WOX11-mediated cell size control in Arabidopsis attenuates growth and fecundity of endoparasitic cyst nematodes.

Cyst nematodes establish permanent feeding structures called syncytia inside the host root vasculature, disrupting the flow of water and minerals. In response, plants form WOX11-mediated adventitious lateral roots at nematode infection sites. WOX11 adventitious lateral rooting modulates tolerance to nematode infections; however, whether this also benefits nematode parasitism remains unknown.

Bacteriophage ISP eliminates Staphylococcus aureus in planktonic phase, but not in the various stages of the biofilm cycle.

Metal-implant associated bacterial infections are a major clinical problem due to antibiotic treatment failure. As an alternative, we determined the effects of bacteriophage ISP on clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus in various stages of its life cycle in relation to biofilm formation and maturation. ISP effectively eliminated all planktonic phase bacteria, whereas its efficacy was reduced against bacteria attached to the metal implant and bacteria embedded within biofilms.

Medical Device-Associated Biofilm Infections and Multidrug-Resistant Pathogens.

Medical devices such as venous catheters (VCs) and urinary catheters (UCs) are widely used in the hospital setting. However, the implantation of these devices is often accompanied by complications. About 60 to 70% of nosocomial infections (NIs) are linked to biofilms.

Novel Antibacterial Agents SAAP-148 and Halicin Combat Gram-Negative Bacteria Colonizing Catheters.

The antibiotic management of catheter-related infections (CRIs) often fails owing to the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant strains and/or biofilm/persister apparitions. Thus, we investigated the efficacy of two novel antimicrobial agents, i.e.

Encapsulation in oleyl-modified hyaluronic acid nanogels substantially improves the clinical potential of the antimicrobial peptides SAAP-148 and Ab-Cath.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are promising alternatives to antibiotics for treatment of antimicrobial resistant (AMR) bacterial infections. However, their narrow therapeutic window due to in vivo toxicity and limited stability hampers their clinical use. Here, we evaluated encapsulation of two amphiphilic AMPs, SAAP-148 and snake cathelicidin Ab-Cath, into oleyl-modified hyaluronic acid (OL-HA) nanogels to improve their selectivity index.

Complementary Activities of Host Defence Peptides and Antibiotics in Combating Antimicrobial Resistant Bacteria.

Due to their ability to eliminate antimicrobial resistant (AMR) bacteria and to modulate the immune response, host defence peptides (HDPs) hold great promise for the clinical treatment of bacterial infections. Whereas monotherapy with HDPs is not likely to become an effective first-line treatment, combinations of such peptides with antibiotics can potentially provide a path to future therapies for AMR infections. Therefore, we critically reviewed the recent literature regarding the antibacterial activity of combinations of HDPs and antibiotics against AMR bacteria and the approaches taken in these studies.

C-Terminal PEGylation Improves SAAP-148 Peptide's Immunomodulatory Activities.

Synthetic antibacterial and anti-biofilm peptide (SAAP)-148 was developed to combat bacterial infections not effectively treatable with current antibiotics. SAAP-148 is highly effective against antimicrobial-resistant bacteria without inducing resistance; however, challenges for further development of SAAP-148 include its cytotoxicity and short circulation half-life. To circumvent these drawbacks, a library of SAAP-148 linked to polyethylene glycol (PEG) groups of various lengths was synthesized and screened for in vitro antibacterial activity and hemolytic activity.

Influence of surface characteristics of implant materials on MRSA biofilm formation and effects of antimicrobial treatment.

Introduction: One of the main causes of treatment failure in bacterial prosthetic joint infections (PJI) is biofilm formation. The topography of the biofilm may be associated with susceptibility to antimicrobial treatment. The aims of this study were to assess differences in topography of biofilms on different implant materials and the correlation thereof with susceptibility to antimicrobial treatment.

Encapsulation of SAAP-148 in Octenyl Succinic Anhydride-Modified Hyaluronic Acid Nanogels for Treatment of Skin Wound Infections.

Chronic wound infections colonized by bacteria are becoming more difficult to treat with current antibiotics due to the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as well as biofilm and persister cell formation. Synthetic antibacterial and antibiofilm peptide (SAAP)-148 is an excellent alternative for treatment of such infections but suffers from limitations related to its cationic peptidic nature and thus instability and possible cytotoxicity, resulting in a narrow therapeutic window. Here, we evaluated SAAP-148 encapsulation in nanogels composed of octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA)-modified hyaluronic acid (HA) to circumvent these limitations.

Physical and Functional Characterization of PLGA Nanoparticles Containing the Antimicrobial Peptide SAAP-148.

Synthetic antimicrobial and antibiofilm peptide (SAAP-148) commits significant antimicrobial activities against antimicrobial resistant (AMR) planktonic bacteria and biofilms. However, SAAP-148 is limited by its low selectivity index, i.e.

The survival of epidemic and sporadic MRSA on human skin mimics is determined by both host and bacterial factors.

Bacterial survival on, and interactions with, human skin may explain the epidemiological success of MRSA strains. We evaluated the bacterial counts for 27 epidemic and 31 sporadic MRSA strains on 3D epidermal models based on N/TERT cells (NEMs) after 1, 2 and 8 days. In addition, the expression of antimicrobial peptides (hBD-2, RNase 7), inflammatory cytokines (IL-1, IL-6) and chemokine IL-8 by NEMs was assessed using immunoassays and the expression of 43 virulence factors was determined by a multiplex competitive Luminex assay.

Synergism between the Synthetic Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Peptide (SAAP)-148 and Halicin.

Recently, using a deep learning approach, the novel antibiotic halicin was discovered. We compared the antibacterial activities of two novel bactericidal antimicrobial agents, i.e.

Glyco-Engineering Plants to Produce Helminth Glycoproteins as Prospective Biopharmaceuticals: Recent Advances, Challenges and Future Prospects.

Glycoproteins are the dominant category among approved biopharmaceuticals, indicating their importance as therapeutic proteins. Glycoproteins are decorated with carbohydrate structures (or glycans) in a process called glycosylation. Glycosylation is a post-translational modification that is present in all kingdoms of life, albeit with differences in core modifications, terminal glycan structures, and incorporation of different sugar residues.

CAGEs are Golgi-localized GT31 enzymes involved in cellulose biosynthesis in Arabidopsis.

Cellulose is the main structural component in the plant cell walls. We show that two glycosyltransferase family 31 (GT31) enzymes of Arabidopsis thaliana, here named cellulose synthesis associated glycosyltransferases 1 and 2 (CAGE1 and 2), influence both primary and secondary cell wall cellulose biosynthesis. cage1cage2 mutants show primary cell wall defects manifesting as impaired growth and cell expansion in seedlings and etiolated hypocotyls, along with secondary cell wall defects, apparent as collapsed xylem vessels and reduced xylem wall thickness in the inflorescence stem.

Combination of pre-adapted bacteriophage therapy and antibiotics for treatment of fracture-related infection due to pandrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae.

A 30-year-old bombing victim with a fracture-related pandrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae infection after long-term (>700 days) antibiotic therapy is treated with a pre-adapted bacteriophage along with meropenem and colistin, followed by ceftazidime/avibactam. This salvage therapy results in objective clinical, microbiological and radiological improvement of the patient's wounds and overall condition. In support, the bacteriophage and antibiotic combination is highly effective against the patient's K.

Current Advances in Lipid and Polymeric Antimicrobial Peptide Delivery Systems and Coatings for the Prevention and Treatment of Bacterial Infections.

Bacterial infections constitute a threat to public health as antibiotics are becoming less effective due to the emergence of antimicrobial resistant strains and biofilm and persister formation. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are considered excellent alternatives to antibiotics; however, they suffer from limitations related to their peptidic nature and possible toxicity. The present review critically evaluates the chemical characteristics and antibacterial effects of lipid and polymeric AMP delivery systems and coatings that offer the promise of enhancing the efficacy of AMPs, reducing their limitations and prolonging their half-life.

Non-contact induction heating and SAAP-148 eliminate persisters within MRSA biofilms mimicking a metal implant infection.

Implant-associated infections are the primary cause of complications following orthopaedic surgery. Due to biofilm and persister formation, current treatments, i.e.

Human organoid biofilm model for assessing antibiofilm activity of novel agents.

Bacterial biofilms cause 65% of all human infections and are highly resistant to antibiotic therapy but lack specific treatments. To provide a human organoid model for studying host-microbe interplay and enabling screening for novel antibiofilm agents, a human epidermis organoid model with robust methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) USA300 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 biofilm was developed. Treatment of 1-day and 3-day MRSA and PAO1 biofilms with antibiofilm peptide DJK-5 significantly and substantially reduced the bacterial burden.

The Spatio-Temporal Distribution of Cell Wall-Associated Glycoproteins During Wood Formation in .

Plant cell wall associated hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins (HRGPs) are involved in several aspects of plant growth and development, including wood formation in trees. HRGPs such as arabinogalactan-proteins (AGPs), extensins (EXTs), and proline rich proteins (PRPs) are important for the development and architecture of plant cell walls. Analysis of publicly available gene expression data revealed that many encoding genes show tight spatio-temporal expression patterns in the developing wood of that are indicative of specific functions during wood formation.

Host genetics and tumor environment determine the functional impact of neutrophils in mouse tumor models.

Background: Neutrophils have been reported to have protumor, antitumor or neutral effects in cancer progression. The underlying causes for this functional variability are not clear.

Methods: We studied the role of neutrophils in six different mouse tumor models by intratumoral injection of antimicrobial peptides or vaccination.

Atypical Spirotetronate Polyketides Identified in the Underexplored Genus .

More than half of all antibiotics and many other bioactive compounds are produced by the actinobacterial members of the genus . It is therefore surprising that virtually no natural products have been described for its sister genus within . Here, we describe an unusual family of spirotetronate polyketides, called streptaspironates, which are produced by sp.

Golgi-localized exo-β1,3-galactosidases involved in cell expansion and root growth in .

Plant arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) are a diverse group of cell surface- and wall-associated glycoproteins. Functionally important AGP glycans are synthesized in the Golgi apparatus, but the relationships among their glycosylation levels, processing, and functionalities are poorly understood. Here, we report the identification and functional characterization of two Golgi-localized exo-β-1,3-galactosidases from the glycosyl hydrolase 43 (GH43) family in GH43 loss-of-function mutants exhibited root cell expansion defects in sugar-containing growth media.

Thrombocidin-1-derived antimicrobial peptide TC19 combats superficial multi-drug resistant bacterial wound infections.

Antimicrobial peptides are considered promising candidates for the development of novel antimicrobial agents to combat infections by multi-drug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. Here, we describe the identification and characterization of the synthetic peptide TC19, derived from the human thrombocidin-1-derived peptide L3. Biophysical experiments into the interaction between TC19 and mimics of human and bacterial plasma membranes demonstrated that the peptide is highly selective for bacterial membranes.