International Journal of Microbiology最新文献

{"title":"Potential Target Metabolites From Gut Microbiota Against Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking Study.","authors":"Sehar Aslam, Muhammad Qasim, Fatima Noor, Muhammad Shahid, Usman Ali Ashfaq, Samman Munir, Helal F Al-Harthi, Mutaib M Mashraqi, Umair Waqas, Mohsin Khurshid","doi":"10.1155/2024/4286228","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2024/4286228","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, posing significant challenges and economic burdens on healthcare systems. Gut microbiota metabolites have shown promise in cancer treatment, but the specific active metabolites and their key targets remain unclear. This study employed a network pharmacology-based approach to identify potent metabolites of gut microbiota and their key targets. Active metabolites produced by gut microbiota were retrieved using the database gutMGene, and targets associated with these metabolites were identified using the Swiss Target Prediction tool. HCC-related targets were obtained from the GeneCards database, and overlapping targets were selected through a Venn diagram tool. An integrated metabolites-target-pathway network was analyzed to identify active inhibitors against HCC, including <i>p</i>-cresol glucuronide, secoisolariciresinol, glycocholic acid, enterodiol, and citric acid. Molecular docking tests were performed to validate the findings and assess the binding affinity of the metabolites with their target proteins. The study identified AKT1, EGFR, ALB, and TNF genes as potential therapeutic targets against hepatic cancer. The metabolites, <i>p</i>-cresol glucuronide, secoisolariciresinol, glycocholic acid, enterodiol, and citric acid, exhibited significant binding affinity with their respective target proteins. The study also revealed multiple signaling pathways and biological processes associated with the metabolites, demonstrating their preventive effect against HCC. This research utilizes a network pharmacology-based approach to identify potent metabolites of gut microbiota and their key targets for the treatment of HCC. The findings were validated through molecular docking tests, providing a foundation for future studies on anti-HCC metabolites and their mechanisms of action. Furthermore, this study offers insights into the development of novel anti-HCC drugs utilizing gut microbiota metabolites.</p>","PeriodicalId":14098,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Microbiology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11537736/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142582956","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"<i>Penicillium citrinum</i> CFAM 521 Isolated From the Amazon Region: A Novel Source of a Fibrinolytic Enzyme.","authors":"Thayana Cruz de Souza, Marcos Gustavo Araujo Schwarz, Daniela Marinho da Silva, Carolina Rabelo Maia, Cláudia Patrícia Mendes de Araújo, Antônio Alcirley da Silva Balieiro, Luiz Antonio de Oliveira, Wim Maurits Sylvain Degrave, Ormezinda Celeste Cristo Fernandes, Leila Mendonça-Lima","doi":"10.1155/2024/5306083","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2024/5306083","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Fibrinolytic agents are essential in treating thrombosis, playing a critical role in improving survival rates in cardiovascular diseases. Microbial fibrinolytic proteases have emerged as promising alternatives due to their affordability, specificity, lower toxicity, and reduced side effects. Consequently, the search for microorganisms capable of producing these enzymes has gained significant economic importance in the pharmaceutical industry. This study reports and characterizes a novel fibrinolytic enzyme produced by <i>Penicillium citrinum</i> CFAM 521, a strain isolated from the Amazon region. The enzyme was purified using a polyethylene glycol (PEG)-phosphate salt aqueous two-phase system (ATPS). The effects of PEG molecular weight, PEG concentration, and phosphate concentration on the protease partition coefficient (K) were evaluated through a 2² full factorial design. The enzyme exhibited both fibrinolytic and fibrinogenolytic activities. After partitioning in a two-phase system with 10% (w/w) PEG and 15% (w/w) sodium phosphate, the fibrinolytic proteases were predominantly retained in the salt-rich bottom phase (<i>K</i> = 0.33). The enzyme has a molecular weight of 34 kDa, with optimal pH and temperature at 9°C and 37°C, respectively. Inhibitory analysis confirmed that it is a serine protease, and its activity was enhanced by the addition of Mn²⁺. Notably, the enzyme exhibited no hemolytic activity. Therefore, <i>P. citrinum</i> CFAM 521 represents a novel source of fibrinolytic enzymes, highlighting its potential as an alternative for the development of thrombolytic agents.</p>","PeriodicalId":14098,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Microbiology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11537737/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142582952","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comprehensive Genome Analysis of Colistin-Only-Sensitive KPC-2 and NDM1-1-Coproducing <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> ST11 and <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i> ST2 From a Critically Ill Patient With COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia: Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) of <i>K. pneumoniae</i> ST11 and <i>A. baumannii</i> ST2.","authors":"Ibrahim A Al-Zahrani, Thamer M Brek","doi":"10.1155/2024/9233075","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2024/9233075","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified the issue of multidrug-resistant (MDR) infections, particularly in intensive care units (ICUs). This study documents the first known case of coinfection with two extensively drug-resistant (XDR) bacterial isolates in a critically ill patient with COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia. Both XDR isolates were recovered from blood and were resistant to all tested antimicrobial agents except colistin. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) revealed that the <i>K. pneumoniae</i> isolate KP-JZ107 had sequence type 11 (ST11) and core genome MLST (cgMLST 304742), while the <i>A. baumannii</i> isolate AB-JZ67 had ST2 and cgMLST 785. KP-JZ107 was found to possess the virulence plasmid KpVP-type-1, carbapenemase genes <i>bla</i> _<i>NDM</i> and <i>bla</i> _<i>KPC</i> , and numerous antimicrobial-resistant genes (ARGs). The AB-JZ67 isolate had several biofilm-related genes, including biofilm-associated protein (BAP), csuE, and pgaB, and multiple ARGs, including <i>bla</i> _{<i>ADC</i>-25}, <i>bla</i> _{<i>OXA</i>-23}, and <i>bla</i> _{<i>OXA</i>-66}. Our findings suggest that the coexistence of KP-JZ107 and AB-JZ67 isolates may indicate their widespread presence in ICUs, requiring comprehensive surveillance studies across all hospitals.</p>","PeriodicalId":14098,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Microbiology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11537734/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142582955","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Determination of Biodegradation Potential of <i>Aspergillus niger</i>, <i>Candida albicans</i>, and <i>Acremonium sclerotigenum</i> on Polyethylene, Polyethylene Terephthalate, and Polystyrene Microplastics.","authors":"Ayesha Safdar, Fatima Ismail, Hafsa Iftikhar, Abdul Majid Khokhar, Atika Javed, Muhammad Imran, Bushra Safdar","doi":"10.1155/2024/7682762","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2024/7682762","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Plastics are used widely in almost every field of life, but their synthetic and persistent nature makes them harmful for the environment. The aim of this research was to evaluate the degradation abilities of <i>Aspergillus niger</i>, <i>Candida albicans</i>, and <i>Acremonium sclerotigenum</i> on microplastics (MPs). MP pieces of 4 ± 1 mm, including polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polystyrene, were incubated with fungal inoculums for 30 days. The degradation of treated MPs was determined by biofilm formation, weight loss, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform analyses. The results indicated that the polyethylene MPs treated with <i>Aspergillus niger</i> exhibited the highest level of biofilm formation (optical density 1.595) and percentage weight loss (16%). In the case of polyethylene terephthalate and polystyrene MPs, <i>Acremonium sclerotigenum</i> and co-culture showed weight loss of 6% and 10%, respectively. <i>Candida albicans</i> was observed to be the least effective in biodegradation analyses. SEM observation revealed the surface modifications as holes, pits, cracks, and increased roughness in treated MPs. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy showed that the chemical structure of each polymer exhibited some variations. The study concluded that the fungal strains play an important role in the biodegradation of plastics and can be utilized to mitigate environmental pollution.</p>","PeriodicalId":14098,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Microbiology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11535424/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142580793","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Untargeted Metabolomics to Investigate the Influence of Epigenetic Modifiers on the Metabolism of <i>Fusarium verticillioides</i>.","authors":"E Groppi, A Gadea, C Monge, V Cristofoli, M Vansteelandt, M Haddad","doi":"10.1155/2024/1763495","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2024/1763495","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Toxigenic fungi are capable of producing toxic metabolites, called mycotoxins. But the presence of silent and lowly expressed genes represents the main challenge for the discovery of novel mycotoxins, especially their lesser-known forms, commonly referred to as \"emerging mycotoxins.\" Epigenetic modifiers (EMs) are compounds that are able to alter the production of metabolites through the induction of silent biosynthetic pathways leading to an enhanced chemical diversity. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of different chemical modulators on the metabolic profiles of the well-known toxigenic fungal species, <i>Fusarium verticillioides</i>. Four EMs, 5-azacytidine, sodium butyrate, nicotinamide (NIC), and sodium valproate (SV), were used. Following their addition to <i>Fusarium verticillioides</i> cultures, the metabolic profiles were analyzed by using UHPLC-HRMS/MS under targeted and untargeted metabolomics approaches. Metabolites were putatively annotated through the use of MS-DIAL and MS-FINDER. Our results show that the treatment with SV induced the most important alteration of the secondary metabolic profile of <i>F. verticillioides</i>, by promoting the expression of cryptic genes. Among the 50 most discriminating metabolites across five culture conditions, 12 were fusarins or fusarin analogs. In contrast, SB and NIC had little impact on these metabolites. The study highlights SV's ability to alter gene expression by inhibiting DNA deacetylation in fungal strains. This research could have significant implications for agriculture and food industry, especially in regions facing major mycotoxin challenges.</p>","PeriodicalId":14098,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Microbiology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11535422/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142582958","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Screening of Diabetes-Associated Autoantigens and Serum Antibody Profiles Using a Phage Display System.","authors":"Jun Lin, Zhenyu Wang, Hongtao Wang, Yuping Li, Yao Liu, Yige He, Qian Liu, Zichuan Chen, Yuan Ji","doi":"10.1155/2024/1220644","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2024/1220644","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Aims/Introduction:</b> Phage display method is a crucial tool to find novel clinically valuable diabetes-associated autoantigens and identify known autoantigen epitopes that are associated with diabetes and could provide scientific support and guidance for the artificial construction and synthesis of Type I diabetes mellitus (T1DM) novel biomarkers. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> The phage display system was used for the \"biopanning\" of T1DM serum. Following the sequencing of the phage DNAs, the homologous sequences of the above fusion heptapeptide were further investigated by BLAST to track the origin of the polypeptide sequences. The antibody spectrum revealed new T1DM-associated epitopes and antibodies. <b>Results:</b> A total of 1200 phage DNA were sequenced and 9 conserved polypeptide sequences were collected. It was confirmed that the zinc transporter and islet amyloid protease were among them. The conserved polypeptide sequence 8 and another three distinctive polypeptide sequences derived from Proteus were discovered. Furthermore, we expressed recombinant proteins with homologous polypeptide sequences for the human islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) and polypeptide precursor human zinc transporter 8 (ZNT8). Through clinical sample detection for the serum from T1DM (<i>n</i> = 100) and T2DM (<i>n</i> = 200) patients, results demonstrate the importance and relevance of these polypeptides in the recognition and classification of various forms of diabetes. <b>Conclusion:</b> Human pancreatic and concurrent bacterial-derived protein antigens and their epitopes were identified in this research by the phage display system, which is crucial for distinguishing different types of diabetes.</p>","PeriodicalId":14098,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Microbiology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11527542/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142557819","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dairy Farmers' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) Towards Aflatoxin Contamination in Milk and Feeds in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.","authors":"Sosina Dires Sewunet, Elias Kebede, Achenef Melaku, Andnet Yirga Assefa, Atnaf Alebie, Aschalew Assefa, Habtamu Ayalew, Girma Birhan, Ambaye Worku Kenubih","doi":"10.1155/2024/5568286","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2024/5568286","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Aflatoxins, primary foodborne mycotoxins, come from <i>Aspergillus flavus</i> and <i>Aspergillus parasiticus</i> fungi. They pose significant health risks to humans and animals, creating a major challenge in the dairy sector. The objective of this study is to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of dairy farmers regarding aflatoxin contamination in milk and feeds. Conducted as a cross-sectional study in Bahir Dar city between November 2019 and February 2020, this investigation randomly selected 106 dairy farms for data collection. Face-to-face interviews, facilitated by a semistructured questionnaire, were employed. Findings indicate that 59.4% of respondents displayed good knowledge, while a substantial 94.3% exhibited a favorable attitude. Intriguingly, only 1.9% implemented good practices. Notably, the educational background of dairy farmers emerged as a significant factor influencing their KAP (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Conversely, various sociodemographic factors did not yield a significant impact on the KAP of dairy farmers. Despite a robust knowledge base and favorable attitudes towards aflatoxin among dairy farmers, the study highlights a significant gap in the implementation of recommended practices. This finding emphasizes the necessity for increased efforts to cultivate and reinforce good practices. Collaborative initiatives involving diverse stakeholders are crucial to reducing aflatoxin contamination in the dairy industry.</p>","PeriodicalId":14098,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Microbiology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11524713/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142545369","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Extracellular Traps in Patients Diagnosed With Bacterial Vaginosis, Trichomoniasis, Candidiasis, Noninfectious Vaginitis and Cytolytic Vaginosis.","authors":"María G Ramírez-Ledesma, Berenice Bermudes-Valencia, Rosa M Balderas-Parada, Susana G Salazar-Ramírez, Ruth Reyes-Cortés, Francisco J Magos-Vázquez, José J Torres-Hernández, Eva E Avila","doi":"10.1155/2024/7619416","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2024/7619416","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Vaginal infections are a public health problem associated with serious health complications due to the exacerbated inflammation they generate. Vaginal inflammation may also occur in some noninfectious processes, such as noninfectious vaginitis and cytolytic vaginosis. Immune system cells respond to infections through various mechanisms, such as the formation of extracellular traps (ETs), which are DNA networks associated with effector proteins. Many pathogens induce ETs formation <i>in vitro</i>, as occurs in some natural infections. A recent report indicates that human vaginal infections <i>in vivo</i> generate ETs. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to identify ETs in samples from 40 donors who were diagnosed with infectious (i.e., bacterial vaginosis, candidiasis and trichomoniasis) and noninfectious (i.e., noninfectious vaginitis and cytolytic vaginosis) vaginal inflammation. We were able to observe ETs by identifying the LL-37 peptide, which is associated with DNA networks. In seven vaginal swabs from the control group (formed by 19 donors without vaginal infection symptoms), we detected at least one pathogen per sample and observed ETs; thus, these donors were considered asymptomatic. The remaining 12 donors were confirmed to be healthy, as their exudates did not present any tested pathogens, sign of inflammation or ETs. ETs in vaginal inflammatory processes can worsen inflammation but may also help control infection.</p>","PeriodicalId":14098,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Microbiology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11524696/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142545370","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prevalence of Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL)-Producing <i>Escherichia coli</i> in Humans, Food, and Environment in Kathmandu, Nepal: Findings From ESBL <i>E. coli</i> Tricycle Project.","authors":"Jyoti Acharya, Runa Jha, Tulsi Ram Gompo, Sharmila Chapagain, Lilee Shrestha, Nisha Rijal, Anjana Shrestha, Pragya Koirala, Suraj Subedi, Binita Tamang, Hari Prasad Kattel, Bishal Khaniya, Basudha Shrestha, Aruna Karki, Ram Prasad Adhikari, Sanita Kayastha, Prasil Pradhan, Sarada Duwal Shrestha, Bijendra Raj Raghubanshi, Heera Tuladhar, Palpasa Kansakar, Saugat Shrestha, Priyanka Shrestha, Binay Shrestha, Ricardo J Soares Magalhaes, Manish Kakkar, Arunkumar Govindakarnavar, Allison Gocotano, Reuben Samuel","doi":"10.1155/2024/1094816","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/1094816","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The need to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR) through a One Health (OH) approach is now well recognized. There is, however, limited guidance on how AMR surveillance should be implemented across sectors to generate meaningful AMR and AMU data for decision-making. Using a sympatric approach to cross-sector sample collection, Nepal adopted the WHO extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing <i>Escherichia coli</i> (<i>E. coli</i>) Tricycle Project as a step toward OH surveillance for assessing the prevalence of ESBL-producing <i>E. coli</i> across human, veterinary, and environment sectors. This involved a three-stage approach: identification of human hotspots (Stage 1) and sample collection sites for poultry (Stage 2) and wastewater (Stage 3). A total of 53 blood cultures from patients with bloodstream infections (BSIs), 100 stool samples from healthy pregnant women, 220 poultry ceca from slaughterhouses and live markets, and 48 wastewater samples were processed for bacterial culture and analyzed for the presence of ESBL-producing <i>E. coli</i>. The prevalence of ESBL-producing <i>E. coli</i> among isolated <i>E. coli</i> was the highest in wastewater samples (91%) followed by human BSIs (49%), poultry (38.6%), and fecal carriage isolates from healthy pregnant females (15%). A statistically significant association was seen in the prevalence of multidrug resistance among ESBL producers (52%) and nonproducers (26%). ESBL-producing <i>E. coli</i> was detected in all wastewater samples tested except for the upstream river. The findings of the study showed a high prevalence of ESBL-producing <i>E. coli</i> in samples from all three sectors and provided baseline data based upon which strategies for the safe disposal of communal and hospital waste, integrated AMR surveillance, and control strategies could be planned and implemented.</p>","PeriodicalId":14098,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Microbiology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11498988/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142499982","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Myrtenol's Effectiveness against Hospital-Acquired Methicillin-Resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>: Targeting Antibiofilm and Antivirulence Properties.","authors":"Amal F Makled, Azza Z Labeeb, Eman A E Badr, Amany M Abdelmaksoud, Safa R Elfiky, Asmaa K Amer, Asmaa S Sleem","doi":"10.1155/2024/8832448","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/8832448","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The emergence of methicillin-resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (MRSA) several years ago highlighted the challenge of multidrug-resistant infections, emphasizing the critical need for innovative treatment approaches. Myrtenol, known for its antibacterial and antibiofilm properties, holds promise as a potential treatment option. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of myrtenol against MRSA. The collected MRSA isolates were assessed for antimicrobial susceptibility following the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines 2023. Biofilm formation by MRSA was evaluated using the tissue culture plate (TCP) technique. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC), and minimal biofilm inhibitory concentration (MBIC) of myrtenol against MRSA were determined both individually and in combination with antibiotics. Real-time PCR was employed to investigate the impact of myrtenol on the expression of virulence genes (sarA, agrA, and icaD) across the isolates. In this study, MRSA was identified in 90 out of 400 cases (22.5%) of hospital-acquired pathogens. Among the collected MRSA isolates, 53 out of 90 (59%) were found to produce biofilms. The MIC of myrtenol was comparable to the MBC across all tested isolates, they were almost the same. Combinations of myrtenol with most tested antibiotics exhibited synergistic effects exceeding 60%. Among the 53 biofilm-producing isolates, 45 isolates (85%) expressed the sarA gene, 49% expressed the agrA gene, and all biofilm-producing MRSA isolates (100%) expressed the icaD gene. A notable reduction in the relative quantity (RQ) values of virulence gene expression was observed after treatment with the MBIC of myrtenol across all tested isolates. Myrtenol demonstrated strong antimicrobial activity against MRSA, notably reducing the expression of key virulence genes linked to biofilm formation. This suggests its potential as a therapeutic agent for treating biofilm-associated MRSA infections.</p>","PeriodicalId":14098,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Microbiology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11498983/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142499981","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}