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Ul Haq I, Maryam S, Shyntum DY, Khan TA, Li F. Exploring the frontiers of therapeutic breadth of antifungal peptides: A new avenue in antifungal drugs. J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 51:kuae018. [PMID: 38710584 PMCID: PMC11119867 DOI: 10.1093/jimb/kuae018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
The growing prevalence of fungal infections alongside rising resistance to antifungal drugs poses a significant challenge to public health safety. At the close of the 2000s, major pharmaceutical firms began to scale back on antimicrobial research due to repeated setbacks and diminished economic gains, leaving only smaller companies and research labs to pursue new antifungal solutions. Among various natural sources explored for novel antifungal compounds, antifungal peptides (AFPs) emerge as particularly promising. Despite their potential, AFPs receive less focus than their antibacterial counterparts. These peptides have been sourced extensively from nature, including plants, animals, insects, and especially bacteria and fungi. Furthermore, with advancements in recombinant biotechnology and computational biology, AFPs can also be synthesized in lab settings, facilitating peptide production. AFPs are noted for their wide-ranging efficacy, in vitro and in vivo safety, and ability to combat biofilms. They are distinguished by their high specificity, minimal toxicity to cells, and reduced likelihood of resistance development. This review aims to comprehensively cover AFPs, including their sources-both natural and synthetic-their antifungal and biofilm-fighting capabilities in laboratory and real-world settings, their action mechanisms, and the current status of AFP research. ONE-SENTENCE SUMMARY This comprehensive review of AFPs will be helpful for further research in antifungal research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ihtisham Ul Haq
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Technology of Polymers, Silesian University of Technology, M. Strzody 9, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
- Joint Doctoral School, Silesian University of Technology, Akademicka 2A, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Inovação Tecnológica, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
| | - Sajida Maryam
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Technology of Polymers, Silesian University of Technology, M. Strzody 9, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
- Joint Doctoral School, Silesian University of Technology, Akademicka 2A, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
| | - Divine Y Shyntum
- Biotechnology Centre, Silesian University of Technology, B. Krzywoustego 8, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
| | - Taj A Khan
- Division of Infectious Diseases & Global Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Institute of Pathology and Diagnostic Medicine, Khyber Medical University, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Fan Li
- School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, People's Republic of China
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Zaman A, Diago Navarro E, Fries BC, Kim HK, Carpino N. Inactivation of the Sts enzymes promotes resistance to lethal Staphylococcus aureus infection. Infect Immun 2023; 91:e0026023. [PMID: 37725063 PMCID: PMC10580875 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00260-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is a highly infective Gram-positive bacterial pathogen that causes a wide range of diseases in both healthy and immunocompromised individuals. It can evade host immune defenses by expressing numerous virulence factors and toxins. Coupled with the inability of the human host to develop protective immunity against S. aureus, the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains complicates treatment options. The non-canonical Sts phosphatases negatively regulate signaling pathways in varied immune cell types. To determine the role of the Sts proteins in regulating host responses to a Gram-positive microorganism, we investigated the response of mice lacking Sts expression to S. aureus infection. Herein, we demonstrate that Sts -/- animals are significantly resistant to lethal intravenous doses of S. aureus strain USA300. Resistance is characterized by significantly enhanced survival and accelerated bacterial clearance in multiple peripheral organs. Infected Sts -/- animals do not display increased levels of cytokines TNFα, IFNγ, and IL-6 in the spleen, liver, and kidney during the early stages of the infection, suggesting that a heightened pro-inflammatory response does not underlie the resistance phenotype. In vivo ablation of mononuclear phagocytes compromises the Sts -/- enhanced CFU clearance phenotype. Additionally, Sts -/- bone marrow-derived macrophages demonstrate significantly enhanced restriction of intracellular S. aureus following ex vivo infection. These results reveal the Sts enzymes to be critical regulators of host immunity to a virulent Gram-positive pathogen and identify them as therapeutic targets for optimizing host anti-microbial responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anika Zaman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Graduate Program in Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Elizabeth Diago Navarro
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Bettina C. Fries
- Graduate Program in Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Veterans Administration Medical Center, Northport, New York, USA
| | - Hwan Keun Kim
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Nick Carpino
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
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Williams N. Prehospital Cardiac Arrest Should be Considered When Evaluating Coronavirus Disease 2019 Mortality in the United States. Methods Inf Med 2023; 62:100-109. [PMID: 36652957 PMCID: PMC10462431 DOI: 10.1055/a-2015-1244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Public health emergencies leave little time to develop novel surveillance efforts. Understanding which preexisting clinical datasets are fit for surveillance use is of high value. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) offers a natural applied informatics experiment to understand the fitness of clinical datasets for use in disease surveillance. OBJECTIVES This study evaluates the agreement between legacy surveillance time series data and discovers their relative fitness for use in understanding the severity of the COVID-19 emergency. Here fitness for use means the statistical agreement between events across series. METHODS Thirteen weekly clinical event series from before and during the COVID-19 era for the United States were collected and integrated into a (multi) time series event data model. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 attributable mortality, CDC's excess mortality model, national Emergency Medical Services (EMS) calls, and Medicare encounter level claims were the data sources considered in this study. Cases were indexed by week from January 2015 through June of 2021 and fit to Distributed Random Forest models. Models returned the variable importance when predicting the series of interest from the remaining time series. RESULTS Model r2 statistics ranged from 0.78 to 0.99 for the share of the volumes predicted correctly. Prehospital data were of high value, and cardiac arrest (CA) prior to EMS arrival was on average the best predictor (tied with study week). COVID-19 Medicare claims volumes can predict COVID-19 death certificates (agreement), while viral respiratory Medicare claim volumes cannot predict Medicare COVID-19 claims (disagreement). CONCLUSION Prehospital EMS data should be considered when evaluating the severity of COVID-19 because prehospital CA known to EMS was the strongest predictor on average across indices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nick Williams
- National Library of Medicine, Lister Hill National Center for Biomedical Communications, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
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Sakyiamah MM, Gordon PK, Bolah P, Baffour PK, Ehun E, Quasie O, Kumadoh D, Archer MA, Mintah SO, Appiah AA. Assessment of the phytochemical composition and antimicrobial properties of Tapinanthus bangwensis leaves hosted by the branches of Persea americana. BMC Complement Med Ther 2023; 23:34. [PMID: 36737748 PMCID: PMC9896793 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-023-03860-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Medicinal plants represent a valuable source for new effective and safe antimicrobial drugs making them an alternative therapy. Existing antimicrobial agents are costly and mostly associated with possible side effects. The aim of the present study therefore, was to assess the antimicrobial property and phytochemical composition of hydroethanolic extract of Tapinanthus bangwensis leaves and its fractions. METHOD T. bangwensis leaves (harvested from its host plant, Persea americana) was extracted by cold maceration with 70% ethanol and further fractionated with different organic solvents using the solvent partitioning method to obtain the crude extract, petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate and the resulting aqueous fractions. The phytochemical constituents of the extracts were screened and quantified. Also, the TLC of the extracts were analyzed to serve as a fingerprint. Using the agar diffusion and broth dilution methods, the antimicrobial properties of the extracts were assessed. RESULTS The study showed that the hydroethanolic (70%) crude extract of T. bangwensis leaves and its fractions contain phenolic compounds, flavonoids, saponins, phytosterols and reducing sugars. The phytoconstituents were well extracted into the ethyl acetate fraction than the other fractions evidenced in the high levels (p < 0.0001) of saponins (66.47 ± 1.72% w/w), phenolic compounds (77.75 ± 1.06 mg/100 mg GAE) and flavonoids (44.34 ± 0.06 mg/100 mg QE) contents. From the antimicrobial studies, all the microorganisms tested exhibited varying degrees of susceptibility to the extracts with MIC values between 0.78 to 12.5 mg/mL. The crude extract of T. bangwensis leaves, its ethyl acetate and chloroform fractions also exhibited lethal antimicrobial activity with MLC between 6.25 to 50 mg/mL. CONCLUSION The crude extract of T. bangwensis leaves and its fractions demonstrated antimicrobial properties against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus saprophyticus and Candida albicans, thereby representing a potential source of natural antimicrobial agent. Further study is required to identify and isolate antimicrobial compounds from the plant for the development of the natural bioactive antimicrobial agents.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paa Kwesi Gordon
- Department of Microbiology, Centre for Plant Medicine Research, Mampong-Akuapem, Ghana
| | - Peter Bolah
- Phytochemistry Department, Centre for Plant Medicine Research, Mampong-Akuapem, Ghana
| | - Prince Kyei Baffour
- Phytochemistry Department, Centre for Plant Medicine Research, Mampong-Akuapem, Ghana
| | - Ebenezer Ehun
- Phytochemistry Department, Centre for Plant Medicine Research, Mampong-Akuapem, Ghana
| | - Olga Quasie
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, Centre for Plant Medicine Research, Mampong-Akuapem, Ghana
| | - Doris Kumadoh
- Production Department, Centre for Plant Medicine Research, Mampong-Akuapem, Ghana
| | - Mary-Ann Archer
- grid.413081.f0000 0001 2322 8567Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Susana Oteng Mintah
- Department of Microbiology, Centre for Plant Medicine Research, Mampong-Akuapem, Ghana
| | - Alfred Ampomah Appiah
- Phytochemistry Department, Centre for Plant Medicine Research, Mampong-Akuapem, Ghana
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Owens LA, Colitti B, Hirji I, Pizarro A, Jaffe JE, Moittié S, Bishop-Lilly KA, Estrella LA, Voegtly LJ, Kuhn JH, Suen G, Deblois CL, Dunn CD, Juan-Sallés C, Goldberg TL. A Sarcina bacterium linked to lethal disease in sanctuary chimpanzees in Sierra Leone. Nat Commun 2021; 12:763. [PMID: 33536429 PMCID: PMC7859188 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21012-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Human and animal infections with bacteria of the genus Sarcina (family Clostridiaceae) are associated with gastric dilation and emphysematous gastritis. However, the potential roles of sarcinae as commensals or pathogens remain unclear. Here, we investigate a lethal disease of unknown etiology that affects sanctuary chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) in Sierra Leone. The disease, which we have named "epizootic neurologic and gastroenteric syndrome" (ENGS), is characterized by neurologic and gastrointestinal signs and results in death of the animals, even after medical treatment. Using a case-control study design, we show that ENGS is strongly associated with Sarcina infection. The microorganism is distinct from Sarcina ventriculi and other known members of its genus, based on bacterial morphology and growth characteristics. Whole-genome sequencing confirms this distinction and reveals the presence of genetic features that may account for the unusual virulence of the bacterium. Therefore, we propose that this organism be considered the representative of a new species, named "Candidatus Sarcina troglodytae". Our results suggest that a heretofore unrecognized complex of related sarcinae likely exists, some of which may be highly virulent. However, the potential role of "Ca. S. troglodytae" in the etiology of ENGS, alone or in combination with other factors, remains a topic for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah A Owens
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Barbara Colitti
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Ismail Hirji
- Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | | | - Jenny E Jaffe
- Tai Chimpanzee Project, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
- Epidemiology of Highly Pathogenic Microorganisms, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sophie Moittié
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Sciences, University of Nottingham Sutton Bonington Campus, Sutton Bonington, Leicestershire, UK
- Twycross Zoo, Atherstone, UK
| | - Kimberly A Bishop-Lilly
- Genomics and Bioinformatics Department, Biological Defense Research Directorate, Naval Medical Research Center, Fort Detrick, MD, USA
| | - Luis A Estrella
- Genomics and Bioinformatics Department, Biological Defense Research Directorate, Naval Medical Research Center, Fort Detrick, MD, USA
| | - Logan J Voegtly
- Genomics and Bioinformatics Department, Biological Defense Research Directorate, Naval Medical Research Center, Fort Detrick, MD, USA
- Leidos, Reston, VI, USA
| | - Jens H Kuhn
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, Division of Clinical Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Fort Detrick, MD, USA
| | - Garret Suen
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Courtney L Deblois
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Christopher D Dunn
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | | | - Tony L Goldberg
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
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Celik I, Erol M, Kuyucuklu G. Molecular modeling, density functional theory, ADME prediction and antimicrobial activity studies of 2-(substituted)oxazolo[4,5- b]pyridine derivatives. NEW J CHEM 2021. [DOI: 10.1039/d1nj00701g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Molecular docking, molecular dynamics, DFT, ADME prediction, and antimicrobial activity studies of some 2-(substituted)oxazolo[4,5-b]pyridine derivatives were carried out.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ismail Celik
- Erciyes University
- Faculty of Pharmacy
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry
- Kayseri
- Turkey
| | - Meryem Erol
- Erciyes University
- Faculty of Pharmacy
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry
- Kayseri
- Turkey
| | - Gulcan Kuyucuklu
- Department of Medical Microbiology
- Faculty of Medicine
- Trakya University
- Edirne
- Turkey
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Ehrenberg JP, Zhou XN, Fontes G, Rocha EMM, Tanner M, Utzinger J. Strategies supporting the prevention and control of neglected tropical diseases during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. Infect Dis Poverty 2020; 9:86. [PMID: 32646512 PMCID: PMC7347419 DOI: 10.1186/s40249-020-00701-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Emerging and re-emerging zoonotic diseases represent a public health challenge of international concern. They include a large group of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), many of which are of zoonotic nature. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), another emerging zoonotic disease, has just increased the stakes exponentially. Most NTDs are subject to the impact of some of the very same human-related activities triggering other emerging and re-emerging diseases, including COVID-19, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), bird flu and swine flu. It is conceivable that COVID-19 will exacerbate the NTDs, as it will divert much needed financial and human resources. There is considerable concern that recent progress achieved with control and elimination efforts will be reverted. Future potential strategies will need to reconsider the determinants of health in NTDs in order to galvanize efforts and come up with a comprehensive, well defined programme that will set the stage for an effective multi-sectorial approach. In this Commentary, we propose areas of potential synergies between the COVID-19 pandemic control efforts, other health and non-health sector initiatives and NTD control and elimination programmes.
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Affiliation(s)
- John P Ehrenberg
- Avenida Cedro 9, # 303, Cholul, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. .,Formerly World Health Organization, Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Manila, The Philippines.
| | - Xiao-Nong Zhou
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention & Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.,School of Global Health, Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research - Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Gilberto Fontes
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Central-West Campus, Federal University of São João del Rei, Divinopolis, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Eliana M M Rocha
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Central-West Campus, Federal University of São João del Rei, Divinopolis, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Marcel Tanner
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jürg Utzinger
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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