Genetically engineered phages and engineered phage-derived enzymes to destroy biofilms of antibiotics resistance bacteria.

"An impregnable stronghold where one or more warrior clans can evade enemy attacks" may serve as a description of bacterial biofilm on a smaller level than human conflicts. Consider this hypothetical conflict: who would emerge victorious? The occupants of secure trenches or those carrying out relentless assault? Either faction has the potential for triumph; the defenders will prevail if they can fortify the trench with unwavering resolve, while the assailants will succeed if they can devise innovative means to breach the trench. Hence, bacterial biofilms pose a significant challenge and are formidable adversaries for medical professionals, often leading to the failure of antibiotic treatments in numerous hospital infections.

Upregulation of , , , , , and genes contributing to resistance to colistin in superbug isolates from human clinical samples in Tehran, Iran.

Background: Antibiotic resistance in isolates, particularly resistance to colistin, has become a growing concern. This study seeks to investigate the upregulation of specific genes (, , , , , and ) that contribute to colistin resistance in isolates collected from human clinical samples in Tehran, Iran.

Methods: Thirty eight isolates were obtained and subjected to antibiotic susceptibility testing, as well as evaluation for phenotypic AmpC and ESBL production according to CLSI guidelines.

Virulence Genes and Biofilm Formation Among Legionella pneumophila Isolates Collected from Hospital Water Sources.

Legionella pneumophila can be transmitted to people, especially immunocompromised patients, via hospital water pipe systems and cause severe pneumonia. The aim of our study was to investigate the presence of major virulence factor genes, ability of biofilms formation, and correlation between presence of Legionella isolates and temperature, pH, and residual chlorine of water. Hundred water samples were collected from nine hospitals in Tehran, Iran.

Phage therapy as a glimmer of hope in the fight against the recurrence or emergence of surgical site bacterial infections.

Purpose: Over the last decade, surgery rates have risen alarmingly, and surgical-site infections are expanding these concerns. In spite of advances in infection control practices, surgical infections continue to be a significant cause of death, prolonged hospitalization, and morbidity. As well as the presence of bacterial infections and their antibiotic resistance, biofilm formation is one of the challenges in the treatment of surgical wounds.

Engineered phage enzymes against drug-resistant pathogens: a review on advances and applications.

In recent decades, the expansion of multi and extensively drug-resistant (MDR and XDR) bacteria has reached an alarming rate, causing serious health concerns. Infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria have been associated with morbidity and mortality, making tackling bacterial resistance an urgent and unmet challenge that needs to be addressed properly. Endolysins are phage-encoded enzymes that can specifically degrade the bacterial cell wall and lead to bacterial death.

The therapeutic effect of engineered phage, derived protein and enzymes against superbug bacteria.

Defending against antibiotic-resistant infections is similar to fighting a war with limited ammunition. As the new century unfolded, antibiotic resistance became a significant concern. In spite of the fact that phage treatment has been used as an effective means of fighting infections for more than a century, researchers have had to overcome many challenges of superbug bacteria by manipulating phages and producing engineered enzymes.

The use of herbs in the treatment of COVID-19.

Objective: herbs are the only extant genus in its family, Ephedraceae, and order, Ephedrales. It has been prescribed in traditional medicine for improving headaches and respiratory infections. On the other hand, because the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) causes respiratory problems and COVID-19 pandemic is the most widespread outbreak that has affected humanity in the last century, the current review aims using literature search to investigate the effects of the herbs compounds on COVID-19 to supply a reference for its clinical application in the inhibition and remedy of COVID-19.

Prediction of tsunami of resistance to some antibiotics is not far-fetched which used during COVID-19 pandemic.

One of the most tragic events in recent history was the COVID-19 outbreak, which has caused thousands of deaths. A variety of drugs were prescribed to improve the condition of patients, including antiparasitic, antiviral, antibiotics, and anti-inflammatory medicines. It must be understood, however, that COVID-19 is like a tip of an iceberg on the ocean, and the consequences of overuse of antibiotics are like the body of a mountain under water whose greatness has not yet been determined for humanity, and additional study is needed to understand them.

Perturbations in Microbiota Composition as a Novel Mediator in Neuropsychiatric, Neurological and Mental Disorders: Preventive and Therapeutic Complementary Therapies to Balance the Change.

Although microbiology and neurology are separate disciplines, they are linked to some infectious and neurological diseases. Today, microbiome is considered as one of the biomarkers of health by many researchers. This has led to the association of microbiome changes with many neurological diseases.

Distribution and expression of virulence genes (hlyA, sat) and genotyping of Escherichia coli O25b/ST131 by multi-locus variable number tandem repeat analysis in Tehran, Iran.

Escherichia coli ST131 is a pandemic clone with high antibiotic resistance, and it is a major causative agent of urinary tract infection (UTI) and bloodstream infections. This study evaluated the distribution and expression of virulence genes and genotyping of E. coli O25b/ST131 by Multi-locus variable number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) method among UTI in patients at Tehran hospitals, Iran.

The Effect of Bacterial Composition Shifts in the Oral Microbiota on Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD), a neurological disorder, despite significant advances in medical science, has not yet been definitively cured, and the exact causes of the disease remain unclear. Due to the importance of AD in the clinic, large expenses are spent annually to deal with this neurological disorder, and neurologists warn of an increase in this disease in elderly in the near future. It has been believed that microbiota dysbiosis leads to Alzheimer's as a multi-step disease.

Molecular determination of O25b/ST131 clone type among extended spectrum β-lactamases production Escherichia coli recovering from urinary tract infection isolates.

Background: Escherichia coli (E. coli) O25b/ST131 clone causes urinary tract infection (UTI) and is associated with a broad spectrum of other infections, such as intra-abdominal and soft tissue infections, that can be affecting bloodstream infections. Therefore, since O25b/ST131 has been reported in several studies from Iran, in the current study, we have investigated the molecular characteristics, typing, and biofilm formation of O25b/ST131 clone type E.

Association of perturbation of oral bacterial with incident of Alzheimer's disease: A pilot study.

Objective: This case-control study was designed to compare the composition of the predominant oral bacterial microbiome in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and control group.

Subject: A total of 30 adult participants (15 AD and 15 healthy individuals) were entered in this study. The composition of oral bacterial microbiome was examined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) using bacterial 16S rDNA gene.

Rescuing humanity by antimicrobial peptides against colistin-resistant bacteria.

It has been about a century since the discovery of the first antibiotic, and during this period, several antibiotics were produced and marketed. The production of high-potency antibiotics against infections led to victories, but these victories were temporary. Overuse and misuse of antibiotics have continued to the point that humanity today is almost helpless in the fight against infection.

Bacteriophage as a Novel Therapeutic Weapon for Killing Colistin-Resistant Multi-Drug-Resistant and Extensively Drug-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria.

Colistin-resistant multidrug-resistant (MDR), extensively drug-resistant (XDR), and pan-drug-resistant (PDR) bacteria are highly lethal and many researchers have tried hard to combat these microorganisms around the world. Infections caused by these bacteria are resistant to the last resort of antibiotic therapy and have posed a major challenge in clinical and public health. Since the production of new antibiotics is very expensive and also very slow compared to the increasing rate of antibiotic resistance, researchers are suggesting the use of natural substances with high antibacterial potential.

The Challenge of Global Emergence of Novel Colistin-Resistant ST131.

ST131 is one of the high-risk multidrug-resistant clones with a global distribution and the ability to persist and colonize in a variety of niches. Carbapenemase-producing ST131 strains with the ability to resist last-line antibiotics (, colistin) have been recently considered a significant public health. Colistin is widely used in veterinary medicine and therefore, colistin-resistant bacteria can be transmitted from livestock to humans through food.

The association of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection with atherosclerosis: Review and update of in vitro and animal studies.

Previous studies have tended to relate Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cpn) infection to atherosclerosis. However, while serological studies have mostly reinforced this hypothesis, inconsistent and even contradictory findings have been reported in various researches. Recent papers have pointed to the significance of Cpn in atherosclerotic lesions, which are regarded as the initiator and cause of chronic inflammation.

Ramadan Fasting During the COVID-19 Pandemic; Observance of Health, Nutrition and Exercise Criteria for Improving the Immune System.

Fasting is one of the religious rituals of Muslims worldwide who refrain from eating foods and liquids every year during Ramadan. This year (2020), Ramadan is very different from previous years due to the outbreak of a terrible microscopic giant called coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The pandemic COVID-19 has made Ramadan very important this year because the virus has infected millions of people around the world and killed thousands, especially people with immunodeficiency.

Helicobacter pylori Biofilm and New Strategies to Combat it.

Helicobacter pylori, the most frequent pathogen worldwide that colonizes around 50% of the world's population, causes important diseases such as gastric adenocarcinoma, chronic gastritis, and gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. In recent years, various studies have reported that H. pylori biofilm may be one of the critical barriers to the eradication of this bacterial infection.

The Efficacy of AgNO3 Nanoparticles Alone and Conjugated with Imipenem for Combating Extensively Drug-Resistant .

Introduction: The extensive drug-resistant (XDR) () causes a range of infections with high mortality rate, which inflicts additional costs on treatment. The use of nano-biotechnology-based methods in medicine has opened a new perspective against drug-resistant bacteria. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the AgNO3 nanoparticles alone and conjugated with imipenem (IMI) to combat extensively drug-resistant .

Bacteriophage therapy against Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms: a review.

Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most important bacterial pathogens that causes infection with a high mortality rate due to resistance to different antibiotics. This bacterium prompts extensive tissue damage with varying factors of virulence, and its biofilm production causes chronic and antibiotic-resistant infections. Therefore, due to the non-applicability of antibiotics for the destruction of P.

COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019): A New Coronavirus Disease.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a type of viral pneumonia with an uncommon outbreak in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2). SARS-CoV-2 is extremely contagious and has resulted in a fast pandemic of COVID-19. Currently, COVID-19 is on the rise around the world, and it poses a severe threat to public health around the world.

Global prevalence and distribution of vancomycin resistant, vancomycin intermediate and heterogeneously vancomycin intermediate Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA), Vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus (VISA) and heterogeneous VISA (hVISA) are subject to vancomycin treatment failure. The aim of the present study was to determine their precise prevalence and investigate prevalence variability depending on different years and locations.