antivirulence
- Biotechnology | SpotlightA Tailspike with Exopolysaccharide Depolymerase Activity from a New Providencia stuartii Phage Makes Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria Susceptible to Serum-Mediated Killing
The pace at which multidrug-resistant strains emerge has been alarming. P. stuartii is an infrequent but relevant drug-resistant nosocomial pathogen causing local to systemic life-threatening infections. We propose an alternative approach to fight this bacterium based on the properties of phage tailspikes with depolymerase activity that degrade the surface bacterial...
- Environmental Microbiology | SpotlightSmall Molecules Produced by Commensal Staphylococcus epidermidis Disrupt Formation of Biofilms by Staphylococcus aureus
S. aureus is a leading agent of infections worldwide, and its main virulence characteristic is the ability to produce biofilms on surfaces such as medical devices. Biofilms are known to confer increased resistance to antimicrobials and to the host immune responses, requiring aggressive antibiotic treatment and removal of the infected surface. Here, we investigated a...
- Public and Environmental Health Microbiology | SpotlightK2 Capsule Depolymerase Is Highly Stable, Is Refractory to Resistance, and Protects Larvae and Mice from Acinetobacter baumannii Sepsis
Acinetobacter baumannii is an important nosocomial pathogen resistant to many, and sometimes all, antibiotics. The A. baumannii K2 capsular type has been associated with elevated antibiotic resistance. The capsular depolymerase characterized here fits the new trend of alternative antibacterial...
- Public and Environmental Health MicrobiologyAmentoflavone Ameliorates Streptococcus suis-Induced Infection In Vitro and In Vivo
The widespread use of antibiotics in therapy and in the prevention of Streptococcus suis infection in the swine industry raises concerns for the emergence of a resistant strain. The use of antivirulence agents has potential benefits, mainly because of the reduced selective pressure for the development of bacterial resistance. In this study, we found that amentoflavone...