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There is an urgent need to develop effective and sustainable methods to decrease sulfonamide (SA) contamination of soil. Herein, a non-homogeneous system of zero-valent metal-biochar-based composites was proposed and tested for persulfate (PS) activation. This system employed zero-valent iron (Fe 0 ) as an electron donor to catalyze the cleavage of the OO bond in PS, thereby generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) that degrade SAs. Notably, the incorporation of elemental sulfur (S) significantly mitigated the passivation of Fe 0 , leading to an enhanced degradation capability of the system. The system decomposes 84-97 % of SAs at their concentration in soil suspension 10 mg/kg in 3 h. Among the coexistence of several SAs, the system showed the fastest degradation rate of sulfisoxazole with a k obs of 0.0305 min -1 , nearing complete removal within 3 h. The system is resistant to the impact of organic matter in soil. It allows to decrease concentration of sulfadiazine in actual contaminated soil on 73 % in 2 h. The system remains effective with decreasing concentrations of PS from 20 mM to 2.5 mM, which lowered the operating cost. T.E.S.T software evaluation showed a significant reduction in the bioaccumulation toxicity and developmental toxicity of the degradation products, suggesting that the system is environmentally friendly. The high efficiency of the catalytic system, the simplicity and economy of the manufacturing process, the resistance to interference in real soil, and the environmental friendliness make this technology promising for mitigating the problem of the environment contamination by SAs., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Suture-associated surgical site infection (SSI) causes bacterial pathogens to colonize on the suture surface that are highly resistant to antibiotic treatment. Conventional suture materials used in surgical practice are causing complications such as infection and chronic inflammation. Surgical suture materials with antibacterial coatings are widely used in surgical practice. However, all the widely used antibacterial agents are not permanent (limited lasting) due to their instability and release depending on environmental conditions (pH or temperature, for example). Therefore, more long-lasting (low-dose) and effective antibacterial function materials are required. In the present work, we proposed a new material and method of antibacterial coating the surgical sutures based on the atomic layer deposition (ALD) technique to enhance its antibacterial activity for treatment of the SSI. We have proposed applying a vanadium-doped TiO 2 nanofilm (hybrid nanomaterial, TiVO x ) with 27.5 nm thickness to enhance the antibacterial property of surgical sutures using the ALD technique. We have illustrated that a base coating of Al 2 O 3 (seed layer) applied to the suture surface, which directly contacts the polypropylene (PP) suture, improves the adhesion of the deposited antibacterial material TiVO x . This provides a long-lasting antibacterial effect on the suture (a prolonged antibacterial effect of the coating material), i.e. increases the stability of the deposition (stable in water, air, in the human body, in different pH mediums, and at temperatures up to 70 °C). The sutures did not deteriorate after several wash cycles with sterilizing solvents. Also, the antibacterial agent (TiVO x ) is nontoxic. The concentration of vanadium in the film is below the toxicity limits due to the low diffusivity of vanadium and high adhesion with the base coating material (Al 2 O 3 ). Sutures coated with V-doped TiO 2 were characterized using scanning electron microscopy images, and elemental analysis was performed using energy dispersive spectroscopy Spectroscopy. The antibacterial activity of TiVO x coated sutures against two types of microorganisms, E. coli and Proteus vulgaris ( Pr. Vulgaris ) was compared to that of noncoated sutures. The quantitative assessment of antibacterial activity of suture materials with and without ALD nanocoating TiVO x against E. coli and Pr. Vulgaris has been performed. No growth of bacteria around the suture material with antibacterial TiVO x ALD nanocoating throughout the entire observation period of 48 and 72 h was observed. However, after 48 h, the concentration of bacteria of the E. Coli around the suture material without ALD TiVO x nanocoating on nutrient agar was 5.5 ± 0.3 Log CFU cm -3 , and after 72 h it was 8.0 ± 0.5 Log CFU cm -3 . For Pr. Vilgaris, after 48 h, the concentration of bacteria around the suture material without ALD TiVO x nanocoating on nutrient agar was 2.1 ± 0.1 Log CFU cm -3 , while after 72 h it was 4.5 ± 0.2 Log CFU cm -3 . ALD-coated TiVO x on the PP sutures inhibited approximately 100% of biofilm formation. Also, the inhibition zones in the disc diffusion assay revealed that all the ALD TiVO x coating inhibited (100%) the growth of E. coli and Pr. Vulgaris , notably compared to the uncoated suture samples., (© 2025 IOP Publishing Ltd. All rights, including for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies, are reserved.)

Introduction: Purulent bacterial pericarditis is a potentially fatal disease with mortality rates reaching 100% if left untreated., Case Presentation: We present the case of a 33-year-old Caucasian male patient who developed cardiac tamponade, most likely caused by a pyogenic liver abscess communicating with the pericardium. Treatment with antibiotics, extended sepsis therapy, and drainage of the abscess led to a full recovery., Conclusion: This report describes a rare but potentially fatal differential diagnosis of aortic dissection and serves as a reminder that lives abscesses can manifest unexpectedly. Clinical signs and symptoms of tamponade can be mistaken as sepsis. In this particular case, the combination of a septic abscess and tamponade caused by pyopericardium posed a diagnostic challenge., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The patient was informed about the availability and importance of the data, including the clinical data, images, and health information described in this article. Consent for publication: Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report and any accompanying images. A copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor-in-Chief of this journal. Competing interests: All authors report no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

Background: Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infection presents a growing global health problem and requires new antibiotics targeting enzymes that are essential for the pathogens under various metabolic conditions, with high target specificity, good solubility and with attractive combinatory potency., Methods: SQ31f was synthesized by a simplified synthesis protocol, and its effect on growth inhibition of fast- and slow-growing NTM and clinical isolates, whole-cell ATP depletion, ex vivo macrophages and its potency in combination with other antibiotics were evaluated. Molecular docking studies were employed to assess SQ31f's binding mode., Results: We present- squaramide SQ31f as a novel anti-NTM inhibitor targeting the NTM F1FO-ATP synthase, essential for ATP formation, regulation of ATP homeostasis and proton motive force under multiple growth conditions. The potency of SQ31f in growth inhibition of fast- and slow-growing NTM and clinical isolates correlates with whole-cell ATP depletion, which is not caused by altered oxygen consumption. SQ31f's high aqueous solubility enables binding to the waterfilled cytosolic proton half channel in the subunits a-c interface of the FO domain. As presented for the fast-growing Mycobacterium abscessus, the compound is active against intracellular-residing M. abscessus. Importantly, SQ31f shows an additive effect of the anti-M. abscessus drugs clofazimine, rifabutin or amikacin, and an attractive potentiation of linezolid, clarithromycin, or the oral pair tebipenem and avibactam., Conclusions: SQ31f represents an attractive inhibitor to tackle the issues associated with NTM drug tolerance and toxicity. Its combinatory potency with anti-M. abscessus drugs holds potential for overcoming resistance, while also reducing intensive compound synthesis and associated costs., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Antibacterial activity can be classified as either bactericidal or bacteriostatic, using methods such as the MBC/MIC ratio and time-kill curves. However, such categorization has proven challenging in clinical practice, as these definitions only apply under specific laboratory conditions, which may differ from clinical settings. Several factors, such as the specific bacteria or infectious medium, can affect the action of antibiotics, with many antibacterials exerting both activities. These definitions have also led to the belief that bactericidal antibacterials are superior to bacteriostatic, especially in more severe cases, such as endocarditis, neutropenia and bacteraemia. Additionally, current dogma dictates against the combination of bactericidal and bacteriostatic antibacterials in clinical practice, due to potential antagonism. This review aimed to assess the differences in antibacterial activity of bactericidal and bacteriostatic antibacterials based on in vitro and in vivo studies and examine their antagonistic or synergistic effects. Our findings show that specific bacteriostatic agents, such as linezolid and tigecycline, are clinically non-inferior to bactericidals in multiple infections, including pneumonia, intra-abdominal infections, and skin and soft tissue infections. Studies also support using several bacteriostatic agents as salvage therapies in severe infections, such as neutropenic fever and endocarditis. Additionally, not all combinations of bacteriostatic and bactericidal agents appear to be antagonistic, with many combinations, such as linezolid and rifampicin, already being used. The findings should be interpreted with caution, as most evidence is from observational studies and there is a need for randomized controlled trials to assess their effectiveness and combinations, especially within the context of rising antimicrobial resistance., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.)

Ensuring everyone enjoys healthy lifestyles and well-being at all ages, Progress has been made in increasing access to clean water and sanitation facilities and reducing the spread of epidemics and diseases. The synthesis of nano-particles (NPs) by using microalgae is a new nanobiotechnology due to the use of the biomolecular (corona) of microalgae as a capping and reducing agent for NP creation. This investigation explores the capacity of a distinct indigenous microalgal strain to synthesize silver nano-particles (AgNPs), as well as its effectiveness against multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria and its ability to degrade Azo dye (Methyl Red) in wastewater. An extract of Spirulina platensis was obtained from a local source to synthesize silver nano-particles (AgNPs). The synthesized AgNPs were subsequently subjected to characterization utilizing several analytical methods, namely UV-visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR analysis). Subsequently, the disc diffusion method assessed their anti-bacterial efficacy against multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria and their ability to degrade Azo dye (Methyl Red) in wastewater. The nano-particles produced through biological synthesis exhibited a prominent peak in the UV-visible spectrum at a wavelength of 430 nm. Furthermore, these nano-particles were determined to possess a crystalline nature, with an average size of 28.72 nm and a distinctive star-like shape. The synthesized silver nano-particles (AgNPs) exhibited a dose-dependent anti-bacterial effect against some clinical bacterial isolates as multi-drug resistant (MDR), including Gram - ve bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli, as well as Gram + ve bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae. The action can be ascribed to the unique biological and physicochemical features of AgNPs, which facilitate the disruption of bacterial cell membranes. The UV-visible analysis solution after the introduction of AgNPs indicated that the decrease in the absorbance peak of methyl red was attributed to the existence of silver nano-particles. Metal nano-particles can be synthesized using environmentally friendly processes and hold great potential for combating multi-drug resistant bacteria and degrading Azo dyes. Silver nano-particles (AgNPs) are synthesized with an extract derived from the algae Spirulina platensis, which is a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Citrobacter youngae (C. youngae) was first described in 1993, and data suggesting that human diseases caused by this bacterium remain scarce. Reports on C. youngae infections mostly described local infections without evidenced bacteremia, especially in immunocompromised patients. Herein, we report a rare case of bacteremia with intervertebral disc and adjacent vertebral infection due to C. youngae (detected by the Vitek ® 2 Compact). A 70-year-old man with chronic lower back pain due to lumbar disc herniation underwent microdiscectomy, a minimally invasive spinal surgery. On postoperative day 4, he suffered shaking chills with worsened lower back pain compared to that before the operation, and vancomycin plus ceftriaxone were empirically administered. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the lumbar spine revealed osteomyelitis at L4 and L5 with L4/L5 discitis. Two blood culture sets were positive with the same pathogen, possibly C. youngae; The patient was then treated successfully with ceftazidime plus ciprofloxacin, the antibiotics were selected based on antibiotic susceptibility test results. This report suggests that C. youngae may cause severe infections in immunocompetent patients, and further surveillance should be considered to monitor antibiotic-resistant bacteria., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethical approval and consent to participate: The patient has agreed to participate in this case report by giving informed consent. Consent for publication: The patient agreed to publish his clinical and subclinical details by providing a signed informed consent document. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Monitoring Hg 2+ levels in aqueous environments is crucial to assess the potential methylmercury contamination via bacterial conversion, however, existing methods often require extensive sample treatment and expensive equipment. To mitigate this issue, this study examines the synthesis and application of three naphthalimide-based compounds, with significant fluorescent and solvatochromic behavior (C1, C2, and C3). Compounds C1 and C2 demonstrated a strong affinity for Hg 2+ metal ions, with C2 showing selectivity and a strong antibacterial profile, particularly against S. aureus (MIC 50 (C2) = 0.01 µg/mL). Moreover, these compounds were incorporated into three polymeric matrices, namely polyvinyl chloride (PVC), poly (methyl methacrylate-co-methacrylic acid) (PMMMA), and Starch, allowing for the development of solid-support sensors/surfaces with a strong antibacterial profile, highlighting the inherent dual-functionality of the compounds. Interestingly, the C2-doped Starch biopolymer detected low concentrations of Hg 2+ ions, such as 23 nM in tap water (value within the WHO standards for drinking water), through a rapid spectroscopic evaluation without sample treatment. This biopolymer was generated via a sustainable, green-chemistry-oriented, temperature-dependent water/Starch synthetic route, without the addition of plasticizers and any associated ecotoxicity. The study used sustainable methods for environmental monitoring and antibacterial applications, advancing material science to offer effective, accessible, and eco-friendly solutions for detecting and mitigating mercury pollution and bacterial contaminations, enhancing environmental and health safety., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

As a result of drug resistance, many antimicrobial medicines become ineffective, making the infections more difficult to treat. Therefore, there is a need to develop new compounds with antibacterial activity. This role may be played, for example, by metal complexes with carboxylic acids. This study reports the formation and characterization of ruthenium complexes with pyridazine-3-carboxylic acid (pdz-3-COOH)-([(η 6 - p -cym)Ru II Cl(pdz-3-COO)] ( 1 ), [Ru III Cl 2 (pdz-3-COO) 2 Na(H 2 O)] n (H 2 O) 0.11 ( 2 ) and [Ru III Cl 2 (pdz-3-COO) 2 Na(H 2 O) 2 ] n ( 3 ). The synthesized compounds were analyzed using various spectroscopic and electrochemical techniques, with structure confirmation via SC-XRD analysis. Experimental data showed the ligand binds to metal ions bidentately through the nitrogen donor of the pyridazine ring and one carboxylate oxygen. To visualize intermolecular interactions, Hirshfeld surface analysis and 2D fingerprint plots were conducted. Furthermore, the impact of ruthenium compounds ( 1 and 2 ) on the planktonic growth of selected bacterial strains and the formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 biofilm was examined. Both complexes demonstrated comparable anti-biofilm activity and outperformed the free ligand. The effect of the complexes on selected virulence factors of P. aeruginosa PAO1 was also investigated. Compounds 1 and 2 show high suppressive activity in pyoverdine production, indicating that the virulence of the strain has been reduced. This inhibitory effect is similar to the inhibitory effect of ciprofloxacin. Within this context, the complexes exhibit promising antibacterial activities. Importantly, the compounds showed no cytotoxic effects on normal CHO-K1 cells. Additionally, a molecular docking approach and fluorescence spectroscopy were used to determine the interactions of ruthenium complexes with human serum albumin.

Protophormia terraenovae is a colonizer of decomposing bodies and is known to cause pre-mortem myiasis as the female flies lay eggs in uncleaned wounds. In this study the effects of different concentrations of antibiotics levofloxacin and ceftriaxone on maggot development, weight, length, and mortality were examined. The maggot length and weight were significantly increased by therapeutical doses of levofloxacin and ceftriaxone. The maggot development time was significantly decreased in every levofloxacin treatment compared to the control. The time to start pupation was significantly increased in the control compared to the antibiotic treatments. Levofloxacin significantly increased the survivability of the maggots. Every levofloxacin treatment significantly improved the rearing conditions for the maggots. Reaching the third instar was delayed by 24 h in the control compared to the Levo 3.57 treatment. The Pupation in the control was delayed by an average of 48 h compared to the Levo 3.57 treatment. The significantly reduced development time of the maggots in the antibiotic treatments might lead to an overestimation of the post-mortem interval and therefore an incorrect time of death determination. The improved rearing conditions may be an indication of the potential of a combined application of antibiotics and maggot therapy., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The axial complex of Sn(IV)-tetra(4-sulfophenyl)porphyrin (SnP) with Rose Bengal (RB) was obtained where RB axial binding is realized through the hydroxyl groups of the xanthene dye [SnP(RB) 2 ]. The luminescent properties of the SnP(RB) 2 (fluorescence and ability to generate singlet oxygen at room temperature) in aqueous media with additives of surfactant cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) and ε-poly-l-lysine (EPL) were studied. It was found that nature of the medium (surfactant additives of different concentrations) determines the effectiveness of the photoinduced energy transfer from the RB fragment to the SnP fragment of the hybrid fluorophore (HF). It has been established that the ability of the HF to generate singlet oxygen in D 2 O and D 2 O-micellar media is higher than that of its constituent fragments. The dark and photodynamic antibacterial activity of the HF against two microorganisms [Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus)] was determined and analyzed. It was shown how the antibacterial activity of the HF depends on the nature of the bacteria, the micellar environment and radiation dose., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Data Sources: Elsevier's Scopus, Web of Science and Pubmed through Medline identified 431 articles, which were reduced to 206 when duplicates were removed. 8 articles were screened, and 1 excluded after reading the full-text, leaving 7 studies. 6 of these were randomised controlled trials, and 1 a non-randomised controlled clinical trial., Study Selection: Studies selected were either blinded, double-blinded, split-mouth clinical studies, comparative or controlled clinical studies, or randomised controlled trials in humans. There were no limitations on year of publication or language of studies. Most studies had a control of mechanical debridement (MD) with adjuvant antibiotics; 1 was surgical therapy. The test group was MD with adjuvant phototherapy. Exclusions were in vitro reports, animal studies, treatment with sole laser therapy, treatment with no additional antimicrobial therapy alongside MD. Pre-prints, reviews, abstracts, opinion articles, editorials, case reports and case series were also excluded., Data Extraction and Synthesis: Data were extracted electronically by a single author and a senior librarian from the 3 databases. Titles and abstracts of articles were screened by the author if they contained Medical Subject Headings either in free terms or with Boolean operators. Full text studies that met the inclusion criteria were included. Data were also searched manually in 6 journals. For missing or conflicting information, the author of the article was contacted for clarification. Data extracted were country of origin of article, study design, sample size, research groups, diagnostic criteria, frequency of intervention, follow-up visits, and outcome of parameters which included clinically: plaque index (PI), probing depth (PD), bleeding on probing (BOP) and radiographically: crestal bone loss (CBL). Additional data on lasers were also collected, although not all studies had complete data on this. RevMan was used for statistical analysis. Inconsistencies were evaluated using I 2 value > 50% and Cochrane's Q test, with a P value < 0.05 considered. Standard Mean Differences (SMD) were calculated and Confidence Interval was set at 95%. A random effects model was used for each meta-analysis., Results: PI had no statistical difference, with high heterogeneity. PD had no statistical difference, with no heterogeneity. BOP had a statistically significant difference and a high level of heterogeneity, favouring adjunctive phototherapy. MBL had statistically non-significant differences between control and test groups, and no heterogeneity., Conclusions: The findings from the systematic review differed from the meta-analysis, suggesting that application of adjuvant phototherapy was equally as effective as adjunctive antibiotic therapy in outcomes such as PI, PD, BOP and MBL. The meta-analysis found that implants treated with adjuvant phototherapy had superior outcomes in relation to BOP only., Competing Interests: Competing interests: The author declares no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to British Dental Association.)

The issue of environmental protection has received sustained and widespread attention. In order to reduce environmental pollution related to traditional plastics, it is an incessant demand to design novel environment-friendly food packaging materials with excellent performance. Sulfated polysaccharide extracted from the "green tide" marine pollution Enteromorpha prolifera (SPE) has been innovatively transformed into a film-forming material for better utilization. The insufficient mechanical properties and limited functionalities, however, hinder its wide application. In this study, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was blended to enhance its mechanical properties and ε-polylysine (ε-PL) was incorporated to endow it with antimicrobial performance. A novel and biodegradable film composed of SPE, PVA, and ε-PL was fabricated by casting method. We further determined the physicochemical properties of composited films. Mechanical performance test revealed the tensile strength of SPE-PVA-PL films increased from 5.56 MPa to 6.65 MPa and the E% increased from 128.8 % to 246.9 % compared with that of SPE-PVA films. Antimicrobial tests showed the excellent antibacterial activity of SPE-PVA-PL films against representative microbial species, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The results of this study suggested that the SPE-based composite film has the potential to be used as a potential food packaging and wound dressing materials., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Enhanced anti-bacterial properties and thermal regulation are realized in cotton fabrics cross-linked with hybrid poly(di(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate-co-oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate-co-ethylene glycol methacrylate) nanogels containing gold nanoparticles (Au NPs), denoted as hybrid P(MA-co-MA 300 -co-EGMA)/Au nanogels. Pure P(MA-co-MA 300 -co-EGMA) nanogels are synthesized by emulsion polymerization as carriers and then embedded with Au NPs via in-situ reduction. By applying 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid as a cross-linker and changing the amount of hybrid P(MA-co-MA 300 -co-EGMA)/Au nanogels in solution, the weight gain ratios of hybrid nanogels on cotton fabrics are set as 10 % (CHN-10) and 20 % (CHN-20). Due to the densely packed structure of the hybrid nanogels on the surface, the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect of the Au NPs improves the photothermal conversion capability and converts the absorbed light energy into thermal energy. Simply illuminating with visible light, the surface temperature of CHN-20 pronouncedly increases from 20.4 to 43.0 °C in 50 s. The increased local temperature induces the denaturation of protein and the death of bacteria on the surface. Thus, an illumination with visible light for 2 h results in an anti-bacterial rate for S. aureus of 100 % for CHN-20. Additionally, it presents an excellent thermal regulation capability via photothermal conversion and can be used for continuously maintaining human body temperature in cold areas. Because no additional chemical agents and external power source are required for the anti-bacterial properties and thermal regulation, the obtained cotton fabrics cross-linked with hybrid P(MA-co-MA 300 -co-EGMA)/Au nanogels are eco-friendly and suitable for smart textiles in daily wear., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The development of multidrug resistance by pathogenic bacteria and yeast is a significant medical problem that needs to be addressed. One possible answer could be the combined use of antibiotics and silver nanoparticles, which have different mechanisms of antimicrobial action. In the same way, these nanoparticles can be combined with antifungal agents. Biogenic silver nanoparticles synthesized using environmentally friendly biosynthesis technology using extracts of biologically active plants are an effective nanomaterial that needs to be comprehensively investigated for implementation into medical practice. In this study, the synergistic effects arising from their combined use with antibiotics and fungicides against various bacteria and yeasts were studied. The following methods were used: disco-diffusion analysis and construction of plankton culture growth curves. The synergistic effect of silver nanoparticles and antibiotics (fungicides) has been determined. Effective concentrations of substances were established, recommendations for the studied pathogenic species were presented, and the effect of destruction of the bacterial membrane was illustrated. The most significant synergistic effect was manifested in pathogenic candida and brewer's yeast.

The emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in coastal waters is a global health problem posing potential risks to the health of humans who depend on coastal resources. Monitoring and increased efforts are needed to maintain the health of marine ecosystems. The sea surface microlayer (SML) is poorly studied for antibiotic resistance of the inhabiting bacteria. Therefore, we examined the antibiotic resistance patterns of 41 bacterial strains isolated from the SML in a harbor in the southern North Sea. The strains are affiliated with 17 genera typically found in the marine environment. Using the disc diffusion assay, we found extensive resistance, particularly to gentamycin, kanamycin, nalidixic acid, penicillin, sulfadimidine, and streptomycin. A broth microdilution assay showed high minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for most isolates for amikacin, aztreonam, ceftazidime, cefepime, minocycline, and tobramycin. Genome analysis of three strains affiliated with the genera Pseudoseohaeicola, Nereida, and Vibrio, all showing a highly resistant phenotype, revealed the presence of 57, 42, and 90 genes, respectively, associated with antibiotic resistance. Over 50 % of these genes are multidrug efflux pumps. Our study shows that the SML in anthropogenic-influenced coastal regions harbors a wide diversity of antibiotic-resistant bacteria equipped with a broad range of multidrug efflux pumps., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Silica-poly (vinylpyrrolidone) hybrid material was prepared using the sol-gel method. Tetramethyl ortosilane (TMOS) was used as a silica precursor. XRD analysis established that the as-prepared material is amorphous. The morphological structure of the final product was determined by the incorporated PVP. The UV-Vis analysis showed that the obtained hybrid exhibited absorption in the ultraviolet range. The antimicrobial activity of the SiO 2 /15PVP hybrid material was tested on Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 14990, Salmonella typhimurium ATCC BAA-2162, Candida albicans , and Saccharomyces cerevisiae in combination with the following antibiotics: Vancomycin for Gram-positive bacteria, Ciprofloxacin for Gram-negative bacteria, and Nystatin for yeast. The results confirmed a concentration-dependent synergistic effect of the antibiotic in combination with the TM15/PVP hybrid particles, especially at their highest concentration of 100 mg/mL on Gram-positive bacteria and for the Gram-negative Salmonella . On Candida albicans ATCC 18804 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae CCY 21-6-3, the effect was synergistic again, and a fungicidal effect was observed at 6.25 and 1.50 mg/mL for the antibiotic concentration and concentrations of hybrid material at 100 mg/mL. The toxicity on Daphnia magna was also tested. The registered prooxidant activity of SiO 2 /15PVP shows possible applications at very low concentrations. The obtained results demonstrate the possibility of clinical implementations of the newly synthesized hybrid material.

Severe cutaneous injuries may not heal spontaneously and may necessitate the use of supplementary therapeutic methods. Electrospun nanofibers possess high porosity and specific surface area, which provide the necessary microenvironment for wound healing. Here in, the nanofibers of Soluplus-soy protein isolate (Sol-SPI) containing mupirocin (Mp) were fabricated via electrospinning for wound treatment. The fabricated nanofibers exhibited water absorption capacities of about 300.83 ± 29.72% and water vapor permeability values of about 821.8 ± 49.12 g/m 2 day. The Sol/SPI/Mp nanofibers showed an in vitro degradability of 33.73 ± 3.55% after 5 days. The ultimate tensile strength, elastic modulus, and elongation of the Sol/SPI/Mp nanofibers were measured as 3.61 ± 0.29 MPa, 39.15 ± 5.08 MPa, and 59.11 ± 1.94%, respectively. Additionally, 85.90 ± 6.02% of Mp loaded in the nanofibers was released in 5 days in vitro, and by applying the Mp-loaded nanofibers, 93.06 ± 5.40% and 90.40 ± 5.66% of S. aureus and E. coli bacteria were killed, respectively. Human keratinocyte cells (HaCat) demonstrated notable biocompatibility with the prepared nanofibers. Furthermore, compare to other groups, Sol-SPI-Mp nanofibers caused the fastest re-epithelialization and wound healing in a rat model. The findings of this study present a novel nanofiber-based wound dressing that accelerates the healing of severe skin wounds with the risk of infection., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Klebsiella pneumoniae, common pathogenic bacteria, cause dangerous infectious diseases in animals and humans. Klebsiella pneumoniae have numerous resistance mechanisms to antibacterials and the frequency of resistant K. pneumoniae isolates increases, making treatment of K. pneumoniae-induced infections difficult. Farm animals are a possible source of antibacterial resistant K. pneumoniae. The aim of this literature review (2018-2024) was to evaluate the antibacterial resistance of K. pneumoniae isolated from poultry, cattle and pigs in various countries. The analysis shows that farm animals are an important source of antibacterial-resistant and multidrug-resistant K. pneumoniae and that resistance patterns differ among antibacterial groups, animals and locations. In poultry, high resistance to penicillins (91%), III and IV generation cephalosporins (> 50%) occurred, and low to carbapenems (5%) and polymyxins (6%). In cattle, high resistance to sulphonamides (76%), IV generation cephalosporins, macrolides and lincosamides, and penicillins occurred (> 50%), and low to carbapenems (10%) and polymyxins (1%). Isolates from pigs showed high resistance to I and II-generation cephalosporins, I-generation fluoroquinolones, macrolides and lincosamides, tetracyclines (> 50%) and carbapenems (> 20%), and low to polymyxins (5%). The highest resistance rates to most antibacterial groups occurred in pigs, and in Africa and Asia, while the lowest in cattle, and in North and South America. Particularly, the relatively high resistance of K. pneumoniae to carbapenems and polymyxins in Africa poses a threat to animal and human health as these antibiotics are the last resort therapeutics used to treat severe infections. Different rates of K. pneumoniae resistance to antibacterials among isolates from farm animals probably result from differences in the treatment of each animal group with various antibacterial agents and different regimes of their use in various locations., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Mechanism of direct UV photolysis of the zwitterionic and anionic forms of the quinolone antibiotic ciprofloxacin (CIP) was revealed by combination of nanosecond laser flash photolysis, steady-state photolysis coupled with high resolution LC-MS and DFT quantum-chemical calculations. For both forms, the main intermediate is a dissociative triplet state, which loses a fluorine ion to form a triplet carbocation; subsequent solvent attack of the latter leads to the formation of products of hydroxylation both the aromatic ring and the piperazyl substituent. Correspondingly, the quantum yield of photolysis of both CIP forms does not depend on the excitation wavelength, but depends on the concentration of dissolved oxygen. Secondary photolysis leads to a number of products of oxidation of the aromatic system, as well as oxidation, opening and full destruction of the piperazinyl substituent. The results obtained may be important for understanding the fate of quinolone antibiotics in UVC disinfection processes and in natural waters under the action of sunlight., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: An increasing number of pediatric patients with mastoiditis and a consequent increase in mastoidectomy rates was noted in 2022 and 2023., Objective: This study aimed to analyze the increase in the number of children presenting with mastoiditis and subsequent mastoidectomy, to assess correlations with prior antibiotic treatment or COVID-19 infection, and to provide an overview of involved pathogens, treatment, and disease course., Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of all patients with mastoidectomy since 2012 was conducted. Data collected comprised type and duration symptoms, prior antibiotic therapy, diagnostic tests and disease course, causal pathogens, length of hospitalization, and complications., Results: A highly significant increase in mastoidectomies in children could be demonstrated from 2022. Neither the pathogens involved nor the course of disease or complications showed differences. An increase in the number of patients with prior outpatient antibiotic therapy could be shown. About a half of the patients becoming ill after fall 2022 had a positive history of COVID. Hyperplasia of adenoid tissue was a far less frequent causal mechanism than in the years before COVID., Conclusion: No clear correlation with reduced outpatient antibiotic therapy could be found. Whether there exists an association with prior COVID infection cannot be judged at this time, due to the high number of asymptomatic and therefore unknown COVID infections., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Neurotoxins produced by Clostridium (C.) botulinum group III are responsible for the majority of botulism outbreaks occurring in animals and in this study we report the drug susceptibility of 71 field strains. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 13 antimicrobials was established through the agar dilution method. The MIC 50 matched or differed for one or two dilutions from MIC 90 of the same antimicrobial, showing a unimodal distribution of the MIC values, irrespective of the geographical origin, the animal source and the toxinotype of the strain. Beta-lactams and rifampin showed the lowest MIC values, while gentamicin, polymyxin B and sulfamethoxazole showed the highest MICs. As for similar studies conducted in human botulism, the results could be helpful to avoid the administration of antimicrobials that could worsen the health condition of the affected animals and to develop selective media for the isolation of these fastidious anaerobes. Indeed, the isolation of the strain from affected animals and from environmental samples is important to perform epidemiological studies based on the genetic characterization and to produce tailor-made vaccines., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Infections resulting from microorganisms pose an ongoing global public health challenge, necessitating the constant development of novel antimicrobial approaches. Utilizing photocatalytic materials to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) presents an appealing strategy for combating microbial threats. In alignment with this perspective, sodium titanate nanotubes were prepared by scalable hydrothermal method using TiO 2 and NaOH. Ag, Au, and Ag/Au-modified titanate nanotubes (TNTs) were prepared by a cost-effective and simple ion-exchange method. All samples were characterized by XRD, FT-IR, HRTEM, and DLS techniques. HRTEM images indicated that the tubular structure was preserved in all TNTs even after the replacement of Na + with Ag + and/or Au 3+ ions. The antibacterial activity in dark and sunlight conditions was evaluated using different bacterial strains, Staphylococcus aureus , Escherichia coli , and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The results showed that while a low bacterial count (∼log 5 cells per well) was used for inoculation, the TNTs exhibited no antibacterial activity against the three bacterial strains, regardless of whether they were tested under light or dark conditions. However, the plasmonic nanoparticle-decorated TNTs showed remarkable activity in the dark. Additionally, Ag/Au-TNTs demonstrated significantly higher activity in the dark compared with either Ag-TNTs or Au-TNTs alone. Notably, under dark conditions, the Au/Ag-TNTs achieved log reductions of up to 4.5 for P. aeruginosa , 5 for S. aureus , and 3.7 for E. coli . However, when exposed to sunlight, Au/Ag-TNTs resulted in a complete reduction (log reduction ∼9) for P. aeruginosa and E. coli . The combination of two plasmonic nanoparticles (Ag/Au) decorated on the surface of TNTs showed synergetic bactericidal activity under both dark and light conditions. Ag/Au-TNTs could be explored to design surfaces that are responsive to visible light and exhibit antimicrobial properties.

A series of new isatin-3-hydrazones bearing different ammonium fragments was synthesized by a simple and easy work-up reaction of Girard's reagents analogs with 1-(3,5-di- tert -butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl)isatin. All derivatives have been shown to have antioxidant properties. In terms of bactericidal activity against gram-positive bacteria, including methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus , the best compounds are 3a , 3e , and 3m , bearing octyl, acetal, and brucine ammonium centers, respectively. In addition, brucine and quinine derivatives 3l , and 3j exhibit platelet antiaggregation activity at the level of acetylsalicylic acid, and this series of isatin derivatives does not adversely affect the hemostasis system as a whole. Thus, all the obtained results can lay the groundwork for future pharmaceutical developments for the creation of effective antibacterial drugs with reduced systemic toxicity due to the presence of antioxidant properties.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are short, usually cationic peptides with an amphiphilic structure, which allows them to easily bind and interact with the cellular membranes of viruses, bacteria, fungi, and other pathogens. Bacterial AMPs, or bacteriocins, can be produced from Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria via ribosomal synthesis to eliminate competing organisms. Bacterial AMPs are vital in addressing the increasing antibiotic resistance of various pathogens, potentially serving as an alternative to ineffective antibiotics. Bacteriocins have a narrow spectrum of action, making them highly specific antibacterial compounds that target particular bacterial pathogens. This review covers the two main groups of bacteriocins produced by Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, their modes of action, classification, sources of positive effects they can play on the human body, and their limitations and future perspectives as an alternative to antibiotics.

New 2-pyrrolamidobenzothiazole-based inhibitors of mycobacterial DNA gyrase were discovered. Among these, compounds 49 and 51, show excellent antibacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium abscessus with a notable preference for mycobacteria. Both compounds can penetrate infected macrophages and reduce intracellular M. tuberculosis load. Compound 51 is a potent inhibitor of DNA gyrase (M. tuberculosis DNA gyrase IC 50  = 4.1 nM, Escherichia coli DNA gyrase IC 50 of <10 nM), selective for bacterial topoisomerases. It displays low MIC 90 values (M. tuberculosis: 0.63 μM; M. abscessus: 2.5 μM), showing specificity for mycobacteria, and no apparent toxicity. Compound 49 not only displays potent antimycobacterial activity (MIC 90 values of 2.5 μM for M. tuberculosis and 0.63 μM for M. abscessus) and selectivity for mycobacteria but also exhibits favorable solubility (kinetic solubility = 55 μM) and plasma protein binding (with a fraction unbound of 2.9 % for human and 4.7 % for mouse). These findings underscore the potential of fine-tuning molecular properties to develop DNA gyrase B inhibitors that specifically target the mycobacterial chemical space, mitigating the risk of resistance development in non-target pathogens and minimizing harm to the microbiome., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.)

This paper presents the surface treatment results of titanium, veterinary bone wedges. The functional coating is composed of a porous oxide layer (formed by a plasma electrolytic oxidation process) and a polymer poly(sebacic anhydride) (PSBA) layer loaded with amoxicillin (formed by dip coatings). The coatings were porous and composed of Ca (4.16%-6.54%) and P (7.64%-9.89% determined by scanning electron microscopy with EDX) in the upper part of the implant. The titanium bone wedges were hydrophilic (54° water contact angle) and rough (surface area (Sa):1.16 μm) The surface tension determined using diiodomethane was 68.6 ± 2.0° for the anodized implant and was similar for hybrid coatings: 60.7 ± 2.2°. 12.87 ± 0.91 µg/mL of amoxicillin was released from the implants during the first 30 min after immersion in the phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) solution. This concentration was enough to inhibit the Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, and Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC12228 growth. The obtained inhibition zones were between 27.3 ± 2.1 mm-30.7 ± 0.6 mm when implant extract after 1 h or 4 h immersion in PBS was collected. Various implant biocompatibility analyses were performed under in vivo conditions, including pyrogen test (3 rabbits), intracutaneous reactivity (3 rabbits, 5 places by side), acute systemic toxicity (20 house mice), and local lymph node assay (LLNA) (20 house mice). The extracts from implants were collected in polar and non-polar solutions, and the tests were conducted according to ISO 10993 standards. The results from the in vivo tests showed, that the implant's extracts are not toxic (mass body change below 5%), not sensitizing (SI < 1.6), and do not show the pyrogen effect (changes in the temperature 0.15ºC). The biocompatibility tests were performed in a certificated laboratory with a good laboratory practice certificate after all the necessary permissions., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

We report the design, synthesis, and antimicrobial evaluation of a series of ciprofloxacin (CP) conjugates coupled with nitrogen-containing heterocycles. In vitro screening of these new hybrid compounds (1-13) against a panel of planktonic bacterial strains highlighted thiazolyl homologs 6 and 7 as the most promising candidates for further investigation. These derivatives demonstrated potent growth-inhibitory activity against various standard and clinical isolates, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 0.05 to 0.4 µg/ml, which are higher or comparable to the reference fluoroquinolone. Both compounds effectively inhibited biofilm formation by selected staphylococci across all tested concentrations (1-8 x MIC), displaying greater efficacy at higher doses compared to CP alone. Notably, conjugate 7 also significantly eradicated existing biofilms formed by S. aureus of various origin. Molecular docking studies revealed that conjugate 7 engages in a broader range of interactions with DNA gyrase and DNA topoisomerase IV than CP, suggesting stronger binding affinity and enhanced flexibility. This may contribute to its potential in overcoming bacterial resistance mechanisms. The above findings indicate compound 7 as a promising candidate for clinical development., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper, (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.)

Over last years, hydrogels based on natural polymers have attracted considerable interest as materials for wound healing. Herein, hydrogel films based on kappa-carrageenan and guanidinium polyampholytes were prepared by the in situ physical cross-linking with potassium chloride and borax, respectively. The polyampholytes were obtained by a free radical copolymerization of 2,2-diallyl-1,1,3,3-tetraethylguanidinium chloride and unsaturated acids. To characterize the composite films, NMR, FTIR, SEM, TGA, XRD, element analysis and tensile test were used. Ampicillin was incorporated into the hydrogels to enhance wound healing potential. The healing-related characteristics, including swelling ratio, drug release and antimicrobial activity, were assessed. The equilibrium swelling ratios were in the range of 3.9-6.5 depending on the polyampholyte composition. According to the in vitro ampicillin release studies, 30-43 % of ampicillin was released from the hydrogels after 5 h at 37 °C and pH 7.4, with drug release being temperature and pH dependent. The ampicillin-loaded films showed a remarkable antimicrobial effect. The inhibition sizes for Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were 1.10-1.85 and 1.95-2.60 cm, respectively. Although the bi-polymeric hydrogels were thoroughly characterized, with the in vitro study of their biocidal effects carried out in this work, the in vivo drug release assessment needs to be further explored., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Marina Gorbunova reports financial support was provided by Russian Science Foundation. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Periprosthetic joint infections (PJI) pose a significant challenge in orthopaedic surgery, often requiring extensive surgical debridement and prolonged antibiotic treatment to eliminate the causative pathogens. Rifampin, known for its potent activity against biofilms, has been crucial in managing PJI by penetrating and disrupting these formations, thereby improving treatment efficacy. In this sense, antibiotic protocols lacking rifampin have shown increased failure rates. Consequently, the development of rifampin resistance could severely influence the prognosis of PJI. The aim of this clinical study was to assess how rifampin resistance affects the functional outcome in patients with PJI. In this single-centre comparative cohort study, we systematically documented all patients who presented with a PJI during the period spanning from 2018 to 2020. Two distinct groups were established for the study: Group 1 comprised 35 patients with a PJI caused by rifampin-susceptible pathogens and group 2 consisted of 28 patients with PJI caused by rifampin-resistant pathogens. A total of 63 patients (34 females) with a mean age of 68 years and a mean follow up of 37 months were included. The examination of patient-specific parameters did not reveal any identified risk factors as influential. Patients with a rifampin-resistant pathogen underwent a greater number of surgical revisions (6.9 ± 5.1 compared to 3.59 ± 3.39, p = 0.0011) and had extended durations of antibiotic treatment (p = 0.0052). The results of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score revealed significant differences in clinical outcome between both groups in every domain, even when stratified by acute and chronic entities. In total the WOMAC increased significantly from 21.57 ± 14.9 points in group 1 to 71.47 ± 62.7 points in group 2 (p < 0.001). The higher failure rates observed in group 2 were not statistically significant (p = 0.44). The current study demonstrates that PJI caused by rifampin-resistant bacteria are associated with a significantly worse functional outcome in both acute and chronic infection types without significantly affecting total failure rates., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest, (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Laser texturing seems to be a promising technique for reducing bacterial adhesion on titanium implant surfaces. This work aims to demonstrate the possibility of obtaining a functionally orientated surface of titanium implant elements with a specific architecture with specific bacteriological and photocatalytic properties. Femtosecond laser-generated surface structures, such as laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS, wrinkles), grooves, and spikes on titanium, have been characterised by XRD, Raman spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The photocatalytic activity of the titanium surfaces produced was tested based on the degradation effect of methylene blue (MB). The correlation between the photocatalytic activity of TiO 2 coatings and their morphology and structure has been analysed. Features related to the size, shape, and distribution of the roughness patterns were found to influence the adhesion of the bacterial strain on different surfaces. On the laser-structurised surface, the adhesion of Escherichia coli bacteria were reduced by 80% compared to an untreated reference surface., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Membrane-active antimicrobial materials are promising substances to fight antimicrobial resistance. Herein, crystallization-driven self-assembly (CDSA) is employed for the preparation of nanoparticles with different morphologies, and their bioactivity is explored. Block copolymers (BCPs) featuring a crystallizable and antimicrobial block were synthesized using a combination of ring-opening and photoiniferter RAFT polymerizations. Subsequently formed nanostructures formed by CDSA could not be deprotected without degradation of the structures. CDSA of deprotected BCPs yielded 2D diamond-shaped nanoplatelets in MeOH, while spherical nanostructures were observed for assembly in water. Platelets exhibited improved antibacterial capabilities against two Gram-negative bacteria ( Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ) compared to their spherical counterparts. The absence of hemolytic activity leads to the excellent selectivity of platelets. A mechanism based on membrane permeabilization was confirmed via dye-leakage assays. This study emphasized the impact of the shape of nanostructures on their interaction with bacterial cells and how a controlled assembly can improve bioactivity.

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Staphylococcus aureus infections significantly threaten global health. With rising resistance to current antibiotics and limited solutions, the urgent discovery of new, effective, and affordable antibacterials with low toxicity is imperative to combat diverse MDR S. aureus strains. Hence, in this study, we introduce an in silico phytochemical-based approach for discovering novel antibacterial agents, underscoring the potential of computational approaches in therapeutic discovery. Glucomoringin Isothiocyanate (GMG-ITC) from Moringa oleifera Lam. is one of the phytochemical compounds with several biological activities, including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities, and is also effective against S. aureus. This study focuses on screening GMG-ITC as a potential drug candidate to combat MDR S. aureus infections through a molecular docking approach. Moreover, interaction amino acid analysis, in silico pharmacokinetics, compound target prediction, pathway enrichment analysis and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were conducted for further investigation. Molecular docking and interaction analysis showed strong binding affinity towards S. aureus lipase, dihydrofolate reductase, and other MDR S. aureus proteins, including penicillin-binding protein 2a, MepR, D-Ala:D-Ala ligase, and RPP TetM, through hydrophilic and hydrophobic interactions. GMG-ITC also showed a strong binding affinity to cyclooxygenase-2 and FAD-dependent NAD(P)H oxidase, suggesting that it is a potential anti-inflammatory and antioxidant candidate that may eliminate inflammation and oxidative stress associated with S. aureus infections. MD simulations validated the stability of the GMG-ITC molecular interactions determined by molecular docking. In silico pharmacokinetic analysis highlights its potency as a drug candidate, showing strong absorption, distribution, and excretion properties in combination with low toxicity. It acts as an active protease and enzyme inhibitor with moderate activity against GPCR ligands, ion channels, nuclear receptor ligands, and kinases. Enrichment analysis further elucidated its involvement in important biological, molecular, and cellular functions with potential therapeutic applications in diseases like cancer, hepatitis B, and influenza. Results suggest that GMG-ITC is an effective antibacterial agent that could treat MDR S. aureus-associated infections., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Gram-positive catalase-negative cocci (GPCNCs) are significant components of the genital microbiota in sheep and goats. However, characterizing them can be difficult due to overlapping culture features and the limited information on their susceptibility to antibiotics. In this study, 97 foreskin and 13 vaginal swabs were investigated using a culturomic approach. Of 110 animals, 76 (69.09 %) hosted GPCNCs, including strains from Streptococcaceae (37, 33.64 %), Aerococcaceae (30, 27.27 %), Enterococcaceae (6, 5.45 %) and other minor species. With increasing antimicrobial resistance rates in livestock, surveillance programs are globally required, so we conducted a pilot study on GPCNCs isolated from the genital mucosa surfaces of sheep and goats using the minimal inhibitory concentration assay (MIC). Due to gaps in interpretative standard breakpoints, normalized resistance interpretation was used for setting epidemiological susceptibility cut-off values (CO WTs ). Of 57 suitable strains, the majority (80.71 %) showed high CO WTs with decrease susceptibility to at least one antimicrobial class, with 22.81 % displaying multiresistant profiles. Of interest, combined resistances to beta-lactams, macrolides, lincosamides, and tetracyclines were detected in strains of Streptococcus plurianimalium. Further combinations, including resistance to beta-lactams, pleuromutilins, aminoglycosides, and lincosamides, were also recorded in both Streptococcus uberis and Enterococcus spp. strains. Being beta-lactams, macrolides, and tetracyclines the most used antibiotics in livestock worldwide, our results highlight the need for their prudent use. Collectively, our findings highlight that small ruminant genital microbiota can serve as reservoirs for opportunistic severe pathogens, often zoonotic, carrying multidrug resistances, thus standing for high risks for both animals and humans., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of antibiotics is an important parameter for the potency of a drug in eradicating a bacterium as well as an important measure of the potential of a drug candidate in research and development. We have established a fluorescence-based microscopy method for the determination of MBCs against the non-tuberculous mycobacterium Mycobacterium abscessus (Mycobacteroides abscessus) to simplify and accelerate the performance of MBC determination compared to counting colony forming units on agar. Bacteria are labelled with the trehalose-coupled dye 3HC-2-Tre and analysed in a 96-well plate. The results of the new method are consistent with MBC determination by plating on agar. The method was used to evaluate the bactericidality of the antibiotics rifabutin, moxifloxacin, amikacin, clarithromycin and bedaquiline. Bactericidal effects against M. abscessus were observed, which are consistent with literature data., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Adrian Richter reports financial support was provided by German Research Foundation. Adrian Richter reports financial support was provided by Deutsche Mukoviszidose Stiftung. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The present study describes a novel antimicrobial mechanism based on Sodium Orthovanadate (SOV), an alkaline phosphatase inhibitor. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were employed to examine the surface morphologies of the test organism, Escherichia coli (E. coli), during various antibacterial phases. Our results indicated that SOV kills bacteria by attacking cell wall growth and development, leaving E. coli's outer membrane intact. Our antimicrobial test indicated that the MIC of SOV for both E. coli and Lactococcus lactis (L. lactis) is 40 μM. A combination of quantum mechanical calculations and vibrational spectroscopy revealed that divanadate from SOV strongly coordinates with Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ , which are the activity centers for the phosphatase that regulates bacterial cell wall synthesis. The current study is the first to propose the antibacterial mechanism caused by SOV attacking cell wall., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

The integrity of the protective mucus layer as a primary defense against pathogen invasion and microbial leakage into the intestinal epithelium can be compromised by the effects of antibiotics on the commensal microbiome. Changes in mucus integrity directly affect the solvent viscosity in the immediate vicinity of the mucin network, that is, the nanoviscosity, which in turn affects both biochemical reactions and selective transport. To assess mucus nanoviscosity, a reliable readout via the viscosity-dependent fluorescence lifetime of the molecular rotor dye cyanine 3 is established and nanoviscosities from porcine and murine ex vivo mucus are determined. To account for different mucin concentrations due to the removal of digestive residues during mucus collection, the power law dependence of mucin concentration on viscosity is used. The impact of antibiotics combinations (meropenem/vancomycin, gentamycin/ampicillin) on ex vivo intestinal mucus nanoviscosity is presented. The significant increase in viscosity of murine intestinal mucus after treatment suggests an effect of antibiotics on the microbiota that affects mucus integrity. This method will be a useful tool to assess how drugs, directly or indirectly, affect mucus integrity. Additionally, the method can be utilized to analyze the role of mucus nanoviscosity in health and disease, as well as in drug development., (© 2024 The Author(s). Macromolecular Bioscience published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Hair follicle-penetrating nanoparticles offer a promising avenue for targeted antibiotic delivery, especially in challenging infections like acne inversa or folliculitis decalvans. However, demonstrating their efficacy with existing preclinical models remains difficult. This study presents an innovative approach using a 3D in vitro organ culture system with human hair follicles to investigate the hypothesis that antibiotic nanocarriers may reach bacteria within the follicular cleft more effectively than free drugs. Living human hair follicles were transplanted into a collagen matrix within a 3D printed polymer scaffold to replicate the follicle's microenvironment. Hair growth kinetics over 7 days resembled those of simple floating cultures. In the 3D model, fluorescent nanoparticles exhibited some penetration into the follicle, not observed in floating cultures. Staphylococcus aureus bacteria displayed similar distribution profiles postinfection of follicles. While rifampicin-loaded lipid nanocapsules were as effective as free rifampicin in floating cultures, only nanoencapsulated rifampicin achieved the same reduction of CFU/mL in the 3D model. This underscores the hair follicle microenvironment's critical role in limiting conventional antibiotic treatment efficacy. By mimicking this microenvironment, the 3D model demonstrates the advantage of topically administered nanocarriers for targeted antibiotic therapy against follicular infections.

The bactericidal activity of several antibiotics partially relies on the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which is generally linked to enhanced respiration and requires the Fenton reaction. Bacterial persister cells, an important cause of recurring infections, are tolerant to these antibiotics because they are in a dormant state. Here, we use Bacillus subtilis cells in stationary phase, as a model system of dormant cells, to show that pharmacological induction of membrane depolarization enhances the antibiotics' bactericidal activity and also leads to ROS production. However, in contrast to previous studies, this results primarily in production of superoxide radicals and does not require the Fenton reaction. Genetic analyzes indicate that Rieske factor QcrA, the iron-sulfur subunit of respiratory complex III, seems to be a primary source of superoxide radicals. Interestingly, the membrane distribution of QcrA changes upon membrane depolarization, suggesting a dissociation of complex III. Thus, our data reveal an alternative mechanism by which antibiotics can cause lethal ROS levels, and may partially explain why membrane-targeting antibiotics are effective in eliminating persisters., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

There are still no linear antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) available as a treatment option against bacterial infections. This is caused by several drawbacks that come with AMPs such as limited proteolytic stability and low selectivity against human cells. In this work, we screened a small library of rationally designed new peptides based on the cell-penetrating peptide sC18* toward their antimicrobial activity. We identified several effective novel AMPs and chose one out of this group to further increase its potency. Therefore, we introduced a triazole bridge at different positions to provide a preformed helical structure, assuming that this modification would improve (i) proteolytic stability and (ii) membrane activity. Indeed, placing the triazole bridge within the hydrophilic part of the linear analogue highly increased membrane activity as well as stability against enzymatic digestion. The new peptides, 8A and 8B, demonstrated high activity against several bacterial species tested including pathogenic N. gonorrhoeae and methicillin-resistant S. aureus . Since they exhibited significantly good tolerability against human fibroblast and blood cells, these novel peptides offer true alternatives for future clinical applications and are worth studying in more detail.

A four-step synthesis of the natural product pseudane IX, starting from 3-oxododecanoic acid phenylamide and including only one chromatographic purification, was accomplished with an overall yield of 52%. The same synthetic sequence, but with a controlled partial reduction of a nitro group in the penultimate intermediate, led to the N -oxide of pseudane IX (NQNO). A shortened three-step variation of the synthesis allowed for the preparation of novel carboxamide analogs of the natural product. An agar diffusion assay against six different bacterial strains revealed significant antibacterial activity of the novel analogs against S. aureus at a concentration of 100 µg/mL. One of the novel compounds showed a remarkably broad spectrum of antibacterial activity, comparable to that of the positive control NQNO.

Aim: Zinc salicylaldimines may act as multidrug agents. Results: Three zinc salicylaldimines C1-C3 and respective ligands HL 1 - HL 3 were examined for antimicrobial/anticancer drug action and C3 was structurally analyzed (tetrahedral, triclinic). Against two fungi, C1 inhibited Candida albicans with 12 mm (21 mm for amphotericin B). Among four bacteria, two ligands inhibited Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli (9-10 mm), but the complexes inhibited all bacteria with 10-14 mm (21-26 mm for ampicillin). The half-maximal inhibitory concentrations for the ligands, complexes and doxorubicin were 195.5-310.7, 22.18-70.05 and 9.66 μM against cancerous MCF-7 cells and 186.4-199.9, 14.95-18.87 and 36.42 μM against normal BHK cells. Conclusion: The complexation produced pronounced enhancement in the ligand antimicrobial/anticancer activities, despite these activities are moderate comparing with standards.

QSAR studies on the number of compounds tested as S. aureus inhibitors were performed using an interactive Online Chemical Database and Modeling Environment (OCHEM) web platform. The predictive ability of the developed consensus QSAR model was q 2 =0.79±0.02. The consensus prediction for the external evaluation set afforded high predictive power (q 2 =0.82±0.03). The models were applied to screen a virtual chemical library with anti-S. aureus activity. Six promising new bicyclic trifluoromethylated pyrroles were identified, synthesized and evaluated in vitro against S. aureus, E. coli, and A. baumannii for their antibacterial activity and against C. albicans, C. krusei and C. glabrata for their antifungal activity. The synthesized compounds were characterized by 1 H, 19 F, and 13 C NMR and elemental analysis. The antimicrobial activity assessment indicated that trifluoromethylated pyrroles 9 and 11 demonstrated the greatest antibacterial and antifungal effects against all the tested pathogens, especially against multidrug-resistant strains. The acute toxicity of the compounds to Daphnia magna ranged from 1.21 to 33.39 mg/L (moderately and slightly toxic). Based on the docking results, it can be suggested that the antibacterial and antifungal effects of the compounds can be explained by the inhibition of bacterial wall component synthesis., (© 2024 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.)

Orthodontic adhesive doped with sulfur-modified TiO 2 promotes antibacterial effect. The objective of the study was to characterize the physical, mechanical and antibacterial properties of the orthodontic bracket adhesive, doped with modified titanium dioxide nanoparticles. Sulfur-doped TiO 2 was synthetized and morphological topography was analyzed with TEM and SEM imaging. The catalytic performance during the degradation of rhodamine B was assessed. Nanomaterial was added at four concentration (1, 3, 6, and 10 wt%) to a commercial orthodontic adhesive. The shear bond strength and microhardness of a resin-based orthodontic adhesive containing S-TiO 2 were evaluated. The inhibitory effect of the pure and doped adhesives against Escherichia coli and Streptococcus mutans was examined. As the results, the highest antimicrobial activity and good adhesive properties were noticed for light-cured orthodontic adhesive doped with 3% of S-TiO 2 . In this case, orthodontic adhesives with strong and long-lasting bactericidal properties can be created through the incorporation of modified TiO 2 without negatively influencing microhardnesses, and bonding ability. White spot lesion and demineralization, which occurs very often in patients during orthodontic treatment, can be therefore minimized., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The first example of applying salicylaldehyde derivatives, as well as coumarin with the formyl group at the C8 position in its structure, as carbonyl partners in a three-component Passerini reaction, is presented. As a result of research on the conditions of the Passerini reaction, the important role of the hydroxyl group in the salicylaldehyde used in the course of the multicomponent reaction was revealed. When an aldehyde with an unprotected hydroxyl group is used, only two-component α-hydroxy amide products are obtained. In contrast, the use of acylated aldehyde results in three-component α-acyloxy amide products with high efficiency. The developed protocol gives access to structurally diversified peptidomimetics with good yield. The compounds were also evaluated as antimicrobial agents against selected strains of nosocomial pathogenic bacteria. The structure-activity relationship revealed that inhibitory activity is strongly related to the presence of the trifluoromethyl group (CF 3 ) or the methyl group at the C4 position in an unsaturated lactone ring of the coumarin scaffold. MIC and MBC studies were carried out on eight selected pathogenic bacteria strains (Gram-positive pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus strain (ATCC 23235), as well as on Gram-negative E. coli (K12 (ATCC 25404), R2 (ATCC 39544), R3 (ATCC 11775), and R4 (ATCC 39543)), Acinetobacter baumannii (ATCC 17978), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 15442), and Enterobacter cloacae (ATCC 49141) have shown that the tested compounds show a strong bactericidal effect at low concentrations. Among all agents investigated, five exhibit higher antimicrobial activity than those observed for commonly used antibiotics. It should be noted that all the compounds tested showed very high activity against S. aureus , which is the main source of nosocomial infections that cause numerous fatalities. Additionally, the cytotoxicity of sixteen derivatives was measured with the use of the MTT test on BALB/c3T3 mouse fibroblast cell lines. The cytotoxicity studies revealed that the tested substances exert a similar or lower effect on cell proliferation than that observed for commonly used antibiotics within the range of therapeutic doses. A parallel MTT assay using ciprofloxacin, bleomycin, and cloxacillin showed that these antibiotics are more cytotoxic when tested in mammalian cells, and cell viability is in the range of 85.0-89.9%. Furthermore, we have shown that the studied coumarin-based peptidomimetics, depending on their structural characteristics, are nonselective and act efficiently against various Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens, which is of great importance for hospitalised patients.

Bone infections are still a major problem in surgery. To avoid severe side effects of systemically administered antibiotics, local antibiotic therapy is increasingly being considered. Using a pressure-based method developed in our group, microporous β-TCP ceramics, which had previously been characterized, were loaded with 2% w/v alginate containing 50 mg/mL clindamycin and 10 µg/mL rhBMP-2. Release experiments were then carried out over 28 days with changes of liquid at defined times (1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 14, 21 and 28d). The released concentrations of clindamycin were determined by HPLC and those of rhBMP-2 by ELISA. Continuous release (anomalous transport) of clindamycin and uniform release (Fick's diffusion) of BMP-2 were determined. The composites were biocompatible (live/dead, WST-I and LDH) and the released concentrations were all antimicrobially active against Staph. aureus. The results were very promising and clindamycin was detected in concentrations above the MIC as well as a constant rhBMP-2 release over the entire study period. Biocompatibility was also not impaired by either the antibiotic or the BMP-2. This promising approach can therefore be seen as an alternative to the common treatment with PMMA chains containing gentamycin, as the new composite is completely biodegradable and no second operation is necessary for removal or replacement., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

In malaria-endemic areas of Sub-Saharan Africa, overlap of clinical symptoms between malarial and non-malarial febrile illnesses can lead to empiric use of antibiotics among children. Our study aimed to illustrate the potential impact of decreasing malaria prevalence from malaria control efforts on antibiotic use. We constructed a probabilistic decision tree model representing antibiotic prescription in febrile children < 5 years. This model was used to predict change in absolute antibiotic use compared to baseline under levels of decreasing malaria prevalence. Model parameters were based on data from a hospital study in Ghana and validated via literature review. The baseline prevalence of malaria diagnoses was 52% among all hospitalized children. For our main results, we reported outcomes for a scenario representing a 50% decrease in malaria prevalence. Compared to baseline, absolute antibiotic prescription decreased from a baseline of 639 doses (95% CI 574-694) to 575 (95% CI 502-638). This reflected a 10% (95% CI 7%-13%) decrease in absolute antibiotic use. Our findings demonstrate that effective malaria control can reduce pediatric antibiotic use. However, until substantial progress is made in developing accurate diagnostics for non-malarial febrile illnesses, further reductions in antibiotic use will remain a challenge., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Polymeric drugs containing up to 60% by weight of the antibiotic vancomycin were synthesized based on dextran carriers activated with epichlorohydrin. Vancomycin was covalently bound, involving the primary amino group of the molecule through the hydroxypropyl radical to the C6 position of the anhydroglucose units of the dextran main chain. Covalent binding is necessary to prevent spontaneous release of the antibiotic from the gel, thereby reducing the risk of bacterial multiresistance. Antibacterial depot gels were obtained from those polymers, containing up to 17.5% by weight of polysaccharide with a cross-linking density of q = 3-5 nodes per macromolecule for the deposition of another type of drugs not covalently bound to the polymer gel. They were used to coat the surface of the internal pores of biocomposite bone implants based on bovine cancellous bone used in orthopedics. The chemical structure of the polymer was studied using 13 C NMR spectroscopy and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. The stiffness of the gels was evaluated by the values of the accumulation modulus G ' = 170-270 kPa and the loss modulus G ″ = 3.7-4.2 kPa determined on a rheometer. Their values are close to those typical for materials used to replace soft tissue in plastic surgery. The minimum inhibitory concentration of the gels against Staphylococcus aureus P209 depends on the antibiotic content in the polymer. It equals 2.5 mg/L for vancomycin we used and 100 mg/L for a polymer containing 50% by weight of covalently bound antibiotic. The cytotoxic concentration measured with cell culture HEK 293T exceeds 1200 mg/L in 24 h exposure. The release dynamics of drugs not covalently bound to dextran from the depot gel were studied using fluorescein as a model. The release time is independent of the gel density and lasts up to 6 days for a 2 mm thick layer. Both the gel and the bone implants impregnated with it maintained consistently high antibacterial activity throughout the experiment, up to its completion after 168 h, with the local concentration of the released antibiotic at the site of bacterial attack exceeding the therapeutic level by 200 times.

Background: Antibiotic residues in milk are a well-known hazard in the dairy food chain. Detection methods for these residues, such as nonspecific microbiological inhibitor tests or group-specific receptor tests, are relatively inexpensive, easy to use, and widely applied to ensure food safety. In contrast, specific detection by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-although a critical, complimentary method to confirm the results of nonspecific testing-is relatively costly, time-consuming, and laborious. Furthermore, sample processing before LC-MS/MS analysis requires unique preparation procedures for different groups of antibiotic compounds., Objective: To simplify and speed up specific antibiotic residue detection, a low-cost, passive, and single-step method to fractionate analytes in raw milk was developed., Methods: Untreated raw milk was fractionated into its water and fat/protein phases using a Fractionation of Milk for Trace Analysis of Contaminants and Residues for Antibiotics (FraMiTrACR® AB) fractionation unit. The water fraction was then analyzed by LC-MS/MS. The analyte fractionation method was evaluated against a Quick Easy Cheap Effective Rugged and Safe (QuEChERS)-based method for sample preparation., Results: Our method allows qualitative and quantitative detection of substances from the penicillin, cephalosporin, macrolide, lincosamide, sulfonamide, tetracycline, and fluoroquinolone groups of antibiotics. Detection limits are below the legally prescribed maximum residue levels, allowing reliable, specific, and rapid validation of a positive result in nonspecific microbiological inhibitor tests., Conclusion: Analyte fractionation by FraMiTrACR AB is a faster alternative to QuEChERS-based sample preparation for the detection of antibiotic substances in milk., Highlight: This method describes a low-cost, environmentally friendly, passive, and single-step milk analyte fractionation. As an alternative to QuEChERS-based preparation, this fractionation method simplifies and speeds up the process for specific antibiotic residue detection., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of AOAC INTERNATIONAL. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)