scholarly journals Aerosol-based antimicrobial photoinactivation in the lungs: an action spectrum study

Author(s):  
Chiara Treghini ◽  
Alfonso Dell’Accio ◽  
Franco Fusi ◽  
Giovanni Romano

AbstractChronic lung infections are among the most diffused human infections, being often associated with multidrug-resistant bacteria. In this framework, the European project “Light4Lungs” aims at synthesizing and testing an inhalable light source to control lung infections by antimicrobial photoinactivation (aPDI), addressing endogenous photosensitizers only (porphyrins) in the representative case of S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. In the search for the best emission characteristics for the aerosolized light source, this work defines and calculates the photo-killing action spectrum for lung aPDI in the exemplary case of cystic fibrosis. This was obtained by applying a semi-theoretical modelling with Monte Carlo simulations, according to previously published methodology related to stomach infections and applied to the infected trachea, bronchi, bronchioles and alveoli. In each of these regions, the two low and high oxygen concentration cases were considered to account for the variability of in vivo conditions, together with the presence of endogenous porphyrins and other relevant absorbers/diffusers inside the illuminated biofilm/mucous layer. Furthermore, an a priori method to obtain the “best illumination wavelengths” was defined, starting from maximizing porphyrin and light absorption at any depth. The obtained action spectrum is peaked at 394 nm and mostly follows porphyrin extinction coefficient behavior. This is confirmed by the results from the best illumination wavelengths, which reinforces the robustness of our approach. These results can offer important indications for the synthesis of the aerosolized light source and definition of its most effective emission spectrum, suggesting a flexible platform to be considered in further applications.

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 193-206
Author(s):  
Brognara Lorenzo ◽  
Salmaso Luca ◽  
Mazzotti Antonio ◽  
Di M. Alberto ◽  
Faldini Cesare ◽  
...  

Background: Chronic wounds are commonly associated with polymicrobial biofilm infections. In the last years, the extensive use of antibiotics has generated several antibiotic-resistant variants. To overcome this issue, alternative natural treatments have been proposed, including the use of microorganisms like probiotics. The aim of this manuscript was to review current literature concerning the application of probiotics for the treatment of infected chronic wounds. Methods: Relevant articles were searched in the Medline database using PubMed and Scholar, using the keywords “probiotics” and “wound” and “injuries”, “probiotics” and “wound” and “ulcer”, “biofilm” and “probiotics” and “wound”, “biofilm” and “ulcer” and “probiotics”, “biofilm” and “ulcer” and “probiotics”, “probiotics” and “wound”. Results: The research initially included 253 articles. After removal of duplicate studies, and selection according to specific inclusion and exclusion criteria, 19 research articles were included and reviewed, accounting for 12 in vitro, 8 in vivo studies and 2 human studies (three articles dealing with animal experiments included also in vitro testing). Most of the published studies about the effects of probiotics for the treatment of infected chronic wounds reported a partial inhibition of microbial growth, biofilm formation and quorum sensing. Discussion: The application of probiotics represents an intriguing option in the treatment of infected chronic wounds with multidrug-resistant bacteria; however, current results are difficult to compare due to the heterogeneity in methodology, laboratory techniques, and applied clinical protocols. Lactobacillus plantarum currently represents the most studied strain, showing a positive application in burns compared to guideline treatments, and an additional mean in chronic wound infections. Conclusions: Although preliminary evidence supports the use of specific strains of probiotics in certain clinical settings such as infected chronic wounds, large, long-term clinical trials are still lacking, and further research is needed.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuan Liu ◽  
Ziwen Tong ◽  
Jingru Shi ◽  
Tian Deng ◽  
Ruichao Li ◽  
...  

Antimicrobial resistance has been a growing concern that gradually undermines our tradition treatment regimen. The fact that few antibacterial drugs with new scaffolds or targets have been approved in the past two decades aggravates this crisis. Repurposing previously approved drugs as potent antibiotic adjuvants offers a cost effective strategy to mitigate the development of resistance and tackle the increasing infections by multidrug resistant (MDR) bacteria. Herein, we found that benzydamine, a widely used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug in clinic, remarkably potentiated broad spectrum antibiotic tetracyclines activity against a panel of clinical important resistant pathogens, including MRSA, VRE, MCRPEC and tet (X)-positive Gram negative bacteria. Further mechanistically experiments showed that benzydamine dissipated membrane potential (ΔΨ) in both Gram positive and negative bacteria, which in turn upregulated the transmembrane proton gradient (ΔpH) and promoted the uptake of tetracyclines. Additionally, benzydamine exacerbated the oxidative stress by triggering the production of ROS and suppressing GAD system mediated oxidative defensive. This mode of action explains the great bactericidal activity of the doxycycline benzydamine combination against different metabolic states of bacteria including persister cells. As a proof of concept, the in vivo efficacy of this combination therapy was evidenced in multiple animal infection models. These findings revealed that benzydamine is a promising tetracycline antibiotics adjuvant and has the potential to address life threatening infections by MDR bacteria.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Guangchao Qing ◽  
Xianxian Zhao ◽  
Ningqiang Gong ◽  
Jing Chen ◽  
Xianlei Li ◽  
...  

Abstract New strategies with high antimicrobial efficacy against multidrug-resistant bacteria are urgently desired. Herein, we describe a smart triple-functional nanostructure, namely TRIDENT (Thermo-Responsive-Inspired Drug-Delivery Nano-Transporter), for reliable bacterial eradication. The robust antibacterial effectiveness is attributed to the integrated fluorescence monitoring and synergistic chemo-photothermal killing. We notice that temperature rises generated by near-infrared irradiation did not only melt the nanotransporter via a phase change mechanism, but also irreversibly damaged bacterial membranes to facilitate imipenem permeation, thus interfering with cell wall biosynthesis and eventually leading to rapid bacterial death. Both in vitro and in vivo evidence demonstrate that even low doses of imipenem-encapsulated TRIDENT could eradicate clinical methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, whereas imipenem alone had limited effect. Due to rapid recovery of infected sites and good biosafety we envision a universal antimicrobial platform to fight against multidrug-resistant or extremely drug-resistant bacteria.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Muhammad Evy Prastiyanto ◽  
Prayoda Deri Tama ◽  
Ninda Ananda ◽  
Wildiani Wilson ◽  
Ana Hidayati Mukaromah

Objective. This study was aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of the latex of three species members of Jatropha (J. curcas, J. gossypilofia Linn., and J. multifida) against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), extended-spectrum beta-lactamase- (ESBL-) producing Escherichia coli and ESBL-producing Klebsiella pneumonia, carbapenemase-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE)-E. coli, K. pneumoniae-carbapenemase (KPC), and carbapenemase-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA). Method. The antibacterial activities were calculated based on the inhibition zones using the Mueller–Hinton agar diffusion method, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) using Mueller–Hinton broth in a microdilution method, and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) using blood agar plate. Results. The latex of Jatropha showed antibacterial activities against the MRSA and CRPA. All latex of Jatropha appeared to have the antibacterial activities against MRSA and CRPA in the diffusion method (20.4–23.7 mm and 12–15 mm), MIC (0.19–6.25%, and 25%), and MBC (0.39–12.5% and 50%). Phytochemical screening of latex indicated the presence of flavonoids. Conclusions. The latex of J. curcas, J. gossypilofia Linn., and J. multifida has the potential to be developed as antibacterial agents, especially against MRSA and CRPA strain, but further in vivo research and discovery of the mode of its action are required to shed the light on the effects.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Denis Zofou ◽  
Golda Lum Shu ◽  
Josepha Foba-Tendo ◽  
Merveille Octavie Tabouguia ◽  
Jules-Clement N. Assob

Background. The threat to human health posed by multidrug-resistant strains of Salmonella typhi (S. typhi) and Salmonella paratyphi (S. paratyphi) is of growing concern. Generally, there has been increasing resistance and even multidrug resistance to almost all classes of antibiotics. This has rendered treatment with antibiotics difficult and costly. The present study investigated the bioactivity of pectin and pectin hydrolysates derived from a local fruit, Spondias dulcis, against four strains of Salmonellae. Methods. Pectin was extracted from alcohol extractives-free peel by acidic hydrolysis at a temperature of 80°C for one hour at pH 2 and 4. The pectin was precipitated with 95% alcohol at an extract to alcohol ratio of 1:10 v/v. Antimicrobial activity was determined using agar well diffusion technique. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values were determined using the broth dilution technique. An in vivo study was then carried out with the bioactive extracts against the most resistant bacteria strain, to fully establish the therapeutic effect of these extracts. Balb/C mice were used, and ciprofloxacin was the positive control antibiotic. The extracts were administered to mice at two doses, 5mg/Kg and 10mg/Kg. The efficacy of extracts in the treatment of typhoid was evaluated based on survival rate, change in body weight, and change in bacteria load. Results. Only one of the extracts (crude pectin pH 2.5) was active against all the Salmonellae by well diffusion, and the growth inhibition varied from 12mm to 15mm at100 μg/ml. Three of the extracts (crude pectin pH 2.5, pH 4, 12h hydrolysate, and pH 4, 1h hydrolysate) had MIC and MBC against all four Salmonellae strains with MIC ranging from 5.68 to 44.45 μg/ml and MBC from 11.36 to 44.45 μg/mL. Three treatments, namely, the pH4-12 hr, hydrolysate at 10mg/Kg and 5mg/Kg, and the pH4-1hr, hydrolysate at 10mg/Kg, had therapeutic effects against Salmonella infection in mice. Conclusion. The present study highlights the potential of pectin oligosaccharides as new source of anti-Salmonella drugs. Further investigations including exploration of mechanism of action of the most active pectin extracts/hydrolysates are envisaged.


Antibiotics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 665
Author(s):  
Iliana E Escobar ◽  
Alexis White ◽  
Wooseong Kim ◽  
Eleftherios Mylonakis

Multidrug-resistant pathogens pose a serious threat to human health. For decades, the antibiotic vancomycin has been a potent option when treating Gram-positive multidrug-resistant infections. Nonetheless, in recent decades, we have begun to see an increase in vancomycin-resistant bacteria. Here, we show that the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) inhibitor N-[3,5-Bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-5-chloro-2-hydroxybenzamide (IMD0354) was identified as a positive hit through a Caenorhabditis elegans–methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection screen. IMD0354 was a potent bacteriostatic drug capable of working at a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) as low as 0.06 µg/mL against various vancomycin-resistant strains. Interestingly, IMD0354 showed no hemolytic activity at concentrations as high as 16 µg/mL and is minimally toxic to C. elegans in vivo with 90% survival up to 64 µg/mL. In addition, we demonstrated that IMD0354′s mechanism of action at high concentrations is membrane permeabilization. Lastly, we found that IMD0354 is able to inhibit vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) initial cell attachment and biofilm formation at sub-MIC levels and above. Our work highlights that the NF-κB inhibitor IMD0354 has promising potential as a lead compound and an antimicrobial therapeutic candidate capable of combating multidrug-resistant bacteria.


2007 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Giuliani ◽  
Giovanna Pirri ◽  
Silvia Nicoletto

AbstractAntibiotic resistance is increasing at a rate that far exceeds the pace of new development of drugs. Antimicrobial peptides, both synthetic and from natural sources, have raised interest as pathogens become resistant against conventional antibiotics. Indeed, one of the major strengths of this class of molecules is their ability to kill multidrug-resistant bacteria. Antimicrobial peptides are relatively small (6 to 100 aminoacids), amphipathic molecules of variable length, sequence and structure with activity against a wide range of microorganisms including bacteria, protozoa, yeast, fungi, viruses and even tumor cells. They usually act through relatively non-specific mechanisms resulting in membranolytic activity but they can also stimulate the innate immune response. Several peptides have already entered pre-clinical and clinical trials for the treatment of catheter site infections, cystic fibrosis, acne, wound healing and patients undergoing stem cell transplantation. We review the advantages of these molecules in clinical applications, their disadvantages including their low in vivo stability, high costs of production and the strategies for their discovery and optimization.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy B. Howell ◽  
Doris H. D'Souza

Pomegranates have been known for hundreds of years for their multiple health benefits, including antimicrobial activity. The recent surge in multidrug-resistant bacteria and the possibility of widespread global virus pandemics necessitate the need for additional preventative and therapeutic options to conventional drugs. Research indicates that pomegranates and their extracts may serve as natural alternatives due to their potency against a wide range of bacterial and viral pathogens. Nearly every part of the pomegranate plant has been tested for antimicrobial activities, including the fruit juice, peel, arils, flowers, and bark. Many studies have utilized pomegranate peel with success. There are various phytochemical compounds in pomegranate that have demonstrated antimicrobial activity, but most of the studies have found that ellagic acid and larger hydrolyzable tannins, such as punicalagin, have the highest activities. In some cases the combination of the pomegranate constituents offers the most benefit. The positive clinical results on pomegranate and suppression of oral bacteria are intriguing and worthy of further study. Much of the evidence for pomegranates’ antibacterial and antiviral activities against foodborne pathogens and other infectious disease organisms comes fromin vitrocell-based assays, necessitating further confirmation ofin vivoefficacy through human clinical trials.


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