Submit to Life Review for Life Propose a Special Issue

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser

Bacteriocin, Antimicrobial Peptide, and Antibiotics: Current Insights and Application

Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Published Papers

A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729). This special issue belongs to the section "Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2023) | Viewed by 28963

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Duen-Yau Chuang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Chemistry, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
Interests: protein function; gene regulation mechanism; signal transduction; extracellular secretion system

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, the efficiency of conventional antibiotics or antimicrobial agents has been rapidly declining due to increasing resistance among bacteria, making public health a major issue worldwide. New antibiotics or antimicrobial peptide, and bacteriocins are the new techniques of major interest because of their potential applications in different fields such as food protection, veterinary medicine, human health, and plant protection. Both Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria, and Archaea produce tiny ribosomally manufactured proteinaceous toxins that kill bacteria at precise concentrations, and we call it bacteriocin. Although the application of bacteriocins is still limited to Nisin E234 in the form of dairy products, the application of bacteriocins is foreseen to diversify and grow mainly in the medical area in the foreseeable future. Different from antibiotics or antimicrobial agents, which are broadly effective for inhibited microorganism’s growth, bacteriocins are also able to inhibit the growth of other microbes, but only related closed strains. Based on these points, either bacteriocins, antimicrobial peptides, or antibiotics can offer many incentives as they can be used as alternatives to antibiotics, or at least as potentiating agents to enhance the activity of aging antibiotics.

This Special Issue will welcome original contributions, commentaries, and relevant reviews on bacteriocin, antimicrobial peptide, and antibiotics. On the other hand, papers with original novel applications in the aforementioned fields will be welcomed as well.

Dr. Duen-Yau Chuang
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. Life 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 2600 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

bacteriocin
antimicrobial peptide
antibiotics
functions and structure
gene regulation
applications foods
veterinary medicine
human health
antibiotic resistance
antimicrobial therapy

Published Papers (10 papers)

Download All Papers

Research

Jump to: Review

13 pages, 937 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Phenotypic Characterization of Oral Mucor Species from Eurasian Vultures: Pathogenic Potential and Antimicrobial Ability

by Catarina Raposo, Isa Serrano, Eva Cunha, Maria Patrícia Couto, Filipa Lopes, María Casero, Luís Tavares and Manuela Oliveira

Life 2023, 13(8), 1638; https://doi.org/10.3390/life13081638 - 27 Jul 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 876

Abstract

Due to poisoning and decline in the food resources of Eurasian vultures, there has been a rise in the number of Griffon (Gyps fulvus) and Cinereous vultures (Aegypius monachus) needing veterinary care. In captivity, vultures often develop oral and other infectious diseases which can affect their survival and the probability of reintroduction in the wild. Therefore, it is important to characterize relevant microbial species present in the oral cavity of vultures, such as Mucor spp. In this work, seven Mucor spp. isolates previously obtained from Gyps fulvus and Aegypius monachus oral swabs collected at two rehabilitation centers in Portugal were characterized regarding their pathogenic enzymatic profile and antimicrobial activity. Isolates were identified by macro and microscopic observation, and PCR and ITS sequencing. Their antimicrobial activity was determined using a collection of pathogenic bacteria and two yeast species. Results showed that 86% of the isolates produced α-hemolysis, 71% expressed DNase, 57% produce lecithinase and lipase, 29% expressed gelatinase, and 29% were biofilm producers. Four isolates showed inhibitory activity against relevant human and veterinary clinical isolates, including Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecium, Neisseria zoodegmatis, and Staphylococcus aureus. In conclusion, accurate management programs should consider the benefits and disadvantages of Mucor spp. presence in the oral mucosa. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bacteriocin, Antimicrobial Peptide, and Antibiotics: Current Insights and Application)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

8 pages, 1154 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Hydrogen Peroxide, Povidone-Iodine and Chlorhexidine Fail to Eradicate Staphylococcus aureus Biofilm from Infected Implant Materials

by Dana M. Parker, John A. Koch, Charles G. Gish, Kimberly M. Brothers, William Li, Jessica Gilbertie, Sarah E. Rowe, Brian P. Conlon, Venkata K. C. Byrapogu and Kenneth L. Urish

Life 2023, 13(6), 1230; https://doi.org/10.3390/life13061230 - 23 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 4127

Abstract

Hydrogen peroxide, povidone-iodine, and chlorhexidine are antiseptics that are commonly added to irrigants to either prevent or treat infection. There are little clinical data available that demonstrate efficacy of adding antiseptics to irrigants in the treatment of periprosthetic joint infection after biofilm establishment. The objective of the study was to assess the bactericidal activity of the antiseptics on S. aureus planktonic and biofilm. For planktonic irrigation, S. aureus was exposed to different concentrations of antiseptics. S. aureus biofilm was developed by submerging a Kirschner wire into normalized bacteria and allowing it to grow for forty-eight hours. The Kirschner wire was then treated with irrigation solutions and plated for CFU analysis. Hydrogen peroxide, povidone-iodine, and chlorhexidine were bactericidal against planktonic bacteria with over a 3 log reduction (p < 0.0001). Unlike cefazolin, the antiseptics were not bactericidal (less than 3 log reduction) against biofilm bacteria but did have a statistical reduction in biofilm as compared to the initial time point (p < 0.0001). As compared to cefazolin treatment alone, the addition of hydrogen peroxide or povidone-iodine to cefazolin treatment only additionally reduced the biofilm burden by less than 1 log. The antiseptics demonstrated bactericidal properties with planktonic S. aureus; however, when used to irrigate S. aureus biofilms, these antiseptics were unable to decrease biofilm mass below a 3 log reduction, suggesting that S. aureus biofilm has a tolerance to antiseptics. This information should be considered when considering antibiotic tolerance in established S. aureus biofilm treatment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bacteriocin, Antimicrobial Peptide, and Antibiotics: Current Insights and Application)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 1133 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Listeria monocytogenes Isolates from Meat Products and Processing Environment in Poland Are Sensitive to Commonly Used Antibiotics, with Rare Cases of Reduced Sensitivity to Ciprofloxacin

by Iwona Kawacka, Bernadeta Pietrzak, Marcin Schmidt and Agnieszka Olejnik-Schmidt

Life 2023, 13(3), 821; https://doi.org/10.3390/life13030821 - 17 Mar 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1756

Abstract

Antibiotic resistance is a global health problem, causing not only an increased mortality rate of bacterial infections but also economic losses due to, among other reasons, the need for longer hospital stays. Listeria monocytogenes is one of the foodborne pathogens with the ability to induce a serious illness called listeriosis, with approximately 20–30% fatal outcomes. The treatment regimen of listeriosis in humans includes the administration of antibiotics (in most cases, ampicillin or trimethoprim with sulfamethoxazole in case of allergies to β-lactams), so the resistance of this pathogen to antibiotics can potentially lead to increased mortality. The antibiotic sensitivity status of n = 153 L. monocytogenes isolates originating from meat food samples (raw and processed) and meat-processing environment (both contacting and non-contacting with food) collected between October 2020 and November 2021 in Poland was examined in this study. Susceptibility to antibiotics was determined using the disc diffusion method on Mueller–Hinton agar plates. All collected samples were susceptible to 9 antibiotics: ampicillin (10 µg), chloramphenicol (30 µg), erythromycin (15 µg), gentamicin (10 µg), penicillin (10 IU), streptomycin (10 µg), sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (1.25/23.75 µg), tetracycline (30 µg) and vancomycin (30 µg). Some of the isolates (n = 10; 6.5%) showed reduced susceptibility to ciprofloxacin (5 µg), which was classified as an intermediate response. All these ten isolates were collected from surfaces contacting with food in food-processing facilities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bacteriocin, Antimicrobial Peptide, and Antibiotics: Current Insights and Application)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 800 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bacteriostatic and Antibiofilm Efficacy of a Nisin Z Solution against Co-Cultures of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa from Diabetic Foot Infections

by Isa Serrano, Bernardo Alhinho, Eva Cunha, Luís Tavares, Alexandre Trindade and Manuela Oliveira

Life 2023, 13(2), 504; https://doi.org/10.3390/life13020504 - 11 Feb 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1788

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) patients frequently develop diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) which are generally infected by a community of microorganisms, mainly Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These bacteria exhibit a multi-drug resistance profile and biofilm-forming ability which represent a hurdle in the treatment of diabetic foot infections (DFI). We aimed to evaluate the potential of Nisin Z, an antimicrobial peptide (AMP), as an alternative treatment for severe DFI. Nisin Z shows antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and an increased antibacterial effect against Gram-negatives when added to EDTA. As such, Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC), Minimum Biofilm Inhibitory Concentration (MBIC), and Minimum Biofilm Eradication Concentration (MBEC) were determined for Nisin Z, Nisin Z + EDTA (0.4%), and Nisin Z + EDTA incorporated into guar gum, in order to test its efficacy against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa isolated from the same DFU. Results showed that Nisin Z added to the chelation agent EDTA displayed higher antibacterial and bacteriostatic efficacy against mono and dual co-cultures of S. aureus and P. aeruginosa, and higher antibiofilm efficiency against monocultures. Nisin Z was moderately cytotoxic at 200 µg/mL. Prospect in vivo studies are needed to confirm the potential of Nisin Z supplemented with EDTA to be used as a complement to conventional antibiotic therapy for severe DFI. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bacteriocin, Antimicrobial Peptide, and Antibiotics: Current Insights and Application)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

25 pages, 1493 KiB

Open AccessReview

Antimicrobial Peptides in Infectious Diseases and Beyond—A Narrative Review

by Petros Ioannou, Stella Baliou and Diamantis P. Kofteridis

Life 2023, 13(8), 1651; https://doi.org/10.3390/life13081651 - 28 Jul 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1950

Abstract

Despite recent medical research and clinical practice developments, the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) significantly limits therapeutics for infectious diseases. Thus, novel treatments for infectious diseases, especially in this era of increasing AMR, are urgently needed. There is ongoing research on non-classical therapies for infectious diseases utilizing alternative antimicrobial mechanisms to fight pathogens, such as bacteriophages or antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). AMPs are evolutionarily conserved molecules naturally produced by several organisms, such as plants, insects, marine organisms, and mammals, aiming to protect the host by fighting pathogenic microorganisms. There is ongoing research regarding developing AMPs for clinical use in infectious diseases. Moreover, AMPs have several other non-medical applications in the food industry, such as preservatives, animal husbandry, plant protection, and aquaculture. This review focuses on AMPs, their origins, biology, structure, mechanisms of action, non-medical applications, and clinical applications in infectious diseases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bacteriocin, Antimicrobial Peptide, and Antibiotics: Current Insights and Application)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 1560 KiB

Open AccessReview

Immunomodulation, Bioavailability and Safety of Bacteriocins

by Svetlana V. Guryanova

Life 2023, 13(7), 1521; https://doi.org/10.3390/life13071521 - 07 Jul 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2316

Abstract

The rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and the emergence of new pathogens have created a need for new strategies to fight against infectious diseases. One promising approach is the use of antimicrobial peptides produced by a certain species of bacteria, known as bacteriocins, which are active against other strains of the same or related species. Bacteriocins can help in the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases. Moreover, bacteriocins can be obtained in prokaryotic organisms, and contribute s to their widespread use. While the use of bacteriocins is currently limited to the food industry (for example, nisin is used as a preservative, E234), a large number of studies on their microbicidal properties suggest that their use in medicine may increase in the foreseeable future. However, for the successful use of bacteriocins in medicine, it is necessary to understand their effect on the immune system, especially in cases where immunity is weakened due to infectious processes, oncological, allergic, or autoimmune diseases. Studies on the immuno-modulatory activity of bacteriocins in animal models and human cells have revealed their ability to induce both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory factors involved in the implementation of innate immunity. The influence of bacteriocins on acquired immunity is revealed by an increase in the number of T-lymphocytes with a simultaneous decrease in B-lymphocyte levels, which makes them attractive substances for reducing inflammation. The widespread use of bacteriocins in the food industry, their low toxicity, and their broad and narrow specificity are reasons for researchers to pay attention to their immunomodulatory properties and explore their medical applications. Inflammation regulation by bacteriocins can be used in the treatment of various pathologies. The aim of the review was to analyze scientific publications on the immunomodulatory activity, bioavailability, and safety of bacteriocins in order to use the data obtained to organize preclinical and clinical studies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bacteriocin, Antimicrobial Peptide, and Antibiotics: Current Insights and Application)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 699 KiB

Open AccessReview

An Overview of Cefiderocol’s Therapeutic Potential and Underlying Resistance Mechanisms

by Sara Domingues, Tiago Lima, Maria José Saavedra and Gabriela Jorge Da Silva

Life 2023, 13(7), 1427; https://doi.org/10.3390/life13071427 - 21 Jun 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3799

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance continues to increase globally and treatment of difficult-to-treat (DTT) infections, mostly associated with carbapenem-resistant (CR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa, CR Acinetobacter baumannii, and CR- and third-generation-cephalosporins-resistant Enterobacterales remains a challenge for the clinician. The recent approval of cefiderocol has broaden the armamentarium for the treatment of patients with DTT infections. Cefiderocol is a siderophore cephalosporin that has shown excellent antibacterial activity, in part due to its innovative way of cell permeation. It is relatively stable compared to most commonly found carbapenamases. However, some resistant mechanisms to cefiderocol have already been identified and reduced susceptibility has developed during patient treatment, highlighting that the clinical use of cefiderocol must be rational. In this review, we summarize the current available treatments against the former resistant bacteria, and we revise and discuss the mechanism of action of cefiderocol, underlying the biological function of siderophores, the therapeutic potential of cefiderocol, and the mechanisms of resistance reported so far. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bacteriocin, Antimicrobial Peptide, and Antibiotics: Current Insights and Application)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 1401 KiB

Open AccessReview

Diversity of Antimicrobial Peptides in Silkworm

by Pooja Makwana, Kamidi Rahul, Katsuhiko Ito and Bindu Subhadra

Life 2023, 13(5), 1161; https://doi.org/10.3390/life13051161 - 11 May 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3447

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance is a phenomenon that the present-day world is witnessing that poses a serious threat to global health. The decline in the development of novel therapeutics over the last couple of decades has exacerbated the situation further. In this scenario, the pursuit of new alternative therapeutics to commonly used antibiotics has gained predominance amongst researchers across the world. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) from natural sources have drawn significant interest in the recent years as promising pharmacological substitutes over the conventional antibiotics. The most notable advantage of AMPs is that microorganisms cannot develop resistance to them. Insects represent one of the potential sources of AMPs, which are synthesized as part of an innate immune defence against invading pathogens. AMPs from different insects have been extensively studied, and silkworm is one of them. Diverse classes of AMPs (including attacins, cecropins, defensins, enbocins, gloverins, lebocins and moricins) were identified from silkworm that exhibit antimicrobial property against bacteria, fungi and viruses, indicating their potential therapeutic benefits. This review briefs about the immune responses of silkworm to invading pathogens, the isolation of AMPs from silkworms, AMPs reported in silkworms and their activity against various microorganisms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bacteriocin, Antimicrobial Peptide, and Antibiotics: Current Insights and Application)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

29 pages, 10722 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Modern Trends in Natural Antibiotic Discovery

by Anna A. Baranova, Vera A. Alferova, Vladimir A. Korshun and Anton P. Tyurin

Life 2023, 13(5), 1073; https://doi.org/10.3390/life13051073 - 23 Apr 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4635

Abstract

Natural scaffolds remain an important basis for drug development. Therefore, approaches to natural bioactive compound discovery attract significant attention. In this account, we summarize modern and emerging trends in the screening and identification of natural antibiotics. The methods are divided into three large groups: approaches based on microbiology, chemistry, and molecular biology. The scientific potential of the methods is illustrated with the most prominent and recent results. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bacteriocin, Antimicrobial Peptide, and Antibiotics: Current Insights and Application)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

26 pages, 2349 KiB

Open AccessReview

Beyond the Risk of Biofilms: An Up-and-Coming Battleground of Bacterial Life and Potential Antibiofilm Agents

by Mohamed Zeineldin, Ahmed Esmael, Rashad R. Al-Hindi, Mona G. Alharbi, Debebe Ashenafi Bekele and Addisu D. Teklemariam

Life 2023, 13(2), 503; https://doi.org/10.3390/life13020503 - 11 Feb 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3251

Abstract

Microbial pathogens and their virulence factors like biofilms are one of the major factors which influence the disease process and its outcomes. Biofilms are a complex microbial network that is produced by bacteria on any devices and/or biotic surfaces to escape harsh environmental conditions and antimicrobial effects. Due to the natural protective nature of biofilms and the associated multidrug resistance issues, researchers evaluated several natural anti-biofilm agents, including bacteriophages and their derivatives, honey, plant extracts, and surfactants for better destruction of biofilm and planktonic cells. This review discusses some of these natural agents that are being put into practice to prevent biofilm formation. In addition, we highlight bacterial biofilm formation and the mechanism of resistance to antibiotics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bacteriocin, Antimicrobial Peptide, and Antibiotics: Current Insights and Application)

► Show Figures