Multi-resistant Strains Of Bacteria Research Articles

Green synthesis and anti-biofilm activities of 3,5-disubstituted isoxazoline/isoxazole-linked secondary sulfonamide derivatives on Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The search for new classes of antibiotics is a real concern of public health due to the emergence of multi-resistant bacteria strains. We report herein the synthesis and characterization of a new series of 13 molecules combining isoxazoline/isoxazole sulfonamides and hydrazides motives. These molecules were obtained according to a costless eco-friendly procedure, and a one-pot three-step cascade synthesis under ultrasonic cavitation. All the synthesized compounds were fully characterized by HRMS, 1H NMR, 13C NMR spectroscopy and HPLC analysis. These new molecules have been evaluated against the major human opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa to determine their potential to affect its growth and biofilm formation or dispersion. Two derivatives (5a and 6a) demonstrated their ability to destabilize a mature biofilm by about 50 % within 24 h. This may pave the way to the development of a new class of compounds affecting biofilm, which are easy to synthesize according to green chemistry processes.

The Origin of the Intracellular Silver in Bacteria: A Comprehensive Study using Targeting Gold-Silver Alloy Nanoparticles.

The bactericidal effects of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) against infectious strains of multiresistant bacteria is a well-studied phenomenon, highly relevant for many researchers and clinicians battling bacterial infections. However, little is known about the uptake of the Ag NPs into the bacteria, the related uptake mechanisms, and how they are connected to antimicrobial activity. Even less information is available on AgAu alloy NPs uptake. In this work, the interactions between colloidal silver-gold alloy nanoparticles (AgAu NPs) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) using advanced electron microscopy methods are studied. The localization of the nanoparticles is monitored on the membrane and inside the bacterial cells and the elemental compositions of intra- and extracellular nanoparticle species. The findings reveal the formation of pure silver nanoparticles with diameters smaller than 10nm inside the bacteria, even though those particles are not present in the original colloid. This finding is explained by a local RElease PEnetration Reduction (REPER) mechanism of silver cations emitted from the AgAu nanoparticles, emphasized by the localization of the AgAu nanoparticles on the bacterial membrane by aptamer targeting ligands. These findings can deepen the understanding of the antimicrobial effect of nanosilver, where the microbes are defusing the attacking silver ions via their reduction,and aid in the development of suitable therapeutic approaches.

Description of Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns at the National Institute of Hygiene in Lome, Togo.

The monitoring of antimicrobial resistance has become a priority, mainly in developing countries, to control the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacterial strains. This study evaluated the antibiotic resistance profiles of bacteria isolated at the National Institute of Hygiene in Togo. The laboratory records from January 2013 to December 2015 were examined, which showed that a total of 33,147 samples had been analyzed. Among them, vaginal swabs and urine samples were predominant, amounting to 38.17% and 33.24%, respectively. In total, 3,497 Gram-positive and 1,970 Gram-negative bacterial strains were cultured. Enterobacteriaceae (57.6%), Staphylococcus spp. (21.1%), and Streptococcus spp. (10.5%) were primarily isolated. The records showed that over 3 years, Escherichia coli was resistant to piperacillin (79.66%, 75.1%, and 83%), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (79.3%, 82%, and 82.8%), ticarcillin (89%, 89.7%, and 93%), and amoxicillin (94.1%, 94%, and 96.09%), whereas Staphylococcus aureus was resistant to penicillin G. Streptococcaceae isolates were resistant to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (78.11-87.1%), tetracycline (82.2-91.16%), and norfloxacin (86.16-94.3%). Escherichia coli and S. aureus isolated from urine were more resistant to antibiotics than those isolated from vaginal swabs. There is a need to develop new strategies to fight the emergence of multi-resistant bacteria in Togo.

Iron metabolism in the cell as a target in the development of potential antimicrobial and antiviral agents.

The search and creation of innovative antimicrobial drugs, acting against resistant and multiresistant strains of bacteria and fungi, are one of the most important tasks of modern bioorganic chemistry and pharmaceuticals. Since iron is essential for the vital activity of almost all organisms, including mammals and bacteria, the proteins involved in its metabolism can serve as potential targets in the development of new promising antimicrobial agents. Such targets include endogenous mammalian biomolecules, heme oxygenases, siderophores, protein 24p3, as well as bacterial heme oxygenases and siderophores. Other proteins that are responsible for the delivery of iron to cells and its balance between bacteria and the host organism also attract certain particular interest. The review summarizes data on the development of inhibitors and inducers (activators) of heme oxygenases, selective for mammals and bacteria, and considers the characteristic features of their mechanisms of action and structure. Based on the reviewed literature data, it was concluded that the use of hemin, the most powerful hemooxygenase inducer, and its derivatives as potential antimicrobial and antiviral agents, in particular against COVID-19 and other dangerous infections, would be a promising approach. In this case, an important role is attributed to the products of hemin degradation formed by heme oxygenases in vitro and in vivo. Certain attention has been paid to the data on the antimicrobial action of iron-free protoporphyrinates, namely complexes with Co, Ga, Zn, Mn, their advantages and disadvantages compared to hemin. Modification of the well-known antibiotic ceftazidime with a siderophore molecule increased its effectiveness against resistant bacteria.

TLC-contact bioautography and disc diffusion method for investigation of the antibacterial activity of Melastoma malabathricum L. leaves

The emergence of multi-resistant strains of bacteria reinforces the need to discover new antibacterial agents that are able to combat resistant microorganisms. Medicinal plants are a valuable natural source of bioactive substances against various infectious diseases. Melastoma malabathricum L. is an important herb that is traditionally used to treat several ailments associated with microbial infection diseases such as wounds, diarrhea, dysentery, and toothache. This study investigated extracts of M. malabathricum L. for antibacterial properties against Staphylococcus aureus and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Disc diffusion and TLC-contact bioautography techniques were employed to examine antibacterial properties of n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and ethanol extracts with observations of diameter inhibition zones and Rf values. Investigation of active compounds in TLC-bioautography used several reagents including citroboric, cerium (IV) sulfate and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), continued by identification of chromatogram profiles through densitometry analysis. The three extracts showed good inhibition against bacterial strains with diameter inhibition zones in the range of 8.0 – 14.0 mm with a number of active spots on TLC-contact bioautography for each extract. This plant may serve as useful source of antibacterial agents for resistant microorganisms and further investigation is needed of its bioactive pure compounds as well as their particular therapeutic potentials and applications.

Copper Nanoparticles: Synthesis and Characterization, Physiology, Toxicity and Antimicrobial Applications

Metallic nanoparticles are a new class of materials with applications in medicine, pharmaceutical and agriculture. Using biological, chemical and physical approaches, nanoparticles with amazing properties are obtained. Copper is one of the most-found elements and plays an important part in the normal functioning of organisms. Coper nanoparticles have superior antibacterial properties when comparing them to present day antibiotics. Moreover, apart from their antibacterial role, antifungal, antiviral and anticancer properties have been described. Although the mechanism of actions is not completely understood, copper nanoparticles can become a viable alternative in fighting multi-resistant bacteria strains. We hereby review the already existing data on copper nanoparticle synthesis, effects and mechanisms of action as well as toxicity.

Antimicrobial Activity of Cyclic-Monomeric and Dimeric Derivatives of the Snail-Derived Peptide Cm-p5 against Viral and Multidrug-Resistant Bacterial Strains.

Cm-p5 is a snail-derived antimicrobial peptide, which demonstrated antifungal activity against the pathogenic strains of Candida albicans. Previously we synthetized a cyclic monomer as well as a parallel and an antiparallel dimer of Cm-p5 with improved antifungal activity. Considering the alarming increase of microbial resistance to conventional antibiotics, here we evaluated the antimicrobial activity of these derivatives against multiresistant and problematic bacteria and against important viral agents. The three peptides showed a moderate activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae Extended Spectrum β-Lactamase (ESBL), and Streptococcus agalactiae, with MIC values > 100 µg/mL. They exerted a considerable activity with MIC values between 25–50 µg/mL against Acinetobacter baumanii and Enterococcus faecium. In addition, the two dimers showed a moderate activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14. The three Cm-p5 derivatives inhibited a virulent extracellular strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, they inhibited Herpes Simplex Virus 2 (HSV-2) infection in a concentration-dependent manner, but had no effect on infection by the Zika Virus (ZIKV) or pseudoparticles of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). At concentrations of >100 µg/mL, the three new Cm-p5 derivatives showed toxicity on different eukaryotic cells tested. Considering a certain cell toxicity but a potential interesting activity against the multiresistant strains of bacteria and HSV-2, our compounds require future structural optimization.

Assessment of actinobacteria use in the elimination of multidrug-resistant bacteria of Ibn Tofail hospital wastewater (Marrakesh, Morocco): a chemometric data analysis approach.

The efficiency of the treatment of hospital wastewater by actinobacteria was investigated using two chemometric data analysis methods. Six strains of multi-resistant bacteria isolated from Marrakesh hospital wastewater and four strains of antagonistic actinobacteria isolated from Moroccan marine environment were characterized by fatty acids released as methyl esters by thermochemolysis-GC/MS. The hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and the principal component analysis (PCA) were used to correlate fatty acids (FA) distributions within strains. HCA allowed to discriminate between bacteria and actinobacteria. A lower Euclidean distance is noted for bacteria. With PCA, linear and branched-chained FAs correlated with bacteria whereas mono unsaturated FAs correlated more specifically with Gram (-) bacteria. Terminally branched-chained FAs correlated most likely with actinobacteria. A co-culture of actinobacteria and bacteria monitored during 15 days demonstrated the efficiency of the biological treatment for 2 of the 4 studied actinobacteria. The effect is more important on Gram-negative bacteria. Antagonistic actinobacteria seem to be poorly efficient against Gram-positive bacteria.

PSVIII-12 Estimations of treatment schemes efficiency of bacterial mastitis in dairy cow and antibiotic resistance of identified pathogens

Abstract The research was done on the herd (n = 3000) of cows of black-motley breed with an admixture of Holstein. At the first stage, the diagnosis was carried out by using the Keno test. There were selected 148 (4.9%) cow, which had of subclinical mastitis. For treatment, there were used the schemes tried and tested in the farm: (1) nisin, polymexin B, ketoprofen, methyl salicylate; (2) nisin, polymexin B, ketoprofen, ceftiofur; (3) amoxicillin, ketoprofen, methyl salicylate, prednisone. Before it, the allocation of pathogens was not carried out. After treatment the number of repeated cases of the disease reached 44.6%, which indicated the ineffectiveness of the treatment regimens used. At the second stage, samples of milk, nasal and vaginal mucus were taken from animals with a relapse of mastitis. Different pathogens were used to isolate pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Shigella spp., Enterococcus spp., Ps. aeruginosa). The extracted isolates were identified based on the cultural and biochemical properties. The results were interpreted on the recommendation of EUCAST. Of all the animals examined, they simultaneously detected in milk 3 pathogens in 37.8%, 2 pathogens in 40.9%, and only one pathogen was isolated in 21.3%. Moreover, S. aureus (84.8%), Ps. aeruginosa (62.1%), Enterococcus spp. (34.8%) was found in smears from the vagina. The sensitivity of the selected pathogens to antimicrobials showed that 73% of S. aureus strains were resistant to ≥6 antibiotics, 47% E. coli to ≥7, 34% Shigella spp. to ≥4 and 21% Ps. aeruginosa to ≥4. The use of antibiotics of different groups without isolating the pathogen and determining its sensitivity leads to the appearance of multiresistant strains of bacteria and culling animals from the herd. This work was supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russia (AAAA-A18-118021590136-7) and the Russian Science Foundation (project 20-16-00106).

Phenolic compounds characterization by LC-DAD- ESI/MSn and bioactive properties of Thymus algeriensis Boiss. & Reut. and Ephedra alata Decne

Scientific research has been focused on finding natural occurring molecules from plant origin. Herein, infusion, decoction and hydroethanolic extracts of Thymus algeriensis Boiss. & Reut. and Ephedra alata Decne. from Algeria were phytochemically characterized by LC-DAD-ESI-MSn, and evaluated regarding bioactive properties (antioxidant and antibacterial). Flavonol and flavone glycoside derivatives and phenolic acids, specially rosmarinic acid and kaempferol-O-glucuronide were the major compounds in T. algeriensis extracts. Otherwise, E. alata presented isoflavones and flavonol derivatives as main compounds, being hydroxypuerarin isomer 1 the major molecule. Aqueous extracts had significantly higher antioxidant activity, being this activity correlated with the amount of phenolic compounds. Antimicrobial activity of the extracts was tested against multi-resistant bacteria strains from clinical isolates. The obtained MIC values indicate that the hydroethanolic extracts revealed the highest effect, especially the one of T. algeriensis against Gram-positive bacteria. Hence, these plant extracts could be used in the development of bioactive ingredients.

Is There a Role for Double J Stent Culture in Contemporary Urology?

Introduction: To present the incidence of bacterial colonization on ureteral double J stents (DJS); isolate the uropathogens; define the rate of multi-resistant bacteria strains (MRBS) and present their clinical importance. Materials and Methods:<unterline></unterline> The whole body of 105 DJSs was examined for the presence of uropathogens. Results: The main etiology for stent placement was lithiasis (57.1%). The most frequently cultured microorganisms were staphylococcus (28.6%). Forty-four stents hosted MRBS. 25 (23.8%), 10 (9.5%) and 8 (7.6%) of the patients were affected by malignancy, diabetes mellitus and chronic renal failure respectively. Apart from the female gender, none of the examined factors (age, duration of stenting and chronic diseases) was correlated with the colonization or the presence of MRBS. Eleven of the 61 stented patients (18%) who were operated upon developed a febrile urinary tract infections (UTI). In 7 of them the stent hosted MRBS (63.6%). After taking into consideration the sensitivity report, we altered our initial empirical antibacterial prophylaxis to targeted antibacterial treatment in the patients with MRBS with rapid remission of their infection and no urosepsis event. Conclusion: The knowledge of bacteriologic flora of DJS can be very helpful in an evidence-based prophylactic and therapeutic practice. Stent examination could be recommended in high-risk cases of developing UTI and sepsis after a urologic operation.

Vanillin selectively modulates the action of antibiotics against resistant bacteria

The treatment of infections caused by microorganisms that are resistant to antibiotics represent one of the main challenges of medicine today, especially due to the inefficacy of long-term drug therapy. In the search for new alternatives to treat these infections, many researchers have been looking for new substances derived from natural products to replace, or be used in combination with conventional antibiotics. Vanillin is a phenolic compound whose antimicrobial activity has been used in the elimination of pathogens present in fruits and vegetables. However, its antibacterial and modulating properties remain to be characterized. Therefore, this work aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity and analyze the modulator activity of vanillin in association with conventional antibiotics. The antimicrobial activity of vanillin was evaluated using the microdilution method to determine the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) Standard strains of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and multi-resistant strains of Escherichia coli 06, Staphylococcus aureus 10, Pseudomonas aeruginosa 24 were used in this study. The antibiotic modulating effect was analyzed by combining vanillin with Norfloxacin, Imipenem, Gentamicin, Erythromycin and Tetracycline against the following multiresistant bacteria strains: Escherichia coli 06, Staphylococcus aureus 10 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa 24. Data were analyzed using the ANOVA test of two tracks followed by the post hoc Bonferroni test. Vanillin presented CIMs ≥1024μg/mL against all tested strains demonstrating that it did not present significant antibacterial activity. However, modulated the activity of gentamicin and imipenem against S. aureus and E. coli, causing a synergistic effect, but did not affect the activity of norfloxacin, tetracycline and erythromycin against these same microorganisms. A synergistic effect was also obtained from the association of vanillin with norfloxacin against P. aeruginosa. On the other hand, against this strain the association of vanillin with tetracycline and erythromycin caused antagonism, although the activity of gentamicin and imipenem was not affected. In conclusion, vanillin selectively modulated the activity of antibiotics against multiresistant bacteria and as such, might be useful in the development of new therapies against resistant microorganism.

Rhaphiodon echinus (Nees & Mart.) Schauer: Chemical, toxicological activity and increased antibiotic activity of antifungal drug activity and antibacterial.

The association of herbal products with standard antimicrobial drugs has recently gained more attention as a hope to overcome infectious diseases caused by multidrug-resistant microorganisms. Here, we investigated for the first time the antimicrobial (antifungal and antibacterial) activity of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of R.echinus against multiresistant strains of bacteria (E.coli, P.aeruginosa and S.aureus) and fungi (C.albicans, C. krusei and C.tropicalis), as well as potential to enhance the activity of antibiotics drugs. In addition, both extract were chemically characterized and their toxicity was assessed in Artemia salina. Our results demonstrate that aqueous extract of R.echinus caused a significant increase in the activity of antibiotics gentamicin and imipenem, while the ethanolic extract strongly enhanced the antibiotic activity of gentamicin, amikacin, imipenem and ciprofloxacin against P.aeruginosa. However, neither the ethanolic nor the aqueous extracts significantly affect the antibiotic activity of the drugs when tested against S.aureus. Phytochemical analysis of the extracts indicated ellagic acid, caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid as the major components which can be at least in part responsible for the enhanced activity of antibiotics. None of the extracts showed toxicity in A.salina even at the highest concentration tested (1000μg/mL). All together, our results suggest that the leaf extract of R.echinus can be an effective source of modulating agents.

In vitro Evaluation of the Interaction between Amoxicillin and Hydro Ethanolic Extracts of Annickia chlorantha

The discovery of antibiotics has contributed significantly to improving the life expectancy of the global population. Nowadays, the emergence of multi resistant strains of bacteria worldwide is a major concern as it dramatically reduces the choice of effective antibiotics for prevention and treatment of a very common infection in both hospitals and our local communities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro interaction of amoxicillin and Annickia chlorantha against some Multi resistant bacteria strains. The interaction between Amoxicillin and Annickia chlorantha was studied using the Checkerboard technique. Fractional Inhibitory Concentration (FIC) indices showed that Amoxicillin/Annickia chlorantha combination was synergistic against the clinical stock of Salmonella typhi at concentrations of 5: 15 and 25 mg/mL. The extracts of the stem barks of Annickia chlorantha decreased the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of amoxicillin against Salmonella typhi by 2: 4 and 66 folds respectively. At the same concentrations the combination showed no difference against the reference stocks of Staphylococcus aureus and a dose dependent antagonism against clinical stock of Escherichia coli. The results of this study revealed that the concomitant use of Annickia chlorantha and amoxicillin may potentiate and restore the antibacterial effect of amoxicillin against resistant strains of Salmonella typhi. This implies that the intake of Annickia chlorantha in traditional medicines may affect the effectiveness of a co-administered amoxicillin, which makes this plant a good, environmentally friendly and promising candidate for the development of an improved traditional medicine.

In vitro antibacterial effects of Zanthoxylum tingoassuiba root bark extracts and two of its alkaloids against multiresistant Staphylococcus aureus

The emergence of multiresistant strains of bacteria reinforces the need to search for new compounds able to combat resistant organisms. Medicinal plants are a great resource of bioactive substances, providing the possibility of obtaining molecules with potential antimicrobial activity. The aim of the present study is the evaluation of the antibacterial activity of extracts and alkaloids isolated from the root bark of Zanthoxylum tingoassuiba A. St.-Hil., Rutaceae, against four resistant clinical isolates and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923. The dichloromethane and methanol extracts were fractionated by chromatography on silica gel, leading to the isolation of dihydrocheleryhtrine and N-methylcanadine, identified by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy. The antibacterial activity of the extracts and isolated compounds was evaluated by the disc diffusion method and the minimum inhibitory concentration was determined. The dichloromethane extract was the most active against all the tested strains and the two pure alkaloids were more active than the extracts. The anti-MRSA activity of the two benzophenanthridine alkaloids is demonstrated for the first time in this study. These compounds appear as potential leads for the development of new anti-MRSA compounds and could be responsible for the antibacterial activity, justifying the ethnobotanical use of Z. tingoassuiba and other species for the treatment of various infectious diseases.

In Vitro Antimicrobial Activity of Embothrium coccineum Used as Traditional Medicine in Patagonia against Multiresistant Bacteria.

Embothrium coccineum J.R. Forst. & G. Forst is an evergreen tree that has been used as a folk remedy for the treatment of neuralgia, tooth pains, wound healing, and glandular conditions, as well as an antiseptic agent against bacterial infection. The antibacterial activities of sequential extracts (hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and ethanol) from the leaves of E. coccineum were evaluated by means of the micro-dilution assay against six (Escherichia coli; Klebsiella pneumoniae; Proteus mirabilis; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes) multiresistant bacteria strains. Ethyl acetate extract showed the best spectra of antibacterial activity against all tested bacteria, and was analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for its composition. The results of the present work provide useful baseline information for the potential development and use of nanoparticles and/or nanofibers doped with extracts of E. coccineum in the fight against multiresistant bacteria, which would allow the validation of the traditional use of E. coccineum by native peoples of Patagonia as an antimicrobial agent in the biomedical Field.

Characteristics and epidemiological changes for patients with urinary tract infection in the emergency department

Background. The aim of this paper is to determine both the prevalence of urinary tract infection (UTI) in the emergency department (ED) and the most relevant epidemiological changes in the last decade, as well as the profile and management of these patients. Methods. Descriptive cross-sectional analysis at 49 Spanish ED during 12 months. All patients with infections and UTI diagnosis were included. All patients attended to in ED during the study were recorded as well. Results. The study included 2,517 patients diagnosed with UTI, with a mean age of 55 (SD 23) years, 64.6% of whom were women. These patients represent 22% of infections in the ED and 3.2% of all patients in the ED. Thirty-six per cent were over 70 years old. Fifty one point nine per cent had some underlying disease (16.5% diabetes mellitus) and 32.7% had some risk factors for multi-resistant strains of bacteria. Eight point three per cent met sepsis criteria. Seventy-one point nine per cent of patients were directly discharged from the ED. Conclusions. UTI are very common infections in ED, with important associated comorbidities, high mean ages and a predominance in women. With respect to a decade before UTI has increased its prevalence (3.2% vs 2.1%) and the patients have a greater age [55.5 (SD 23) vs 52 (SD 22) years] , more comorbidities (51.9% vs 40.6%) and clinical severity (8.3% vs 6.5%). Key words. Urinary tract infection. Emergency Department. Epidemiology.

Characteristics and epidemiological changes for patients with urinary tract infection in the emergency department

The aim of this paper is to determine both the prevalence of urinary tract infection (UTI) in the emergency department (ED) and the most relevant epidemiological changes in the last decade, as well as the profile and management of these patients. Descriptive cross-sectional analysis at 49 Spanish ED during 12 months. All patients with infections and UTI diagnosis were included. All patients attended to in ED during the study were recorded as well. The study included 2,517 patients diagnosed with UTI, with a mean age of 55 (SD 23) years, 64.6%of whom were women. These patients represent 22%of infections in the ED and 3.2% of all patients in the ED. Thirty-six per cent were over 70 years old. Fifty one point nine per cent had some underlying disease (16.5%diabetes mellitus) and 32.7% had some risk factors for multi-resistant strains of bacteria. Eight point three percent met sepsis criteria. Seventy-one point nine percent of patients were directly discharged from the ED. UTI are very common infections in ED, with important associated comorbidities, high mean ages and a predominance in women. With respect to a decade before UTI has increased its prevalence (3.2%vs 2.1%) and the patients have a greater age [55.5 (SD 23) vs 52 (SD 22) years], more comorbidities (51.9% vs 40.6%) and clinical severity (8.3% vs 6.5%).

History and Practice: Antibodies in Infectious Diseases.

Antibodies and passive antibody therapy in the treatment of infectious diseases is the story of a treatment concept which dates back more than 120 years, to the 1890s, when the use of serum from immunized animals provided the first effective treatment options against infections with Clostridium tetani and Corynebacterium diphtheriae. However, after the discovery of penicillin by Fleming in 1928, and the subsequent introduction of the much cheaper and safer antibiotics in the 1930s, serum therapy was largely abandoned. However, the broad and general use of antibiotics in human and veterinary medicine has resulted in the development of multi-resistant strains of bacteria with limited to no response to existing treatments and the need for alternative treatment options. The combined specificity and flexibility of antibody-based treatments makes them very valuable tools for designing specific antibody treatments to infectious agents. These attributes have already caused a revolution in new antibody-based treatments in oncology and inflammatory diseases, with many approved products. However, only one monoclonal antibody, palivizumab, for the prevention and treatment of respiratory syncytial virus, is approved for infectious diseases. The high cost of monoclonal antibody therapies, the need for parallel development of diagnostics, and the relatively small markets are major barriers for their development in the presence of cheap antibiotics. It is time to take a new and revised look into the future to find appropriate niches in infectious diseases where new antibody-based treatments or combinations with existing antibiotics, could prove their value and serve as stepping stones for broader acceptance of the potential for and value of these treatments.

The association between drugs and herbal products: In vitro enhancement of the antibiotic activity by extracts of dry floral buttons of Egletes viscosa L. (macela)

IntroductionEgletes viscosa L., also known as chamomile, is commonly used in traditional medicine as a tea for the treatment of digestive disorders and also inflammatory problems. The aim was to evaluate and compare in vitro the antibacterial activity of hexane and methanolic extracts of dried flowers of E. viscosa against standard strains of multiresistant bacteria, as well as determine the antibiotic-modifying activity of the extracts and identifying their secondary metabolites. MethodologyHexane and methanolic crude extracts of the flowers of E. viscosa were assessed for antibacterial activity by the microdilution test to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and modulation of aminoglycoside (amikacin and gentamicin) activity. ResultsMIC against bacteria was ≥1024μg/mL for both the methanolic and hexane extracts of E. viscosa. The results showed that the combination of methanolic extract with gentamicin or amikacin demonstrated significant synergism against all strains tested (p<0.001), while the combination of the hexane extract with the antibiotics showed significant synergism only against Pseudomonas aeruginosa 03. ConclusionThe results suggest that E. viscosa L. may be a promising compound for combating bacterial resistance. The combination of natural products with aminoglycosides may be an alternative to minimize the undesirable effects of antibiotics.