Combinations of Bacteriophage Are Efficacious against Multidrug-Resistant and Enhance Sensitivity to Carbapenem Antibiotics.

The Gram-negative ESKAPE bacterium has become a pathogen of serious concern due its extensive multi-drug resistance (MDR) profile, widespread incidences of hospital-acquired infections throughout the United States, and high occurrence in wound infections suffered by warfighters serving abroad. Bacteriophage (phage) therapy has received renewed attention as an alternative therapeutic option against recalcitrant bacterial infections, both as multi-phage cocktails and in combination with antibiotics as synergistic pairings. Environmental screening and phage enrichment has yielded three lytic viruses capable of infecting the MDR strain PAO1.

Comparing Methods to Genetically Engineer Bacteriophage and Increase Host Range.

Introduction: Antibacterial resistance is an emerging problem in military medicine. Disruptions to the health care systems in war-torn countries that result from ongoing conflict can potentially exacerbate this problem and increase the risk to U.S.

Self-organizing behaviors of cardiovascular cells on synthetic nanofiber scaffolds.

In tissues and organs, the extracellular matrix (ECM) helps maintain inter- and intracellular architectures that sustain the structure-function relationships defining physiological homeostasis. Combining fiber scaffolds and cells to form engineered tissues is a means of replicating these relationships. Engineered tissues' fiber scaffolds are designed to mimic the topology and chemical composition of the ECM network.

Cellulose Nanofiber-Alginate Biotemplated Cobalt Composite Multifunctional Aerogels for Energy Storage Electrodes.

Tunable porous composite materials to control metal and metal oxide functionalization, conductivity, pore structure, electrolyte mass transport, mechanical strength, specific surface area, and magneto-responsiveness are critical for a broad range of energy storage, catalysis, and sensing applications. Biotemplated transition metal composite aerogels present a materials approach to address this need. To demonstrate a solution-based synthesis method to develop cobalt and cobalt oxide aerogels for high surface area multifunctional energy storage electrodes, carboxymethyl cellulose nanofibers (CNF) and alginate biopolymers were mixed to form hydrogels to serve as biotemplates for cobalt nanoparticle formation via the chemical reduction of cobalt salt solutions.

Disruption of Biofilm by Bacteriophages in Clinically Relevant Settings.

Introduction: Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are a growing threat to civilian and military health today. Although infections were once easily treatable by antibiotics and wound cleaning, the frequent mutation of bacteria has created strains impermeable to antibiotics and physical attack. Bacteria further their pathogenicity because of their ability to form biofilms on wounds, medical devices, and implant surfaces.