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Topic Review
Environment, Gut Microbiota, and CAD
Gut microbiota has been shown to affect the cardiovascular system through different mechanisms, representing a potentially modifiable risk factor for atherosclerosis. This opens new perspectives on therapeutic and preventive strategies for coronary artery disease (CAD). Gut microbiota strongly varies depending on several environmental and lifestyle factors, such as pollution and diet, and maintains a symbiotic relationship with the gut mucosa, with substantial metabolic, immunological, and gut protective functions in the healthy individual.
  • 936
  • 23 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Microorganisms and Climate Change
Climate variations directly impacts on the primary productive sectors, such as agriculture, forestry, livestock, and commercial fishing, which present the subsequent economic relevance. As a result, the effect of climate change has been widely discussed for years on flora and fauna. However, the aftermath evaluation over the worldwide microbiota is a challenging task poorly considered, up to date. In fact, most of these effects have yet to be quantified, but the proliferation and geographycally spread of pathogens of plants, animals, or humans are providing clues of the possible results. These microbial issues should be kept in mind and are the core of this entry.
  • 936
  • 02 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Metallo-β-Lactamase Fold Enzymes in Bacteria
β-lactamase enzymes have generated significant interest due to their ability to confer resistance to the most commonly used family of antibiotics in human medicine. Among these enzymes, the class B β-lactamases are members of a superfamily of metallo-β-lactamase (MβL) fold proteins which are characterised by conserved motifs (i.e., HxHxDH) and are not only limited to bacteria.
  • 934
  • 13 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Bacterial Amelioration of Plant Drought and Salt Stress
Soil bacteria can express different plant-beneficial activities, inoculation of plants with one or more non-antagonistic microorganisms, belonging to the same or different species, or including both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms, can often facilitate plant growth. In fact, the lack of one plant beneficial activity in one strain can sometimes be overcome if another microorganism expresses this specific physiological trait. Moreover, the combination of diverse plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPM) offers a wide range of positive activity to a plant, including the enhancement of plant growth, reduced susceptibility to soil-borne diseases, increased yield, and improved seed and fruit nutritional value.
  • 933
  • 17 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Juglans regia L. Pellicle Extract
The difficulty to treat resistant strains-related hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) promoted the study of phytoextracts, known sources of bioactive molecules. Accordingly, in the present study, the pharmacological activities of Juglans regia (L.) pellicle extract (WPE) were investigated. The antiviral effect was tested against Herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2, Poliovirus 1, Adenovirus 2, Echovirus 9, Coxsackievirus B1 through the plaque reduction assay. The antibacterial and antifungal activities were evaluated against medically important strains, by the microdilution method.
  • 932
  • 23 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Antibiotic Bacterial Resistance
Antibiotics are the main treatment against bacterial infections in animals and plants. As explained before, efficacy loss is known as antibiotic resistance; this manifestation occurs when bacteria mutate in response to excess and sublethal doses of these drugs. Antibiotic resistance is usually classified into intrinsic and acquired resistance. The first one is constitutive of each species, which means that each generation will present it. In contrast, the acquired mechanism occurs when bacteria obtain resistance genes through conjugation, transformation, transduction, and transposition. Regardless of the type of resistance, both cause this problem.
  • 932
  • 18 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Safety Properties of Escherichia coli O157:H7 Specific Bacteriophages
Shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is typically detected on food products, mainly due to cross-contamination with faecal matter. The serotype O157:H7 has been of major public health concern due to the severity of illness caused, prevalence, and management. In the food chain, the main methods of controlling contamination by foodborne pathogens often involve the application of antimicrobial agents, which are now becoming less efficient. There is a growing need for the development of new approaches to combat these pathogens, especially those that harbour antimicrobial resistant and virulent determinants. Strategies to also limit their presence on food contact surfaces and food matrices are needed to prevent their transmission. Studies have revealed that bacteriophages are useful non-antibiotic options for biocontrol of E. coli O157:H7 in both animals and humans. Phage biocontrol can significantly reduce E. coli O157:H7, thereby improving food safety. However, before being certified as potential biocontrol agents, the safety of the phage candidates must be resolved to satisfy regulatory standards, particularly regarding phage resistance, antigenic properties, and toxigenic properties.
  • 932
  • 14 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Inoviridae
Inoviridae is a family of viruses that infect bacteria. Members of the family are commonly called filamentous bacteriophages due to their filamentous shape that resembles a worm-like chain (long, thin and flexible, reminiscent of a length of cooked spaghetti) about 6 nm in diameter and about 1000-2000 nm long. Filamentous bacteriophages are among the simplest living organisms known, with far fewer genes than the classical bacteriophages studied by the phage group. Its simplicity makes it an attractive model system to study fundamental aspects of molecular biology, and it has also proven useful as a tool in immunology and nanotechnology. The family contains 29 defined species, divided between 23 genera. However, mining of genomic and metagenomic datasets using machine learning approach led to the discovery of 10,295 inovirus-like sequences in nearly all bacterial phyla across virtually every ecosystem, indicating that this group of viruses is much more diverse and widespread than originally appreciated.
  • 931
  • 20 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Antimicrobial Peptides from Scorpion Venom
Scorpion venoms have long captivated scientific researchers, primarily due to the potency and specificity of the mechanism of action of their derived components. Among other molecules, these venoms contain highly active compounds, including antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and ion channel-specific components that selectively target biological receptors with remarkable affinity. Some of these receptors have emerged as prime therapeutic targets for addressing various human pathologies, including cancer and infectious diseases, and have served as models for designing novel drugs. Consequently, extensive biochemical and proteomic investigations have focused on characterizing scorpion venoms. 
  • 930
  • 19 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Transmembrane TNF in Mycobacterial Infections
Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is one of the main cytokines regulating a pro-inflammatory environment. It has been related to several cell functions, for instance, phagocytosis, apoptosis, proliferation, mitochondrial dynamic. Moreover, during mycobacterial infections, TNF plays an essential role to maintain granuloma formation. Several effector mechanisms have been implicated according to the interactions of the two active forms, soluble TNF (solTNF) and transmembrane TNF (tmTNF), with their receptors TNFR1 and TNFR2.
  • 928
  • 03 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Host Immune Response to Scedosporium/Lomentospora
Scedosporium/Lomentospora cell wall components, including peptidorhamnomannans (PRMs), α-glucans and glucosylceramides, are important immune response activators following their recognition by TLR2, TLR4 and Dectin-1 and through receptors that are yet unknown. After recognition, cytokine synthesis and antifungal activity of different phagocytes and epithelial cells is species-specific, highlighting the poor response by microglial cells against L. prolificans. Moreover, a great number of Scedosporium/Lomentospora antigens have been identified, most notably catalase, PRM and Hsp70 for their potential medical applicability. Against host immune response, these fungi contain evasion mechanisms, inducing host non-protective response, masking fungal molecular patterns, destructing host defense proteins and decreasing oxidative killing.
  • 927
  • 06 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Oxidative-Stress-Mediated Antimicrobial Properties of Metal-Based Nanoparticles
Nanotechnologies have provided opportunities for the use of nanomaterials as components in the development of antibacterial agents. Indeed, metal-based nanoparticles (NPs) show an effective role in targeting and killing bacteria via different mechanisms, such as attraction to the bacterial surface, destabilization of the bacterial cell wall and membrane, and the induction of a toxic mechanism mediated by a burst of oxidative stress. Considering the lack of new antimicrobial drugs with novel mechanisms of action, the induction of oxidative stress represents a valuable and powerful antimicrobial strategy to fight MDR bacteria. Consequently, it is of particular interest to determine and precisely characterize whether NPs are able to induce oxidative stress in such bacteria. 
  • 927
  • 28 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Rejuvenating the Usual Antibiotics on Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria
Antibiotic resistance continues to evolve and spread beyond all boundaries, resulting in an increase in morbidity and mortality for non-curable infectious diseases. Due to the failure of conventional antimicrobial therapy and the lack of introduction of a novel class of antibiotics, novel strategies have emerged to combat these multidrug-resistant infectious microorganisms.
  • 926
  • 27 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Gut Microbiota and Bile Acids in NAFLD
The roles of gut microbiota are highly regarded in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The intestinal bacteria regulate the metabolism of bile acids depending on bile salt hydrolase (BSH), 7-dehydroxylation, hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSDH), or amide conjugation reaction, thus exerting effects on NAFLD development through bile acid receptors such as farnesoid X receptor (FXR), Takeda G-protein-coupled bile acid protein 5 (TGR5), and vitamin D receptor (VDR), which modulate nutrient metabolism and insulin sensitivity via interacting with downstream molecules. Reversely, the composition of gut microbiota is also affected by the level of bile acids in turn. 
  • 926
  • 25 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Microbiome and Endometriosis
Endometriosis affects approximately 6 to 10% of reproductive-age women globally. Despite much effort invested, the pathogenesis that promotes the development, as well as the progression of this chronic inflammatory disease, is poorly understood. The imbalance in the microbiome or dysbiosis has been implicated in a variety of human diseases, especially the gut microbiome. In the case of endometriosis, emerging evidence suggests that there may be urogenital-gastrointestinal crosstalk that leads to the development of endometriosis. Along with these findings, several studies have reported the potential of probiotics in managing endometriosis, however subsequent investigations on microbial dynamics post administration of probiotics as well as route of administration and formulation of probiotics would be needed to strengthen the rationale of using such microbiome-based intervention in the management of endometriosis.  
  • 924
  • 23 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Antimicrobial Activity of Natural Compounds
Using natural compounds as antimicrobial agents in food is not a new idea. For ages, humans have used a variety of compounds, ranging from organic acids, essential oils (EOs), and wines to salts and seasonings, all with the intent of improving the sensorial experience and the product’s lifespan. Essential oils, present in numerous seasonings (e.g., garlic, oregano, thyme, and rosemary), and the organic acids present in various fruits (e.g., grapes, tomatoes, and citrus fruits), have been studied for their natural preservative properties. Heavily complex fermented substances, such as vinegar, wines, and sauces such as soy sauce, that possess various known antimicrobial compounds are also frequently used. Although some of the substances mentioned above mainly have high concentrations of organic acids, others, such as wines, hold highly complex matrices containing several compounds known for their antimicrobial activity.
  • 923
  • 28 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Legionella pneumophila in Dental Practice
Legionella pneumophila is defined as a bacterium that can cause severe pneumonia. It is found in the natural environment and in water, and is often found in water tanks. It can be an integral part of biofilms in nature, and the protozoa in which it can live provide it with food and protect it from harmful influences; therefore, it has the ability to move into a sustainable but uncultured state (VBNC). L. pneumophila has been shown to cause infections in dental practices. The most common transmission route is aerosol generated in dental office water systems, which can negatively affect patients and healthcare professionals. The most common way of becoming infected with L. pneumophila in a dental office is through water from dental instruments, and the dental unit. In addition to these bacteria, patients and the dental team may be exposed to other harmful bacteria and viruses. Therefore, it is vital that the dental team regularly maintains and decontaminates the dental unit, and sterilizes all accessories that come with it. In addition, regular water control in dental offices is necessary. 
  • 922
  • 14 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Bacterial Toxins Active against Mosquitoes
Insects can act as vectors of etiological agents of different diseases and can be a nuisance to humans, being responsible for health burdens worldwide. Re-emergent and emergent diseases, in particular arboviruses, remain a global challenge as recently shown for the epidemic problems caused by the Zika virus. Microbial larvicides based on entomopathogen bacteria have been successfully used for controlling mosquito and black-fly populations, as an alternative to the conventional classes of chemical insecticides, due to their high effectiveness and environmental safety. Bacillus thuringiensis serovariety (svar.) israelensis (Bti) de Barjac was the first B. thuringiensis (Bt) bacterial serotype identified as active against some Diptera larvae.
  • 920
  • 10 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Phage-Based Biosensors
Bacteriophage-based biosensors offer several benefits, including specificity to their host organism, the detection of only live pathogens, and resistance to extreme environmental factors such as organic solvents, high temperatures, and a wide pH range. Phage-based biosensors are receiving increasing attention owing to their high degree of accuracy, specificity, and reduced assay times. These characteristics, coupled with their abundant supply, make phages a novel bio-recognition molecule in assay development, including biosensors for the detection of foodborne bacterial pathogens to ensure food safety.
  • 919
  • 26 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Proteolytic Dysregulation and Digestive Inflammation
Dysregulation of the proteolytic balance is often associated with diseases. Serine proteases and matrix metalloproteases are involved in a multitude of biological processes and notably in the inflammatory response. Within the framework of digestive inflammation, several studies have stressed the role of serine proteases and matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) as key actors in its pathogenesis and pointed to the unbalance between these proteases and their respective inhibitors. 
  • 918
  • 23 Jun 2021
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