The Latest Research on Microbial-Associated Biofilm

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Biofilm".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2023) | Viewed by 3636

Special Issue Editor

School of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Republic of Korea
Interests: biomaterial; nanocarriers; polymers; antibiotic resistance; the effects of natural or synthetic molecules on fungi and bacteria; Staphylococcus aureus; Candida albicans
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

A biofilm is a consortium of microorganisms’ attachments to an abiotic or biotic surface within a matrix of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). The capability to develop biofilms is a significant virulence factor of several microbes. Hence, high concentrations of antimicrobial compounds, rapid medical intervention, and the replacement of infected devices are needed to manage biofilm infections. Major surgery or toxicity issues are sometimes observed when replacing a device and using antimicrobial therapy. The nano-sized delivery system has been established as a complementary method to enhance the efficacy of antifungal agents toward biofilms. The efficient penetration abilities of the NCs are helping to increase drug potency against microorganism infections. Hence, the effective accumulation of NCs at infected sites reduces the side effects on the systemic circulation in a normal body and improves the bioavailability of fungicides.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Vinit Raj
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • polymer
  • nanoparticles
  • biological activity
  • biofilm
  • anti-microorganisms
  • synthesis
  • drug design
  • screening

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

31 pages, 8138 KiB  
Article
A-Type Natriuretic Peptide Alters the Impact of Azithromycin on Planktonic Culture and on (Monospecies and Binary) Biofilms of Skin Bacteria Kytococcus schroeteri and Staphylococcus aureus
by Ekaterina V. Diuvenji, Ekaterina D. Nevolina, Ilya D. Solovyev, Marina V. Sukhacheva, Sergey V. Mart’yanov, Aleksandra S. Novikova, Marina V. Zhurina, Vladimir K. Plakunov and Andrei V. Gannesen
Microorganisms 2023, 11(12), 2965; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11122965 - 12 Dec 2023
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Abstract
It has been established that the human atrial natriuretic peptide is able to alter the effect of azithromycin on Kytococcus schroeteri H01 and Staphylococcus aureus 209P monospecies and binary biofilms. The effect of the hormone depends on the surface type and cultivation system, and [...] Read more.
It has been established that the human atrial natriuretic peptide is able to alter the effect of azithromycin on Kytococcus schroeteri H01 and Staphylococcus aureus 209P monospecies and binary biofilms. The effect of the hormone depends on the surface type and cultivation system, and it may have both enhancing and counteracting effects. The antagonistic effect of the hormone was observed mostly on hydrophobic surfaces, whereas the additive effect was observed on hydrophilic surfaces like glass. Also, the effect of the hormone depends on the antibiotic concentration and bacterial species. The combination of azithromycin and ANP led to an amplification of cell aggregation in biofilms, to the potential increase in matrix synthesis, and to a decrease in S. aureus in the binary community. Also, ANP, azithromycin, and their combinations caused the differential expression of genes of resistance to different antibiotics, like macrolides (mostly increasing expression in kytococci), fluoroquinolones, aminoglycosides, and others, in both bacteria. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Latest Research on Microbial-Associated Biofilm)
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19 pages, 1852 KiB  
Article
Multi-Omics Profiling of Candida albicans Grown on Solid Versus Liquid Media
by Rouba Abdulsalam Alhameed, Mohammad H. Semreen, Mohamad Hamad, Alexander D. Giddey, Ashna Sulaiman, Mohammad T. Al Bataineh, Hamza M. Al-Hroub, Yasser Bustanji, Karem H. Alzoubi and Nelson C. Soares
Microorganisms 2023, 11(12), 2831; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11122831 - 22 Nov 2023
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Abstract
Candida albicans is a common pathogenic fungus that presents a challenge to healthcare facilities. It can switch between a yeast cell form that diffuses through the bloodstream to colonize internal organs and a filamentous form that penetrates host mucosa. Understanding the pathogen’s strategies [...] Read more.
Candida albicans is a common pathogenic fungus that presents a challenge to healthcare facilities. It can switch between a yeast cell form that diffuses through the bloodstream to colonize internal organs and a filamentous form that penetrates host mucosa. Understanding the pathogen’s strategies for environmental adaptation and, ultimately, survival, is crucial. As a complementary study, herein, a multi-omics analysis was performed using high-resolution timsTOF MS to compare the proteomes and metabolomes of Wild Type (WT) Candida albicans (strain DK318) grown on agar plates versus liquid media. Proteomic analysis revealed a total of 1793 proteins and 15,013 peptides. Out of the 1403 identified proteins, 313 proteins were significantly differentially abundant with a p-value < 0.05. Of these, 156 and 157 proteins were significantly increased in liquid and solid media, respectively. Metabolomics analysis identified 192 metabolites in total. The majority (42/48) of the significantly altered metabolites (p-value 0.05 FDR, FC 1.5), mainly amino acids, were significantly higher in solid media, while only 2 metabolites were significantly higher in liquid media. The combined multi-omics analysis provides insight into adaptative morphological changes supporting Candida albicans’ life cycle and identifies crucial virulence factors during biofilm formation and bloodstream infection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Latest Research on Microbial-Associated Biofilm)
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18 pages, 4015 KiB  
Article
Characterisation of Variants of Cyclic di-GMP Turnover Proteins Associated with Semi-Constitutive rdar Morphotype Expression in Commensal and Uropathogenic Escherichia coli Strains
by Annika Cimdins-Ahne, Ali-Oddin Naemi, Fengyang Li, Roger Simm and Ute Römling
Microorganisms 2023, 11(8), 2048; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11082048 - 9 Aug 2023
Viewed by 914
Abstract
Expression of rdar (red, dry, and rough) colony morphology-based biofilm formation in Escherichia coli is highly variable. To investigate the molecular mechanisms of semi-constitutive rdar morphotype formation, we compared their cyclic di-GMP turnover protein content and variability to the highly regulated, temperature-dependent morphotype [...] Read more.
Expression of rdar (red, dry, and rough) colony morphology-based biofilm formation in Escherichia coli is highly variable. To investigate the molecular mechanisms of semi-constitutive rdar morphotype formation, we compared their cyclic di-GMP turnover protein content and variability to the highly regulated, temperature-dependent morphotype of the historical and modern ST10 isolates E. coli MG1655 and Fec10, respectively. Subsequently, we assessed the effects of cyclic di-GMP turnover protein variants of the EAL phosphodiesterases YcgG and YjcC and the horizontally transferred diguanylate cyclase DgcX on biofilm formation and motility. The two YcgG variants with truncations of the N-terminal CSS signaling domain were oppositely effective in targeting downregulation of rdar biofilm formation compared to the full-length reference protein. Expression of the C-terminal truncated variants YjcCFec67 and YjcCTob1 showed highly diminished apparent phosphodiesterase activity compared to the reference YjcCMG1655. For YjcCFec101, substitution of the C-terminus led to an apparently inactive enzyme. Overexpression of the diguanylate cyclase DgcX contributed to upregulation of cellulose biosynthesis but not to elevated expression of the major biofilm regulator csgD in the “classical” rdar-expressing commensal strain E. coli Fec10. Thus, the c-di-GMP regulating network is highly complex with protein variants displaying substantially different apparent enzymatic activities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Latest Research on Microbial-Associated Biofilm)
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