Recent Advances in the Biochemistry and Biotechnology of Antibacterial Treatments

A special issue of Processes (ISSN 2227-9717). This special issue belongs to the section "Biological Processes and Systems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (29 February 2024) | Viewed by 10552

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Departamento de Bioingeniería, Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Ave. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, Monterrey 64849, Mexico
Interests: molecular cell biology; biochemistry; biotechnology and microbiology

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Guest Editor
Centro de Investigación en Matemáticas Unidad Monterrey, Apodaca, Mexico
Interests: computational modeling; molecular dynamics simulation; computational biophysics; computational chemistry; molecular modeling

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Due to the increased emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria (“superbugs”), which put enormous pressure on health systems worldwide, antibacterial treatments are in more demand than ever. Equally relevant is fundamental research dedicated to elucidating by which mechanisms bacteria acquire multidrug resistance. Although antibiotics can kill many types of bacteria or at least inhibit their growth through “classic” targets, such as cell wall biosynthesis, the DNA replication and protein production of bacteria are slowly but surely being exhausted. New leads and strategies desperately need to be prepared for treating bacterial infections effectively in the years to come.

This Special Issue on “Recent advances in the biochemistry and biotechnology of antibacterial treatments” seeks high-quality works focusing on the latest advances in the development of strategies to combat bacteria. Topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Natural-product-based antibiotic discovery.
  • CRISPR-Cas9-based treatments.
  • Phage therapy.
  • Elucidation of general bacterial resistance mechanisms.
  • Research dedicated to unraveling the expression of multidrug resistance phenotypes in particular.
  • Immunoglobulin therapy.
  • Antisense RNA-based treatments.
  • Nanotechnology approaches to combat bacterial infections.

Prof. Dr. Christian Quintus Scheckhuber
Prof. Dr. Angel David Reyes-Figueroa
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • multidrug resistance
  • bacterial infection
  • antibiotic discovery
  • healthcare
  • superbug
  • infection treatment

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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9 pages, 802 KiB  
Communication
Identification of an Antimicrobial Protease from Acanthamoeba via a Novel Zymogram
by Alvaro de Obeso Fernández del Valle, Luis Javier Melgoza-Ramírez, María Fernanda Esqueda Hernández, Alfonso David Rios-Pérez and Sutherland K. Maciver
Processes 2023, 11(9), 2620; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11092620 - 2 Sep 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1464
Abstract
Proteases play a role in different processes for protozoans and for the free-living amoeba Acanthamoeba. Some of these processes are related to pathogenicity and to encystment. In this study we describe the discovery of a protease with antimicrobial activity produced by Acanthamoeba [...] Read more.
Proteases play a role in different processes for protozoans and for the free-living amoeba Acanthamoeba. Some of these processes are related to pathogenicity and to encystment. In this study we describe the discovery of a protease with antimicrobial activity produced by Acanthamoeba. To identify it, we developed a novel zymogram using bacteria as an in-gel substrate that can help identify proteins capable of bacterial degradation. We used chromatography to isolate the proteases and showed that it quickly degrades in the environment. Additionally, we identified overexpressed proteases during encystment. The study of proteases from Acanthamoeba can serve several purposes including new antimicrobial proteins that the amoeba can use for potentially predigesting prokaryotes. Secondly, it can help with the identification of potential new therapies against Acanthamoeba infection. Full article
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Review

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17 pages, 2185 KiB  
Review
In Vitro and In Silico Studies of Antimicrobial Saponins: A Review
by Jinhui Li and Viviana Monje-Galvan
Processes 2023, 11(10), 2856; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11102856 - 28 Sep 2023
Viewed by 2542
Abstract
Antibiotics are important drugs for the treatment of microbial infections and related diseases. However, due to the abuse of antibiotics, drug resistance has become a serious and urgent problem. The development of new antibiotics is a crucial area of research, and natural products [...] Read more.
Antibiotics are important drugs for the treatment of microbial infections and related diseases. However, due to the abuse of antibiotics, drug resistance has become a serious and urgent problem. The development of new antibiotics is a crucial area of research, and natural products are one of the main sources of novel antibiotics. Among various potential natural antimicrobial products, saponins attracted much attention due to their excellent and broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties. Although there are several reviews on antibacterial saponins, this review is the first to highlight the potential antibacterial mechanisms of saponins from both experimental and molecular simulation perspectives to provide a comprehensive panorama of the field. This review presents the current progress in the development and repurposing of natural-product antibiotics. The focus is centered on antimicrobial saponins discovered in recent years as well as the synergistic effect of some saponins with traditional antibiotics. This review presents experimental and simulation studies in this field to provide a multiscale overview of the antimicrobial mechanisms of saponins and potential directions for future research. Full article
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14 pages, 329 KiB  
Review
New Alternatives in the Fight against Tuberculosis: Possible Targets for Resistant Mycobacteria
by Eduardo Rodríguez-Bustamante, Saúl Gómez-Manzo, Alvaro De Obeso Fernández del Valle, Roberto Arreguín-Espinosa, Clara Espitia-Pinzón and Eden Rodríguez-Flores
Processes 2023, 11(9), 2793; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11092793 - 20 Sep 2023
Viewed by 1680
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial disease that remains a global health threat due to the millions of deaths attributed to it each year. The emergence of drug resistance has exacerbated and further increased the challenges in the fight against this illness. Despite the [...] Read more.
Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial disease that remains a global health threat due to the millions of deaths attributed to it each year. The emergence of drug resistance has exacerbated and further increased the challenges in the fight against this illness. Despite the preventive measures using the application of the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccine, the desired immunization outcome is not as high as expected. Conventional TB treatments exhibit serious limitations, such as adverse effects and prolonged duration, leading to a pressing need for alternative and more effective treatment options. Despite significant efforts, it took nearly four decades for diarylquinoline to become the most recently approved medicine for this disease. In addition, various possibilities, such as the usage of medications used for many other conditions (repurposed drugs), have been explored in order to speed up the process of achieving faster outcomes. Natural compounds derived from various sources (microorganisms, plants, and animals) have emerged as potential candidates for combating TB due to their chemical diversity and their unique modes of action. Finally, efforts towards the generation of novel vaccines have received considerable attention. The goal of this paper was to perform an analysis of the current state of treating drug-resistant TB and to evaluate possible approaches to this complicated challenge. Our focus is centered on highlighting new alternatives that can be used to combat resistant strains, which have potentiated the health crisis that TB represents. Full article
23 pages, 2386 KiB  
Review
Antidiabetic Plants for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Associated Bacterial Infections
by Mario Adrián Tienda-Vázquez, Elda M. Melchor-Martínez, Joel H. Elizondo-Luévano, Roberto Parra-Saldívar, Javier Santiago Lara-Ortiz, Brenda Luna-Sosa and Christian Quintus Scheckhuber
Processes 2023, 11(5), 1299; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11051299 - 22 Apr 2023
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2989
Abstract
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is the metabolic disease with the highest morbidity rates worldwide. The condition is characterized by hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia, and chronic inflammation, among other detrimental conditions. These decrease the efficiency of the immune system, leading to an increase [...] Read more.
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is the metabolic disease with the highest morbidity rates worldwide. The condition is characterized by hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia, and chronic inflammation, among other detrimental conditions. These decrease the efficiency of the immune system, leading to an increase in the susceptibility to bacterial infections. Maintaining an optimal blood glucose level is crucial in relation to the treatment of T2DM, because if the level of this carbohydrate is lowered, the risk of infections can be reduced. Currently, this is achieved using synthetic drug treatments that seek to moderately inhibit digestive enzymes (e.g., α-amylase and α-glucosidase), such as acarbose, voglibose, miglitol, etc. However, the use of these compounds also generates unwanted side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, stomach aches and a loss of appetite. Therefore, there is an increasing demand to find effective and safe alternatives for treating T2DM, such as herbal treatments. As a result, there has been a search for possible drugs from plants with both antidiabetic and antibacterial activity. This study presents a review of the molecular and cellular mechanisms of T2DM, secondary effects of the disease such as bacterial infections, and general comprehension of synthetic and natural product treatments to help patients. Full article
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