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Microorganisms
Special Issues
New Perspectives for the Control of Antimicrobial Resistance
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New Perspectives for the Control of Antimicrobial Resistance

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Antimicrobial Agents and Resistance".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2022) | Viewed by 19049

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. José Gutiérrez-Fernández

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Microbiology Laboratory, Virgen de las Nieves University Hospital –ibs Granada, Granada, Spain
Interests: Urinary tract infections; multiresistant microorganisms; genital infections
Dr. Enrique Rodríguez Guerrero

E-Mail Website
Co-Guest Editor
Microbiology Laboratory, Virgen de las Nieves University Hospital- ibs Granada, Granada, Spain
Interests: Urinary tract infections

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The existence of multidrug-resistant microorganisms (MRMs) that are resistant to antibiotics is one of the major public health problems that humanity will continue to face in the coming decades. This is a global problem, affecting both the hospital environment and the community. Therefore, it is necessary to have a general plan that integrates different control actions. These will include aspects ranging from easy detection in the laboratory to a rapid reduction in patient colonization, along with preventive measures to prevent the spread of these bacteria. Given these considerations, this Special Issue will include aspects relating to:

  1. Rapid and presumptive methods for detection of infection/colonization by MRMs.
  2. Decolonizing methodologies research and treatment of infections by MRMs.
  3. Occurrence of MRMs, with special attention to their presence in children and the elderly.
  4. Emerging MRMs that are human pathogens.

Prof. Dr. José Gutiérrez-Fernández
Guest Editor
Dr. Enrique Rodríguez Guerrero
Co-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. Microorganisms 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 2700 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

  • antibiotic resistance bacteria
  • multidrug-resistant bacteria diagnosis
  • bacterial decolonization
  • epidemiological characterization
  • emerging multidrug resistance
  • beta-lactam antibiotics
  • Enterobacterales
  • Pseudomonas
  • Acinetobacter
  • Klebsiella pneumoniae

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 3193 KiB  
Article
Targeting the Bet-Hedging Strategy with an Inhibitor of Bacterial Efflux Capacity Enhances Antibiotic Efficiency and Ameliorates Bacterial Persistence In Vitro
by Demosthenes Morales, Sofiya Micheva-Viteva, Samantha Adikari, James Werner, Murray Wolinsky, Elizabeth Hong-Geller, Jinwoo Kim and Iwao Ojima
Microorganisms 2022, 10(10), 1966; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10101966 - 05 Oct 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1407
Abstract
Persistence is a bet-hedging strategy in bacterial populations that increases antibiotic tolerance and leads to the establishment of latent infections. In this study, we demonstrated that a synthetic non-toxic taxane-based reversal agent (tRA), developed as an inhibitor of ABC transporter systems in mammalian [...] Read more.
Persistence is a bet-hedging strategy in bacterial populations that increases antibiotic tolerance and leads to the establishment of latent infections. In this study, we demonstrated that a synthetic non-toxic taxane-based reversal agent (tRA), developed as an inhibitor of ABC transporter systems in mammalian cancer cells, enhanced antibiotic killing of persister populations from different pathogens, including Burkholderia, Pseudomonas, Francisella, and Yersinia. Acting as an inhibitor of bacterial efflux at 100 nM, tRA99020 enhanced antibiotic efficiency and suppressed the production of natural products of Burkholderia species polyketide synthase (PKS) function. We demonstrate that the metabolites produced by PKS in response to stress by different antibiotics act as inhibitors of mammalian histone deacetylase activity and stimulate cell death. Applying a single-molecule fluorescence in situ hybridization (smFISH) assay, we analyzed on a single-cell level the activation profiles of the persistence regulating pks gene in Burkholderia thailandensis treated with tRA99020 and antibiotics. We posit that a multi-pronged approach encompassing antibiotic therapies and inhibition of efflux systems and fatty acid catabolism will be required for efficient eradication of persistent bacterial populations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Perspectives for the Control of Antimicrobial Resistance)
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11 pages, 2000 KiB  
Article
Molecular Evolution of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa DNA Gyrase gyrA Gene
by Mitsuru Sada, Hirokazu Kimura, Norika Nagasawa, Mao Akagawa, Kaori Okayama, Tatsuya Shirai, Soyoka Sunagawa, Ryusuke Kimura, Takeshi Saraya, Haruyuki Ishii, Daisuke Kurai, Takeshi Tsugawa, Atsuyoshi Nishina, Haruyoshi Tomita, Mitsuaki Okodo, Shinichiro Hirai, Akihide Ryo, Taisei Ishioka and Koichi Murakami
Microorganisms 2022, 10(8), 1660; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10081660 - 17 Aug 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1933
Abstract
DNA gyrase plays important roles in genome replication in various bacteria, including Pseudomonasaeruginosa. The gyrA gene encodes the gyrase subunit A protein (GyrA). Mutations in GyrA are associated with resistance to quinolone-based antibiotics. We performed a detailed molecular evolutionary analyses of [...] Read more.
DNA gyrase plays important roles in genome replication in various bacteria, including Pseudomonasaeruginosa. The gyrA gene encodes the gyrase subunit A protein (GyrA). Mutations in GyrA are associated with resistance to quinolone-based antibiotics. We performed a detailed molecular evolutionary analyses of the gyrA gene and associated resistance to the quinolone drug, ciprofloxacin, using bioinformatics techniques. We produced an evolutionary phylogenetic tree using the Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method. This tree indicated that a common ancestor of the gene was present over 760 years ago, and the offspring formed multiple clusters. Quinolone drug-resistance-associated amino-acid substitutions in GyrA, including T83I and D87N, emerged after the drug was used clinically. These substitutions appeared to be positive selection sites. The molecular affinity between ciprofloxacin and the GyrA protein containing T83I and/or D87N decreased significantly compared to that between the drug and GyrA protein, with no substitutions. The rate of evolution of the gene before quinolone drugs were first used in the clinic, in 1962, was significantly lower than that after the drug was used. These results suggest that the gyrA gene evolved to permit the bacterium to overcome quinolone treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Perspectives for the Control of Antimicrobial Resistance)
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15 pages, 17199 KiB  
Article
The Frequency of Occurrence of Resistance and Genes Involved in the Process of Adhesion and Accumulation of Biofilm in Staphylococcus aureus Strains Isolated from Tracheostomy Tubes
by Kamil Drożdż, Dorota Ochońska, Łukasz Ścibik, Monika Gołda-Cępa, Katarzyna Biegun and Monika Brzychczy-Włoch
Microorganisms 2022, 10(6), 1210; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10061210 - 14 Jun 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2289
Abstract
Background: Bacterial biofilm on the surface of tracheostomy tubes (TTs) is a potential reservoir of potentially pathogenic bacteria, including S. aureus. For this reason, our study aimed to investigate biofilm production in vitro and the presence of icaAD and MSCRAMM [...] Read more.
Background: Bacterial biofilm on the surface of tracheostomy tubes (TTs) is a potential reservoir of potentially pathogenic bacteria, including S. aureus. For this reason, our study aimed to investigate biofilm production in vitro and the presence of icaAD and MSCRAMM genes in clinical S. aureus strains derived from TTs, with respect to antibiotic resistance and genetic variability. Methods: The clonality of the S. aureus strains was analyzed by the PFGE method. The assessment of drug resistance was based on the EUCAST recommendations. The isolates were evaluated for biofilm production by the microtiter plate method and the slime-forming ability was tested on Congo red agar (CRA). The presence of icaAD genes was investigated by PCR and MSCRAMM genes were detected by multiplex PCR. Results: A total of 60 patients were enrolled in the study. One TT was obtained from each patient (n = 60). Twenty-one TTs (35%) were colonized with S. aureus. A total of 24 strains were isolated as 3 patients showed colonization with 2 SA clones (as confirmed by PFGE). PFGE showed twenty-two unique molecular profiles. Two isolates (8%) turned out to be MRSA, but 50% were resistant to chloramphenicol, 25% to erythromycin and 8% to clindamycin (two cMLSB and four iMLSB phenotypes were detected). The microtiter plate method with crystal violet confirmed that 96% of the strains were biofilm formers. Representative strains were visualized by SEM. All isolates had clfAB, fnbA, ebpS and icaAD. Different MSCRAMM gene combinations were observed. Conclusions: the present study showed that the S. aureus isolated from the TTs has a high diversity of genotypes, a high level of antibiotic resistance and ability to produce biofilm. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Perspectives for the Control of Antimicrobial Resistance)
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24 pages, 1500 KiB  
Article
Systematic Review of Plasmid AmpC Type Resistances in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae and Preliminary Proposal of a Simplified Screening Method for ampC
by Enrique Rodríguez-Guerrero, Juan Carlos Callejas-Rodelas, José María Navarro-Marí and José Gutiérrez-Fernández
Microorganisms 2022, 10(3), 611; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10030611 - 14 Mar 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 6056
Abstract
Beta-lactamase (BL) production is a major public health problem. Although not the most frequent AmpC type, AmpC-BL is increasingly isolated, especially plasmid AmpC-BL (pAmpC-BL). The objective of this study was to review information published to date on pAmpC-BL in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella [...] Read more.
Beta-lactamase (BL) production is a major public health problem. Although not the most frequent AmpC type, AmpC-BL is increasingly isolated, especially plasmid AmpC-BL (pAmpC-BL). The objective of this study was to review information published to date on pAmpC-BL in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, and on the epidemiology and detection methods used by clinical microbiology laboratories, by performing a systematic review using the MEDLINE PubMed database. The predictive capacity of a screening method to detect AmpC-BL using disks with cloxacillin (CLX) was also evaluated by studying 102 Enterobacteriaceae clinical isolates grown in CHROMID ESBL medium with the addition of cefepime (FEP), cefoxitin (FOX), ertapenem (ETP), CLX, and oxacillin with CLX. The review, which included 149 publications, suggests that certain risk factors (prolonged hospitalization and previous use of cephalosporins) are associated with infections by pAmpC-BL-producing microorganisms. The worldwide prevalence has increased over the past 10 years, with a positivity rate ranging between 0.1 and 40%, although AmpC was only detected when sought in a targeted manner. CMY-2 type has been the most prevalent pAmpC-BL-producing microorganism. The most frequently used phenotypic method has been the double-disk synergy test (using CLX disks or phenyl-boronic acid and cefotaxime [CTX] and ceftazidime) and the disk method combined with these inhibitors. In regard to screening methods, a 1-µg oxacillin disk with CLX showed 88.9% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 100% positive predictive value (PPV), 98.9% negative predictive value (NPV), and 98.9% validity index (VI). This predictive capacity is reduced with the addition of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases, showing 62.5% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 100% PPV, 93.5% NPV, and 94.1% VI. In conclusion, there has been a worldwide increase in the number of isolates with pAmpC-BL, especially in Asia, with CMY-2 being the most frequently detected pAmpC-BL-producing type of microorganism. Reduction in its spread requires routine screening with a combination of phenotypic methods (with AmpC inhibitors) and genotypic methods (multiplex PCR). In conclusion, the proposed screening technique is an easy-to-apply and inexpensive test for the detection of AmpC-producing isolates in the routine screening of multidrug-resistant microorganisms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Perspectives for the Control of Antimicrobial Resistance)
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12 pages, 1421 KiB  
Article
Emerging Trends of Multidrug-Resistant (MDR) and Extensively Drug-Resistant (XDR) Salmonella Typhi in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Lahore, Pakistan
by Muhammad Zakir, Maryam Khan, Muhammad Ihtisham Umar, Ghulam Murtaza, Muhammad Ashraf and Saba Shamim
Microorganisms 2021, 9(12), 2484; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9122484 - 30 Nov 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3933
Abstract
Salmonella Typhi is a Gram-negative pathogen that causes typhoid fever in humans. The use of antibiotics to treat typhoid has considerably mitigated its fatality risk, but rising multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) resistance in Pakistan threatens effective treatment. This study determined the [...] Read more.
Salmonella Typhi is a Gram-negative pathogen that causes typhoid fever in humans. The use of antibiotics to treat typhoid has considerably mitigated its fatality risk, but rising multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) resistance in Pakistan threatens effective treatment. This study determined the prevalence of MDR and XDR S. Typhi at a local hospital in Lahore. Blood samples (n = 3000) were obtained and processed for bacterial identification. Antibiotic susceptibility test was performed using VITEK® 2 Compound 30 System. Statistical data analysis was performed using a Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis H test, respectively. The results revealed 600 positive cultures, of which the majority were found to be XDR S. Typhi (46.1%) and MDR S. Typhi (24.5%) strains. The disease burden of resistant Salmonella strains was greater in males (60.67%) than females (39.33%), with the most affected age group being 0–10 years old (70.4 %). In both the outpatient department (OPD) and general ward, the prevalence of XDR S. Typhi cases was found to be alarmingly high (48.24%), followed by MDR S. Typhi (25.04 %). The results of the statistical analysis demonstrated that the incidence of resistance in MDR and XDR S. Typhi strains was not affected by the age as well as the gender of patients (p > 0.05). The occurrence of resistant strains against four tested antibiotics (azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, imipenem, and meropenem) was found to be similar in different wards and among hospitalized and OPD patients (p > 0.05). Maximum resistance was observed against chloramphenicol and ampicillin in the OPD and pediatric ward. Piperacillin/Tazobactam was observed to be the most effective antibiotic, followed by co-amoxiclav (p < 0.001). This study is effective in validating the existence of MDR and XDR S. Typhi in Lahore, where stringent methods should be applied for controlling its spread. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Perspectives for the Control of Antimicrobial Resistance)
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13 pages, 2055 KiB  
Article
Secnidazole Is a Promising Imidazole Mitigator of Serratia marcescens Virulence
by Ahdab N. Khayyat, Hisham A. Abbas, Maan T. Khayat, Moataz A. Shaldam, Momen Askoura, Hani Z. Asfour, El-Sayed Khafagy, Amr S. Abu Lila, Ahmed N. Allam and Wael A. H. Hegazy
Microorganisms 2021, 9(11), 2333; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9112333 - 11 Nov 2021
Cited by 29 | Viewed by 2561
Abstract
Serratia marcescens is an opportunistic pathogen that causes diverse nosocomial infections. S. marcescens has developed considerable resistance to different antibiotics and is equipped with an armory of virulence factors. These virulence factors are regulated in S. marcescens by an intercellular communication system termed [...] Read more.
Serratia marcescens is an opportunistic pathogen that causes diverse nosocomial infections. S. marcescens has developed considerable resistance to different antibiotics and is equipped with an armory of virulence factors. These virulence factors are regulated in S. marcescens by an intercellular communication system termed quorum sensing (QS). Targeting bacterial virulence and QS is an interesting approach to mitigating bacterial pathogenesis and overcoming the development of resistance to antimicrobials. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the anti-virulence activities of secnidazole on a clinical isolate of S. marcescens. The effects of secnidazole at sub-inhibitory concentrations (sub-MICs) on virulence factors, swarming motility, biofilm formation, proteases, hemolysin activity, and prodigiosin production were evaluated in vitro. Secnidazole’s protective activity against S. marcescens pathogenesis was assessed in vivo in mice. Furthermore, a molecular docking study was conducted to evaluate the binding ability of secnidazole to the S. marcescens SmaR QS receptor. Our findings showed that secnidazole at sub-MICs significantly reduced S. marcescens virulence factor production in vitro and diminished its pathogenesis in mice. The insilico docking study revealed a great ability of secnidazole to competitively hinder the binding of the autoinducer to the SmaR QS receptor. In conclusion, secnidazole is a promising anti-virulence agent that may be used to control infections caused by S. marcescens. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Perspectives for the Control of Antimicrobial Resistance)
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