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Microbial Infections and Novel Biological Molecules for Treatment
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Microbial Infections and Novel Biological Molecules for Treatment

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 November 2025 | Viewed by 2679

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Matthew Cheesman

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Gold Coast Campus, Griffith University, Gold Coast 4222, Australia
Interests: molecular biology; infectious diseases; biochemistry; natural product discovery; antimicrobial resistance

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

It has been 35 years since the introduction of a new class of antibiotics;  as such, new antibiotic agents are urgently needed, particularly in the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR).  Whilst AMR was first observed in bacterial species, it has also arisen in mycobacterial, viral, fungal, protozoal and other types of species.  

There have been candidates for novel antimicrobial drugs across a variety of structurally dissimilar compounds, showing promise as agents that may successfully treat microbial infections.  However, this search continues as the rates of resistant infections increase.  Ongoing studies are required to identify and fully characterise novel anti-infective drugs that are suitable for AMR infections so they can be treated successfully and the exacerbation of AMR can be prevented.

We welcome the submission of original articles, reviews, and communications by experts in this field. This Special Issue is supervised by Dr. Matthew Cheesman, and assisted by Mr. Gagan Tiwana (Griffith University).

Dr. Matthew Cheesman
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. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. 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

  • microbial infections
  • infectious diseases
  • new antibiotics
  • antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
  • antimicrobial drugs
  • active substance
  • bacterial
  • virus

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 2280 KiB  
Article
Effects of Sodium Alginate Infusion on Intramammary Immunity Against Subclinical Mastitis in Dairy Cows
by Yu-I Pan, Yu-Chia Lin, Jai-Wei Lee, Perng-Chih Shen, Rolissa Ballantyne, Hsu-Hsun Lee and Kuo-Hua Lee
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(12), 5515; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26125515 - 9 Jun 2025
Abstract
Mastitis is a major issue in dairy cows, with subclinical mastitis (SCM) being hard to detect and potentially progressing to clinical mastitis. Antibiotic use raises concerns about resistance and milk contamination, highlighting the need for natural alternatives. Sodium alginate (SA), known for its [...] Read more.
Mastitis is a major issue in dairy cows, with subclinical mastitis (SCM) being hard to detect and potentially progressing to clinical mastitis. Antibiotic use raises concerns about resistance and milk contamination, highlighting the need for natural alternatives. Sodium alginate (SA), known for its antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties, may offer a solution, though its effects on mastitis are unclear. Intramammary infusion of 1% SA (30 mL) was tested in both healthy cows (n = 8; somatic cell count, SCC ≤ 100,000 cells/mL) and those with SCM (n = 12; SCC ≥ 200,000 cells/mL). The results showed that SA significantly increased SCC in both healthy and SCM cows, with peak levels at 48 h, returning to baseline levels thereafter. In cows with SCM, SA treatment led to a 58.3% cytological and 54.5% bacteriological cure rate after 14 days. Additionally, significant downregulation was observed in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, and interferon (IFN)-γ. Conversely, the levels of IL-8, IL-10, and IL-12 initially increased, then declined gradually. Importantly, there were no significant effects on milk composition. These findings suggest that SA may offer an alternative to antibiotics, aiding in immune response and bacterial clearance without the risk of antibiotic residues, thus preventing SCM progression to clinical mastitis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Infections and Novel Biological Molecules for Treatment)
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17 pages, 7949 KiB  
Article
Traditional Chinese Medicine Monomer Bakuchiol Attenuates the Pathogenicity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa via Targeting PqsR
by Jing Zeng, Xin Ma, Yu Zheng, Dandan Liu, Wanqing Ning, Wei Xiao, Qian Mao, Zhenqing Bai, Renjun Mao, Juanli Cheng and Jinshui Lin
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(1), 243; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26010243 - 30 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1233
Abstract
As the antibiotic resistance of pathogens becomes increasingly severe, it is becoming more feasible to use methods that suppress the virulence of pathogens rather than exerting selective pressure on their growth. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a dangerous opportunistic pathogen, infects hosts by producing multiple [...] Read more.
As the antibiotic resistance of pathogens becomes increasingly severe, it is becoming more feasible to use methods that suppress the virulence of pathogens rather than exerting selective pressure on their growth. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a dangerous opportunistic pathogen, infects hosts by producing multiple virulence factors, which are regulated by quorum-sensing (QS) systems, including the las systems, rhl systems, and pqs systems. This study used the chromosome lacZ transcription fusion reporter model to screen the traditional Chinese medicine monomer library and found that bakuchiol can effectively inhibit the pqs system and related virulence phenotypes of P. aeruginosa, including the production of virulence factors (pyocyanin, hydrogen cyanide, elastase, and lectin) and motility (swarming, swimming, and twitching motility) without affecting its growth. Subsequently, through genetic complementation analysis, we found that bakuchiol inhibited the function of the transcriptional activation protein PqsR of the pqs system in P. aeruginosa in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, molecular dynamics simulation study results indicated that bakuchiol can target PqsR of the pqs system, thereby inhibiting the pqs system. Among the amino acids in PqsR, ALA-168 may be a key amino acid residue in the hydrophobic interaction between PqsR protein and bakuchiol. Finally, in vivo experiments demonstrated that bakuchiol attenuated the pathogenicity of P. aeruginosa to Chinese cabbage (Brassica pekinensis) and Caenorhabditis elegans. In summary, this study suggests that bakuchiol is an effective inhibitor that targets the pqs system of P. aeruginosa, providing a new strategy for addressing P. aeruginosa infections. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Infections and Novel Biological Molecules for Treatment)
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Review

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20 pages, 1229 KiB  
Review
Plant Metabolites as Potential Agents That Potentiate or Block Resistance Mechanisms Involving β-Lactamases and Efflux Pumps
by Muhammad Jawad Zai, Ian Edwin Cock and Matthew James Cheesman
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(12), 5550; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26125550 - 10 Jun 2025
Abstract
The dramatic increase in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in recent decades has created an urgent need to develop new antimicrobial agents and compounds that can modify and/or block bacterial resistance mechanisms. An understanding of these resistance mechanisms and how to overcome them would substantially [...] Read more.
The dramatic increase in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in recent decades has created an urgent need to develop new antimicrobial agents and compounds that can modify and/or block bacterial resistance mechanisms. An understanding of these resistance mechanisms and how to overcome them would substantially assist in the development of new antibiotic chemotherapies. Bacteria may develop AMR through multiple differing mechanisms, including modification of the antibiotic target site, limitation of antibiotic uptake, active efflux of the antibiotic, and via direct modification and inactivation of the antibiotic. Of these, efflux pumps and the production of β-lactamases are the most common resistance mechanisms that render antibiotics inactive. The development of resistance-modifying agents (particularly those targeting efflux pumps and β-lactamase enzymes) is an important consideration to counteract the spread of AMR. This strategy may repurpose existing antibiotics by blocking bacterial resistance mechanisms, thereby increasing the efficacy of the antibiotic compounds. This review focuses on known phytochemicals that possess efflux pump inhibitory and/or β-lactamase inhibitory activities. The interaction of phytochemicals possessing efflux pumps and/or β-lactamase inhibitory activities in combination with clinical antibiotics is also discussed. Additionally, the challenges associated with further development of these phytochemicals as potentiating agents is discussed to highlight their therapeutic potential, and to guide future research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Infections and Novel Biological Molecules for Treatment)
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22 pages, 2075 KiB  
Review
Re-Emergence of Bacteriophages and Their Products as Antibacterial Agents: An Overview
by Vipin Chandra Kalia, Sanjay K. S. Patel, Chunjie Gong and Jung-Kul Lee
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(4), 1755; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26041755 - 19 Feb 2025
Viewed by 1032
Abstract
Microbes possess diverse genetic and metabolic traits that help them withstand adverse conditions. Microbial pathogens cause significant economic losses and around 7.7 million human deaths annually. While antibiotics have historically been a lifesaving treatment, their effectiveness is declining due to antibiotic-resistant strains, prompting [...] Read more.
Microbes possess diverse genetic and metabolic traits that help them withstand adverse conditions. Microbial pathogens cause significant economic losses and around 7.7 million human deaths annually. While antibiotics have historically been a lifesaving treatment, their effectiveness is declining due to antibiotic-resistant strains, prompting the exploration of bacterial predation as an alternative. Bacteriophages (BPhs) have reemerged as antibacterial agents, offering advantages over antibiotics, such as (i) high specificity, (ii) self-replication, and (iii) strong killing capacity. This review explores BPh- and enzyme-based antibacterial strategies for infectious disease treatment, discussing phage–antibiotic synergy, the risks of BPh resistance, and the role of quorum sensing in BPh therapy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Infections and Novel Biological Molecules for Treatment)
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