Current Pharmaceutical Design - Volume 21, Issue 16, 2015

As MRSA are considered Staphylococcus aureus isolates with oxacillin minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ≥4 mg/L or harboring the mecA gene. However, the presence of mecA does not necessarily lead to oxacillin resistance and mecA gene-carrying isolates may have oxacillin MIC within the susceptible range (≥2 mg/L). During the last few years it has become apparent that oxacillin-susceptible (OS) mecA-positive S Read More

There is a growing concern by regulatory authorities for the selection of antibiotic resistance caused by the use of biocidal products. We aimed to complete the detailed information on large surveys by investigating the relationship between biocide and antibiotic susceptibility profiles of a large number of Staphylococcus aureus isolates using four biocides and antibiotics commonly used in clinical practice. The minimal inhibitory Read More

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) remains the single biggest challenge in infectious disease in the civilized world. Moreover, vancomycin resistance is also spreading, leading to fears of untreatable infections as were common in ancient times. Molecular microbiology and bioinformatics have revealed many of the mechanisms involved in resistance development. Mobile genetic elements, up-regulated virul Read More

The pervasiveness of bacterial resistance to conventional antibiotics, particularly those associated with staphylococcal infections, has become a global epidemic. However, research involving antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and their synthetic analogues has unearthed a potentially novel class of antibacterials for the treatment of an array of diseases caused by pathogenic bacteria, such as staphylococci. AMPs have several uniqu Read More

The development and approval of new antimicrobials capable of being used to treat infections caused by multidrug-resistant pathogens has not kept pace with the rapid emergence of bacterial resistance. Without a doubt, there is a critical unmet need for the identification of novel strategies to develop antimicrobials to deal with this new scourge. One strategy, which warrants special attention as a unique method for identifyin Read More

The Gram-positive, facultative anaerobic coccus-shaped bacteria of the genus Staphylococcus are among the most important causative agents of acute and chronic bacterial infections in humans as well as in animals. Treatment of Staphylococcus infections has become increasingly challenging due to the growing problem of antibiotic resistance. For this reason innovative antimicrobials with novel targets and modes of action are Read More

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become the most important drug-resistant microbial pathogen in countries throughout the world. Morbidity and mortality due to MRSA infections continue to increase despite efforts to improve infection control measures and to develop new antibiotics. Therefore alternative antimicrobial strategies that do not give rise to development of resistance are urgently required. Read More

To evaluate new drugs, the immune system should be considered. Here we evaluated a proof-of-concept that uncovers bacterial-leukocyte interactions. Analyzing longitudinal leukocyte data from bovines infected with either methicillin-resistant (MRSA) or methicillin-susceptible (MSSA) Staphylococcus aureus, two methods were investigated: (i) an approach that assesses lymphocytes, monocytes, or neutrophils, separat Read More

Staphylococcus aureus is a fastidious pathogen of global concern. S. aureus can not only cause a wide range of serious infections, but can also colonize healthy individuals. Nosocomial- associated S. aureus infection is a major concern for healthcare facilities. Recent increases in antibiotic resistance and community-acquired infection highlight the need for improved understanding for prevention and treatment of this patho Read More

Molecular imaging enables noninvasive characterization, quantification and visualization of biological and pathological processes in vivo at cellular and molecular level. It plays an important role in drug discovery and development. The skillful use of molecular imaging can provide unique insights into disease processes, which greatly aid in identifications of target. Importantly, molecular imaging is widely applied in the pharmacody Read More

Phenylbutyrate (PBA) is an aromatic short-chain fatty acid which is a chemical derivative of butyric acid naturally produced by colonic bacteria fermentation. At the intestinal level butyrate exerts a multitude of activities including amelioration of mucosal inflammation, regulation of transepithelial fluid transport, improvement in oxidative status and colon cancer prevention. Moreover, increasing number of studies rep Read More