BIOVITAE ’s Post

New paper published (open access) in the Heliyon journal (https://lnkd.in/dJrGBcc2), thanks to a very nice collaboration between researchers from the Universidad de Zaragoza (Spain), the University of Lübeck (Germany) and the German Center for Infection Research (Germany). In this work we unveiled for the first time the direct antimicrobial effect of the hormone L-thyroxine (T4) and a set of derivatives on bacteria of the genus Streptococcus. By relying on in-vitro experiments and in silico approaches we have tested the activity and toxicity of these compounds and described the structural determinants influencing their antibacterial efficacy. Interestingly, some of the analogues showing promising therapeutic profiles against Streptococcus pneumoniae and other Gram-positive bacteria are known to have a greatly reduced hormonal effect, compared to thyroxine, which is good and allow for a further development of narrow spectrum antimicrobials. #DrugDiscovery #DrugDesign #Streptococcus #Grampositivebacteria #Narrowspectrumantimicrobials #MolecularDocking

The global rise of antimicrobial resistance has led to a renewed interest in phage therapy for treating bacterial infections. Isolating suitable phages for research is crucial, especially for combating Acinetobacter baumannii, known for its antibiotic resistance. A new lytic phage, Mystique, was discovered and characterized, showing a broad host range against A. baumannii strains. The study highlights how environmental conditions can significantly affect phage infectivity, impacting isolation and characterization efforts. https://buff.ly/4bQRJGM

Temperature is a new weapon in the fight against antibiotic resistance. Researchers from the Universities of Groningen (the Netherlands), Montpellier (France), Oldenburg (Germany), and Montpellier (France) have examined the potential impact of fever on the emergence of antibiotic resistance. The frequency of mutations in E. coli bacteria was discovered to be significantly altered by a slight temperature increase from 37 to 40 degrees Celsius in lab trials. This modification was reported to aid the development of resistance. Fever control may be a novel strategy to lessen the emergence of antibiotic resistance if these findings can be verified in real patients. JAC-Antimicrobial Resistance, a journal, published the findings. Source: https://lnkd.in/gi-_RN_2

Researchers at Washington State University discovered they can trick bacteria into sending death signals to halt the growth of their biofilms, which could potentially offer an alternative to antibiotics for treating infections. Through the use of death extracellular vesicles (D-EVs), the researchers witnessed a significant reduction in bacterial community growth in laboratory experiments. Bacterial resistance is a major concern, with thousands of deaths attributed to antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Biofilms, an evironment where bacteria can hide and resist treatment, contribute to chronic infections by harboring resistant cells. The researchers found that extracellular vesicles play a vital role in regulating biofilm growth. These tiny vesicles transfer molecules between cells, and facilitate cell-to-cell communication. By extracting these vesicles from bacteria, the researchers discovered that the bacteria secrete growth EVs to promote biofilm formation and later send death EVs to stop biofilm growth, regardless of its stage. They were able to harness the vesicles with the instructions to stop growth and use them to fool the bacteria to kill off the biofilm at all stages of its growth. Even in healthy and rapidly growing biofilms, the death EVs successfully induced biofilm death. The vesicles' ability to penetrate biofilms without triggering resistance makes them effective in controlling bacterial behavior. source: https://lnkd.in/gTM9nDG2

Congratulations to Dr. Ritu Kalia and Prof. (Dr.) Sanjay M. Jachak from the Department of Natural Products on their research publication in PLOS Pathogens! 📚 Their study, titled "Pyrrole-based inhibitors of RND-type efflux pumps reverse antibiotic resistance and display anti-virulence potential," sheds light on a promising avenue for combating antibiotic resistance and bacterial pathogenicity. The research identifies pyrrole-based compounds that inhibit archetype RND transporters in bacteria, enhancing antibiotic activity and reducing virulence. Molecular docking and biophysical studies demonstrate the efficacy of these efflux pump inhibitors (EPIs), which also show promise in attenuating bacterial virulence in vivo. These findings offer hope in the fight against life-threatening Gram-negative bacterial infections and underscore the potential of EPIs as antibiotic adjuvants with minimal toxicity. 📖 Read the full publication here: https://lnkd.in/gagE-xhK #research #antibioticresistance #effluxpumpInhibitors #donp #niperm

Research suggests that controlling body temperature could be an effective strategy for curbing antibiotic resistance. Experts from the University of Groningen, University of Montpellier, and the Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg have investigated how a fever can impact the development of antimicrobial resistance. Their findings illustrate that a temperature increase from just 37 to 41 °C changed the mutation frequency in E. coli bacteria significantly, which drives the development of resistance. If these findings are replicated in humans, it could lead to new strategies for combating antimicrobial resistance.  #AntimicrobialResistance #InfectionControl #AntibioticResistance https://bit.ly/3RuUo1b

It is my pleasure to share with you this research article from our lab. https://lnkd.in/gc2-PJXa The bacteriophage T7 genome was successfully edited using CRISPER- Cas. Leaderless bacteriocin and phage were combined to construct promising novel antimicrobial agents, LLB-phage. The first LLB-phage, lnqQ-T7 phage, could control the growth of both the Gram-negative host strain and neighboring Gram-positive bacteria while prevented the emergence of phage resistance in the host strain

Happy to share some exciting progress in our research into extremophiles thriving in the unique salt brines of Droitwich Spa. Together with Dr. Mara Leite and Dr. John Tyson Munnoch, we've successfully isolated novel halophilic strains (salt-loving organisms) that show potential in combating superbugs like MRSA. These hardy microbes, adapted to thrive in extreme conditions, may hold the key to developing new antibiotics that can overcome the growing challenge of drug-resistant infections. This is the first step in a long road, but we are eager to delve deeper into the mechanisms behind these microbes' antimicrobial activity and explore their potential for the future. Check out the full article for details about our research: https://lnkd.in/eiETX4Yk #antimicrobialresistance #extremophiles #research #DroitwichSpa #science

LysJEP8, a novel endolysin derived from Escherichia phage JEP8, exhibits remarkable antimicrobial activity against key Gram-negative members of the ESKAPE group. Comparative assessments highlight LysJEP8's superior performance in reducing bacterial survival rates compared to previously described endolysins, with the most significant impact observed against P. aeruginosa, and notable effects on A. baumannii and K. pneumoniae. The study found that LysJEP8, as predicted by in silico analysis, worked best at lower pH values but lost its effectiveness at salt concentrations close to physiological levels. Importantly, LysJEP8 exhibited remarkable efficacy in the disruption of P. aeruginosa biofilms. https://lnkd.in/eTKZkjVn

🔬Researchers at ETH Zürich have discovered a rare bacteriophage, Paride, capable of targeting dormant bacteria. Unlike traditional phages, Paride attacks bacteria in a resting state, providing a potential alternative to antibiotics in cases of drug resistance. While phage therapy holds promise, further research is needed to understand the mechanisms involved. This discovery marks a significant step towards developing targeted treatments for infections.🧫💡 https://lnkd.in/eA7ZX8VP #phagetherapy #microbiology #antibiotics