10th Anniversary of Antibiotics—Feature Papers

A special issue of Antibiotics (ISSN 2079-6382).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2021) | Viewed by 24844

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
Interests: bacterial DNA replication; protein-protein interactions; protein-DNA interactions; enzymes; antibiotic drug discovery
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Antibiotics journal was founded in 2012. During the past ten years, Antibiotics has launched more than 100 Special Issues and published more than 1500 papers. The journal covers all aspects of antibiotic discovery, use and preservation. The year 2021 marks the 10th anniversary of Antibiotics. We are thus excited to celebrate the Antibiotics journal’s 10th anniversary with a Special Issue.

In honor of our 10th anniversary, we intend to publish several high-quality papers from established researchers in this field, and will apply some waivers of Article Processing Charges for these featured papers. Authors are invited to contribute an unsolicited manuscript, indicating in their cover letter that they wish to be considered for this Special Issue.

The scope of this Special Issue includes Reviews and Original Articles within the scope of the journal, including but not limited to, the following:

  • Advances in research on new and current antibiotics and related bioactive medicinal agents;
  • Antibiotic administration, drug–drug interactions and pharmacodynamics;
  • Biochemical and genetics studies on microorganisms to produce improved antibiotics;
  • Uses of antibiotics, including in animals and in agriculture;
  • Clinical trials;
  • New methods for assaying and evaluating antibiotics;
  • Production and characterization of antibiotics;
  • Classes of antibiotics;
  • Antibiotic resistance and misuse;
  • Natural antibiotics;
  • Epidemiology of antimicrobial use;
  • Antimicrobial stewardship;
  • Qualitative and quantitative research exploring the determinants of antimicrobial use and resistance;
  • Prescribing sciences

Prof. Dr. Nicholas Dixon
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. Antibiotics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). 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.

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 812 KiB  
Article
Elastase-Activated Antimicrobial Peptide for a Safer Pulmonary Treatment of Cystic Fibrosis Infections
by Margherita Degasperi, Riccardo Sgarra, Mario Mardirossian, Sabrina Pacor, Massimo Maschio and Marco Scocchi
Antibiotics 2022, 11(3), 319; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics11030319 - 28 Feb 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2284
Abstract
As bioactive small proteins with antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activities that are naturally produced by all living organisms, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have a marked potential as next-generation antibiotics. However, their development as antibacterial agents is limited by low stability and cytotoxicity. D-BMAP18, a membrane-permeabilizing [...] Read more.
As bioactive small proteins with antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activities that are naturally produced by all living organisms, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have a marked potential as next-generation antibiotics. However, their development as antibacterial agents is limited by low stability and cytotoxicity. D-BMAP18, a membrane-permeabilizing antimicrobial peptide composed of D-amino acids, has shown good antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities but also a non-negligible cytotoxicity against eukaryotic cell lines. In this study, a prodrug has been developed that extends the peptide with a negatively charged, inactivating sequence containing the cleavage site for neutrophil elastase (NE). The ultimate goal was to allow the activation of D-BMAP18 by endogenous elastase only at the site of infection/inflammation, enabling a slow and targeted release of the pharmacologically active peptide. In vitro activation of Pro-D-BMAP18 was confirmed using purified NE. Its antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities were tested in the presence and absence of elastase and compared to those of the parental form. The prodrug had minimal activity in the absence of elastase, while its proteolysis product retained an appreciable antimicrobial activity but lower cytotoxicity. Moreover, Pro-D-BMAP18 was found to be correctly converted to D-BMAP18 in the presence of CF sputum as a model of the lung environment and showed good antimicrobial activity under these conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of Antibiotics—Feature Papers)
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15 pages, 1703 KiB  
Article
In Silico Analysis of PKS and NRPS Gene Clusters in Arisostatin- and Kosinostatin-Producers and Description of Micromonospora okii sp. nov.
by Hisayuki Komaki, Natsuko Ichikawa, Akira Hosoyama, Moriyuki Hamada and Yasuhiro Igarashi
Antibiotics 2021, 10(12), 1447; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics10121447 - 25 Nov 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2413
Abstract
Micromonospora sp. TP-A0316 and Micromonospora sp. TP-A0468 are producers of arisostatin and kosinostatin, respectively. Micromonospora sp. TP-A0316 showed a 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 100% to Micromonosporaoryzae CP2R9-1T whereas Micromonospora sp. TP-A0468 showed a 99.3% similarity to Micromonospora haikouensis 232617 [...] Read more.
Micromonospora sp. TP-A0316 and Micromonospora sp. TP-A0468 are producers of arisostatin and kosinostatin, respectively. Micromonospora sp. TP-A0316 showed a 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 100% to Micromonosporaoryzae CP2R9-1T whereas Micromonospora sp. TP-A0468 showed a 99.3% similarity to Micromonospora haikouensis 232617T. A phylogenetic analysis based on gyrB sequences suggested that Micromonospora sp. TP-A0316 is closely related to Micromonospora oryzae whereas Micromonospora TP-A0468 is an independent genomospecies. As Micromonospora sp. TP-A0468 showed some phenotypic differences to its closely related species, it was classified as a novel species, for which the name Micromonospora okii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is TP-A0468T (= NBRC 110461T). Micromonospora sp. TP-A0316 and M. okii TP-A0468T were both found to harbor 15 gene clusters for secondary metabolites such as polyketides and nonribosomal peptides in their genomes. Arisostatin-biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC) of Micromonospora sp. TP-A0316 closely resembled tetrocarcin A-BGC of Micromonospora chalcea NRRL 11289. A large type-I polyketide synthase gene cluster was present in each genome of Micromonospora sp. TP-A0316 and M. okii TP-A0468T. It was an ortholog of quinolidomicin-BGC of M. chalcea AK-AN57 and widely distributed in the genus Micromonospora. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of Antibiotics—Feature Papers)
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17 pages, 4298 KiB  
Article
Effect of Invasion of Borrelia burgdorferi in Normal and Neoplastic Mammary Epithelial Cells
by Gauri Gaur, Janhavi Y. Sawant, Ankita S. Chavan, Vishwa A. Khatri, Yueh-Hsin Liu, Min Zhang and Eva Sapi
Antibiotics 2021, 10(11), 1295; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics10111295 - 24 Oct 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4419
Abstract
Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme Disease, is known to be able to disseminate and colonize various organs and tissues of its hosts, which is very crucial for its pathogenicity and survival. Recent studies have shown the presence of B. burgdorferi [...] Read more.
Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme Disease, is known to be able to disseminate and colonize various organs and tissues of its hosts, which is very crucial for its pathogenicity and survival. Recent studies have shown the presence of B. burgdorferi DNA in various breast cancer tissues, in some with poor prognosis, which raises the question about whether B. burgdorferi can interact with mammary epithelial cells and could have any effect on their physiology, including tumorigenic processes. As the model in this study, we have used MCF 10A normal and MDA-MB-231 tumorigenic mammary epithelial cells and infected both cell lines with B. burgdorferi. Our immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy results showed that B. burgdorferi is capable of invading normal epithelial and breast carcinoma cell lines within 24 h; however, the infection rate for the breast carcinoma cell lines was significantly higher. While the infection of epithelial cells with B. burgdorferi did not cause any changes in cell proliferation rates, it showed a significant effect on the invasion and migratory capacity of the breast cancer cells, but not on the normal epithelial cells, as determined by Matrigel invasion and wound healing assays. We have also found that the levels of expression of several epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers (fibronectin, vimentin, and Twist1/2) changed, with a significant increase in tissue remodeling marker (MMP-9) in MDA-MB-231 cells demonstrated by quantitative Western blot analyses. This observation further confirmed that B. burgdorferi infection can affect the in vitro migratory and invasive properties of MDA-MB-231 tumorigenic mammary epithelial cells. In summary, our results suggest that B. burgdorferi can invade breast cancer tumor cells and it can increase their tumorigenic phenotype, which urges the need for further studies on whether B. burgdorferi could have any role in breast cancer development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of Antibiotics—Feature Papers)
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18 pages, 1890 KiB  
Article
Surveillance for Antibiotic-Resistant E. coli in the Salish Sea Ecosystem
by Alexandria Vingino, Marilyn C. Roberts, Michelle Wainstein, James West, Stephanie A. Norman, Dyanna Lambourn, Jeffery Lahti, Ryan Ruiz, Marisa D’Angeli, Scott J. Weissman and Peter Rabinowitz
Antibiotics 2021, 10(10), 1201; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics10101201 - 2 Oct 2021
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3100
Abstract
E. coli was isolated from the Salish Sea (Puget Sound) ecosystem, including samples of marine and fresh water, and wildlife dependent on this environment. E. coli isolates were assessed for phenotypic and genotypic resistance to antibiotics. A total of 305 E. coli isolates [...] Read more.
E. coli was isolated from the Salish Sea (Puget Sound) ecosystem, including samples of marine and fresh water, and wildlife dependent on this environment. E. coli isolates were assessed for phenotypic and genotypic resistance to antibiotics. A total of 305 E. coli isolates was characterized from samples collected from: marine water obtained in four quadrants of the Salish Sea; select locations near beaches; fresh water from streams near marine beaches; and fecal samples from harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena), harbor seals (Phoca vitulina), river otters (Lontra canadensis), and English sole (Parophrys vetulus). Isolates were evaluated using antimicrobial susceptibility typing, whole-genome sequencing, fumC, and multilocus sequence typing. Resistance and virulence genes were identified from sequence data. Of the 305 isolates from Salish Sea samples, 20 (6.6%) of the E. coli were intermediate, and 31 (10.2%) were resistant to ≥1 class of antibiotics, with 26.9% of nonsusceptible (resistant and intermediate resistant) E. coli isolates from marine mammals and 70% from river otters. The proportion of nonsusceptible isolates from animals was significantly higher than samples taken from marine water (p < 0.0001). A total of 196 unique STs was identified including 37 extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC)-associated STs [ST10, ST38, ST58, ST69, ST73, ST117, ST131, and ST405]. The study suggests that animals may be potential sentinels for antibiotic-resistant and ExPEC E. coli in the Salish Sea ecosystem. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of Antibiotics—Feature Papers)
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13 pages, 468 KiB  
Article
Cyclic and Acyclic Amine Oxide Alkyl Derivatives as Potential Adjuvants in Antimicrobial Chemotherapy against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus with an MDR Profile
by Lorenza Fagnani, Lisaurora Nazzicone, Fabrizia Brisdelli, Luisa Giansanti, Sara Battista, Roberto Iorio, Sabrina Petricca, Gianfranco Amicosante, Mariagrazia Perilli, Giuseppe Celenza and Pierangelo Bellio
Antibiotics 2021, 10(8), 952; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics10080952 - 6 Aug 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2786
Abstract
The dramatic intensification of antimicrobial resistance occurrence in pathogenic bacteria concerns the global community. The revitalisation of inactive antibiotics is, at present, the only way to go through this health system crisis and the use of antimicrobial adjuvants is turning out the most [...] Read more.
The dramatic intensification of antimicrobial resistance occurrence in pathogenic bacteria concerns the global community. The revitalisation of inactive antibiotics is, at present, the only way to go through this health system crisis and the use of antimicrobial adjuvants is turning out the most promising approach. Due to their low toxicity, eco-friendly characteristics and antimicrobial activity, amphoteric surfactants are good candidates. This study investigated the adjuvant potentialities of commercial acyclic and newly cyclic N-oxide surfactants combined with therapeutically available antibiotics against MDR methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The safety profile of the new cyclic compounds, compared to commercial surfactants, was preliminarily assessed, evaluating the cytotoxicity on human peripheral mononuclear blood cells and the haemolysis in human red blood cells. The compounds show an efficacious antimicrobial activity strongly related to the length of the carbon atom chain. In drug–drug interaction assays, all surfactants act synergistically, restoring sensitivity to oxacillin in MRSA, with dodecyl acyclic and cyclic derivatives being the most effective. After evaluating the cytotoxicity and considering the antimicrobial action, the most promising compound is the L-prolinol amine-oxide C12NOX. These findings suggest that the combination of antibiotics with amphoteric surfactants is a valuable therapeutic option for topical infections sustained by multidrug-resistant S. aureus. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of Antibiotics—Feature Papers)
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10 pages, 767 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Amoxicillin in Adult Patients Presenting to Primary Care with Acute Cough Predicted to Have Pneumonia or a Combined Viral-Bacterial Infection
by Robin Bruyndonckx, Beth Stuart, Paul Little, Niel Hens, Margareta Ieven, Christopher C. Butler, Theo J. M. Verheij, Herman Goossens, Samuel Coenen and The GRACE Project Group
Antibiotics 2021, 10(7), 817; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics10070817 - 6 Jul 2021
Viewed by 2769
Abstract
While most cases of acute cough are self-limiting, antibiotics are prescribed to over 50%. This proportion is inappropriately high given that benefit from treatment with amoxicillin could only be demonstrated in adults with pneumonia (based on chest radiograph) or combined viral–bacterial infection (based [...] Read more.
While most cases of acute cough are self-limiting, antibiotics are prescribed to over 50%. This proportion is inappropriately high given that benefit from treatment with amoxicillin could only be demonstrated in adults with pneumonia (based on chest radiograph) or combined viral–bacterial infection (based on modern microbiological methodology). As routine use of chest radiographs and microbiological testing is costly, clinical prediction rules could be used to identify these patient subsets. In this secondary analysis of data from a multicentre randomised controlled trial in adults presenting to primary care with acute cough, we used prediction rules for pneumonia or combined infection and assessed the effect of amoxicillin in patients predicted to have pneumonia or combined infection on symptom duration, symptom severity and illness deterioration. In total, 2056 patients that fulfilled all inclusion criteria were randomised, 1035 to amoxicillin, 1021 to placebo. Neither patients with a predicted pneumonia nor patients with a predicted combined infection were significantly more likely to benefit from amoxicillin. While the studied clinical prediction rules may help primary care clinicians to reduce antibiotic prescribing for low-risk patients, they did not identify adult acute cough patients that would benefit from amoxicillin treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of Antibiotics—Feature Papers)
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Review

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15 pages, 1974 KiB  
Review
Local/Topical Antibiotics for Peri-Implantitis Treatment: A Systematic Review
by Pier Carmine Passarelli, Andrea Netti, Michele Antonio Lopez, Eleonora Favetti Giaquinto, Giuseppe De Rosa, Gianmarco Aureli, Alina Bodnarenko, Piero Papi, Anna Starzyńska, Giorgio Pompa and Antonio D’Addona
Antibiotics 2021, 10(11), 1298; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics10111298 - 25 Oct 2021
Cited by 26 | Viewed by 5294
Abstract
Most studies indicate that the mechanical removal of the bacterial biofilm from the implant surface is the central goal of peri-implantitis therapy. However, controversial results in the treatment of peri-implantitis have led to the consideration of additional strategies that include surgical approaches and [...] Read more.
Most studies indicate that the mechanical removal of the bacterial biofilm from the implant surface is the central goal of peri-implantitis therapy. However, controversial results in the treatment of peri-implantitis have led to the consideration of additional strategies that include surgical approaches and chemical adjuvants. Local/topical antibiotics, such as minocycline, azithromycin, tetracycline, amoxicillin, doxycycline, and metronidazole, may improve the efficacy of the definitive treatment of the disease, but the lack of conclusive findings prevents their use in clinical practice. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effect of local/topical antibiotics for peri-implantitis treatment. Randomised controlled studies (RCT) on patients with peri-implantitis and comparing the efficacy of local/topical antibiotics vs. placebo or mechanical debridement were included. A systematic search strategy was carried out using three registered databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus). RoB2 was used to assess risk of bias. Five RCTs were identified (n = 250 patients and 333 implants). Contrast results emerged among the included studies, and a high heterogeneity level was observed. Risk of bias revealed some concerns for three studies out of five, while one study was judged at high risk. Only one study analysed the limitations of its findings. Overall, local antibiotic use can be considered a valid approach in the treatment of peri-implantitis. Therefore, future long-term clinical trials with standardised protocols and antibiotics with similar biological activity profiles should be tested to achieve a valid and definitive conclusion. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of Antibiotics—Feature Papers)
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