scholarly journals Resilience of benthic diatom communities in Mediterranean streams: role of endangered species

2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (2) ◽  
pp. 212 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Falasco ◽  
E. Piano ◽  
A. Doretto ◽  
S. Fenoglio ◽  
F. Bona
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Resistance Mechanisms ◽  
Taxonomic Composition ◽  
Change Scenario ◽  
Mediterranean Streams ◽  
Development Of Resistance ◽  
Diatom Communities ◽  
Experimental Treatments ◽  
A Site

The extent of drought in Mediterranean streams has been intensifying recently, and the mean annual discharge is expected to experience a decreasing trend in coming years, with significant effects on aquatic ecosystems. The aim of this study was to analyse colonisation patterns of diatom communities that differed in terms of taxonomic composition and percentage of endangered taxa exploring the possible development of resistance mechanisms. To this end, we selected three Mediterranean streams comparable in terms of water quality, but different in terms of surrounding land use, and we performed two experimental treatments. The first treatment consisted in artificially drying and cleaning of substrates (cobbles) to analyse the post-drought recolonisation process that is only driven by drift and immigration. In the second treatment cobbles coming from a site experiencing a seasonal drought were transplanted upstream in a perennial stretch to explore the possible development of resistance mechanisms within diatom communities periodically exposed to droughts. We observed that stream identity played an important role in determining diatom assemblage composition. Highly natural stretches had a high abundance of endangered species, which were less resilient to drought than assemblages composed of general and widespread taxa. Moreover, according to our results, resistance mechanisms did not play a significant role in recovery patterns. Improving our knowledge of diatom resilience mechanisms is very important in a global climate change scenario, especially in Mediterranean streams.

scholarly journals Silver (I) N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes: A Winning and Broad Spectrum of Antimicrobial Properties

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 2497
Author(s):  
Filippo Prencipe ◽  
Anna Zanfardino ◽  
Michela Di Napoli ◽  
Filomena Rossi ◽  
Stefano D’Errico ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Antimicrobial Agents ◽  
Antimicrobial Properties ◽  
Resistance Mechanisms ◽  
Heterocyclic Carbenes ◽  
Significant Activity ◽  
Bacterial Strains ◽  
Development Of Resistance ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Catalytic Chemistry

The evolution of antibacterial resistance has arisen as the main downside in fighting bacterial infections pushing researchers to develop novel, more potent and multimodal alternative drugs.Silver and its complexes have long been used as antimicrobial agents in medicine due to the lack of silver resistance and the effectiveness at low concentration as well as to their low toxicities compared to the most commonly used antibiotics. N-Heterocyclic Carbenes (NHCs) have been extensively employed to coordinate transition metals mainly for catalytic chemistry. However, more recently, NHC ligands have been applied as carrier molecules for metals in anticancer applications. In the present study we selected from literature two NHC-carbene based on acridinescaffoldand detailed nonclassicalpyrazole derived mono NHC-Ag neutral and bis NHC-Ag cationic complexes. Their inhibitor effect on bacterial strains Gram-negative and positivewas evaluated. Imidazolium NHC silver complex containing the acridine chromophore showed effectiveness at extremely low MIC values. Although pyrazole NHC silver complexes are less active than the acridine NHC-silver, they represent the first example of this class of compounds with antimicrobial properties. Moreover all complexesare not toxic and they show not significant activity againstmammalian cells (Hek lines) after 4 and 24 h. Based on our experimental evidence, we are confident that this promising class of complexes could represent a valuable starting point for developing candidates for the treatment of bacterial infections, delivering great effectiveness and avoiding the development of resistance mechanisms.

scholarly journals Indicator taxa of benthic diatom communities: a case study in Mediterranean streams

2007 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Tornés ◽  
J. Cambra ◽  
J. Gomà ◽  
M. Leira ◽  
R. Ortiz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Benthic Diatom ◽  
Mediterranean Streams ◽  
Indicator Taxa ◽  
Diatom Communities

scholarly journals Development of Resistance in Wild-Type and Hypermutable Pseudomonas aeruginosa Strains Exposed to Clinical Pharmacokinetic Profiles of Meropenem and Ceftazidime Simulated In Vitro

2007 ◽  
Vol 51 (10) ◽  
pp. 3642-3649 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beate Henrichfreise ◽  
Irith Wiegand ◽  
Ingeborg Luhmer-Becker ◽  
Bernd Wiedemann
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Parent Strain ◽  
Resistance Mechanisms ◽  
In Vitro Models ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Resistance Development ◽  
Development Of Resistance ◽  
Pharmacokinetic Profiles ◽  
Mutant Prevention Concentration

ABSTRACT In this study we investigated the interplay of antibiotic pharmacokinetic profiles and the development of mutation-mediated resistance in wild-type and hypermutable Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains. We used in vitro models simulating profiles of the commonly used therapeutic drugs meropenem and ceftazidime, two agents with high levels of antipseudomonal activity said to have different potentials for stimulating resistance development. During ceftazidime treatment of the wild-type strain (PAO1), fully resistant mutants overproducing AmpC were selected rapidly and they completely replaced wild-type cells in the population. During treatment with meropenem, mutants of PAO1 were not selected as rapidly and showed only intermediate resistance due to the loss of OprD. These mutants also replaced the parent strain in the population. During the treatment of the mutator P. aeruginosa strain with meropenem, the slowly selected mutants did not accumulate several resistance mechanisms but only lost OprD and did not completely replace the parent strain in the population. Our results indicate that the commonly used dosing regimens for meropenem and ceftazidime cannot avoid the selection of mutants of wild-type and hypermutable P. aeruginosa strains. For the treatment outcome, including the prevention of resistance development, it would be beneficial for the antibiotic concentration to remain above the mutant prevention concentration for a longer period of time than it does in present regimens.

Coumarin-1,2,3-triazole Hybrid Molecules: An Emerging Scaffold for Combating Drug Resistance

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harish C. Upadhyay
Keyword(s):  
Drug Resistance ◽  
Antimicrobial Agents ◽  
Plant Secondary Metabolites ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Resistance Mechanisms ◽  
Biologically Active ◽  
Multidrug Therapy ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
Development Of Resistance ◽  
Hybrid Molecules

: No doubt antibiotics have saved billions of lives, but lack of novel antibiotics, development of resistance mechanisms in almost all clinical isolates of bacteria, and recurrent infections caused by persistent bacteria hamper the successful treatment of infections. Due to widespread emergence of resistance, even the new families of antimicrobial agents have a short life expectancy. Drugs acting on single target often lead to drug resistance and are associated with various side effects. To overcome this problem either multidrug therapy or single drug acting on multiple targets may be used. The later are called ‘hybrid molecules’ which are formed by clubbing two biologically active pharmacophores together with or without an appropriate linker. In this rapidly evolving era, the development of natural product-based hybrid molecules may be a super-alternative to multidrug therapy to combat drug resistance caused by various bacterial and fungal strains. Coumarins (benzopyran-2-one) are one of the earliest reported plant secondary metabolites having clinically proven diverse range of pharmacological properties. On the other hand, 1,2,3-triazole is a common pharmacophore in many drugs responsible for polar interactions improving the solubility and binding affinity to biomolecular targets. In this review we discuss recent advances in Coumarin-1,2,3-triazole hybrids as potential antibacterial agents aiming to provide a useful platform for the exploration of new leads with broader spectrum, more effectiveness, less toxicity with multiple modes of action for the development of cost-effective and safer drugs in the future.

scholarly journals Comparative Study of the Effect of Solvents on the Efficacy of Neonicotinoid Insecticides Against Malaria Vector Populations Across Africa

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magellan Tchouakui ◽  
Tatiane Assatse ◽  
Leon M. J. Mugenzi ◽  
Benjamin D. Menze ◽  
Daniel Nguiffo-Nguete ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Resistance Mechanisms ◽  
Lower Mortality ◽  
Malaria Vectors ◽  
Cross Resistance ◽  
Metabolic Resistance ◽  
Resistance Development ◽  
Development Of Resistance ◽  
Bottle Test

Abstract Background New insecticides with a novel mode of action such as neonicotinoids have recently been recommended for public health by WHO. Resistance monitoring of such novel insecticides requires a robust protocol to monitor the development of resistance in natural populations. In this study, we comparatively used three different solvents to assess the susceptibility of malaria vectors to neonicotinoids across Africa.MethodsMosquitoes were collected from May to July 2021 from three agricultural settings in Cameroon (Njombe-Penja, Nkolondom, and Mangoum), the Democratic Republic of Congo (Ndjili-Brasserie), Ghana (Obuasi), and Uganda (Mayuge). Using the CDC bottle test, we compared the effect of three different solvents (ethanol, acetone, MERO) on the efficacy of neonicotinoids against Anopheles gambiae s.l. In addition, TaqMan assays were used to genotype key pyrethroid-resistant markers in An. gambiae and to evaluate potential cross-resistance between pyrethroids and clothianidin.ResultsLower mortality were observed when using absolute ethanol or acetone alone as solvent (11.4- 51.9% mortality in Nkolondom, 31.7- 48.2% in Mangoum, 34.6- 56.1% in Mayµge, 39.4- 45.6% in Obuasi, 83.7- 89.3% in Congo and 71.05- 95.9% in Njombe pendja) compared to acetone + MERO for which 100% mortality were observed for all the populations. Synergist assays (PBO, DEM and DEF) revealed a significant increase of mortality suggesting that metabolic resistance mechanisms are contributing to the reduced susceptibility. A negative association was observed between the L1014F-kdr mutation and clothianidin resistance with a greater frequency of homozygote resistant mosquitoes among the dead than among survivors (OR=0.5; P=0.02). However, the I114T-GSTe2 was in contrast significantly associated with a greater ability to survive clothianidin with a higher frequency of homozygote resistant among survivors than other genotypes (OR=2.10; P=0.013). ConclusionsThis study revealed a contrasted susceptibility pattern depending on the solvents with ethanol/acetone resulting to lower mortality, thus possibly overestimating resistance, whereas the MERO consistently showed a greater efficacy of neonicotinoids but it could prevent to detect early resistance development. Therefore, we recommend monitoring the susceptibility using both acetone alone and acetone+MERO (8-10µg/ml for clothianidin) to capture the accurate resistance profile of the mosquito populations.

scholarly journals Autotransporter secretion exploits the bacterial actin-homologue

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahmoud M. Ashawesh ◽  
Robert Markus ◽  
Christopher N. Penfold ◽  
Kim R. Hardie
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Infection ◽  
Virulence Factors ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Super Resolution ◽  
Resistance Mechanisms ◽  
Dynamic Interaction ◽  
Bacterial Toxins ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
Bacterial Cytoskeleton ◽  
Development Of Resistance

AbstractBacterial infection of humans, animals and plants relies heavily on secreted proteases that degrade host defences or activate bacterial toxins. The largest family of proteins secreted by Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria, the Autotransporters (ATs), includes key proteolytic virulence factors. There remains uncertainty about the mechanistic steps of the pathway ATs share to exit bacteria, and how it is energetically driven. This study set out to shed light on the AT secretion pathway with the ultimate aim of uncovering novel antimicrobial targets that would be unlikely to trigger the development of resistance mechanisms in bacteria. To do this, two AT virulence factors with distinct proteolytic functions, EspC (secreted from EnteropathogenicEscherichia coli) and AaaA (tethered to the extracellular surface ofPseudomonas aeruginosa) were chosen. EspC and AaaA were fluorescently labelled using two separate methods to establish the localization patterns of ATs as they are secreted from a bacterial cell. Super resolution microscopy revealed that localization of ATs occurs via a helical route along the bacterial cytoskeleton. In addition to requiring the conserved C-terminal β-barrel translocator domain of the AT, we present the first evidence that secretion is dependent on a dynamic interaction with a structure reliant upon the actin homologue MreB and the Sec translocon. These findings provide a step forward in the mechanistic understanding of the secretion of this widely distributed family of proteins that have pivotal roles in bacterial pathogenesis and conserved structural properties that could serve as novel broad-range antimicrobial targets.SignificanceSecreted bacterial proteases facilitate the infection of human, animal and plant hosts by degrading host defences or activating bacterial toxins. The autotransporter family is the largest family of proteins secreted from Gram-negative bacteria, and includes proteolytic virulence factors crucial to bacterial infection. Precisely how autotransporters migrate from the inside to the outside of the cell, and how this movement is energetically driven is a mystery. We demonstrate a spiral pathway of autotransporter secretion, presenting evidence that it involves a dynamic interaction with the actin homologue MreB that comprises the bacterial cytoskeleton. Our findings open the way to unravelling the mechanism of autotransporter secretion and offer the possibility to identify novel antimicrobial targets unlikely to trigger the development of antimicrobial resistance.

Molecular mechanisms driving the in vivo development of OXA-10-mediated resistance to ceftolozane/tazobactam and ceftazidime/avibactam during treatment of XDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections

2020 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-100
Author(s):  
Jorge Arca-Suárez ◽  
Cristina Lasarte-Monterrubio ◽  
Bruno-Kotska Rodiño-Janeiro ◽  
Gabriel Cabot ◽  
Juan Carlos Vázquez-Ucha ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Genomic Analysis ◽  
Resistance Mechanisms ◽  
Comparative Genomic ◽  
Development Of Resistance ◽  
Structural Impact ◽  
Genetic Context

Abstract Background The development of resistance to ceftolozane/tazobactam and ceftazidime/avibactam during treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections is concerning. Objectives Characterization of the mechanisms leading to the development of OXA-10-mediated resistance to ceftolozane/tazobactam and ceftazidime/avibactam during treatment of XDR P. aeruginosa infections. Methods Four paired ceftolozane/tazobactam- and ceftazidime/avibactam-susceptible/resistant isolates were evaluated. MICs were determined by broth microdilution. STs, resistance mechanisms and genetic context of β-lactamases were determined by genotypic methods, including WGS. The OXA-10 variants were cloned in PAO1 to assess their impact on resistance. Models for the OXA-10 derivatives were constructed to evaluate the structural impact of the amino acid changes. Results The same XDR ST253 P. aeruginosa clone was detected in all four cases evaluated. All initial isolates showed OprD deficiency, produced an OXA-10 enzyme and were susceptible to ceftazidime, ceftolozane/tazobactam, ceftazidime/avibactam and colistin. During treatment, the isolates developed resistance to all cephalosporins. Comparative genomic analysis revealed that the evolved resistant isolates had acquired mutations in the OXA-10 enzyme: OXA-14 (Gly157Asp), OXA-794 (Trp154Cys), OXA-795 (ΔPhe153-Trp154) and OXA-824 (Asn143Lys). PAO1 transformants producing the evolved OXA-10 derivatives showed enhanced ceftolozane/tazobactam and ceftazidime/avibactam resistance but decreased meropenem MICs in a PAO1 background. Imipenem/relebactam retained activity against all strains. Homology models revealed important changes in regions adjacent to the active site of the OXA-10 enzyme. The blaOXA-10 gene was plasmid borne and acquired due to transposition of Tn6746 in the pHUPM plasmid scaffold. Conclusions Modification of OXA-10 is a mechanism involved in the in vivo acquisition of resistance to cephalosporin/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations in P. aeruginosa.

Antibiotic Resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Related to Quinolone Formulary Changes: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis

2011 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 400-402 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Chandler Church ◽  
Patrick D. Mauldin ◽  
John A. Bosso
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
South Carolina ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Interrupted Time Series ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Resistance Mechanisms ◽  
Interrupted Time Series Analysis ◽  
University Of South Carolina ◽  
Development Of Resistance

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a nosocomial pathogen capable of exhibiting a variety of resistance mechanisms against multiple classes of antibiotics. Fluoroquinolones, commonly used to treat a variety of infections in both ambulatory and hospitalized patients, have been increasingly linked to the development of resistance, both to fluoroquinolones and to other classes of antibiotics including β-lactams, cephalosporins, and carbapenems. In turn, as many as 95% of multidrug-resistant pseudomonal isolates may be resistant to fluoroquinolones. Although research has examined the effect of fluoroquinolone use on P. aeruginosa resistance, to our knowledge, no work has been published describing possible differences among individual fluoroquinolones related to resistance to other antibiotic classes. The purpose of this analysis was to assess the possible effects of varying usage of levofloxacin, gatifloxacin, and moxifloxacin on P. aeruginosa susceptibility to piperacillin-tazobactam, cefepime, and tobramycin. Data from January 2000 through December 2008 were obtained from clinical microbiology and pharmacy databases of the Medical University of South Carolina Medical Center, which is a 689-bed academic medical center and level 1 trauma center with adult and pediatric beds. This study was approved by the institution's institutional review board.

scholarly journals Synthetic Lethality Screening Identifies FDA-Approved Drugs that Overcome ATP7B-Mediated Tolerance of Tumor Cells to Cisplatin

Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 608 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Mariniello ◽  
Raffaella Petruzzelli ◽  
Luca G. Wanderlingh ◽  
Raffaele La Montagna ◽  
Annamaria Carissimo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amphotericin B ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Synthetic Lethality ◽  
Resistance Mechanisms ◽  
Ovarian Cancer Cells ◽  
Tumor Resistance ◽  
Development Of Resistance ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Important Challenge ◽  
Approved Drugs

Tumor resistance to chemotherapy represents an important challenge in modern oncology. Although platinum (Pt)-based drugs have demonstrated excellent therapeutic potential, their effectiveness in a wide range of tumors is limited by the development of resistance mechanisms. One of these mechanisms includes increased cisplatin sequestration/efflux by the copper-transporting ATPase, ATP7B. However, targeting ATP7B to reduce Pt tolerance in tumors could represent a serious risk because suppression of ATP7B might compromise copper homeostasis, as happens in Wilson disease. To circumvent ATP7B-mediated Pt tolerance we employed a high-throughput screen (HTS) of an FDA/EMA-approved drug library to detect safe therapeutic molecules that promote cisplatin toxicity in the IGROV-CP20 ovarian carcinoma cells, whose resistance significantly relies on ATP7B. Using a synthetic lethality approach, we identified and validated three hits (Tranilast, Telmisartan, and Amphotericin B) that reduced cisplatin resistance. All three drugs induced Pt-mediated DNA damage and inhibited either expression or trafficking of ATP7B in a tumor-specific manner. Global transcriptome analyses showed that Tranilast and Amphotericin B affect expression of genes operating in several pathways that confer tolerance to cisplatin. In the case of Tranilast, these comprised key Pt-transporting proteins, including ATOX1, whose suppression affected ability of ATP7B to traffic in response to cisplatin. In summary, our findings reveal Tranilast, Telmisartan, and Amphotericin B as effective drugs that selectively promote cisplatin toxicity in Pt-resistant ovarian cancer cells and underscore the efficiency of HTS strategy for identification of biosafe compounds, which might be rapidly repurposed to overcome resistance of tumors to Pt-based chemotherapy.

scholarly journals Antifungal Resistance Regarding Malassezia pachydermatis: Where Are We Now?

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 93
Author(s):  
Andrea Peano ◽  
Elizabeth Johnson ◽  
Elisa Chiavassa ◽  
Paolo Tizzani ◽  
Jacques Guillot ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Failure ◽  
Antifungal Agents ◽  
Standard Procedure ◽  
Resistance Mechanisms ◽  
Antifungal Resistance ◽  
Antifungal Drugs ◽  
Malassezia Pachydermatis ◽  
Development Of Resistance ◽  
Ear Canals

Malassezia pachydermatis is a yeast inhabiting the skin and ear canals in healthy dogs. In the presence of various predisposing conditions it can cause otitis and dermatitis, which are treated with multiple antifungal agents, mainly azole derivatives. This manuscript aims to review the available evidence regarding the occurrence of resistance phenomena in this organism. Various findings support the capacity of M. pachydermatis for developing resistance. These include some reports of treatment failure in dogs, the reduced antifungal activity found against yeast isolates sampled from dogs with exposure to antifungal drugs and strains exposed to antifungal agents in vitro, and the description of resistance mechanisms. At the same time, the data reviewed may suggest that the development of resistance is a rare eventuality in canine practice. For example, only three publications describe confirmed cases of treatment failure due to antifungal resistance, and most claims of resistance made by past studies are based on interpretive breakpoints that lack sound support from the clinical perspective. However, it is possible that resistant cases are underreported in literature, perhaps due to the difficulty of obtaining a laboratory confirmation given that a standard procedure for susceptibility testing of M. pachydermatis is still unavailable. These considerations highlight the need for maintaining surveillance for the possible emergence of clinically relevant resistance, hopefully through a shared strategy put in place by the scientific community.

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