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Natural Products and Bio-Nanomaterials: Novel Strategies to Overcome Antibiotic Resistance

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A special issue of Antibiotics (ISSN 2079-6382). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant-Derived Antibiotics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2024 | Viewed by 8557

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Renata Katsuko Takayama Kobayashi

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Guest Editor

Department of Microbiology, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Brazil
Interests: resistance; pharmacy; nanoparticles; bacterial control; in vivo model; resistance to antimicrobials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Gerson Nakazato

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Guest Editor

Department of Microbiology, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Brazil
Interests: nanotechnology

Dr. Sara Scandorieiro

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Guest Editor

Department of Microbiology, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Brazil
Interests: product natural; antimicrobials

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The emergence of superbugs is a concern in Public Health that accounts for millions of deaths in worldwide. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) microorganisms have increased in hospital environments and in communities, with high streaming rates. Conventional antimicrobials have not been effective enough in eliminating MDRs. So, new alternatives using natural products and nanoparticles can be interesting in infection control.

Natural products are a trend in biomedical applications as antimicrobials due to their low toxicity and environmental safety. Many different plants have been used as pharmaceuticals with benefits and advantages in infection control. However, this use alone presents some difficulties (cost, efficacy, seasonality, etc.) suggesting increments in their compounds.

Nanotechnology or Nanoscience is the study and application of small particles (between 1 and 100 nm) to produce new structures, material, and devices. This size and charge allow optimizing some physicochemical properties, as well as biological activities. Some nanomaterials with antimicrobial effects have been applied in the field of medicine with satisfactory results. These materials can adopt interesting strategies such as nanoencapsulation, compounds delivery, magnetic targeting and synergic associations.

In this way, our Special Issue will receive articles focusing on the antimicrobial activity using natural products (from marine, plants, microorganisms, etc.) and bionanomaterials for prevention or therapy against pathogens, including MDRs. Authors can send original research or review approaching this theme.

Dr. Renata Katsuko Takayama Kobayashi
Dr. Gerson Nakazato
Dr. Sara Scandorieiro
Guest Editors

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.

Keywords

nanotechnology
material
antimicrobial
nature
resistance
nanoparticles
strategy

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 1036 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Antimicrobial, Probiotic, and Immunomodulatory Potential of Cannabis sativa Extract and Delivery Systems

by Anna Stasiłowicz-Krzemień, Daria Szymanowska, Piotr Szulc and Judyta Cielecka-Piontek

Antibiotics 2024, 13(4), 369; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13040369 - 17 Apr 2024

Viewed by 619

Abstract

The compounds present in hemp show multidirectional biological activity. It is related to the presence of secondary metabolites, mainly cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids, and the synergy of their biological activity. The aim of this study was to assess the activity of the Henola Cannabis sativae extract and its combinations with selected carriers (polyvinyl caprolactam–polyvinyl acetate–polyethylene glycol graft copolymer, magnesium aluminometasilicate, and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin) in terms of antimicrobial, probiotic, and immunobiological effects. As a result of the conducted research, the antimicrobial activity of the extract was confirmed in relation to the following microorganisms: Clostridium difficile, Listeria monocytogenes, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus pyrogenes, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella typhimurium, Pseudomonas aereuginosa, and Candida albicans (microorganism count was reduced from ~10² CFU mL⁻¹ to <10 CFU mL⁻¹ in most cases). Additionally, for the system with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin, a significant probiotic potential against bacterial strains was established for strains Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus reuteri, Pediococcus pentosaceus, Lactococcus lactis, Lactobacillus fermentum, and Streptococcus thermophilus (microorganism count was increased from ~10² to 10⁴–10⁷). In terms of immunomodulatory properties, it was determined that the tested extract and the systems caused changes in IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α levels. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products and Bio-Nanomaterials: Novel Strategies to Overcome Antibiotic Resistance)

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17 pages, 2755 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cellulose Hydrogel with Hyaluronic Acid and Silver Nanoparticles: Sustained-Release Formulation with Antibacterial Properties against Pseudomonas aeruginosa

by Mirian Sumini, Clara Ruiz de Souza, Gabriel Jonathan Sousa Andrade, Igor Roberto Cabral Oliveira, Sara Scandorieiro, Cesar Augusto Tischer, Renata Katsuko Takayama Kobayashi and Gerson Nakazato

Antibiotics 2023, 12(5), 873; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics12050873 - 08 May 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2232

Abstract

Pathogenic bacteria resistant to conventional antibiotics represent a global challenge and justify the need for new antimicrobials capable of combating bacterial multidrug resistance. This study describes the development of a topical hydrogel in a formulation composed of cellulose, hyaluronic acid (HA), and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) against strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. AgNPs as an antimicrobial agent were synthesized by a new method based on green chemistry, using arginine as a reducing agent and potassium hydroxide as a carrier. Scanning electron microscopy showed the formation of a composite between cellulose and HA in a three-dimensional network of cellulose fibrils, with thickening of the fibrils and filling of spaces by HA with the presence of pores. Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis) and particle size distribution for dynamic light scattering (DLS) confirmed the formation of AgNPs with peak absorption at ~430 nm and 57.88 nm. AgNPs dispersion showed a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 1.5 µg/mL. The time–kill assay showed that after 3 h of exposure to the hydrogel containing AgNPs, there were no viable cells, corresponding to a bactericidal efficacy of 99.999% in the 95% confidence level. We obtained a hydrogel that is easy to apply, with sustained release and bactericidal properties against strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa at low concentrations of the agent. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products and Bio-Nanomaterials: Novel Strategies to Overcome Antibiotic Resistance)

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20 pages, 4680 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Synergistic Antifungal Interaction between Pseudomonas aeruginosa LV Strain Metabolites and Biogenic Silver Nanoparticles against Candida auris

by Laís Fernanda de Almeida Spoladori, Gabriella Maria Andriani, Isabela Madeira de Castro, Helena Tiemi Suzukawa, Ana Carolina Ramos Gimenes, Guilherme Bartolomeu-Gonçalves, Kelly Ishida, Gerson Nakazato, Phileno Pinge-Filho, Rayanne Regina Beltrame Machado, Celso Vataru Nakamura, Galdino Andrade, Eliandro Reis Tavares, Lucy Megumi Yamauchi and Sueli Fumie Yamada-Ogatta

Antibiotics 2023, 12(5), 861; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics12050861 - 06 May 2023

Viewed by 1579

Abstract

Candida auris has been found to be a persistent colonizer of human skin and a successful pathogen capable of causing potentially fatal infection, especially in immunocompromised individuals. This fungal species is usually resistant to most antifungal agents and has the ability to form biofilms on different surfaces, representing a significant therapeutic challenge. Herein, the effect of metabolites of Pseudomonas aeruginosa LV strain, alone and combined with biologically synthesized silver nanoparticles (bioAgNP), was evaluated in planktonic and sessile (biofilm) cells of C. auris. First, the minimal inhibitory and fungicidal concentration values of 3.12 and 6.25 μg/mL, respectively, were determined for F4a, a semi-purified bacterial fraction. Fluopsin C and indolin-3-one seem to be the active components of F4a. Like the semi-purified fraction, they showed a time- and dose-dependent fungicidal activity. F4a and bioAgNP caused severe changes in the morphology and ultrastructure of fungal cells. F4a and indolin-3-one combined with bioAgNP exhibited synergistic fungicidal activity against planktonic cells. F4a, alone or combined with bioAgNP, also caused a significant decrease in the number of viable cells within the biofilms. No cytotoxicity to mammalian cells was detected for bacterial metabolites combined with bioAgNP at synergistic concentrations that presented antifungal activity. These results indicate the potential of F4a combined with bioAgNP as a new strategy for controlling C. auris infections. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products and Bio-Nanomaterials: Novel Strategies to Overcome Antibiotic Resistance)

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32 pages, 73558 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Antibiofilm Effect of Biogenic Silver Nanoparticles Combined with Oregano Derivatives against Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae

by Sara Scandorieiro, Franciele Maira M. B. Teixeira, Mara C. L. Nogueira, Luciano A. Panagio, Admilton G. de Oliveira, Nelson Durán, Gerson Nakazato and Renata K. T. Kobayashi

Antibiotics 2023, 12(4), 756; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics12040756 - 14 Apr 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2110

Abstract

Resistant bacteria may kill more people than COVID-19, so the development of new antibacterials is essential, especially against microbial biofilms that are reservoirs of resistant cells. Silver nanoparticles (bioAgNP), biogenically synthesized using Fusarium oxysporum, combined with oregano derivatives, present a strategic antibacterial mechanism and prevent the emergence of resistance against planktonic microorganisms. Antibiofilm activity of four binary combinations was tested against enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) and Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae (KPC): oregano essential oil (OEO) plus bioAgNP, carvacrol (Car) plus bioAgNP, thymol (Thy) plus bioAgNP, and Car plus Thy. The antibiofilm effect was accessed using crystal violet, MTT, scanning electron microscopy, and Chromobacterium violaceum anti-quorum-sensing assays. All binary combinations acted against preformed biofilm and prevented its formation; they showed improved antibiofilm activity compared to antimicrobials individually by reducing sessile minimal inhibitory concentration up to 87.5% or further decreasing biofilm metabolic activity and total biomass. Thy plus bioAgNP extensively inhibited the growth of biofilm in polystyrene and glass surfaces, disrupted three-dimensional biofilm structure, and quorum-sensing inhibition may be involved in its antibiofilm activity. For the first time, it is shown that bioAgNP combined with oregano has antibiofilm effect against bacteria for which antimicrobials are urgently needed, such as KPC. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products and Bio-Nanomaterials: Novel Strategies to Overcome Antibiotic Resistance)

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Review

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36 pages, 3954 KiB

Open AccessReview

Antimicrobial Action Mechanisms of Natural Compounds Isolated from Endophytic Microorganisms

by Farkhod Eshboev, Nilufar Mamadalieva, Pavel A. Nazarov, Hidayat Hussain, Vladimir Katanaev, Dilfuza Egamberdieva and Shakhnoz Azimova

Antibiotics 2024, 13(3), 271; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13030271 - 18 Mar 2024

Viewed by 1417

Abstract

Infectious diseases are a significant challenge to global healthcare, especially in the face of increasing antibiotic resistance. This urgent issue requires the continuous exploration and development of new antimicrobial drugs. In this regard, the secondary metabolites derived from endophytic microorganisms stand out as promising sources for finding antimicrobials. Endophytic microorganisms, residing within the internal tissues of plants, have demonstrated the capacity to produce diverse bioactive compounds with substantial pharmacological potential. Therefore, numerous new antimicrobial compounds have been isolated from endophytes, particularly from endophytic fungi and actinomycetes. However, only a limited number of these compounds have been subjected to comprehensive studies regarding their mechanisms of action against bacterial cells. Furthermore, the investigation of their effects on antibiotic-resistant bacteria and the identification of biosynthetic gene clusters responsible for synthesizing these secondary metabolites have been conducted for only a subset of these promising compounds. Through a comprehensive analysis of current research findings, this review describes the mechanisms of action of antimicrobial drugs and secondary metabolites isolated from endophytes, antibacterial activities of the natural compounds derived from endophytes against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and biosynthetic gene clusters of endophytic fungi responsible for the synthesis of bioactive secondary metabolites. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products and Bio-Nanomaterials: Novel Strategies to Overcome Antibiotic Resistance)

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