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A special issue of Antibiotics (ISSN 2079-6382). This special issue belongs to the section "Novel Antimicrobial Agents".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2024) | Viewed by 36311

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Carlos M. Franco

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Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Bromatology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, Spain
Interests: food safety; analytical chemistry; food microbiology; antimicrobial resistant bacteria; food-borne pathogens; transcriptomics; genotyping; chromatography; mass spectrometry; biofilms; antimicrobial detection; microbiome
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Prof. Dr. Beatriz Vázquez Belda

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Guest Editor

Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Bromatology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, Spain
Interests: microbiota; micobiota; antimicrobials; nutrition; health; food and feed
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The first volume of the Special Issue “Natural Compounds as antimicrobial Agents” was published in the past year. The huge amount of substances with antimicrobial properties that can be used or even discovered, both from animal origin or vegetal, as well as their varied applications, have led to a successful issue with more than 15 published papers and has encouraged us to open a second volume with the same topic.

As a continuation of the Special Issue published in 2019, this second volume will develop the use of these compounds for many different applications, from clinical aspects to their use in the food industry, or even in animal production. Further, there are still many compounds that have not been adequately studied. Sometimes several vegetal subproducts derived from human or animal consumption can be used as growth microbial modulators in certain applications, which suggests an added value for these foods or feed. Researchers from different parts of the world also know plant-derived substances specific to their latitudes for which there is sparse scientific literature and this is a good opportunity to share that knowledge with a wide scientific community through the open access journal Antibiotics. All these natural compounds share the advantages of soft legal regulations as well as better user perceptions regarding applications that are derived from a natural or traditional origin.

Thus, this Special Issue will cover, but is not limited to, the following topics:

New natural antimicrobial compounds
Antimicrobial effects
Clinical applications
Animal production applications
Antifungal properties
Antiviral properties
Food applications
New formulations
Antibacterial mechanisms
Antifungal mechanisms
MICs
Activity as disinfectants
Activity against biofilms
Effects on transcriptomics
Combination with other antimicrobials
Global microbiome changes

Prof. Dr. Carlos M. Franco
Prof. Dr. Beatriz Vázquez Belda
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.

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. Antibiotics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 4872 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Antimicrobial Properties of Fennel By-Product Extracts and Their Potential Applications in Meat Products

by Marica Egidio, Loriana Casalino, Filomena De Biasio, Marika Di Paolo, Ricardo Gómez-García, Manuela Pintado, Alma Sardo and Raffaele Marrone

Antibiotics 2024, 13(10), 932; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13100932 - 1 Oct 2024

Viewed by 1307

Abstract

Background: Beef burgers are perishable meat products, and to extend their shelf life, EU Regulation 1129/11 permits the use of certain additives. Objectives: However, given the concerns of health-conscious consumers and the potential toxicity of synthetic substances, this study aimed to explore the use of fennel waste extracts as natural preservatives. Methods: This study characterized the bioactive compounds (phenolic content), the antioxidant activity (ABTS⁺ and DPPH assay), and the antimicrobial properties (against Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereusi, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) of different fennel waste extracts (LF, liquid fraction; SF, solid fraction and PF, pellet fraction). Additionally, the potential use of the best fennel extract was evaluated for its impact on beef burger shelf life (up to 18 days at 4 ± 1 °C) in terms of microbiological profile, pH, and activity water (a_w). Results: The PF extract, which was rich in flavones, hydroxybenzoic, and hydroxycinnamic acids, demonstrated the highest antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Microbiological analyses on beef burgers with PF identified this extract as a potential antimicrobial substance. The a_w and pH values did not appear to be affected. Conclusions: In conclusion, fennel extracts could be proposed as natural compounds exploitable in beef burgers to preserve their quality and extend their shelf-life. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Compounds as Antimicrobial Agents, 2nd Edition)

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21 pages, 8026 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Polygonum hydropiper Compound Extract Inhibits Clostridium perfringens-Induced Intestinal Inflammatory Response and Injury in Broiler Chickens by Modulating NLRP3 Inflammasome Signaling

by Jinwu Zhang, Chunzi Peng, Maojie Lv, Shisen Yang, Liji Xie, Jiaxun Feng, Yingyi Wei, Tingjun Hu, Jiakang He, Zhixun Xie and Meiling Yu

Antibiotics 2024, 13(9), 793; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13090793 - 23 Aug 2024

Viewed by 968

Abstract

Necrotic enteritis (NE) is a critical disease affecting broiler health, with Clostridium perfringens as its primary pathogen. Polygonum hydropiper compound extract (PHCE), formulated based on traditional Chinese veterinary principles, contains primarily flavonoids with antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. However, PHCE’s efficacy against Clostridium perfringens-induced NE and its underlying mechanism remain unclear. This study employed network pharmacology and molecular docking to predict PHCE’s potential mechanisms in treating NE, followed by determining its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) against Clostridium perfringens (C. perf). Subsequently, the effects of various PHCE doses on intestinal damage, antioxidant capacity, and inflammatory factors in C. perf-infected broilers were assessed. Network pharmacology and molecular docking suggested that PHCE’s therapeutic mechanism for NE involves the NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome signaling pathway, with flavonoids such as quercetin, kaempferol, and isorhamnetin as key active components. PHCE exhibited an MIC of 3.13 mg/mL and an MBC of 12.5 mg/mL against C. perf. High PHCE doses effectively reduced intestinal damage scores in both the jejunum and ileum, accompanied by attenuated intestinal pathological changes. Additionally, the high dose significantly increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels while decreasing malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the jejunum and ileum (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05). PHCE also modulated the expression of caspase-1, IL-1β, gasdermin D (GSDMD), and NLRP3 mRNA, key components of the NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway, in both intestinal segments. These findings collectively indicate that PHCE protects against C. perf-induced oxidative stress and inflammatory damage in NE. By enhancing antioxidant capacity, PHCE likely reduces oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, subsequently modulating NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway key factor expression. Overall, this research provides valuable insights into the protective mechanism of the herbal compound PHCE and its potential benefits for avian health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Compounds as Antimicrobial Agents, 2nd Edition)

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12 pages, 468 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Adding the Antimicrobial L-Carnitine to Growing Rabbits’ Drinking Water on Growth Efficiency, Hematological, Biochemical, and Carcass Aspects

by Mohamed I. Hassan, Naela Abdel-Monem, Ayman Moawed Khalifah, Saber S. Hassan, Hossam Shahba, Ahmad R. Alhimaidi, In Ho Kim and Hossam M. El-Tahan

Antibiotics 2024, 13(8), 757; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13080757 - 11 Aug 2024

Viewed by 813

Abstract

The current study was designed to assess the impact of L-carnitine (LC) supplementation in the drinking water of growing Alexandria-line rabbits on performance and physiological parameters. Two hundred eighty-eight 35-day-old rabbits were divided into four groups of twenty-four replicates each (seventy-two rabbits/treatment). The treatment groups were a control group without LC and three groups receiving 0.5, 1, and 1.5 g/L LC in the drinking water intermittently. The results showed that the group receiving 0.5 g LC/L exhibited significant improvements in final body weight, body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, and performance index compared to the other groups. The feed intake remained unaffected except for the 1.5 g LC/L group, which had significantly decreased intake. Hematological parameters improved in all supplemented groups. Compared with those in the control group, the 0.5 g LC/L group showed significant increases in serum total protein and high-density lipoprotein, along with decreased cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein. Compared to other supplemented groups, this group also demonstrated superior carcass traits (carcass, dressing, giblets, and percentage of nonedible parts). In conclusion, intermittent supplementation of LC in the drinking water, particularly at 0.5 g/L twice a week, positively influenced the productivity, hematology, serum lipid profile, and carcass traits of Alexandria-line growing rabbits at 84 days of age. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Compounds as Antimicrobial Agents, 2nd Edition)

10 pages, 1055 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Antibacterial Activity of Volatile Organic Compounds Produced by the Octocoral-Associated Bacteria Bacillus sp. BO53 and Pseudoalteromonas sp. GA327

by Anette Garrido, Librada A. Atencio, Rita Bethancourt, Ariadna Bethancourt, Héctor Guzmán, Marcelino Gutiérrez and Armando A. Durant-Archibold

Antibiotics 2020, 9(12), 923; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics9120923 - 18 Dec 2020

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 3595

Abstract

The present research aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by octocoral-associated bacteria Bacillus sp. BO53 and Pseudoalteromonas sp. GA327. The volatilome bioactivity of both bacteria species was evaluated against human pathogenic antibiotic-resistant bacteria, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter baumanni, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In this regard, the in vitro tests showed that Bacillus sp. BO53 VOCs inhibited the growth of P. aeruginosa and reduced the growth of S. aureus and A. baumanni. Furthermore, Pseudoalteromonas sp. GA327 strongly inhibited the growth of A. baumanni, and P. aeruginosa. VOCs were analyzed by headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) joined to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) methodology. Nineteen VOCs were identified, where 5-acetyl-2-methylpyridine, 2-butanone, and 2-nonanone were the major compounds identified on Bacillus sp. BO53 VOCs; while 1-pentanol, 2-butanone, and butyl formate were the primary volatile compounds detected in Pseudoalteromonas sp. GA327. We proposed that the observed bioactivity is mainly due to the efficient inhibitory biochemical mechanisms of alcohols and ketones upon antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This is the first report which describes the antibacterial activity of VOCs emitted by octocoral-associated bacteria. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Compounds as Antimicrobial Agents, 2nd Edition)

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13 pages, 2610 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of the Sensitivity of Some Plant Pathogenic Fungi to 6-Demethylmevinolin, a Putative Natural Sensitizer Able to Help Overcoming the Fungicide Resistance of Plant Pathogens

by Larisa Shcherbakova, Maksim Kartashov, Natalia Statsyuk, Tatyana Pasechnik and Vitaly Dzhavakhiya

Antibiotics 2020, 9(12), 842; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics9120842 - 25 Nov 2020

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2483

Abstract

Agricultural fungicides contaminate the environment and promote the spread of fungicide-resistant strains of pathogenic fungi. The enhancement of pathogen sensitivity to these pesticides using chemosensitizers allows the reducing of fungicide dosages without a decrease in their efficiency. Using Petri plate and microplate bioassays, 6-demethylmevinolin (6-DMM), a putative sensitizer of a microbial origin, was shown to affect both colony growth and conidial germination of Alternaria solani, A. alternata, Parastagonospora nodorum, Rhizoctonia solani, and four Fusarium species (F. avenaceum, F. culmorum, F. oxysporum, F. graminearum) forming a wheat root rot complex together with B. sorokiniana. Non- or marginally toxic 6-DMM concentrations suitable for sensitizing effect were determined by the probit analysis. The range of determined concentrations confirmed a possibility of using 6-DMM as a putative sensitizer for the whole complex of root rot agents, other cereal pathogens (A. alternata, P.nodorum), and some potato (R. solani, A. solani) and tomato (A. solani) pathogens. Despite the different sensitivities of the eight tested pathogens, 6-DMM lacked specificity to fungi and possessed a mild antimycotic activity that is typical of other known pathogen-sensitizing agents. The pilot evaluation of the 6-DMM sensitizing first confirmed a principal possibility of using it for the sensitization of B. sorokiniana and R. solani to triazole- and strobilurin-based fungicides, respectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Compounds as Antimicrobial Agents, 2nd Edition)

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14 pages, 4628 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Anthelminthic Activity of Assassin Bug Venom against the Blood Fluke Schistosoma mansoni

by Miray Tonk, Andreas Vilcinskas, Christoph G. Grevelding and Simone Haeberlein

Antibiotics 2020, 9(10), 664; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics9100664 - 1 Oct 2020

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 6002

Abstract

Helminths such as the blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni represent a major global health challenge due to limited availability of drugs. Most anthelminthic drug candidates are derived from plants, whereas insect-derived compounds have received little attention. This includes venom from assassin bugs, which contains numerous bioactive compounds. Here, we investigated whether venom from the European predatory assassin bug Rhynocoris iracundus has antischistosomal activity. Venom concentrations of 10–50 µg/mL inhibited the motility and pairing of S. mansoni adult worms in vitro and their capacity to produce eggs. We used EdU-proliferation assays to measure the effect of venom against parasite stem cells, which are essential for survival and reproduction. We found that venom depleted proliferating stem cells in different tissues of the male parasite, including neoblasts in the parenchyma and gonadal stem cells. Certain insect venoms are known to lyse eukaryotic cells, thus limiting their therapeutic potential. We therefore carried out hemolytic activity assays using porcine red blood cells, revealing that the venom had no significant effect at a concentration of 43 µg/mL. The observed anthelminthic activity and absence of hemolytic side effects suggest that the components of R. iracundus venom should be investigated in more detail as potential antischistosomal leads. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Compounds as Antimicrobial Agents, 2nd Edition)

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11 pages, 2347 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Trypsin Inhibitor from Moringa oleifera Flowers Modulates the Immune Response In Vitro of Trypanosoma cruzi-Infected Human Cells

by Isabella Coimbra Vila Nova, Leyllane Rafael Moreira, Diego José Lira Torres, Kamila Kássia dos Santos Oliveira, Leydianne Leite de Siqueira Patriota, Luana Cassandra Breitenbach Barroso Coelho, Patrícia Maria Guedes Paiva, Thiago Henrique Napoleão, Virgínia Maria Barros de Lorena and Emmanuel Viana Pontual

Antibiotics 2020, 9(8), 515; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics9080515 - 14 Aug 2020

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3674

Abstract

Trypanosoma cruzi causes the lethal Chagas disease, which is endemic in Latin America. Flowers of Moringa oleifera (Moringaceae) express a trypsin inhibitor (MoFTI) whose toxicity to T. cruzi trypomastigotes was previously reported. Here, we studied the effects of MoFTI on the viability of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) as well as on the production of cytokines and nitric oxide (NO) by T. cruzi-infected PBMCs. Incubation with MoFTI (trypsin inhibitory activity: 62 U/mg) led to lysis of trypomastigotes (LC₅₀ of 43.5 µg/mL) but did not affect the viability of PBMCs when tested at concentrations up to 500 µg/mL. A selectivity index > 11.48 was determined. When T. cruzi-infected PBMCs were treated with MoFTI (43.5 or 87.0 µg/mL), the release of the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α and INF-γ, as well as of NO, was stimulated. The release of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 also increased. In conclusion, the toxicity to T. cruzi and the production of IL-10 by infected PBMCs treated with MoFTI suggest that this molecule may be able to control parasitemia while regulating the inflammation, preventing the progress of Chagas disease. The data reported here stimulate future investigations concerning the in vivo effects of MoFTI on immune response in Chagas disease. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Compounds as Antimicrobial Agents, 2nd Edition)

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9 pages, 624 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Antimicrobial Activity of Five Apitoxins from Apis mellifera on Two Common Foodborne Pathogens

by Alexandre Lamas, Vicente Arteaga, Patricia Regal, Beatriz Vázquez, José Manuel Miranda, Alberto Cepeda and Carlos Manuel Franco

Antibiotics 2020, 9(7), 367; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics9070367 - 30 Jun 2020

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2840

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance is one of today’s major public health challenges. Infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria have been responsible for an increasing number of deaths in recent decades. These resistant bacteria are also a concern in the food chain, as bacteria can resist common biocides used in the food industry and reach consumers. As a consequence, the search for alternatives to common antimicrobials by the scientific community has intensified. Substances obtained from nature have shown great potential as new sources of antimicrobial activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of five bee venoms, also called apitoxins, against two common foodborne pathogens. A total of 50 strains of the Gram-negative pathogen Salmonella enterica and 8 strains of the Gram-positive pathogen Listeria monocytogenes were tested. The results show that the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were highly influenced by the bacterial genus. The MIC values ranged from 256 to 1024 µg/mL in S. enterica and from 16 to 32 µg/mL in L. monocytogenes. The results of this study demonstrate that apitoxin is a potential alternative agent against common foodborne pathogens, and it can be included in the development of new models to inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria in the food chain. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Compounds as Antimicrobial Agents, 2nd Edition)

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Review

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15 pages, 996 KiB

Open AccessReview

Antimicrobial Secretions of Toads (Anura, Bufonidae): Bioactive Extracts and Isolated Compounds against Human Pathogens

by Candelario Rodriguez, Roberto Ibáñez, Louise A. Rollins-Smith, Marcelino Gutiérrez and Armando A. Durant-Archibold

Antibiotics 2020, 9(12), 843; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics9120843 - 26 Nov 2020

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 4579

Abstract

Species of the family Bufonidae, better known as true toads, are widespread and produce bioactive substances in the secretions obtained from specialized skin macroglands. Some true toads have been employed as a folk remedy to treat infectious diseases caused by microbial pathogens. Recent publications based on in silico analysis highlighted the Bufonidae as promising sources of antimicrobial peptides. A review of the literature reveals that Bufonidae skin secretion extracts show inhibitory activity in vitro against clinical isolates of bacteria, resistant and standard strains of bacterial, and fungal and parasitic human pathogens. Secondary metabolites belonging to the classes of alkaloids, bufadienolides, and peptides with antimicrobial activity have been isolated from species of the genera Bufo, Bufotes, Duttaphrynus, and Rhinella. Additionally, some antimicrobial extracts and purified compounds display low cytotoxicity against mammal cells. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Compounds as Antimicrobial Agents, 2nd Edition)

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34 pages, 10925 KiB

Open AccessReview

Efficacy and Mechanisms of Flavonoids against the Emerging Opportunistic Nontuberculous Mycobacteria

by Suresh Mickymaray, Faiz Abdulaziz Alfaiz and Anand Paramasivam

Antibiotics 2020, 9(8), 450; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics9080450 - 27 Jul 2020

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 8799

Abstract

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are the causative agent of severe chronic pulmonary diseases and is accountable for post-traumatic wound infections, lymphadenitis, endometritis, cutaneous, eye infections and disseminated diseases. These infections are extremely challenging to treat due to multidrug resistance, which encompasses the classical and existing antituberculosis agents. Hence, current studies are aimed to appraise the antimycobacterial activity of flavonoids against NTM, their capacity to synergize with pharmacological agents and their ability to block virulence. Flavonoids have potential antimycobacterial effects at minor quantities by themselves or in synergistic combinations. A cocktail of flavonoids used with existing antimycobacterial agents is a strategy to lessen side effects. The present review focuses on recent studies on naturally occurring flavonoids and their antimycobacterial effects, underlying mechanisms and synergistic effects in a cocktail with traditional agents. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Compounds as Antimicrobial Agents, 2nd Edition)

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