More Like this

1. Biomimetic antimicrobial polymers—Design, characterization, antimicrobial, and novel applications

   https://doi.org/10.1002/wnan.1866  

   Takahashi, Haruko; Sovadinova, Iva; Yasuhara, Kazuma; Vemparala, Satyavani; Caputo, Gregory A.; Kuroda, Kenichi (October 2022, WIREs Nanomedicine and Nanobiotechnology)

   Abstract Biomimetic antimicrobial polymers have been an area of great interest as the need for novel antimicrobial compounds grows due to the development of resistance. These polymers were designed and developed to mimic naturally occurring antimicrobial peptides in both physicochemical composition and mechanism of action. These antimicrobial peptide mimetic polymers have been extensively investigated using chemical, biophysical, microbiological, and computational approaches to gain a deeper understanding of the molecular interactions that drive function. These studies have helped inform SARs, mechanism of action, and general physicochemical factors that influence the activity and properties of antimicrobial polymers. However, there are still lingering questions in this field regarding 3D structural patterning, bioavailability, and applicability to alternative targets. In this review, we present a perspective on the development and characterization of several antimicrobial polymers and discuss novel applications of these molecules emerging in the field. This article is categorized under:Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging TechnologiesTherapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Infectious Disease 

   more » « less
2. Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing of Antimicrobial Peptides to Better Predict Efficacy

   https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2020.00326  

   Mercer, Derry K.; Torres, Marcelo D.; Duay, Searle S.; Lovie, Emma; Simpson, Laura; von Köckritz-Blickwede, Maren; de la Fuente-Nunez, Cesar; O'Neil, Deborah A.; Angeles-Boza, Alfredo M. (July 2020, Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology)
3. Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing of Antimicrobial Peptides Requires New and Standardized Testing Structures

   https://doi.org/10.1021/acsinfecdis.1c00210  

   Meurer, Marita; O’Neil, Deborah A.; Lovie, Emma; Simpson, Laura; Torres, Marcelo D.; de la Fuente-Nunez, Cesar; Angeles-Boza, Alfredo M.; Kleinsorgen, Christin; Mercer, Derry K.; von Köckritz-Blickwede, Maren (August 2021, ACS Infectious Diseases)

   null (Ed.)
4. Catechol-Based Antimicrobial Polymers

   https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26030559  

   Razaviamri, Seyedehfatemeh; Wang, Kan; Liu, Bo; Lee, Bruce P. (February 2021, Molecules)

   null (Ed.)

   Catechol is a key constituent in mussel adhesive proteins and is responsible for strong adhesive property and crosslinking formation. Plant-based polyphenols are also capable of chemical interactions similar to those of catechol and are inherently antimicrobial. This review reports a series of catechol-based antimicrobial polymers classified according to their antimicrobial mechanisms. Catechol is utilized as a surface anchoring group for adhering monomers and polymers of known antimicrobial properties onto various types of surfaces. Additionally, catechol’s ability to form strong complexes with metal ions and nanoparticles was utilized to sequester these antimicrobial agents into coatings and polymer matrices. During catechol oxidation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) is generated as a byproduct, and the use of the generated ROS for antimicrobial applications was also introduced. Finally, polymers that utilized the innate antimicrobial property of halogenated catechols and polyphenols were reviewed. 

   more » « less
5. A tool to enhance antimicrobial stewardship using similarity networks to identify antimicrobial resistance patterns across farms

   https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-29980-4  

   Aguilar-Vega, Cecilia; Scoglio, Caterina; Clavijo, María J.; Robbins, Rebecca; Karriker, Locke; Liu, Xin; Martínez-López, Beatriz (December 2023, Scientific Reports)

   Abstract Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the major challenges of the century and should be addressed with a One Health approach. This study aimed to develop a tool that can provide a better understanding of AMR patterns and improve management practices in swine production systems to reduce its spread between farms. We generated similarity networks based on the phenotypic AMR pattern for each farm with information on important bacterial pathogens for swine farming based on the Euclidean distance. We included seven pathogens:Actinobacillus suis,Bordetella bronchiseptica,Escherichia coli,Glaesserella parasuis,Pasteurella multocida,Salmonellaspp., andStreptococcus suis; and up to seventeen antibiotics from ten classes. A threshold criterion was developed to reduce the density of the networks and generate communities based on their AMR profiles. A total of 479 farms were included in the study although not all bacteria information was available on each farm. We observed significant differences in the morphology, number of nodes and characteristics of pathogen networks, as well as in the number of communities and susceptibility profiles of the pathogens to different antimicrobial drugs. The methodology presented here could be a useful tool to improve health management, biosecurity measures and prioritize interventions to reduce AMR spread in swine farming. 

   more » « less