Project description:The rapid global rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) that increasingly invalidates conventional antibiotics has become a huge threat to human health. Although nanosized antibacterial agents have been extensively explored, they cannot sufficiently discriminate between microbes and mammals, which necessitates the exploration of other antibiotic-like candidates for clinical uses. Herein, two-dimensional boron nitride (BN) nanosheets are reported to exhibit antibiotic-like activity to AMR bacteria. Interestingly, BN nanosheets had AMR-independent antibacterial activity without triggering secondary resistance in their long-term use and displayed excellent biocompatibility in mammals. Surface proteome analysis coupled with molecular dynamic simulations and Bio-Layer Interferometry revealed that BN nanosheets could rapidly interact with the key surface proteins of cell division including FtsP, EnvC, and TolB, resulting in a specific antibacterial mechanism by impairment of Z-ring constriction in cell division. Notably, BN nanosheets had a potent antibacterial effect in a lung infection model by P. aeruginosa (AMR), displaying a two-fold increment of survival rate. Overall, these results suggested that BN nanosheets could be a promising nano-antibiotic to combat resistant bacteria and prevent AMR evolution.
Project description:Self-resistance mechanism mediated by N-acetyltransferase PamZ by deactivation of own antibacterial agent paenilamicin in Paenibacillus larvae, the causative agent of the honey bee disease American Foulbrood.
Project description:The focus of this submission is to genetically identify the population fingerprint of the contemporary population and sub-populations of Northern Lebanon. To this end, the HumanOmniExpress 12 array has been used to comprehensively genotype 344 selected samples from different communities. The samples were collected with careful scrutiny to their heritage, documenting at least two generations of ancestry for each sample.
Project description:Infections associated with antimicrobial-resistant bacteria now represent a significant threat to human health using conventional therapy, necessitating the development of alternate and more effective antibacterial compounds. Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) have been proposed as potential antimicrobial agents to combat infections. A complete understanding of their antimicrobial activity is required before these molecules can be used in therapy. Lysozyme coated Ag NPs were synthesized and characterized by TEMEDS, XRD, UV-vis, FTIR spectroscopy, zeta potential, and oxidative potential assay. Biochemical assays and deep level transcriptional analysis using RNA sequencing were used to decipher how Ag NPs exert their antibacterial action against multi-drug resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae MGH78578. RNAseq data revealed that Ag NPs induced a triclosan-like bactericidal mechanism responsible for the inhibition of the type II fatty acid biosynthesis. Additionally, released AgC generated oxidative stress both extra and intracellularly in K. pneumoniae. The data showed that triclosan-like activity and oxidative stress cumulatively underpinned the antibacterial activity of Ag NPs. This result was confirmed by the analysis of the bactericidal effect of Ag NPs against the isogenic K. pneumoniae MGH78578 1soxS mutant, which exhibits a compromised oxidative stress response compared to the wild type. Silver nanoparticles induce a triclosan like antibacterial action mechanism in multi-drug resistant K. pneumoniae. This study extends our understanding of anti-Klebsiella mechanisms associated with exposure to Ag NPs. This allowed us to model how bacteria might develop resistance against silver nanoparticles, should the latter be used in therapy.