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Molecules and Nanoparticles to Fight Resistant Pathogens
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Molecules and Nanoparticles to Fight Resistant Pathogens

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: closed (31 July 2021) | Viewed by 12239

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Alina Maria Holban

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 030018 București, Romania
Interests: microbiology; immunology; new antimicrobial agents; host–pathogen signaling; infection control; antimicrobial nanomaterials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are facing a great challenge regarding emergent and difficult-to-treat microbial infections, mostly involving resistant pathogens.

In this context, novel and alternative approaches to prevent, diagnose, and treat such diseases are urgently needed. The purpose of this Special Issue is to provide an up-to-date collection of research and review papers focusing on greatest progress and new tools developed to fight resistant microorganisms. Here, we approach molecules, nanoparticles, and other materials engineered at nanoscale to provide efficient antimicrobial tools. It is well known that classical antibiotics can select resistant microbial populations and elicit huge pollution potential, being accumulated in the soil and waters. On the other hand, by understanding their behavior at molecular scale, we can develop tailored approaches to modulate their virulence, social behavior, interaction with the host, persistence and the overall progress of the infectious process. The current focus is on identifying molecules and developing nanostructured systems able to modulate key virulence and resistance factors, such as microbial attachment, biofilms formation, persistence, resistance to various drugs, etc. Additionally, the field of nanotechnology is currently investigated for new diagnosis tools in infectious diseases, as nanobiomaterials offer great versatility, specificity, tracking, and delivery possibilities, as well as unlimited potential to develop new applications.

Dr. Alina Maria Holban
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • virulence modulators
  • signalling molecules
  • biofilms
  • microbial resistance
  • antimicrobial nanoparticles
  • nanobiomolecules
  • nanocoatings

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 3033 KiB  
Article
High-Quality Nucleic Acid Isolation from Hard-to-Lyse Bacterial Strains Using PMAP-36, a Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial Peptide
by Hye-sun Cho, Munjeong Choi, Yunjung Lee, Hyoim Jeon, Byeongyong Ahn, Nagasundarapandian Soundrarajan, Kwonho Hong, Jin-Hoi Kim and Chankyu Park
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(8), 4149; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22084149 - 16 Apr 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3400
Abstract
The efficiency of existing cell lysis methods to isolate nucleic acids from diverse bacteria varies depending on cell wall structures. This study tested a novel idea of using broad-spectrum antimicrobial peptides to improve the lytic efficiency of hard-to-lyse bacteria and characterized their differences. [...] Read more.
The efficiency of existing cell lysis methods to isolate nucleic acids from diverse bacteria varies depending on cell wall structures. This study tested a novel idea of using broad-spectrum antimicrobial peptides to improve the lytic efficiency of hard-to-lyse bacteria and characterized their differences. The lysis conditions of Staphylococcus aureus using recombinant porcine myeloid antimicrobial peptide 36 (PMAP-36), a broad-spectrum pig cathelicidin, was optimized, and RNA isolation was performed with cultured pellets of ten bacterial species using various membranolytic proteins. Additionally, three other antimicrobial peptides, protegrin-1 (PG-1), melittin, and nisin, were evaluated for their suitability as the membranolytic agents of bacteria. However, PMAP-36 use resulted in the most successful outcomes in RNA isolation from diverse bacterial species. The amount of total RNA obtained using PMAP-36 increased by ~2-fold compared to lysozyme in Salmonella typhimurium. Streptococci species were refractory to all lytic proteins tested, although the RNA yield from PMAP-36 treatment was slightly higher than that from other methods. PMAP-36 use produced high-quality RNA, and reverse transcription PCR showed the efficient amplification of the 16S rRNA gene from all tested strains. Additionally, the results of genomic DNA isolation were similar to those of RNA isolation. Thus, our findings present an additional option for high quality and unbiased nucleic acid isolation from microbiomes or challenging bacterial strains. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecules and Nanoparticles to Fight Resistant Pathogens)
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19 pages, 4369 KiB  
Article
Ecofriendly Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles by Terrabacter humi sp. nov. and Their Antibacterial Application against Antibiotic-Resistant Pathogens
by Shahina Akter, Sun-Young Lee, Muhammad Zubair Siddiqi, Sri Renukadevi Balusamy, Md. Ashrafudoulla, Esrat Jahan Rupa and Md. Amdadul Huq
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(24), 9746; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21249746 - 21 Dec 2020
Cited by 34 | Viewed by 3357
Abstract
It is essential to develop and discover alternative eco-friendly antibacterial agents due to the emergence of multi-drug-resistant microorganisms. In this study, we isolated and characterized a novel bacterium named Terrabacter humi MAHUQ-38T, utilized for the eco-friendly synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) [...] Read more.
It is essential to develop and discover alternative eco-friendly antibacterial agents due to the emergence of multi-drug-resistant microorganisms. In this study, we isolated and characterized a novel bacterium named Terrabacter humi MAHUQ-38T, utilized for the eco-friendly synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and the synthesized AgNPs were used to control multi-drug-resistant microorganisms. The novel strain was Gram stain positive, strictly aerobic, milky white colored, rod shaped and non-motile. The optimal growth temperature, pH and NaCl concentration were 30 °C, 6.5 and 0%, respectively. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence, strain MAHUQ-38T belongs to the genus Terrabacter and is most closely related to several Terrabacter type strains (98.2%–98.8%). Terrabacter humi MAHUQ-38T had a genome of 5,156,829 bp long (19 contigs) with 4555 protein-coding genes, 48 tRNA and 5 rRNA genes. The culture supernatant of strain MAHUQ-38T was used for the eco-friendly and facile synthesis of AgNPs. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image showed the spherical shape of AgNPs with a size of 6 to 24 nm, and the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis revealed the functional groups responsible for the synthesis of AgNPs. The synthesized AgNPs exhibited strong anti-bacterial activity against multi-drug-resistant pathogens, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Minimal inhibitory/bactericidal concentrations against E. coli and P. aeruginosa were 6.25/50 and 12.5/50 μg/mL, respectively. The AgNPs altered the cell morphology and damaged the cell membrane of pathogens. This study encourages the use of Terrabacter humi for the ecofriendly synthesis of AgNPs to control multi-drug-resistant microorganisms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecules and Nanoparticles to Fight Resistant Pathogens)
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Review

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24 pages, 1102 KiB  
Review
Magnetite Nanoparticles and Essential Oils Systems for Advanced Antibacterial Therapies
by Antonio David Mihai, Cristina Chircov, Alexandru Mihai Grumezescu and Alina Maria Holban
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(19), 7355; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21197355 - 5 Oct 2020
Cited by 40 | Viewed by 4401
Abstract
Essential oils (EOs) have attracted considerable interest in the past few years, with increasing evidence of their antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and insecticidal effects. However, as they are highly volatile, the administration of EOs to achieve the desired effects is challenging. Therefore, nanotechnology-based strategies [...] Read more.
Essential oils (EOs) have attracted considerable interest in the past few years, with increasing evidence of their antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and insecticidal effects. However, as they are highly volatile, the administration of EOs to achieve the desired effects is challenging. Therefore, nanotechnology-based strategies for developing nanoscaled carriers for their efficient delivery might offer potential solutions. Owing to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, low toxicity, ability to target a tissue specifically, and primary structures that allow for the attachment of various therapeutics, magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) are an example of such nanocarriers that could be used for the efficient delivery of EOs for antimicrobial therapies. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the use of EOs as antibacterial agents when coupled with magnetite nanoparticles (NPs), emphasizing the synthesis, properties and functionalization of such NPs to enhance their efficiency. In this manner, systems comprising EOs and MNPs could offer potential solutions that could overcome the challenges associated with biofilm formation on prosthetic devices and antibiotic-resistant bacteria by ensuring a controlled and sustained release of the antibacterial agents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecules and Nanoparticles to Fight Resistant Pathogens)
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