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Future Medicinal Chemistry 2015Biofilms are communities of microorganisms that are attached to a surface and play a significant role in the persistence of bacterial infections. Bacteria within a... (Review)
Review
Biofilms are communities of microorganisms that are attached to a surface and play a significant role in the persistence of bacterial infections. Bacteria within a biofilm are several orders of magnitude more resistant to antibiotics, compared with planktonic bacteria. Thus far, no drugs are in clinical use that specifically target bacterial biofilms. This is probably because until recently the molecular details of biofilm formation were poorly understood. Bacteria integrate information from the environment, such as quorum-sensing autoinducers and nutrients, into appropriate biofilm-related gene expression, and the identity of the key players, such as cyclic dinucleotide second messengers and regulatory RNAs are beginning to be uncovered. Herein, we highlight the current understanding of the processes that lead to biofilm formation in many bacteria.
Topics: Anti-Infective Agents; Bacterial Infections; Biofilms; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Humans; Quorum Sensing
PubMed: 25875875
DOI: 10.4155/fmc.15.6 -
International Journal of Molecular... Nov 2022Flavonoids are a category of plant-derived compounds which exhibit a large number of health-related effects. One of the most well-known and studied flavonoids is... (Review)
Review
Flavonoids are a category of plant-derived compounds which exhibit a large number of health-related effects. One of the most well-known and studied flavonoids is kaempferol, which can be found in a wide variety of herbs and plant families. Apart from their anticarcinogenic and anti-inflammatory effects, kaempferol and its associated compounds also exhibit antibacterial, antifungal, and antiprotozoal activities. The development of drugs and treatment schemes based on these compounds is becoming increasingly important in the face of emerging resistance of numerous pathogens as well as complex molecular interactions between various drug therapies. In addition, many of the kaempferol-containing plants are used in traditional systems all over the world for centuries to treat numerous conditions. Due to its variety of sources and associated compounds, some molecular mechanisms of kaempferol antimicrobial activity are well known while others are still under analysis. This paper thoroughly documents the vegetal and food sources of kaempferol as well as the most recent and significant studies regarding its antimicrobial applications.
Topics: Kaempferols; Anti-Infective Agents; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antiprotozoal Agents; Flavonoids
PubMed: 36499380
DOI: 10.3390/ijms232315054 -
Nature Reviews. Drug Discovery Feb 2015Natural products have been a rich source of compounds for drug discovery. However, their use has diminished in the past two decades, in part because of technical... (Review)
Review
Natural products have been a rich source of compounds for drug discovery. However, their use has diminished in the past two decades, in part because of technical barriers to screening natural products in high-throughput assays against molecular targets. Here, we review strategies for natural product screening that harness the recent technical advances that have reduced these barriers. We also assess the use of genomic and metabolomic approaches to augment traditional methods of studying natural products, and highlight recent examples of natural products in antimicrobial drug discovery and as inhibitors of protein-protein interactions. The growing appreciation of functional assays and phenotypic screens may further contribute to a revival of interest in natural products for drug discovery.
Topics: Animals; Anti-Infective Agents; Biodiversity; Biological Products; Clinical Trials as Topic; Drug Discovery; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Genomics; Humans; Molecular Structure
PubMed: 25614221
DOI: 10.1038/nrd4510 -
Indian Journal of Pharmacology 2017
Topics: Anti-Infective Agents; Humans; Light; Pharmacology; Photic Stimulation; Photochemistry; Photochemotherapy; Phototherapy
PubMed: 29033480
DOI: 10.4103/0253-7613.215730 -
Nucleic Acids Research Jan 2016The antimicrobial peptide database (APD, http://aps.unmc.edu/AP/) is an original database initially online in 2003. The APD2 (2009 version) has been regularly updated...
The antimicrobial peptide database (APD, http://aps.unmc.edu/AP/) is an original database initially online in 2003. The APD2 (2009 version) has been regularly updated and further expanded into the APD3. This database currently focuses on natural antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) with defined sequence and activity. It includes a total of 2619 AMPs with 261 bacteriocins from bacteria, 4 AMPs from archaea, 7 from protists, 13 from fungi, 321 from plants and 1972 animal host defense peptides. The APD3 contains 2169 antibacterial, 172 antiviral, 105 anti-HIV, 959 antifungal, 80 antiparasitic and 185 anticancer peptides. Newly annotated are AMPs with antibiofilm, antimalarial, anti-protist, insecticidal, spermicidal, chemotactic, wound healing, antioxidant and protease inhibiting properties. We also describe other searchable annotations, including target pathogens, molecule-binding partners, post-translational modifications and animal models. Amino acid profiles or signatures of natural AMPs are important for peptide classification, prediction and design. Finally, we summarize various database applications in research and education.
Topics: Amino Acids; Animals; Anti-Infective Agents; Biomedical Research; Databases, Pharmaceutical; Internet; Peptides
PubMed: 26602694
DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkv1278 -
Clinical Microbiology Reviews Apr 2015Substandard/counterfeit antimicrobial drugs are a growing global problem. The most common substandard/counterfeit antimicrobials include beta-lactams (among antibiotics)... (Review)
Review
Substandard/counterfeit antimicrobial drugs are a growing global problem. The most common substandard/counterfeit antimicrobials include beta-lactams (among antibiotics) and chloroquine and artemisin derivatives (among antimalarials). The most common type of substandard/counterfeit antimicrobial drugs have a reduced amount of the active drug, and the majority of them are manufactured in Southeast Asia and Africa. Counterfeit antimicrobial drugs may cause increased mortality and morbidity and pose a danger to patients. Here we review the literature with regard to the issue of substandard/counterfeit antimicrobials and describe the prevalence of this problem, the different types of substandard/counterfeit antimicrobial drugs, and the consequences for the individuals and global public health. Local, national, and international initiatives are required to combat this very important public health issue.
Topics: Anti-Infective Agents; Counterfeit Drugs; International Cooperation; Public Health
PubMed: 25788516
DOI: 10.1128/CMR.00072-14 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Nov 2022Healthcare-associated infections (HAI), or nosocomial infections, are a global health and economic problem in developed and developing countries, particularly for... (Review)
Review
Healthcare-associated infections (HAI), or nosocomial infections, are a global health and economic problem in developed and developing countries, particularly for immunocompromised patients in their intensive care units (ICUs) and surgical site hospital areas. Recurrent pathogens in HAIs prevail over antibiotic-resistant bacteria, such as methicillin-resistant (MRSA) and . For this reason, natural antibacterial mechanisms are a viable alternative for HAI treatment. Natural fibers can inhibit bacterial growth, which can be considered a great advantage in these applications. Moreover, these fibers have been reported to be biocompatible and biodegradable, essential features for biomedical materials to avoid complications due to infections and significant immune responses. Consequently, tissue engineering, medical textiles, orthopedics, and dental implants, as well as cosmetics, are fields currently expanding the use of plant fibers. In this review, we will discuss the source of natural fibers with antimicrobial properties, antimicrobial mechanisms, and their biomedical applications.
Topics: Humans; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Infective Agents; Cross Infection; Intensive Care Units
PubMed: 36432099
DOI: 10.3390/molecules27227999 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jul 2022The aim of this Special Edition is to highlight the exponential work performed in the field of antimicrobial material research from the beginning of the current COVID-19...
The aim of this Special Edition is to highlight the exponential work performed in the field of antimicrobial material research from the beginning of the current COVID-19 pandemic [...].
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Infective Agents; Humans; Pandemics; COVID-19 Drug Treatment
PubMed: 35887389
DOI: 10.3390/ijms23148047 -
Cells Aug 2020Autophagy is an intracellular process that targets intracellular pathogens for lysosomal degradation. Autophagy is tightly controlled at transcriptional and... (Review)
Review
Autophagy is an intracellular process that targets intracellular pathogens for lysosomal degradation. Autophagy is tightly controlled at transcriptional and post-translational levels. Nuclear receptors (NRs) are a family of transcriptional factors that regulate the expression of gene sets involved in, for example, metabolic and immune homeostasis. Several NRs show promise as host-directed anti-infectives through the modulation of autophagy activities by their natural ligands or small molecules (agonists/antagonists). Here, we review the roles and mechanisms of NRs (vitamin D receptors, estrogen receptors, estrogen-related receptors, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors) in linking immunity and autophagy during infection. We also discuss the potential of emerging NRs (REV-ERBs, retinoic acid receptors, retinoic acid-related orphan receptors, liver X receptors, farnesoid X receptors, and thyroid hormone receptors) as candidate antimicrobials. The identification of novel roles and mechanisms for NRs will enable the development of autophagy-adjunctive therapeutics for emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.
Topics: Anti-Infective Agents; Autophagy; Humans; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear
PubMed: 32867365
DOI: 10.3390/cells9091979 -
International Journal of Molecular... Apr 2023Advances in the number and type of available biomaterials have improved medical devices such as catheters, stents, pacemakers, prosthetic joints, and orthopedic devices.... (Review)
Review
Advances in the number and type of available biomaterials have improved medical devices such as catheters, stents, pacemakers, prosthetic joints, and orthopedic devices. The introduction of a foreign material into the body comes with a risk of microbial colonization and subsequent infection. Infections of surgically implanted devices often lead to device failure, which leads to increased patient morbidity and mortality. The overuse and improper use of antimicrobials has led to an alarming rise and spread of drug-resistant infections. To overcome the problem of drug-resistant infections, novel antimicrobial biomaterials are increasingly being researched and developed. Hydrogels are a class of 3D biomaterials consisting of a hydrated polymer network with tunable functionality. As hydrogels are customizable, many different antimicrobial agents, such as inorganic molecules, metals, and antibiotics have been incorporated or tethered to them. Due to the increased prevalence of antibiotic resistance, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are being increasingly explored as alternative agents. AMP-tethered hydrogels are being increasingly examined for antimicrobial properties and practical applications, such as wound-healing. Here, we provide a recent update, from the last 5 years of innovations and discoveries made in the development of photopolymerizable, self-assembling, and AMP-releasing hydrogels.
Topics: Humans; Antimicrobial Peptides; Hydrogels; Anti-Infective Agents; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Biocompatible Materials
PubMed: 37108725
DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087563