scholarly journals Silver Nanoparticles and Their Antibacterial Applications

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (13) ◽  
pp. 7202
Author(s):  
Tamara Bruna ◽  
Francisca Maldonado-Bravo ◽  
Paul Jara ◽  
Nelson Caro

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been imposed as an excellent antimicrobial agent being able to combat bacteria in vitro and in vivo causing infections. The antibacterial capacity of AgNPs covers Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, including multidrug resistant strains. AgNPs exhibit multiple and simultaneous mechanisms of action and in combination with antibacterial agents as organic compounds or antibiotics it has shown synergistic effect against pathogens bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The characteristics of silver nanoparticles make them suitable for their application in medical and healthcare products where they may treat infections or prevent them efficiently. With the urgent need for new efficient antibacterial agents, this review aims to establish factors affecting antibacterial and cytotoxic effects of silver nanoparticles, as well as to expose the advantages of using AgNPs as new antibacterial agents in combination with antibiotic, which will reduce the dosage needed and prevent secondary effects associated to both.

1997 ◽  
Vol 41 (7) ◽  
pp. 1500-1503 ◽  
Author(s):  
F F Franssen ◽  
L J Smeijsters ◽  
I Berger ◽  
B E Medinilla Aldana

We present an evaluation of the antiplasmodial and cytotoxic effects of four plants commonly used in Guatemalan folk medicine against malaria. Methanol extracts of Simarouba glauca D. C., Sansevieria guineensis Willd, Croton guatemalensis Lotsy, and Neurolaena lobata (L.)R.Br. significantly reduced parasitemias in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice. Dichloromethane fractions were screened for their cytotoxicities on Artemia salina (brine shrimp) larvae, and 50% inhibitory concentrations were determined for Plasmodium falciparum in in vitro cultures. Both chloroquine-susceptible and -resistant strains of P. falciparum were significantly inhibited by these extracts. Of all dichloromethane extracts, only the S. glauca cortex extract was considered to be toxic to nauplii of A. salina in the brine shrimp test.


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.


2001 ◽  
Vol 45 (5) ◽  
pp. 1422-1430 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzanne Chamberland ◽  
Johanne Blais ◽  
Monica Hoang ◽  
Cynthia Dinh ◽  
Dylan Cotter ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT RWJ-54428 (MC-02,479) is a new cephalosporin with a high level of activity against gram-positive bacteria. In a broth microdilution susceptibility test against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), RWJ-54428 was as active as vancomycin, with an MIC at which 90% of isolates are inhibited (MIC90) of 2 μg/ml. For coagulase-negative staphylococci, RWJ-54428 was 32 times more active than imipenem, with an MIC90 of 2 μg/ml. RWJ-54428 was active against S. aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Staphylococcus haemolyticus isolates with reduced susceptibility to glycopeptides (RWJ-54428 MIC range, ≤0.0625 to 1 μg/ml). RWJ-54428 was eight times more potent than methicillin and cefotaxime against methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MIC90, 0.5 μg/ml). For ampicillin-susceptible Enterococcus faecalis (including vancomycin-resistant and high-level aminoglycoside-resistant strains), RWJ-54428 had an MIC90 of 0.125 μg/ml. RWJ-54428 was also active against Enterococcus faecium, including vancomycin-, gentamicin-, and ciprofloxacin-resistant strains. The potency against enterococci correlated with ampicillin susceptibility; RWJ-54428 MICs ranged between ≤0.0625 and 1 μg/ml for ampicillin-susceptible strains and 0.125 and 8 μg/ml for ampicillin-resistant strains. RWJ-54428 was more active than penicillin G and cefotaxime against penicillin-resistant, -intermediate, and -susceptible strains ofStreptococcus pneumoniae (MIC90s, 0.25, 0.125, and ≤0.0625 μg/ml, respectively). RWJ-54428 was only marginally active against most gram-negative bacteria; however, significant activity was observed against Haemophilus influenzae andMoraxella catarrhalis (MIC90s, 0.25 and 0.5 μg/ml, respectively). This survey of the susceptibilities of more than 1,000 multidrug-resistant gram-positive isolates to RWJ-54428 indicates that this new cephalosporin has the potential to be useful in the treatment of infections due to gram-positive bacteria, including strains resistant to currently available antimicrobials.


2012 ◽  
Vol 56 (7) ◽  
pp. 3475-3480 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sovitj Pou ◽  
Rolf W. Winter ◽  
Aaron Nilsen ◽  
Jane Xu Kelly ◽  
Yuexin Li ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTSontochin was the original chloroquine replacement drug, arising from research by Hans Andersag 2 years after chloroquine (known as “resochin” at the time) had been shelved due to the mistaken perception that it was too toxic for human use. We were surprised to find that sontochin, i.e., 3-methyl-chloroquine, retains significant activity against chloroquine-resistant strains ofPlasmodium falciparum in vitro. We prepared derivatives of sontochin, “pharmachins,” with alkyl or aryl substituents at the 3 position and with alterations to the 4-position side chain to enhance activity against drug-resistant strains. Modified with an aryl substituent in the 3 position of the 7-chloro-quinoline ring, Pharmachin 203 (PH-203) exhibits low-nanomolar 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) against drug-sensitive and multidrug-resistant strains andin vivoefficacy against patent infections ofPlasmodium yoeliiin mice that is superior to chloroquine. Our findings suggest that novel 3-position aryl pharmachin derivatives have the potential for use in treating drug resistant malaria.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (12) ◽  
pp. 310-315
Author(s):  
Nergis Aşgın ◽  
Emre Taşkın

Objective: In this study, we aim to determine the frequency of antibiotic resistance and five virulence genes in Enterococcus species and the relationship between antibiotic resistance and virulence genes. Material and Methods: A total of 86 Enterococcus strains isolated from inpatients between 2015 and 2016 were included. Identification and antibiotic susceptibilities of strains were determined using a BD Phoenix fully automated system. The presence of virulence-associated genes (esp, gel E, asa1, hyl, and cyl) were investigated by using PCR method. Results: Of the 86 Enterococcus strains, 53 (61.6%) and 33 (38.4%) were Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis, respectively. Vancomycin and high-level gentamicin resistance (HLGR) in E. faecalis strains were 0.6% and 60.6%, respectively. Furthermore, 52 of the 53 E. faecium strains were both vancomycin-resistant and HLGR. The frequency of esp, gel E, asa1, cyl, and hyl was 91.9%, 60.5%, 54.7%, 43%, and 26.7%, respectively.  The asa 1, cyl, and gel E genes were detected at high frequencies in vancomycin-susceptible and non-HLGR strains, whereas hyl gene was detected at high frequencies in vancomycin-resistant and HLGR strains. Conclusion: Virulence genes were more frequent in vancomycin-susceptible and non-HLGR Enterococcus strains than in the resistant strains. Although infections caused by multidrug-resistant strains are difficult to treat, it should be considered that susceptible strains have more virulence genes. This may reduce the in vivo efficacy of drugs and lead to treatment failures. Therefore, in addition to the in vitro susceptibilities of drugs, clinical efficacy should be monitored.


2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Odette J. Bernasconi ◽  
Valentina Donà ◽  
Regula Tinguely ◽  
Andrea Endimiani

Background: Salmonella and Shigella spp. are 2 of the most frequent and deadly enteric bacterial pathogens recorded worldwide. In developing countries Salmonella infections are responsible for many deaths annually and these mortality rates are prone to increase due to the emergence of resistance to antibiotics. In this overall scenario new alternative therapeutic approaches are needed.Methods: For the first time, we investigated the activity of 3 commercial bacteriophage cocktails (INTESTI, Septaphage, PYO) against a collection of contemporary Salmonella spp. (n = 30) and Shigella spp. (n = 20) strains isolated in Switzerland. Phage susceptibility was determined by implementing the spot test.Results: The overall susceptibility of Salmonella spp. to INTESTI and Septaphage was 87% and 77%, respectively. With regard to Shigella spp., the overall susceptibility to INTESTI and Septaphage was 95% and 55%, respectively. PYOwas observed to be active against only 10% of Salmonella spp. but against 95% of Shigella spp.Conclusions: Our results seem promising, especially for the INTESTI biopreparation against Salmonella enterica infections. Nevertheless, such speculation should be supported by further in vivo studies to confirm efficacy and safety of the cocktails. We also emphasize the importance of large in vitro screening analyses aimed to assess the activity of such biopreparations against contemporary multidrug-resistant strains that are emerging worldwide.Keywords: commercial; bacteriophages; Salmonella; Shigella cocktails


2012 ◽  
Vol 56 (9) ◽  
pp. 4685-4692 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabián E. Sáenz ◽  
Tina Mutka ◽  
Kenneth Udenze ◽  
Ayoade M. J. Oduola ◽  
Dennis E. Kyle

ABSTRACTNew drugs to treat malaria must act rapidly and be highly potent against asexual blood stages, well tolerated, and affordable to residents of regions of endemicity. This was the case with chloroquine (CQ), a 4-aminoquinoline drug used for the prevention and treatment of malaria. However, since the 1960s,Plasmodium falciparumresistance to this drug has spread globally, and more recently, emerging resistance to CQ byPlasmodium vivaxthreatens the health of 70 to 320 million people annually. Despite the emergence of CQ resistance, synthetic quinoline derivatives remain validated leads for new drug discovery, especially if they are effective against CQ-resistant strains of malaria. In this study, we investigated the activities of two novel 4-aminoquinoline derivatives, TDR 58845,N1-(7-chloro-quinolin-4-yl)-2-methyl-propane-1,2-diamine, and TDR 58846,N1-(7-chloro-quinolin-4-yl)-2,N2,N2-trimethylpropane-1,2-diamine and found them to be active againstP. falciparumin vitroandPlasmodium bergheiin vivo. TheP. falciparumclones and isolates tested were susceptible to TDR 58845 and TDR 58846 (50% inhibitory concentrations [IC50s] ranging from 5.52 to 89.8 nM), including the CQ-resistant reference clone W2 and two multidrug-resistant parasites recently isolated from Thailand and Cambodia. Moreover, these 4-aminoquinolines were active against early and lateP. falciparumgametocyte stages and cured BALB/c mice infected withP. berghei. TDR 58845 and TDR 58846 at 40 mg/kg were sufficient to cure mice, and total doses of 480 mg/kg of body weight were well tolerated. Our findings suggest these novel 4-aminoquinolines should be considered for development as potent antimalarials that can be used in combination to treat multidrug-resistantP. falciparumandP. vivax.


2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Clara Aguilar-Pérez ◽  
Begoña Gracia ◽  
Liliana Rodrigues ◽  
Asunción Vitoria ◽  
Rubén Cebrián ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The increasing incidence of multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains and the very few drugs available for treatment are promoting the discovery and development of new molecules that could help in the control of this disease. Bacteriocin AS-48 is an antibacterial peptide produced by Enterococcus faecalis and is active against several Gram-positive bacteria. We have found that AS-48 was active against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, including H37Rv and other reference and clinical strains, and also against some nontuberculous clinical mycobacterial species. The combination of AS-48 with either lysozyme or ethambutol (commonly used in the treatment of drug-susceptible tuberculosis) increased the antituberculosis action of AS-48, showing a synergic interaction. Under these conditions, AS-48 exhibits a MIC close to some MICs of the first-line antituberculosis agents. The inhibitory activity of AS-48 and its synergistic combination with ethambutol were also observed on M. tuberculosis-infected macrophages. Finally, AS-48 did not show any cytotoxicity against THP-1, MHS, and J774.2 macrophage cell lines at concentrations close to its MIC. In summary, bacteriocin AS-48 has interesting antimycobacterial activity in vitro and low cytotoxicity, so further studies in vivo will contribute to its development as a potential additional drug for antituberculosis therapy.


2004 ◽  
Vol 48 (8) ◽  
pp. 3043-3050 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharath S. Hegde ◽  
Noe Reyes ◽  
Tania Wiens ◽  
Nicole Vanasse ◽  
Robert Skinner ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Telavancin (TD-6424) is a novel lipoglycopeptide that produces rapid and concentration-dependent killing of clinically relevant gram-positive organisms in vitro. The present studies evaluated the in vivo pharmacodynamics of telavancin in the mouse neutropenic thigh (MNT) and mouse subcutaneous infection (MSI) animal models. Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic studies in the MNT model demonstrated that the 24-h area under the concentration-time curve (AUC)/MIC ratio was the best predictor of efficacy. Telavancin produced dose-dependent reduction of thigh titers of several organisms, including methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), penicillin-susceptible and -resistant strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae, and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis. The 50% effective dose (ED50) estimates for telavancin ranged from 0.5 to 6.6 mg/kg of body weight (administered intravenously), and titers were reduced by up to 3 log10 CFU/g from pretreatment values. Against MRSA ATCC 33591, telavancin was 4- and 30-fold more potent (on an ED50 basis) than vancomycin and linezolid, respectively. Against MSSA ATCC 13709, telavancin was 16- and 40-fold more potent than vancomycin and nafcillin, respectively. Telavancin, vancomycin, and linezolid were all efficacious and more potent against MRSA ATCC 33591 in the MSI model compared to the MNT model. This deviation in potency was, however, disproportionately greater for vancomycin and linezolid than for telavancin, suggesting that activity of telavancin is less affected by the immune status. The findings of these studies collectively suggest that once-daily dosing of telavancin may provide an effective approach for the treatment of clinically relevant infections with gram-positive organisms.


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