Searching for the role of membrane lipids in the mechanism of antibacterial effect of hinokitiol.

The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of monoterpenoid hinokitiol (β-thujaplicin) on the monolayers and bilayers composed of lipids typical for bacteria membranes and gain insight into the potential role of the lipids in antibacterial activity and selectivity of this compound. To explore this issue, the in vitro studies were performed on different bacterial strains to verify antibacterial potency of hinokitiol. Then, the experiments on E.

Study on the effect of blackcurrant extract - based preservative on model membranes and pathogenic bacteria.

In this work the cosmetic preservative based on a Ribes Nigrum (blackcurrant) plant extract (PhytoCide Black Currant Powder abbr. BCE) was investigated to evaluate its antibacterial effect and to gain an insight into its mechanism of action. The influence of this commercially available formulation on model Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus lipid membranes was studied to analyze its interactions with membrane lipids at a molecular level.

The influence of Leucidal - eco-preservative from radish - on model lipid membranes and selected pathogenic bacteria.

In this work the effect of Leucidal - a natural preservative from radish dedicated to be used in cosmetics - on bacteria cells and model bacteria membranes was investigated. To get insight into the mechanism of action of this formulation the lipid Langmuir monolayers imitating Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S.

COVID-19-Associated Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Intensive Care Unit Patients from Poland.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been shown to be a favoring factor for aspergillosis, especially in a severe course requiring admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). The aim of the study was to assess the morbidity of CAPA among ICU patients in Poland and to analyze applied diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Medical documentation of patients hospitalized at the temporary COVID-19 dedicated ICU of the University Hospital in Krakow, Poland, from May 2021 to January 2022 was analyzed.

Studies on Antifungal Properties of Methacrylamido Propyl Trimethyl Ammonium Chloride Polycations and Their Toxicity .

The biological activity of polycations is usually associated with their biocidal properties. Their antibacterial features are well known, but in this work, observations on the antifungal properties of macromolecules obtained by methacrylamido propyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (MAPTAC) polymerization are presented. The results, not previously reported, make it possible to correlate antifungal properties directly with the structure of the macromolecule, in particular the molecular mass.

Preliminary Studies on the Mechanism of Antifungal Activity of New Cationic β-Glucan Derivatives Obtained from Oats and Barley.

New chemical structures with antifungal properties are highly desirable from the point of view of modern pharmaceutical science, especially due to the increasingly widespread instances of drug resistance in the case of these diseases. One way to solve this problem is to use polymeric drugs, widely described as biocidal, positively charged macromolecules. In this work, we present the synthesis of new cationic β-glucan derivatives that show selective antifungal activity and at the same time low toxicity toward animal and human cells.

Current Opinion on the Therapeutic Capacity of Taurine-Containing Halogen Derivatives in Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases.

Taurine haloamines, N-chlorotaurine (NCT, TauCl), and N-bromotaurine (NBT, TauBr) are formed by a reaction between taurine and hypohalous acids, HOCl and HOBr, respectively. The major source of endogenous taurine haloamines is neutrophils. Both NCT and NBT share strong anti-inflammatory and microbicidal activities supported by an absence of microbial resistance.

Synthesis and Study of Antifungal Properties of New Cationic Beta-Glucan Derivatives.

The interaction of positively charged polymers (polycations) with a biological membrane is considered to be the cause of the frequently observed toxicity of these macromolecules. If it is possible to obtain polymers with a predominantly negative effect on bacterial and fungal cells, such systems would have great potential in the treatment of infectious diseases, especially now when reports indicate the growing risk of fungal co-infections in COVID-19 patients. We describe in this article cationic derivatives of natural beta-glucan polymers obtained by reacting the polysaccharide isolated from (SB) and (CI) with glycidyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (GTMAC).

Molecular taxonomy of scopulariopsis-like fungi with description of new clinical and environmental species.

The taxonomy of scopulariopsis-like fungi, comprising numerous human opportunistic species, has recently been reassessed with delineation of the genera Microascus, Pithoascus, Pseudoscopulariopsis, and Scopulariopsis, using morphological data and multilocus sequence analysis based on four loci (ITS, LSU, EF-1α, and TUB). In this study, the same genetic markers were used to investigate a set of clinical and environmental isolates, morphologically identified as Microascus and Scopulariopsis spp. The ingroups of the concatenated phylogenetic tree resolved 41 species clades, with isolates distributed in four main lineages corresponding to the genera Microascus, Pithoascus, Scopulariopsis, and newly established genus Fuscoannellis, typified by Scopulariopsis carbonaria.

21-year retrospective study of the prevalence of Scopulariopsis brevicaulis in patients suspected of superficial mycoses.

Introduction: In the genus Scopulariopsis, Scopulariopsis brevicaulis is the most common aetiological agent of infections in humans. It usually affects nails and is one of the commonest moulds associated with onychomycoses. Other forms of infections (skin, subcutaneous, deep tissues, and disseminated infections) have also been described.

In vitro activities of a wide panel of antifungal drugs against various Scopulariopsis and Microascus species.

The in vitro activities of 11 antifungal drugs against 68 Scopulariopsis and Microascus strains were investigated. Amphotericin B, 5-fluorocytosine, fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, miconazole, posaconazole, voriconazole, and ciclopirox showed no or poor antifungal effect. The best activities were exhibited by terbinafine and caspofungin, where the MIC and MEC (minimal effective concentration) ranges were 0.

In vitro antifungal susceptibility of Scopulariopsis brevicaulis isolates.

In humans, Scopulariopsis is mainly associated with onychomycoses, rarely with cutaneous infections or with invasive mycoses. However, during the last two decades, deep infections caused by members of this genus have been increasing. Scopulariopsis brevicaulis is the most common species described as an etiologic agent of human disease.

Identification of Scopulariopsis species by partial 28S rRNA gene sequence analysis.

The genus Scopulariopsis contains over 30 species of mitosporic moulds, which although usually saprophytic may also act as opportunistic pathogens in humans. They have mainly been associated with onychomycosis, and only sporadically reported as a cause of deep tissue infections or systemic disease. Identification of Scopulariopsis species still largely relies on phenotype-based methods.

[Fungi isolated from the vagina and their susceptibility to antifungals].

Introduction: Because of the presence of various fungi and changes in their spectrum in the mycosis of vagina it is necessary to perform periodic overviews including testing their susceptibility to antifungal agents.

Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate susceptibility of the fungi isolated from vaginas to antifungal drugs and to analyse the fungi responsible for vaginal mycosis in patients referred during a 7-year study

Materials And Methods: The study was carried out in a group of patients suspected of vaginal mycosis between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2011. An analysis of the fungi isolated from their vaginas was performed.

In vitro antifungal susceptibility testing of Scopulariopsis brevicaulis strains using agar diffusion method.

The genus Scopulariopsis is a common soil saprotroph and has been isolated from air, organic waste and also from plant, animal and human tissues. Scopulariopsis has mainly been associated in humans with superficial mycoses, but it has also been described as the cause of subcutaneous and invasive infections. The most common aetiological agent of infections in humans is Scopulariopsis brevicaulis.