Defensins: Natural component of human innate immunity

The widespread use of antibiotics has contributed to a huge increase in the number of resistant bacteria. New classes of drugs are therefore being developed of which defensins are a potential source. Defensins are a group of antimicrobial peptides found in different living organisms, involved in the first line of defense in their innate immune response against pathogens. This review summarizes the results of studies of this family of human antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). There is a special emphasis on describing the entire group and individual peptides, history of their discovery, their functions and expression sites. The results of the recent studies on the use of the biologically active peptides in human medicine are also presented. The pharmaceutical potential of human defensins cannot be ignored, especially considering their strong antimicrobial activity and properties such as low molecular weight, reduced immunogenicity, broad activity spectrum and resistance to proteolysis, but there are still many challenges and questions regarding the possibilities of their practical application.     

Antimicrobial and Antiplasmodial Activities of a Quaternary Compound from Ritchiea Capparoides Var. Longipedicellata

The leaves of Ritchiea capparoides var. longipedicellata (Capparidaceae) is used in ethnomedicine in South-Western Nigeria to treat infectious and parasitic diseases. This study was aimed at identifying the compound(s) that are responsible for the antimicrobial and antiplasmodial activities of the leaves and also to contribute to the chemistry of the plant species. A 70 % aqueous ethanolic extract of the leaves of R. longipedicellata was subjected to repeated liquid chromatographic methods on silica gel, Lobar RP-18 column and Sephadex LH-20 to isolate a Draggendorf positive compound. The compound was identified by ¹H and ¹³C NMR, ultra-violet spectroscopy and polarimetry. The antimicrobial activity of the compound was evaluated using the microbroth dilution method while the antiplasmodial activity was carried out according to Trager and Jenson (1976). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was expressed in mg/ml. The isolated compound, leavoisomer of stachydrine, inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli NCTC 8196 and Staphylococcus aureus NCTC 6571 at the MIC of 5 mg/ml. In the anti-malaria assay, the compound had inhibitory activity with the concentration required to cause 100% lethality being 0.667 mg/ml.Conclusion: The antibacterial and antiparasitic effects of quaternary ammonium compounds are well documented. However, this study is the first report of the presence and biological activities of this compound in this plant species which may justify the ethnomedicinal uses of the leaves.     

Copolymers of novel methacrylic and styrenic monomer based on the thiophene: synthesis,characterization, monomer reactivity ratios,thermal properties,and biological activity

The free radical copolymerization of 2-thienylmethyl 4-vinylbenzyl ether (TMVBE) with 2-oxo-2-(2-thienylmethoxy)ethyl-2-methylacrylate (TMOEM) has been carried out in 1,4-dioxane at 65?°C?±?1 and were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. ¹H NMR analysis was used to determine the molar fractions of TMVBE and TMOEM in the copolymers. The monomer reactivity ratios were calculated according to the general copolymerization equation using Kelen–Tüdõs and Finemann–Ross linearization methods. The reactivity ratios indicated a tendency toward alternation copolymerization. The thermal behaviors of copolymers with various compositions were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. Also, the apparent thermal decomposition activation energies were calculated by the Ozawa and Kissinger methods with a Shimadzu TGA 60 thermogravimetric analysis thermobalance. All the products showed moderate activity against different strains of bacteria and fungi.     

The improved antibacterial efficiency of a zinc phthalocyanine when embedded on silver nanoparticle modified silica nanofibers

This work reports on the fabrication and modification of electrospun polymer free silica nanofibers (SiO₂ NFs) with the aim of creating heterogeneous antibacterial catalysts. The optical and photophysical properties of the obtained NFs i.e. bare SiO₂, Ag-SiO₂, Pc-SiO₂ and Pc@Ag-SiO₂ NFs (Pc = phthalocyanine) were compared and reported. The singlet oxygen quantum yields of the Pc-SiO₂ and Pc@Ag-SiO₂ NFs were also quantified and found to be 0.08 and 0.12, respectively, in water. All the modified SiO₂ NFs were found to possess photoactivity against S. aureus with the most effective being the Pc@Ag-SiO₂ NFs due to the synergy between the Pc and Ag nanoparticles. The bare SiO₂ NFs do not exhibit any antibacterial activity while the Ag-SiO₂ and Pc@Ag-SiO₂ NFs were found to also exhibit dark toxicity. The generated photocatalysts are attractive because they are active against bacteria and they are easily retrievable post-application. The nanocatalysts reported herein are therefore feasible candidates for real-life antibacterial applications.     

钛植入物促骨整合及抗感染涂层的研究进展

钛及其合金具有稳定的化学性质和良好的人体亲和性,常被作为骨科植入材料,但未经处理的钛植入物易发生骨整合不良和植入物周围感染导致植入失败。近年来,人口老龄化加剧带动植入材料使用量增加,亟需性能更好的钛表面修饰方法以降低植入失败率。理想的骨科植入物应同时具备促成骨和抗菌特性,但目前大量表面改性策略只解决其中一种问题,导致植入物无法达到预期效果。因此,植入材料涂层需满足这两种特性或在两者间寻找平衡点。综述近几年来解决钛植入物无菌性松动或感染问题的最新策略,如表面形貌改善和生物分子涂层等促进成骨,抗菌药物负载和光热治疗等防治感染措施,并通过双因素整合和三因素整合进一步介绍了同时解决这两个问题的研究进展。     

Antimicrobial Susceptibility Trends of Streptococcus pneumoniae by Age Groups Over Recent 10 Years in a Single Hospital in South Korea

PurposeStreptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) causes respiratory tract infections. Its non-vaccine serotypes and multidrug-resistant pneumococcal diseases have increased during the post-pneumococcal vaccination era. Therefore, it is important to understand the regional and age-related antimicrobial susceptibility of S. pneumoniae to select appropriate empirical antimicrobials.Materials and MethodsWe retrospectively studied trends in the antimicrobial resistance of S. pneumoniae to commonly prescribed antibiotics in patient groups of various ages at a single teaching hospital in Jeju Island from 2009 to 2018.ResultsIn total, 1460 S. pneumoniae isolates were obtained during the study period. The overall antimicrobial resistance rates of S. pneumoniae to penicillin, erythromycin, ceftriaxone, levofloxacin, and vancomycin were 16.2%, 84.7%, 25.9%, 3.3%, and 0.0%, respectively, and the MDR rate was 6.7%. Erythromycin and ceftriaxone resistance rates increased by years; however, they were significantly reduced in adult groups. Levofloxacin resistance and MDR rates were also higher in adult groups. Overall, the MDR rate significantly increased during the recent 10 years, as well as in patients with a history of hospitalization within 90 days [odds ratio (OR)=3.58, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.91–6.71] and sinusitis (OR=4.98, 95% CI=2.07–11.96).ConclusionErythromycin and ceftriaxone resistance rates and the MDR rate of S. pneumoniae significantly increased during the recent 10 years; the trends in individual antimicrobial resistance rates significantly differed between the age groups. This study indicates the need for caution when using ceftriaxone as an empirical antimicrobial against pneumococcal infections.     

Bacteremic nosocomial pneumonia caused by Acinetobacter baumannii and Acinetobacter nosocomialis: a single or two distinct clinical entities?

The phenotypically indistinguishable Acinetobacter baumannii and Acinetobacter nosocomialis have become leading pathogens causing nosocomial pneumonia in critically ill patients. A. baumannii and A. nosocomialis nosocomial pneumonias were grouped as a single clinical entity previously. This study aimed to determine whether they are the same or a different clinical entity. A total of 121 patients with A. baumannii and 131 with A. nosocomialis bacteremic nosocomial pneumonia were included during an 8-year period. Despite the similar Charlson co-morbidity scores at admission, patients with A. baumannii pneumonia were more likely to have abnormal haematological findings, lobar pneumonia, significantly higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores and higher frequency of shock at the onset of bacteraemia than those with A. nosocomialis pneumoni. A. baumannii isolates were resistant to more classes of antimicrobials, except colistin, and therefore the patients with A. baumannii pneumonia were more likely to receive inappropriate antimicrobial therapy. The 14-day mortality was significantly higher in patients with A. baumannii pneumonia (34.7% vs. 15.3%, p 0.001). A. baumannii was an independent risk factor for mortality (OR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.05–3.90; p 0.035) in the overall cohort after adjustment for other risk factors for death, including inappropriate antimicrobial therapy. The results demonstrated the difference in clinical presentation, microbial characteristics and outcomes between A. baumannii and A. nosocomialis nosocomial pneumonia, and supported that they are two distinct clinical entities.     

种植体表面抗菌技术的分类与研究进展

随着种植体在口腔领域的广泛应用,口腔种植体相关的感染成为威胁种植体远期疗效的重大隐患。种植体表面的菌斑和生物膜与感染密切相关,一种有效的途径是通过种植体表面抗菌技术处理以防止微生物的聚集与粘附,本文就种植体表面抗菌技术的分类与研究进展作一综述。