Versatile Polypeptide-Functionalized Plasmonic Paper as Synergistic Biocompatible and Antimicrobial Nanoplatform.

Nowadays, thanks to nanotechnological progress, which itself guides us more and more closely toward not only the efficient design of innovative nanomaterials or nanostructures, but to the improvement of their functionality, we benefit from an important asset in the battle against pathogenic illnesses. Herein, we report a versatile biocompatible plasmonic nanoplatform based on a Whatman paper incorporating positively-charged gold nanospherical particles via the immersion approach. The morphological characterization of the as-engineered-plasmonic paper was examined by SEM (scanning electron microscopy) and HRTEM (high-resolution transmission electron microscopy) investigations, while its surface chemical modification with a synthetic polypeptide, specifically RRWHRWWRR-NH2 (P2), was proved by monitoring the plasmonic response of loaded gold nanospheres and the emission signal of P2 via fluorescence spectroscopy.

Short tryptophan- and arginine-rich peptide shows efficacy against clinical methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from skin and soft tissue infections.

In recent years methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus has posed a challenge in treating skin and soft tissue infections. Finding new antimicrobial agents has therefore become imperative. We evaluated the in vitro antimicrobial activity of a synthetic peptide, P6, against multidrug resistant clinical strains of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from skin and soft tissue infections.

Comparative evaluation of aggressiveness traits in staphylococcal strains from severe infections versus nasopharyngeal carriage.

Despite their commensal status, staphylococci can become problematic pathogens expressing multiple and redundant virulence factors. This study aimed to evaluate aggressiveness markers comparatively in staphylococcal strains isolated from severe infections versus asymptomatic carriage in order to identify clinically relevant bacterial traits that could easily be detected in clinical practice and could be suggestive for particular host-pathogen interactions such as cyto-adhesion or biofilm formation, ultimately orienting the clinical decision-making process. We have used in vitro phenotypic methods to assess adhesion to and invasion of eukaryotic cells, biofilm development, and expression of soluble virulence factors in 92 Staphylococcus spp.

Bacteriophage-driven inhibition of biofilm formation in Staphylococcus strains from patients attending a Romanian reference center for infectious diseases.

The increasing burden of invasive biofilm-related staphylococcal infections has led to a dire need for new agents to prevent biofilm formation. Bacteriophages may hypothetically alter a biofilm through several mechanisms, including induction of depolymerizing enzymes and lysis of persistent bacteria. We have assessed the influence of commercially available bacteriophage cocktails on Staphylococcus spp.

HOST-PATHOGEN INTERACTION IN INFECTIONS DUE TO STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS. STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS VIRULENCE FACTORS.

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a major cause of hospital-acquired (HA-SA) and community-acquired (CA-SA) infections worldwide. It is isolated from many human body sites, from animals and from foods, from the environment.

Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from a familial foodborne outbreak.

Although Staphylococcus aureus is frequently reported among the common causative agents of foodborne diseases in Europe, very little is known about the strains involved in staphylococcal food-poisoning outbreaks in our region. Therefore, the aim of this study was to characterize the staphylococcal strains recovered from an autochthonous food-poisoning familial outbreak through phenotypic and genotypic methods. Ten S.

Antimicrobial activity of plant essential oils against bacterial and fungal species involved in food poisoning and/or food decay.

The currative properties of aromatic and medicinal plants have been recognized since ancient times and, more recently, the antimicrobial activity of plant essential oils has been used in several applications, including food preservation. The purpose of this study was to create directly comparable, quantitative data on the antimicrobial activity of some plant essential oils prepared in the National Institute of Research-Development for Chemistry and Petrochemistry, Bucharest to be used for the further development of food packaging technology, based on their antibacterial and antifungal activity. The essential oils extracted from thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.