Exploration of novel cationic amino acid-enriched short peptides: design, SPPS, biological evaluation and study.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represents a critical challenge worldwide, necessitating the pursuit of novel approaches to counteract bacterial and fungal pathogens. In this context, we explored the potential of cationic amino acid-enriched short peptides, synthesized solid-phase methods, as innovative antimicrobial candidates. Our comprehensive evaluation assessed the antibacterial and antifungal efficacy of these peptides against a panel of significant pathogens, including , , , , , and .

Mass spectrometry-based identification of bacteria isolated from industrially contaminated site in Salamanca (Mexico) and evaluation of their potential for DDT degradation.

Longstanding industrial deposits of 1-chloro-4-[2,2,2-trichloro-1-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]benzene (DDT) impose environmental threat in Salamanca city, located in central Mexico. Native bacteria from this location were isolated and identified, and their potential utility for DDT biodegradation was examined. Twenty-five isolates were obtained, and cell lysates were analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) with Biotyper; twenty-one organisms were identified at species level, and the other four were assigned to genus.

Inhibition of quorum-sensing-dependent virulence factors and biofilm formation of clinical and environmental Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains by ZnO nanoparticles.

Unlabelled: Quorum quenching decreases Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence factors and biofilm formation, alleviating infections in animal models. Nevertheless, it is usually performed in laboratory strains such as PAO1 and PA14, and studies involving clinical or environmental isolates are scarce. In this work, the effects of ZnO nanoparticles, a potent quorum and virulence quencher for the PAO1 strain, were tested in six clinical strains from cystic fibrosis patients, a furanone C-30 resistant clinical strain from urine, two PA14 gallium resistant mutants, a PA14 C-30 resistant mutant and four environmental isolates.