Imported seafood is a reservoir of Enterobacteriaceae carrying CTX-M-encoding genes of high clinical relevance.

We determined the frequency, genotypes, phenotypes, and mobility of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-encoding genes in Enterobacteriaceae isolated from retail seafood products. Overall, 288 samples of fresh shrimps, catfish and seabass imported from Asia were collected from three supermarket chains in the UK (96 each). After enrichment in MacConkey broth supplemented with cefotaxime, total DNA was screened for the presence of CTX-M, SHV and TEM by real-time PCR.

Effect of Local Administration of Meglumine Antimoniate and Polyhexamethylene Biguanide Alone or in Combination with a Toll-like Receptor 4 Agonist for the Treatment of Papular Dermatitis due to in Dogs.

Papular dermatitis is a cutaneous manifestation of canine infection associated with mild disease. Although it is a typical presentation, nowadays, there is still no established treatment. This study evaluated the safety and clinical efficacy of local meglumine antimoniate, locally administered polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) alone or PHMB in combination with a Toll-like receptor 4 agonist (TLR4a) for the treatment of papular dermatitis due to and assessed parasitological and immunological markers in this disease.

FtsE, the Nucleotide Binding Domain of the ABC Transporter Homolog FtsEX, Regulates Septal PG Synthesis in .

The peptidoglycan (PG) layer, a crucial component of the tripartite envelope, is required to maintain cellular integrity, protecting the cells from mechanical stress resulting from intracellular turgor pressure. Thus, coordinating synthesis and hydrolysis of PG during cell division (septal PG) is crucial for bacteria. The FtsEX complex directs septal PG hydrolysis through the activation of amidases; however, the mechanism and regulation of septal PG synthesis are unclear.

Fungal cell barriers and organelles are disrupted by polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB).

The similarities between fungal and mammalian cells pose inherent challenges for the development of treatments for fungal infections, due to drug crossover recognition of host drug targets by antifungal agents. Thus, there are a limited number of drug classes available for treatment. Treatment is further limited by the acquisition and dissemination of antifungal resistance which contributes to the urgent need of new therapies.

The importance of inflammation control for the treatment of chronic diabetic wounds.

Diabetic chronic wounds cause massive levels of patient suffering and economic problems worldwide. The state of chronic inflammation arises in response to a complex combination of diabetes mellitus-related pathophysiologies. Advanced treatment options are available; however, many wounds still fail to heal, exacerbating morbidity and mortality.

Antimicrobial activities of polyhexamethylene biguanide against biofilm-producing Prototheca bovis causing bovine mastitis.

Prototheca spp. is a frequent cause of bovine mastitis and is highly resistant to commonly used disinfectants. This study aimed to: (1) evaluate the antimicrobial activity of polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) against mastitis-causing Prototheca spp.

Efficacy of natural antimicrobial peptides versus peptidomimetic analogues: a systematic review.

This systematic review was carried out to determine whether synthetic peptidomimetics exhibit significant advantages over antimicrobial peptides in terms of potency. Structural features - molecular weight, charge and length - were examined for correlations with activity. Original research articles reporting minimum inhibitory concentration  values against , indexed until 31 December 2020, were searched in PubMed/ScienceDirect/Google Scholar and evaluated using mixed-effects models.

Antifungal Polymeric Materials and Nanocomposites.

Rising global populations due to medicinal advancements increases the patient population susceptible to superficial and severe fungal infections. Fungi often implicated in these diseases includes the dermatophytes (., .

Development of a fixation-free fluorescence hybridization for the detection of species.

is one of the most important infectious bacteria causing severe gastroenteritis and deaths in humans and animals, and the prompt diagnosis is crucial for effective control and treatment. The detection of still depends principally on culture-based methods, which is time-consuming and laborious. Recently, polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) was discovered to have cellular delivery properties and its combination with the fluorescence hybridization (FISH) method was exploited for oligomer delivery and the rapid detection of spps in this study.

The Effects of Polyhexamethylene Biguanide (PHMB) and TLR Agonists Alone or as Polyplex Nanoparticles against Promastigotes and Amastigotes.

Dogs are the main reservoir for manifesting from a subclinical to a fatal disease. Limited treatments are available, although new antiparasitics and immunomodulators are pursued. Polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) has a broad antimicrobial spectrum, including antiparasitic activity.

Cellular gene delivery via poly(hexamethylene biguanide)/pDNA self-assembled nanoparticles.

Cellular gene delivery via polycations has wide implications for the potential of gene therapy, but it has remained a challenge due to the plethora of pre- and post-uptake barriers that must be overcome to reach desired efficiency. Herein we report poly(hexamethylene biguanide) (PHMB) as a nano-vector for intracellular delivery of plasmid DNA (pDNA) and oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs). PHMB and pDNA or ODNs self-assembled into complex nanoparticles at different pH values (7.

Genetic diversity and risk factors for the transmission of antimicrobial resistance across human, animals and environmental compartments in East Africa: a review.

Background: The emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) present a challenge to disease control in East Africa. Resistance to beta-lactams, which are by far the most used antibiotics worldwide and include the penicillins, cephalosporins, monobactams and carbapenems, is reducing options for effective control of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The World Health Organization, Food and Agricultural Organization and the World Organization for Animal Health have all advocated surveillance of AMR using an integrated One Health approach.

Doxycycline induces Hok toxin killing in host E. coli.

The antibacterial efficacy of the tetracycline antibiotics has been greatly reduced by the development of resistance, hence a decline in their clinical use. The hok/sok locus is a type I toxin/antitoxin plasmid stability element, often associated with multi-drug resistance plasmids, especially ESBL-encoding plasmids. It enhances host cell survivability and pathogenicity in stressful growth conditions, and increases bacterial tolerance to β-lactam antibiotics.

The development of species-specific antisense peptide nucleic acid method for the treatment and detection of viable Salmonella.

Genotypic based detection methods using specific target sites in the pathogen genome can complement phenotypic identification. We report the development of species-specific antisense peptide nucleic acid (PNA) combined with selective and differential enrichment growth conditions for treatment and detection. An antisense PNA oligomer targeting the gene and conjugated with a cell-penetrating peptide ((KFF)K) was exploited to probe bacteria cultured in three different growth media (Muller Hinton broth (MHB), Rappaport-Vassiliadis Soya Peptone Broth (RVS, Oxoid), and in-house modified Rappaport-Vassiliadis Soya Peptone Broths (mRVSs).

Polyhexamethylene Biguanide:Polyurethane Blend Nanofibrous Membranes for Wound Infection Control.

Polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) is a broad-spectrum antiseptic which avoids many efficacy and toxicity problems associated with antimicrobials, in particular, it has a low risk of loss of susceptibility due to acquired antimicrobial resistance. Despite such advantages, PHMB is not widely used in wound care, suggesting more research is required to take full advantage of PHMB's properties. We hypothesised that a nanofibre morphology would provide a gradual release of PHMB, prolonging the antimicrobial effects within the therapeutic window.

Identification of Escherichia coli from broiler chickens in Jordan, their antimicrobial resistance, gene characterization and the associated risk factors.

Background: Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) is the principle cause of colibacillosis affecting poultry. The main challenge to the poultry industry is antimicrobial resistance and the emergence of multidrug resistant bacteria that threaten the safety of the food chain. Risk factors associated with emergence of antimicrobial resistance among avian pathogenic E.

Polyhexamethylene Biguanide and Nadifloxacin Self-Assembled Nanoparticles: Antimicrobial Effects against Intracellular Methicillin-Resistant .

The treatment of skin and soft tissue infections caused by methicillin-resistant (MRSA) remains a challenge, partly due to localization of the bacteria inside the host's cells, where antimicrobial penetration and efficacy is limited. We formulated the cationic polymer polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) with the topical antibiotic nadifloxacin and tested the activities against intracellular MRSA in infected keratinocytes. The PHMB/nadifloxacin nanoparticles displayed a size of 291.

Doxycycline inhibits pre-rRNA processing and mature rRNA formation in E. coli.

In bacteria, RNase III cleaves the initial long primary ribosomal RNA transcripts/precursors (pre-rRNAs), thereby releasing the pre-16S and pre-23S rRNAs for maturation. This cleavage is specified by the double-stranded secondary structures flanking the mature rRNAs, and not necessarily by the nucleotide sequences. Inhibition of this cleavage would lead to a build-up of pre-rRNA molecules.

Phenotypic indications of FtsZ inhibition in hok/sok-induced bacterial growth changes and stress response.

The hok/sok locus has been shown to enhance the growth of bacteria in adverse growth conditions such as high temperature, low starting-culture densities and antibiotic treatment. This is in addition to their well-established plasmid-stabilization effect via post-segregational killing of plasmid-free daughter cells. It delays the onset of growth by prolonging the lag phase of bacterial culture, and increases the rate of exponential growth when growth eventually begins.

Bactericidal and Anti-biofilm Effects of Polyhexamethylene Biguanide in Models of Intracellular and Biofilm of Isolated from Bovine Mastitis.

infection is a common cause of mastitis, reducing milk yield, affecting animal welfare and causing huge economic losses within the dairy industry. In addition to the problem of acquired drug resistance, bacterial invasion into udder cells and the formation of surface biofilms are believed to reduce antibiotic efficacy, leading to treatment failure. Here, we investigated the antimicrobial activities of enrofloxacin, an antibiotic that is commonly used in mastitis therapy and polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB), an antimicrobial polymer.

Targeting the hard to reach: challenges and novel strategies in the treatment of intracellular bacterial infections.

Unlabelled: Infectious diseases continue to threaten human and animal health and welfare globally, impacting millions of lives and causing substantial economic loss. The use of antibacterials has been only partially successful in reducing disease impact. Bacterial cells are inherently resilient, and the therapy challenge is increased by the development of antibacterial resistance, the formation of biofilms and the ability of certain clinically important pathogens to invade and localize within host cells.

Disruption of Higher Order DNA Structures in Friedreich's Ataxia (GAA)n Repeats by PNA or LNA Targeting.

Expansion of (GAA)n repeats in the first intron of the Frataxin gene is associated with reduced mRNA and protein levels and the development of Friedreich's ataxia. (GAA)n expansions form non-canonical structures, including intramolecular triplex (H-DNA), and R-loops and are associated with epigenetic modifications. With the aim of interfering with higher order H-DNA (like) DNA structures within pathological (GAA)n expansions, we examined sequence-specific interaction of peptide nucleic acid (PNA) with (GAA)n repeats of different lengths (short: n=9, medium: n=75 or long: n=115) by chemical probing of triple helical and single stranded regions.

Biomarkers of browning of white adipose tissue and their regulation during exercise- and diet-induced weight loss.

Background: A hypothesis exists whereby an exercise- or dietary-induced negative energy balance reduces human subcutaneous white adipose tissue (scWAT) mass through the formation of brown-like adipocyte (brite) cells. However, the validity of biomarkers of brite formation has not been robustly evaluated in humans, and clinical data that link brite formation and weight loss are sparse.

Objectives: We used rosiglitazone and primary adipocytes to stringently evaluate a set of biomarkers for brite formation and determined whether the expression of biomarker genes in scWAT could explain the change in body composition in response to exercise training combined with calorie restriction in obese and overweight women (n = 79).

The antimicrobial polymer PHMB enters cells and selectively condenses bacterial chromosomes.

To combat infection and antimicrobial resistance, it is helpful to elucidate drug mechanism(s) of action. Here we examined how the widely used antimicrobial polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) kills bacteria selectively over host cells. Contrary to the accepted model of microbial membrane disruption by PHMB, we observed cell entry into a range of bacterial species, and treated bacteria displayed cell division arrest and chromosome condensation, suggesting DNA binding as an alternative antimicrobial mechanism.

Bactericidal effects of polyhexamethylene biguanide against intracellular Staphylococcus aureus EMRSA-15 and USA 300.

Objectives: The treatment of skin infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus is limited by acquired antibiotic resistance and poor drug delivery into pathogen and host cells. Here, we investigated the antibacterial activities of six topically used antimicrobials and a cationic polymer, polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB), against intracellular MSSA strain RN4420 and MRSA strains EMRSA-15 and USA 300.

Methods: The MICs of antimicrobials were determined for MSSA and MRSA strains, and the bactericidal activities of nadifloxacin and PHMB against intracellular MRSA were determined using infected keratinocytes.