Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance – From Resistance Monitoring to Antimicrobials Development

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 August 2024) | Viewed by 4977

Special Issue Editors

1. Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health (CIISA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal
2. Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal
Interests: antimicrobial compounds; antimicrobial resistance; bacterial virulence; biofilms; veterinary medicine; infectious diseases
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
1. Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health (CIISA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal
2. Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal
3. Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c) & Global Change and Sustainability Institute (CHANGE), Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
Interests: one health; clinical bacteriology; biofilms; antimicrobial resistance; wildlife bacteriology; mycology; bacterial virulence; genomics; infections pathogenesis; food safety
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nowadays, the emergence and dissemination of antimicrobial-resistant strains constitute a critical global problem in both human and veterinary medicine, being classified as one of the top three priorities in terms of Public Health by the Tripartite Alliance constituted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) and the World Health Organization (WHO). This phenomenon, sometimes described as the “post-antibiotic era” or “silent pandemic”, is a general concern, not only among health professionals and academia, but also among the community. Recently, a series of measures and strategies that should be adopted in order to reduce the frequency of resistant strain development and to contribute to maintaining the effectiveness of available antimicrobials has been identified. These strategies cover different areas of action, including the prevention and monitoring of the occurrence and spread of infectious and food-borne disease outbreaks, the optimization of prescription standards, the control of illegal sales and self-medication, and the increase in the support of scientific research and technological development in this area, including the development of new antimicrobial strategies. This Special Issue aims to publish manuscripts that focus on research aiming at tackling antimicrobial resistance, ranging from resistance monitoring to the development of new antimicrobial alternatives, including new compounds and delivery systems.

Dr. Eva Cunha
Dr. Manuela Oliveira
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • antibiotic stewardship
  • antimicrobial resistance
  • delivery systems
  • food-borne outbreaks
  • infection diseases
  • new antimicrobials
  • One Health
  • resistance monitoring

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 4670 KiB  
Article
Diflunisal Attenuates Virulence Factor Gene Regulation and Phenotypes in Staphylococcus aureus
by Liana C. Chan, Mihyun Park, Hong K. Lee, Siyang Chaili, Yan Q. Xiong, Arnold S. Bayer, Richard A. Proctor and Michael R. Yeaman
Antibiotics 2023, 12(5), 902; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics12050902 - 13 May 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1841
Abstract
Virulence factor expression is integral to pathogenicity of Staphylococcus aureus. We previously demonstrated that aspirin, through its major metabolite, salicylic acid (SAL), modulates S. aureus virulence phenotypes in vitro and in vivo. We compared salicylate metabolites and a structural analogue for their [...] Read more.
Virulence factor expression is integral to pathogenicity of Staphylococcus aureus. We previously demonstrated that aspirin, through its major metabolite, salicylic acid (SAL), modulates S. aureus virulence phenotypes in vitro and in vivo. We compared salicylate metabolites and a structural analogue for their ability to modulate S. aureus virulence factor expression and phenotypes: (i) acetylsalicylic acid (ASA, aspirin); (ii) ASA metabolites, salicylic acid (SAL), gentisic acid (GTA) and salicyluric acid (SUA); or (iii) diflunisal (DIF), a SAL structural analogue. None of these compounds altered the growth rate of any strain tested. ASA and its metabolites SAL, GTA and SUA moderately impaired hemolysis and proteolysis phenotypes in multiple S. aureus strain backgrounds and their respective deletion mutants. Only DIF significantly inhibited these virulence phenotypes in all strains. The kinetic profiles of ASA, SAL or DIF on expression of hla (alpha hemolysin), sspA (V8 protease) and their regulators (sigB, sarA, agr (RNAIII)) were assessed in two prototypic strain backgrounds: SH1000 (methicillin-sensitive S. aureus; MSSA) and LAC-USA300 (methicillin-resistant S. aureus; MRSA). DIF induced sigB expression which is coincident with the significant inhibition of RNAIII expression in both strains and precedes significant reductions in hla and sspA expression. The inhibited expression of these genes within 2 h resulted in the durable suppression of hemolysis and proteolysis phenotypes. These results indicate that DIF modulates the expression of key virulence factors in S. aureus via a coordinated impact on their relevant regulons and target effector genes. This strategy may hold opportunities to develop novel antivirulence strategies to address the ongoing challenge of antibiotic-resistant S. aureus. Full article
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17 pages, 2351 KiB  
Article
Nisin Z Potential for the Control of Diabetic Foot Infections Promoted by Pseudomonas aeruginosa Persisters
by Rafaela Zina, Eva Cunha, Isa Serrano, Elisabete Silva, Luís Tavares and Manuela Oliveira
Antibiotics 2023, 12(5), 794; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics12050794 - 22 Apr 2023
Viewed by 2156
Abstract
Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) are a major complication of diabetes mellitus and a public health concern worldwide. The ability of P. aeruginosa to form biofilms is a key factor responsible for the chronicity of diabetic foot infections (DFIs) and frequently associated with the [...] Read more.
Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) are a major complication of diabetes mellitus and a public health concern worldwide. The ability of P. aeruginosa to form biofilms is a key factor responsible for the chronicity of diabetic foot infections (DFIs) and frequently associated with the presence of persister cells. These are a subpopulation of phenotypic variants highly tolerant to antibiotics for which new therapeutic alternatives are urgently needed, such as those based on antimicrobial peptides. This study aimed to evaluate the inhibitory effect of nisin Z on P. aeruginosa DFI persisters. To induce the development of a persister state in both planktonic suspensions and biofilms, P. aeruginosa DFI isolates were exposed to carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) and ciprofloxacin, respectively. After RNA extraction from CCCP-induced persisters, transcriptome analysis was performed to evaluate the differential gene expression between the control, persisters, and persister cells exposed to nisin Z. Nisin Z presented a high inhibitory effect against P. aeruginosa persister cells but was unable to eradicate them when present in established biofilms. Transcriptome analysis revealed that persistence was associated with downregulation of genes related to metabolic processes, cell wall synthesis, and dysregulation of stress response and biofilm formation. After nisin Z treatment, some of the transcriptomic changes induced by persistence were reversed. In conclusion, nisin Z could be considered as a potential complementary therapy for treating P. aeruginosa DFI, but it should be applied as an early treatment or after wound debridement. Full article
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