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Current Trends in Exploiting the Influence of Natural Substances, Compounds...
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Current Trends in Exploiting the Influence of Natural Substances, Compounds and Probiotics as Antimicrobial Agents for Food and Health Applications

A special issue of Applied Microbiology (ISSN 2673-8007).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2022) | Viewed by 36275

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Filomena Nazzaro

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Guest Editor
Istituto di Scienze dell’Alimentazione, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (ISA-CNR), Via Roma 64, 83100 Avellino, Italy
Interests: antimicrobial activity of natural extracts/essential oils; microencapsulation of bacteria; entrappment of secondary metabolites; development of functional beverages; quorum sensing; biofilm; innovative technologies
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Vincenzo De Feo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084 Fisciano, Italy
Interests: herbs; essential oils; natural extracts; cytotoxicity; antimicrobial; biofilm
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Raffaele Coppola

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Guest Editor
Dipartimento Agricoltura, Ambiente e Alimenti, Università degli Studi del Molise, Via De Sanctis, 86100 Campobasso, Italy
Interests: food microbiology; probiotics; Lactic acid bacteria; functional foods; antimicrobial activity; biofilm
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Antibiotics, considered as a mainstay of modern clinical medicine, are facing huge interest due to the antimicrobial resistance emerging in several bacteria of nosocomial and community origin, which is posing a serious threat to human health. Therefore, different microbial pathogens also constitute a serious danger for the food industry, where international rules are discouraging the use of conventional additives to prolong and preserve the quality and safety of foods. Regarding drug-resistant microbes, some pathogens such as particular molds, the food pathogens Listeria spp and Streptococcus mutans, and the emerging oral pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis are significant. The so-called “ESKAPEE” group of pathogens, which include Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter and Escherichia coli, also pose a threat. Novel and effective approaches are thus necessary to fight this life-threatening issue. Herbs, as well as some foods and probiotic bacteria, are capable of combating pathogens, interacting with them and acting on microbial cell membranes, the cytoplasm, quorum sensing, biofilms, drug efflux pumps, R-plasmids, etc. We invite you to contribute with your latest research findings, or review articles, to this Special Issue, which will bring together current research and critical opinion on the different actions exhibited by natural extracts, foods or probiotics against the pathogens cited above, as well as other pathogenic bacteria or molds pertinent to health. The description of more recent technologies potentially relevant in the detection and monitoring of the microbial scenario, and of the action of natural antimicrobials during the shelf lives of food or on the surfaces of medical devices will also be of interest. We look forward to your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Filomena Nazzaro
Prof. Dr. Vincenzo De Feo
Prof. Dr. Raffaele Coppola
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.

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Keywords

  • natural extracts
  • essential oils
  • probiotics
  • food
  • health
  • pathogens
  • innovative technologies
  • food safety
  • biofilm
  • quorum sensing

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review, Other

11 pages, 71444 KiB  
Communication
Synthesis, Computational Studies, and Anti-Tuberculosis Activity of Benzoxazines That Act as RAGE Inhibitors
by Hanumantharayappa Bharathkumar, Surender Mohan, Sefer Baday, Peter E. Lobie and Basappa Basappa
Appl. Microbiol. 2023, 3(1), 254-264; https://doi.org/10.3390/applmicrobiol3010017 - 8 Feb 2023
Viewed by 1477
Abstract
Novel benzoxazines were synthesized by microwave irradiation and tested for their potential binding affinity towards receptors of advanced glycation end products (RAGE). We found that the compound (2-(2-bromophenyl)-6-methyl-2,4-dihydro-1H-benzo[d][1,3]oxazine) (3i) is a lead inhibitor of RAGE. Further, our in silico prediction that [...] Read more.
Novel benzoxazines were synthesized by microwave irradiation and tested for their potential binding affinity towards receptors of advanced glycation end products (RAGE). We found that the compound (2-(2-bromophenyl)-6-methyl-2,4-dihydro-1H-benzo[d][1,3]oxazine) (3i) is a lead inhibitor of RAGE. Further, our in silico prediction that benzoxazines dock towards the AGE binding region of RAGE suggests that these ligands could bind effectively at the hydrophobic pocket of the receptor and additionally form key interactions with Arg48 and Arg104, revealing its diversity in developing anti-RAGE drugs to treat AGE–RAGE-dominant disease conditions. Functionally, we herein report the anti-tuberculosis activity of small molecules which could be bioactive in the culture of mycobacterium tuberculosis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Trends in Exploiting the Influence of Natural Substances, Compounds and Probiotics as Antimicrobial Agents for Food and Health Applications)
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10 pages, 1308 KiB  
Article
The Biological Activity of Tea Tree Oil and Hemp Seed Oil
by Marietta Lakatos, Samuel Obeng Apori, Julie Dunne and Furong Tian
Appl. Microbiol. 2022, 2(3), 534-543; https://doi.org/10.3390/applmicrobiol2030041 - 25 Jul 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4843
Abstract
The interest in hemp seed oil (HSO) and tea tree oil (TTO) in the medical and food industries is increasing. The current study compares their bioactivity to other plant oils, mainly focusing on hemp seed oils (HSOs) with various cannabidiol (CBD) contents. A [...] Read more.
The interest in hemp seed oil (HSO) and tea tree oil (TTO) in the medical and food industries is increasing. The current study compares their bioactivity to other plant oils, mainly focusing on hemp seed oils (HSOs) with various cannabidiol (CBD) contents. A DPPH assay was employed to evaluate the antioxidant activity. The antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella enteritidis was evaluated using time–kill, minimum inhibition concentration (MIC), and Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion methods. Tea tree oil showed significantly higher antimicrobial activity against S. enteritidis compared to E. coli and S. aureus (p < 0.05). The antioxitant activity range (lowest to highest) was sesame < vetiver < rosehip < tea tree < organic hemp < pure hemp < 5% CBD < vitamin C. Tea tree oil and 5% CBD showed antioxidant activity at IC50 of 64.45 μg/mL and 11.21 μg/mL, respectively. The opposing antimicrobial and antioxidant results for TTO and HSO indicate that these activities arise from different components within the oil compositions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Trends in Exploiting the Influence of Natural Substances, Compounds and Probiotics as Antimicrobial Agents for Food and Health Applications)
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10 pages, 497 KiB  
Article
Biochemical Profile and Antimicrobial Activity of an Herbal-Based Formula and Its Potential Application in Cosmetic Industry
by Alice Grigore, Lucia Camelia Pirvu, Ionica Bejanaru, Georgeta Neagu, Camelia Filofteia Diguta, Luciana Glava, Carmen Ionita and Florentina Matei
Appl. Microbiol. 2022, 2(1), 227-236; https://doi.org/10.3390/applmicrobiol2010016 - 28 Feb 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3336
Abstract
Microbial infections, and especially microbial resistance, are critical and actual problems that require targeted and efficient therapeutic intervention. Natural-based solutions are a viable alternative, at least for complementary therapy, due to few or no side effects and high safety and efficacy levels. The [...] Read more.
Microbial infections, and especially microbial resistance, are critical and actual problems that require targeted and efficient therapeutic intervention. Natural-based solutions are a viable alternative, at least for complementary therapy, due to few or no side effects and high safety and efficacy levels. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the potential use of a patented formula based on Achillea millefolium, Origanum vulgare, and Lychnis coronaria species as an antibacterial ingredient, mainly for skin and mucosal infections, in order to support its pharmaco-cosmetic application. The chemical composition of the formula was analyzed by HPLC and spectrophotometric methods. Furthermore, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity were evaluated. To determine the formula’s safety for topical application, it was used on a reconstructed human epidermal model. The formula showed inhibitory activity on both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, respectively, moderate inhibition on B. cereus, Kocuria kristinae, P. aeurginosa, S. enterica Typhimurium, methicillin-resistant and methicillin-sensible S. aureus, as well as high inhibition on S. epidermidis, Serratia marescens, and Streptococcus pyogenes. The developed product was biochemically characterized for its content in polyphenols, triterpenes, and polyphenol carboxylic acids. The formula was proven to have a nonirritant effect on the human epidermis and important antioxidant activity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Trends in Exploiting the Influence of Natural Substances, Compounds and Probiotics as Antimicrobial Agents for Food and Health Applications)
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10 pages, 495 KiB  
Communication
Colonization of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG in Cirrhinus molitorella (Mud Carp) Fingerling: Evidence for Improving Disease Resistance and Growth Performance
by Yang-Mei Yu, Peggy Miu-Yee Poon, Aayushi Ashok Sharma, Sidney Man-Ngai Chan, Fred Wang-Fat Lee, Ian Wing-Yin Mo and Eric Tung-Po Sze
Appl. Microbiol. 2022, 2(1), 175-184; https://doi.org/10.3390/applmicrobiol2010012 - 17 Feb 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3584
Abstract
The use of probiotic bacteria can not only enhance the nutritional utilization of fish feeds to produce more biomass but can also provide a practically “safer” alternative to the fish farming industry to reduce the abuse of antibiotics and drugs. This study investigated [...] Read more.
The use of probiotic bacteria can not only enhance the nutritional utilization of fish feeds to produce more biomass but can also provide a practically “safer” alternative to the fish farming industry to reduce the abuse of antibiotics and drugs. This study investigated the possibility of colonizing Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain GG (LGG) to the intestine of Cirrhinus molitorella (mud carp) fingerling. Colonization of LGG was observed in gut tissue after 14 days of administration with a diet supplemented with 1 × 108 CFU/mL LGG. Moreover, growth performance parameters of the LGG-supplemented diet group, including relative weight gain, feed conversion ratio and feed efficiency, were found about two-fold higher than the control group after 60 days. In addition, fish fed with an LGG-supplemented diet for 60 days showed substantial resistance against the infection of pathogenic bacterial Aeromonas hydrophila, with a relative survival rate of up to 57% compared to the control group. In summary, the results indicated that LGG as dietary supplement for mud carp fingerling can enhance nutrition utilization and better protect fish against the infection of Aeromonas hydrophila. The results provide an insight to the fish farming industry, encouraging a reduction in the use of antibiotics and drugs and the production of “safer” mud carp for the market at a manageable cost. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Trends in Exploiting the Influence of Natural Substances, Compounds and Probiotics as Antimicrobial Agents for Food and Health Applications)
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Review

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17 pages, 640 KiB  
Review
Recent Advances in the Application of Essential Oils as Potential Therapeutic Candidates for Candida-Related Infections
by Hoang N. H. Tran, Stephanie Udoh, Grace Russell, Oluwadamilola R. Okeyoyin, Sofia Aftab, Isabela Rodriguez, Ebot S. Tabe and Emmanuel C. Adukwu
Appl. Microbiol. 2022, 2(2), 397-413; https://doi.org/10.3390/applmicrobiol2020030 - 15 Jun 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4179
Abstract
Candidiasis (oral, vulvovaginal, or systemic bloodstream infections) are important human fungal infections associated with a high global prevalence in otherwise healthy adults but are also opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients. With the recent discovery of the multidrug resistant—and often difficult to treat—Candida [...] Read more.
Candidiasis (oral, vulvovaginal, or systemic bloodstream infections) are important human fungal infections associated with a high global prevalence in otherwise healthy adults but are also opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients. With the recent discovery of the multidrug resistant—and often difficult to treat—Candida auris, as well as the rising costs associated with hospitalisations and the treatment of infections caused by Candida species, there is an urgent need to develop effective therapeutics against these pathogenic yeasts. Essential oils have been documented for many years as treatments for different ailments and are widely known and utilised in alternative and complementary therapies, including treating microbial infections. This review highlights knowledge from research on the effects of medicinal plants, and in particular, essential oils, as potential treatments against different Candida species. Studies have been evaluated that describe the experimental approaches used in investigating the anticandidal effects of essential oils (in vivo and in vitro), the established mode of action of the different compounds against different Candida species, the effect of a combination of essential oils with other compounds as potential therapies, and the evidence from clinical trial studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Trends in Exploiting the Influence of Natural Substances, Compounds and Probiotics as Antimicrobial Agents for Food and Health Applications)
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16 pages, 43849 KiB  
Review
Biospeckle Analysis and Biofilm Electrostatic Tests, Two Useful Methods in Microbiology
by Emilia Oleandro, Simonetta Grilli, Romina Rega, Martina Mugnano, Vittorio Bianco, Marika Valentino, Biagio Mandracchia, Filomena Nazzaro, Raffaele Coppola and Pietro Ferraro
Appl. Microbiol. 2021, 1(3), 557-572; https://doi.org/10.3390/applmicrobiol1030036 - 17 Nov 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3596
Abstract
The development of more sensitive methodologies, capable of quickly detecting and monitoring a microbial population present in a specific biological matrix, as well as performing to allow for the study of all its metabolic changes (e.g., during the formation of biofilm) to occur, [...] Read more.
The development of more sensitive methodologies, capable of quickly detecting and monitoring a microbial population present in a specific biological matrix, as well as performing to allow for the study of all its metabolic changes (e.g., during the formation of biofilm) to occur, is an essential requirement for both well-being and the food industry. Two techniques, in particular, have gained the attention of scientists: The first is “biospeckle”, an optical technique representing an innovative tool for applications in food quality, food safety, and nutraceuticals. With this technique, we can quickly evaluate and monitor the presence of bacteria (or their proliferation) in a solid or liquid biological matrix. In addition, the technique is helpful in quantifying and optimizing the correct storage time of the pro-biotics, if they are entrapped in matrices such as alginate and follow their survival rate in simulated gastro-intestinal conditions. A second technique with great chances is the “biofilm electrostatic test” (BET). BET undoubtedly represents a fast, simple, and highly reproducible tool suitable for admitting the evaluation of the in vitro bacterial capacity in order to adhere through an electrostatic interaction with a pyro-electrified carrier after only 2 h of incubation. BET could represent the way for a quick and standardized evaluation of bacterial resistance among biofilm-producing microorganisms through a fast evaluation of the potential presence of the biofilm. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Trends in Exploiting the Influence of Natural Substances, Compounds and Probiotics as Antimicrobial Agents for Food and Health Applications)
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20 pages, 2924 KiB  
Review
Brought to Light: How Ultraviolet Disinfection Can Prevent the Nosocomial Transmission of COVID-19 and Other Infectious Diseases
by Katrina Browne
Appl. Microbiol. 2021, 1(3), 537-556; https://doi.org/10.3390/applmicrobiol1030035 - 16 Nov 2021
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 11191
Abstract
The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has brought to light the role of environmental hygiene in controlling disease transmission. Healthcare facilities are hot spots for infectious pathogens where physical distancing and personal protective equipment (PPE) are not always sufficient to prevent disease [...] Read more.
The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has brought to light the role of environmental hygiene in controlling disease transmission. Healthcare facilities are hot spots for infectious pathogens where physical distancing and personal protective equipment (PPE) are not always sufficient to prevent disease transmission. Healthcare facilities need to consider adjunct strategies to prevent transmission of infectious pathogens. In combination with current infection control procedures, many healthcare facilities are incorporating ultraviolet (UV) disinfection into their routines. This review considers how pathogens are transmitted in healthcare facilities, the mechanism of UV microbial inactivation and the documented activity of UV against clinical pathogens. Emphasis is placed on the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) as well as multidrug resistant organisms (MDROs) that are commonly transmitted in healthcare facilities. The potential benefits and limitations of UV technologies are discussed to help inform healthcare workers, including clinical studies where UV technology is used in healthcare facilities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Trends in Exploiting the Influence of Natural Substances, Compounds and Probiotics as Antimicrobial Agents for Food and Health Applications)
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Other

Jump to: Research, Review

4 pages, 228 KiB  
Perspective
A Pragmatic Perspective of the Initial Stages of the Contact Killing of Bacteria on Copper-Containing Surfaces
by Edward Sacher
Appl. Microbiol. 2022, 2(3), 449-452; https://doi.org/10.3390/applmicrobiol2030033 - 23 Jun 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1775
Abstract
A consideration of the outer structures of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and of the surface contaminants present on Cu-containing substrates, has led to the identification of Cu2O as a potent antimicrobial. In the presence of adsorbed water, the hydrated form ionizes [...] Read more.
A consideration of the outer structures of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and of the surface contaminants present on Cu-containing substrates, has led to the identification of Cu2O as a potent antimicrobial. In the presence of adsorbed water, the hydrated form ionizes to CuI-O−, which is capable of degrading the protective polysaccharide layer of the outer lipopolysaccharide membranes of Gram-negative bacteria; it is equally capable of attacking the peptidoglycan lattices present in both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. This Perspective underlines the importance of CuI-O− in the early stages of contact killing, and points to information, still lacking, that would optimize contact killing and lead to broader applications in the therapeutic management of bacterial infections. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Trends in Exploiting the Influence of Natural Substances, Compounds and Probiotics as Antimicrobial Agents for Food and Health Applications)
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