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Antibiotics
Special Issues
Newer Therapies for Bacterial and Fungal Infections
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Newer Therapies for Bacterial and Fungal Infections

A special issue of Antibiotics (ISSN 2079-6382).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2023) | Viewed by 11608

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Juliana Campos Junqueira

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São Paulo 12245-000, Brazil
Interests: antimicrobial resistance; bacterial infections; Candida spp.; biofilms; drug discovery; photodynamic therapy; drug delivery systems; probiotics and postbiotics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent decades, the widespread use of antimicrobials to control infections caused by bacteria and fungi has led to the development of strains resistant to available therapeutic agents. Microbial resistance can occur rapidly through spontaneous mutations in chromosomal DNA or transfer of genetic elements via plasmids or transposons. The increased resistance profile, associated with the low number of new antimicrobials approved for clinical use, represents a major threat to public health worldwide.

In 2019, the drug resistance pathogens were classified by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as urgent threats (carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter, Candida auris, Clostridioides difficile, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales, drug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoease), serious threats (drug-resistant Campylobacter, drug-resistant Candida, ESBL-producing Enterobacterales, vancomycin-resistant Enterococci, multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, drug-resistant nontyphoidal Salmonella, drug-resistant Salmonella serotype Typhi, drug-resistant Shigella, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, drug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae, drug-resistant tuberculosis), and concerning threats (erythromycin-resistant Group A Streptococcus, clindamycin-resistant Group B Streptococcus).

Therefore, the search for new therapies for the treatment of infectious diseases is one of the main challenges of the 21st century. This Special Issue welcomes submissions of studies focused on new therapeutic options for bacterial and fungal infections, such as the synthesis of antimicrobial compounds, drug repurposing, photodynamic therapy, and drug delivery systems.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Juliana Campos Junqueira
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Antibiotics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • bacterial infections
  • fungal infections
  • antibiotic resistance
  • antifungal resistance
  • antimicrobial compounds
  • drug repurposing
  • photodynamic therapy
  • drug delivery systems

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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11 pages, 6132 KiB  
Article
Synthesis, Characterization, and Evaluation of Antimicrobial Efficacy of Reduced Graphene–ZnO–Copper Nanocomplex
by Varish Ahmad and Mohammad Omaish Ansari
Antibiotics 2023, 12(2), 246; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics12020246 - 25 Jan 2023
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1976
Abstract
The prevalence of antibiotic-resistant diseases drives a constant hunt for new substitutes. Metal-containing inorganic nanoparticles have broad-spectrum antimicrobial potential to kill Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. In this investigation, reduced graphene oxide-coated zinc oxide–copper (rGO@ZnO–Cu) nanocomposite was prepared by anchoring Cu over ZnO nanorods [...] Read more.
The prevalence of antibiotic-resistant diseases drives a constant hunt for new substitutes. Metal-containing inorganic nanoparticles have broad-spectrum antimicrobial potential to kill Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. In this investigation, reduced graphene oxide-coated zinc oxide–copper (rGO@ZnO–Cu) nanocomposite was prepared by anchoring Cu over ZnO nanorods followed by coating with graphene oxide (GO) and subsequent reduction of GO to rGO. The synthesized nanocomposite was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, elemental analysis, and elemental mapping. Morphologically, ZnO–Cu showed big, irregular rods, rectangular and spherical-shaped ZnO, and anchored clusters of aggregated Cu particles. The Cu aggregates are spread uniformly throughout the network. Most of the ZnO particles were partially covered with Cu aggregates, while some of the ZnO was fully covered with Cu. In the case of rGO@ZnO–Cu, a few layered rGO sheets were observed on the surface as well as deeply embedded inside the network of ZnO–Cu. The rGO@ZnO–Cu complex exhibited antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria; however, it was more effective on Staphylococcus aureus than Escherichia coli. Thus, rGO@ZnO–Cu nanocomposites could be an effective alternative against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial pathogens. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Newer Therapies for Bacterial and Fungal Infections)
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12 pages, 1890 KiB  
Article
Synergistic Interaction of Caspofungin Combined with Posaconazole against FKS Wild-Type and Mutant Candida auris Planktonic Cells and Biofilms
by Noémi Balla, Fruzsina Kovács, Bence Balázs, Andrew M. Borman, Aliz Bozó, Ágnes Jakab, Zoltán Tóth, Ola Kobaissi, László Majoros and Renátó Kovács
Antibiotics 2022, 11(11), 1601; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics11111601 - 11 Nov 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2053
Abstract
Candida auris is a potential multidrug-resistant pathogen able to cause biofilm-associated outbreaks, where frequently indwelling devices are the source of infections. The number of effective therapies is limited; thus, new, even-combination-based strategies are needed. Therefore, the in vitro efficacy of caspofungin with posaconazole [...] Read more.
Candida auris is a potential multidrug-resistant pathogen able to cause biofilm-associated outbreaks, where frequently indwelling devices are the source of infections. The number of effective therapies is limited; thus, new, even-combination-based strategies are needed. Therefore, the in vitro efficacy of caspofungin with posaconazole against FKS wild-type and mutant Candida auris isolates was determined. The interactions were assessed utilizing the fractional inhibitory concentration indices (FICIs), the Bliss model, and a LIVE/DEAD assay. Planktonic minimum inhibitory concentrations (pMICs) for the caspofungin–posaconazole combination showed a 4- to 256-fold and a 2- to 512-fold decrease compared to caspofungin and posaconazole alone, respectively. Sessile minimum inhibitory concentrations (sMICs) for caspofungin and posaconazole in combination showed an 8- to 128-fold and a 4- to 512-fold decrease, respectively. The combination showed synergy, especially against biofilms (FICIs were 0.033–0.375 and 0.091–0.5, and Bliss cumulative synergy volumes were 6.96 and 32.39 for echinocandin-susceptible and -resistant isolates, respectively). The caspofungin-exposed (4 mg/L) C. auris biofilms exhibited increased cell death in the presence of posaconazole (0.03 mg/L) compared to untreated, caspofungin-exposed and posaconazole-treated biofilms. Despite the favorable effect of caspofungin with posaconazole, in vivo studies are needed to confirm the therapeutic potential of this combination in C. auris-associated infections. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Newer Therapies for Bacterial and Fungal Infections)
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15 pages, 2638 KiB  
Article
Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy Mediated by Fotenticine and Methylene Blue on Planktonic Growth, Biofilms, and Burn Infections of Acinetobacter baumannii
by Lívia M. A. Figueiredo-Godoi, Maíra T. Garcia, Juliana G. Pinto, Juliana Ferreira-Strixino, Eliseu Gabriel Faustino, Lara Luise Castro Pedroso and Juliana C. Junqueira
Antibiotics 2022, 11(5), 619; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics11050619 - 4 May 2022
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 2650
Abstract
Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) is considered a promising alternative strategy to control Acinetobacter baumannii infections. In this study, we evaluated the action of aPDT mediated by a new photosensitizer derivative from chlorin e-6 (Fotoenticine—FTC) on A. baumannii, comparing its effects with methylene blue [...] Read more.
Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) is considered a promising alternative strategy to control Acinetobacter baumannii infections. In this study, we evaluated the action of aPDT mediated by a new photosensitizer derivative from chlorin e-6 (Fotoenticine—FTC) on A. baumannii, comparing its effects with methylene blue (MB). For this, aPDT was applied on A. baumannii in planktonic growth, biofilms, and burn infections in Galleria mellonella. The absorption of FTC and MB by bacterial cells was also evaluated using microscopic and spectrophotometric analysis. The results of planktonic cultures showed that aPDT reduced the number of viable cells compared to the non-treated group for the reference and multidrug-resistant A. baumannii strains. These reductions varied from 1.4 to 2 log10 CFU for FTC and from 2 log10 CFU to total inhibition for MB. In biofilms, aPDT with MB reduced 3.9 log10 CFU of A. baumannii, whereas FTC had no effect on the cell counts. In G. mellonella, only MB-mediated aPDT had antimicrobial activity on burn injuries, increasing the larvae survival by 35%. Both photosensitizers were internalized by bacterial cells, but MB showed a higher absorption compared to FTC. In conclusion, MB had greater efficacy than FTC as a photosensitizer in aPDT against A. baumannii. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Newer Therapies for Bacterial and Fungal Infections)
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11 pages, 2836 KiB  
Case Report
From Child to Old Man: A Slowly Evolving Case of Chromoblastomycosis Caused by Cladosporium cladosporioides
by Carmen Rodríguez-Cerdeira, Rigoberto Hernández-Castro, Roberto Arenas, Cecilia Sandoval-Tress, Fidencio Gutiérrez-Murillo, Luary Carolina Martínez-Chavarría, Juan Xicohtencatl-Cortes, Monika Fida and Erick Martinez-Herrera
Antibiotics 2023, 12(12), 1713; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics12121713 - 9 Dec 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1474
Abstract
Chromoblastomycosis is a chronic granulomatous mycosis of the skin and subcutaneous tissue caused by traumatic inoculation with dematiaceous fungi. This disease primarily affects agricultural workers, who are mostly men. We present a case of chromoblastomycosis in a 63-year-old male farmer patient with dermatosis [...] Read more.
Chromoblastomycosis is a chronic granulomatous mycosis of the skin and subcutaneous tissue caused by traumatic inoculation with dematiaceous fungi. This disease primarily affects agricultural workers, who are mostly men. We present a case of chromoblastomycosis in a 63-year-old male farmer patient with dermatosis over 50 years of evolution, with warty, erythematous, and scaly plaques that predominate on the left hemithorax. Direct examination with potassium hydroxide (KOH) revealed numerous fumagoid cells. Amplification and sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF-1a) gene revealed that chromoblastomycosis was caused by Cladosporium cladosporioides. The chromoblastomycosis was treated with itraconazole and fluconazole without any improvement, and amphotericin B was administered with partial improvement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Newer Therapies for Bacterial and Fungal Infections)
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9 pages, 3679 KiB  
Perspective
Bioinformatics Approaches Applied to the Discovery of Antifungal Peptides
by Carmen Rodríguez-Cerdeira, Alberto Molares-Vila, Carlos Daniel Sánchez-Cárdenas, Jimmy Steven Velásquez-Bámaca and Erick Martínez-Herrera
Antibiotics 2023, 12(3), 566; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics12030566 - 13 Mar 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2498
Abstract
Antifungal peptides (AFPs) comprise a group of substances with a broad spectrum of activities and complex action mechanisms. They develop in nature via an evolutionary process resulting from the interactions between hosts and pathogens. The AFP database is experimentally verified and curated from [...] Read more.
Antifungal peptides (AFPs) comprise a group of substances with a broad spectrum of activities and complex action mechanisms. They develop in nature via an evolutionary process resulting from the interactions between hosts and pathogens. The AFP database is experimentally verified and curated from research articles, patents, and public databases. In this review, we compile information about the primary databases and bioinformatics tools that have been used in the discovery of AFPs during the last 15 years. We focus on the classification and prediction of AFPs using different physicochemical properties, such as polarity, hydrophobicity, hydrophilicity, mass, acidic, basic, and isoelectric indices, and other structural properties. Another method for discovering AFPs is the implementation of a peptidomic approach and bioinformatics filtering, which gave rise to a new family of peptides that exhibit a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity against Candida albicans with low hemolytic effects. The application of machine intelligence in the sphere of biological sciences has led to the development of automated tools. The progress made in this area has also paved the way for producing new drugs more quickly and effectively. However, we also identified that further advancements are still needed to complete the AFP libraries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Newer Therapies for Bacterial and Fungal Infections)
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