investigators can develop noninvasive methods for measuring and identifying biofilms. These methods that might include the measurement of quorum sensing molecules, measurement of bile acids, and identification of bacteria uniquely associated with biofilms in the colon. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecules and Nanoparticles to Fight Resistant Pathogens 2.0)
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20 pages, 1470 KiB  
Review
Phage Therapy in the Era of Multidrug Resistance in Bacteria: A Systematic Review
by Carlos Aranaga, Lady Daniela Pantoja, Edgar Andrés Martínez and Aura Falco
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(9), 4577; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23094577 - 21 Apr 2022
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4724
Abstract
Bacteriophages offer an alternative for the treatment of multidrug-resistant bacterial diseases as their mechanism of action differs from that of antibiotics. However, their application in the clinical field is limited to specific cases of patients with few or no other alternative therapies. This [...] Read more.
Bacteriophages offer an alternative for the treatment of multidrug-resistant bacterial diseases as their mechanism of action differs from that of antibiotics. However, their application in the clinical field is limited to specific cases of patients with few or no other alternative therapies. This systematic review assesses the effectiveness and safety of phage therapy against multidrug-resistant bacteria through the evaluation of studies published over the past decade. To that end, a bibliographic search was carried out in the PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar databases. Of the 1500 studies found, 27 met the inclusion criteria, with a total of 165 treated patients. Treatment effectiveness, defined as the reduction in or elimination of the bacterial load, was 85%. Except for two patients who died from causes unrelated to phage therapy, no serious adverse events were reported. This shows that phage therapy could be an alternative treatment for patients with infections associated with multidrug-resistant bacteria. However, owing to the phage specificity required for the treatment of various bacterial strains, this therapy must be personalized in terms of bacteriophage type, route of administration, and dosage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecules and Nanoparticles to Fight Resistant Pathogens 2.0)
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16 pages, 1100 KiB  
Review
Activity of Silver Nanoparticles against Staphylococcus spp.
by Denis Swolana and Robert D. Wojtyczka
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(8), 4298; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23084298 - 13 Apr 2022
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 2591
Abstract
Staphylococcus epidermidis is a bacterium that is part of the human microbiota. It is most abundant on the skin, in the respiratory system and in the human digestive tract. Also, Staphylococcus aureus contributes to human infections and has a high mortality rate. Both [...] Read more.
Staphylococcus epidermidis is a bacterium that is part of the human microbiota. It is most abundant on the skin, in the respiratory system and in the human digestive tract. Also, Staphylococcus aureus contributes to human infections and has a high mortality rate. Both of these bacterial species produce biofilm, a pathogenic factor increasing their resistance to antibiotics. For this reason, we are looking for new substances that can neutralize bacterial cells. One of the best-known substances with such effects are silver nanoparticles. They exhibited antibacterial and antibiofilm formation activity that depended on their size, shape and the concentration used. In this review, we presented the data related to the use of silver nanoparticles in counteracting bacterial growth and biofilm formation published in scientific papers between 2017 and 2021. Based on the review of experimental results, the properties of nanoparticles prompt the expansion of research on their activity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecules and Nanoparticles to Fight Resistant Pathogens 2.0)
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18 pages, 1430 KiB  
Review
Fascinating Molecular and Immune Escape Mechanisms in the Treatment of STIs (Syphilis, Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, and Herpes Simplex)
by Lucian G. Scurtu, Viorel Jinga and Olga Simionescu
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(7), 3550; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23073550 - 24 Mar 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 7475
Abstract
The incidence of syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and herpes simplex has increased over the last decade, despite the numerous prevention strategies. Worldwide scientists report a surge in drug-resistant infections, particularly in immunocompromised patients. Antigenic variations in syphilis enable long-term infection, but benzathine penicillin G [...] Read more.
The incidence of syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and herpes simplex has increased over the last decade, despite the numerous prevention strategies. Worldwide scientists report a surge in drug-resistant infections, particularly in immunocompromised patients. Antigenic variations in syphilis enable long-term infection, but benzathine penicillin G maintains its efficiency, whereas macrolides should be recommended with caution. Mupirocin and zoliflodacin were recently introduced as therapies against ceftriaxone-resistant gonococcus, which poses a larger global threat. The gastrointestinal and prostatic potential reservoirs of Chlamydia trachomatis may represent the key towards complete eradication. Similar to syphilis, macrolides resistance has to be considered in genital chlamydiosis. Acyclovir-resistant HSV may respond to the novel helicase-primase inhibitors and topical imiquimod, particularly in HIV-positive patients. Novel drugs can overcome these challenges while nanocarriers enhance their potency, particularly in mucosal areas. This review summarizes the most recent and valuable discoveries regarding the immunopathogenic mechanisms of these sexually transmitted infections and discusses the challenges and opportunities of the novel molecules and nanomaterials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecules and Nanoparticles to Fight Resistant Pathogens 2.0)
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