New Insights into Antimicrobial Discovery

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2024) | Viewed by 12286

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Antibiotics have revolutionized modern medicine, making it possible to treat otherwise deadly bacterial infections. Misuse of antibiotics has allowed the selection of resistant strains that do not respond to conventional treatments. Antibiotic resistance is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, causing millions of deaths worldwide each year. To this end, the scientific community is conducting continuous research to discover new antibacterial agents with alternative mechanisms of action and pharmacological targets. This Special Issue covers all aspects of antimicrobial discovery, including nanomaterials, natural and synthetic compounds, repurposed drugs, and modifications of existing drugs for the treatment of multidrug-resistant infections. We invite researchers to contribute with original research and review articles.

Dr. Veronica Folliero
Dr. Gianluigi Franci
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • antimicrobial discovery
  • multidrug resistance
  • infectious agents
  • chemotherapy

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 2605 KiB  
Article
Antimicrobial Activity and Molecular Docking Studies of the Biotransformation of Diterpene Acanthoic Acid Using the Fungus Xylaria sp.
by Andrey Moacir do Rosario Marinho, Claudia Maria S. C. de Oliveira, João Victor Silva-Silva, Samara C. Anchieta de Jesus, José Edson S. Siqueira, Luana C. de Oliveira, Jéssica Fernandes Auzier, Liviane N. Soares, Maria Lúcia Belém Pinheiro, Sebastião C. Silva, Lívia S. Medeiros, Emmanoel V. Costa and Patrícia S. Barbosa Marinho
Antibiotics 2023, 12(8), 1331; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics12081331 - 18 Aug 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2100
Abstract
Biotransformations are reactions mediated by microorganisms, such as fungi. These bioreactions have high chemo- and stereoselectivity on organic substrates and can be applied in the search for new bioactive compounds. In this study, acanthoic acid (AA) was biotransformed using the fungus Xylaria sp., [...] Read more.
Biotransformations are reactions mediated by microorganisms, such as fungi. These bioreactions have high chemo- and stereoselectivity on organic substrates and can be applied in the search for new bioactive compounds. In this study, acanthoic acid (AA) was biotransformed using the fungus Xylaria sp., giving the novel compound 3β,7β-dihydroxyacanthoic acid (S1). Both the AA and the product S1 were tested against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. To identify and validate possible biological targets as enzymes or proteins involved in the activity observed in vitro, we used the molecular docking method. Hydroxylation at the C-3 and C-7 positions of the biotransformation product enhanced its activity against Escherichia coli as well as its binding affinity and interactions with superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1; PDB ID 4A7G). Based on our results, the SOD1 enzyme was suggested to be a possible target for the antioxidant activity of product S1. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Antimicrobial Discovery)
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21 pages, 3546 KiB  
Article
Experimental and In Silico Evaluation of New Heteroaryl Benzothiazole Derivatives as Antimicrobial Agents
by Alexander Zubenko, Victor Kartsev, Anthi Petrou, Athina Geronikaki, Marija Ivanov, Jasmina Glamočlija, Marina Soković, Lyudmila Divaeva, Anatolii Morkovnik and Alexander Klimenko
Antibiotics 2022, 11(11), 1654; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics11111654 - 18 Nov 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2051
Abstract
In this manuscript, we describe the design, preparation, and studies of antimicrobial activity of a series of novel heteroarylated benzothiazoles. A molecular hybridization approach was used for the designing compounds. The in vitro evaluation exposed that these compounds showed moderate antibacterial activity. Compound [...] Read more.
In this manuscript, we describe the design, preparation, and studies of antimicrobial activity of a series of novel heteroarylated benzothiazoles. A molecular hybridization approach was used for the designing compounds. The in vitro evaluation exposed that these compounds showed moderate antibacterial activity. Compound 2j was found to be the most potent (MIC/MBC at 0.23–0.94 mg/mL and 0.47–1.88 mg/mL) On the other hand, compounds showed good antifungal activity (MIC/MFC at 0.06–0.47 and 0.11–0.94 mg/mL respectively) with 2d being the most active one. The docking studies revealed that inhibition of E. coli MurB and 14-lanosterol demethylase probably represent the mechanism of antibacterial and antifungal activities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Antimicrobial Discovery)
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8 pages, 1573 KiB  
Article
Andrographolide and 4-Phenylbutyric Acid Administration Increase the Expression of Antimicrobial Peptides Beta-Defensin-1 and Cathelicidin and Reduce Mortality in Murine Sepsis
by Albert Bolatchiev, Vladimir Baturin and Elizaveta Bolatchieva
Antibiotics 2022, 11(11), 1629; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics11111629 - 15 Nov 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1747
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance is a global threat and requires the search for new treatment strategies. Natural antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have pronounced antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and antitumor activity. AMPs’ clinical use is complicated by the high synthesis costs and rapid proteolytic degradation. The search for [...] Read more.
Antibiotic resistance is a global threat and requires the search for new treatment strategies. Natural antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have pronounced antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and antitumor activity. AMPs’ clinical use is complicated by the high synthesis costs and rapid proteolytic degradation. The search for small molecules, inducers of endogenous AMP expression, could become a new approach. Here, we investigated for the first time the effect of seven small molecules (andrographolide, levofloxacin, azithromycin, montelukast, 4-phenylbutyric acid, rosuvastatin and valsartan) on AMP (beta-defensin-1, hBD-1 and cathelicidin, LL-37) serum levels in rats. In control groups, the level of hBD-1 was 295.0 (292.9–315.4) pg/mL, and for LL-37, it was 223.8 (213.3–233.6) pg/mL. Andrographolide (ANDR) and 4-phenylbutyric acid (4-PHBA) administration significantly enhanced the level of both AMPs. The hBD-1 level was 581.5 (476.3–607.7) pg/mL for ANDR and 436.9 (399.0–531.6) pg/mL for 4-PHBA. The LL-37 level was 415.4 (376.2–453.8) pg/mL for ANDR and 398.9 (355.7–410.1) pg/mL for 4-PHBA. Moreover, we have shown that these compounds reduce mortality in a murine model of sepsis caused by a carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella aerogenes isolate. From our point of view, these small molecules are promising candidates for further study as potent AMP inducers. The data obtained allow the development of new strategies to combat antibiotic resistance and infectious diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Antimicrobial Discovery)
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19 pages, 3979 KiB  
Article
Novel Polyhydroquinoline-Hydrazide-Linked Schiff’s Base Derivatives: Multistep Synthesis, Antimicrobial, and Calcium-Channel-Blocking Activities
by Zainab, Haitao Yu, Najeeb Ur Rehman, Mumtaz Ali, Aftab Alam, Abdul Latif, Nazish Shahab, Irfan Amir Khan, Abdul Jabbar Shah, Momin Khan, Ahmed Al-Ghafri, Ahmed Al-Harrasi and Manzoor Ahmad
Antibiotics 2022, 11(11), 1568; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics11111568 - 7 Nov 2022
Cited by 38 | Viewed by 1949
Abstract
Polyhydroquinoline (PHQ) are the unsymmetrical Hantzsch derivatives of 1,4-dihydropyridines with several biological applications. In this work, twenty-five (327) new Schiff’s base derivatives of polyhydroquinoline hydrazide were synthesized in excellent to good yields by a multi-component reaction. The structures of [...] Read more.
Polyhydroquinoline (PHQ) are the unsymmetrical Hantzsch derivatives of 1,4-dihydropyridines with several biological applications. In this work, twenty-five (327) new Schiff’s base derivatives of polyhydroquinoline hydrazide were synthesized in excellent to good yields by a multi-component reaction. The structures of the synthesized products (127) were deduced with the help of spectroscopic techniques, such as 1H-, 13C -NMR, and HR-ESI-MS. The synthesized products (127) were tested for their antibacterial and in vitro calcium -channel-blocking (CCB) potentials using the agar-well diffusion method, and isolated rat aortic ring preparations, respectively. Among the series, sixteen compounds were found to inhibit the growth of Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis. Among them, compound 17 was observed to be the most potent one at a dose 2 µg/mL, with an 18 mm zone of inhibition against both bacteria when it was compared with the standard drug amoxicillin. Eight compounds showed CCB activity of variable potency; in particular, compound 27 was more potent, with an EC50 value of 0.7 (0.3–1.1) µg/mL, indicating their CCB effect. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Antimicrobial Discovery)
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Review

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25 pages, 1311 KiB  
Review
Nanoparticles and Their Antibacterial Application in Endodontics
by Nicoletta Capuano, Alessandra Amato, Federica Dell’Annunziata, Francesco Giordano, Veronica Folliero, Federica Di Spirito, Pragati Rajendra More, Anna De Filippis, Stefano Martina, Massimo Amato, Massimiliano Galdiero, Alfredo Iandolo and Gianluigi Franci
Antibiotics 2023, 12(12), 1690; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics12121690 - 1 Dec 2023
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3425
Abstract
Root canal treatment represents a significant challenge as current cleaning and disinfection methodologies fail to remove persistent bacterial biofilms within the intricate anatomical structures. Recently, the field of nanotechnology has emerged as a promising frontier with numerous biomedical applications. Among the most notable [...] Read more.
Root canal treatment represents a significant challenge as current cleaning and disinfection methodologies fail to remove persistent bacterial biofilms within the intricate anatomical structures. Recently, the field of nanotechnology has emerged as a promising frontier with numerous biomedical applications. Among the most notable contributions of nanotechnology are nanoparticles, which possess antimicrobial, antifungal, and antiviral properties. Nanoparticles cause the destructuring of bacterial walls, increasing the permeability of the cell membrane, stimulating the generation of reactive oxygen species, and interrupting the replication of deoxyribonucleic acid through the controlled release of ions. Thus, they could revolutionize endodontics, obtaining superior results and guaranteeing a promising short- and long-term prognosis. Therefore, chitosan, silver, graphene, poly(lactic) co-glycolic acid, bioactive glass, mesoporous calcium silicate, hydroxyapatite, zirconia, glucose oxidase magnetic, copper, and zinc oxide nanoparticles in endodontic therapy have been investigated in the present review. The diversified antimicrobial mechanisms of action, the numerous applications, and the high degree of clinical safety could encourage the scientific community to adopt nanoparticles as potential drugs for the treatment of endodontic diseases, overcoming the limitations related to antibiotic resistance and eradication of the biofilm. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Antimicrobial Discovery)
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