Antibacterial Activity of Fluorobenzoylthiosemicarbazides and Their Cyclic Analogues with 1,2,4-Triazole Scaffold

The development of drug-resistant bacteria is currently one of the major challenges in medicine. Therefore, the discovery of novel lead structures for the design of antibacterial drugs is urgently needed. In this structure–activity relationship study, a library of ortho-, meta-, and para-fluorobenzoylthiosemicarbazides, and their cyclic analogues with 1,2,4-triazole scaffold, was created and tested for antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria strains. While all tested 1,2,4-triazoles were devoid of potent activity, the antibacterial response of the thiosemicarbazides was highly dependent on substitution pattern at the N4 aryl position. The optimum activity for these compounds was found for trifluoromethyl derivatives such as 15a, 15b, and 16b, which were active against both the reference strains panel, and pathogenic methicillin-sensitive and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates at minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 7.82 to 31.25 μg/mL. Based on the binding affinities obtained from docking, the conclusion can be reached that fluorobenzoylthiosemicarbazides can be considered as potential allosteric d-alanyl-d-alanine ligase inhibitors.     

针对不同来源金黄色葡萄球菌分离菌株的agr I-IV分型初探

目的: 金黄色葡萄球菌附属基因调节子(agr)位点是一个全面的群集感应系统并且控制着毒力因子的产生, 本研究旨在针对不同来源的金黄色葡萄球菌分离菌株进行agr I-IV基因分型研究. 方法: 根据金黄色葡萄球菌agrI-IV基因组别类型的引物, 对五种不同来源的169株金黄色葡萄球菌DNA模板进行多重PCR扩增, 获得目的基因, 以判断agr基因型. 结果:169株分离菌株中, agrⅡ型的检出率为19%(32/169), agrⅢ型检出率为12%(20/169), agrⅣ型检出率为8%(14/169), 五种不同来源的金黄色葡萄球菌均有检出agrⅡ型, 均未检出agrⅠ型, 并且都含有未能分型的agr阴性菌株. 研究结果表明不同来源金黄色葡萄球菌分离菌株中agr I-IV基因型的流行情况, 该方法对于金黄色葡萄球菌菌株分子分型有一定的借鉴意义, 也为金黄色葡萄球菌菌株分子流行病学调查奠定一定的基础.     

An Alkynyl-Dangling Ru(II) Polypyridine Complex for Targeted Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy

To realize clinical application of antibacterial photodynamic therapy (aPDT), one of the most arduous challenges is how to render aPDT agents high selectivity against bacterial pathogens. In light of the fact that amino group-containing lipids are rich on the outer surfaces of Gram-positive bacteria, we herein constructed an alkynyl-dangling ruthenium(II) polypyridine complex (Ru2) to preferentially label Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) over mammalian cells via the amino-yne bio-orthogonal click reaction. Thanks to the strong singlet oxygen generation ability, Ru2 could photo-inactivate S. aureus and MRSA effectively and specifically. Phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) molecules also exist in mammalian cells but are not accessible for Ru2, leading to its poor binding/uptake and negligible cytotoxicity in the dark and upon irradiation towards mammalian cells as well as low hemolysis, all favorable for aPDT application.     

Selective Photoinactivation of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus by Highly Positively Charged RuII Complexes

Ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes featuring peripheral quaternary ammonium structures were found to be able to selectively inactivate Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), including methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) upon visible light irradiation, but have low phototoxicity toward 293T cells, L02 cells and lack hemolysis toward rabbit red blood cells (RBC), exhibiting promising potential as a novel type of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) agents.     

An Adamantyl Amino Acid Containing Gramicidin S Analogue with Broad Spectrum Antibacterial Activity and Reduced Hemolytic Activity

The cyclic cationic antimicrobial peptide gramicidin S (GS) is an effective topical antibacterial agent that is toxic for human red blood cells (hemolysis). Herein, we present a series of amphiphilic derivatives of GS with either two or four positive charges and characteristics ranging between very polar and very hydrophobic. Screening of this series of peptide derivatives identified a compound that combines effective antibacterial activity with virtually no toxicity within the same concentration range. This peptide acts against both Gram‐negative and Gram‐positive bacteria, including several MRSA strains, and represents an interesting lead for the development of a broadly applicable antibiotic.     

Ultrasonic irradiation enhanced the efficacy of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus biofilm

Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) is a non-pharmacological antimicrobial regimen based on light, photosensitizer and oxygen. It has become a potential method to inactivate multidrug-resistant bacteria. However, limited by the delivery of photosensitizer (PS) in biofilm, eradicating biofilm-associated infections by aPDT remains challenging. This study aimed to explore the feasibility of combining ultrasonic irradiation with aPDT to enhance the efficacy of aPDT against methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) biofilm. A cationic benzylidene cyclopentanone photosensitizer with much higher selectivity to bacterial cells than mammalian cells were applied at the concentration of 10 μM. 532 nm laser (40 mW/cm², 10 min) and 1 MHz ultrasound (500 mW/cm², 10 min, simultaneously with aPDT) were employed against MRSA biofilms in vitro. In addition to combined with ultrasonic irradiation and aPDT, MRSA biofilms were treated with laser irradiation only, photosensitizer only, ultrasonic irradiation only, ultrasonic irradiation and photosensitizer, and aPDT respectively. The antibacterial efficacy was determined by XTT assay, and the penetration depth of PS in biofilm was observed using a photoluminescence spectrometer and a confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). In addition, the viability of human dermal fibroblasts (WS-1 cells) after the same treatments mentioned above and the uptake of P3 by WS-1 cells after ultrasonic irradiation were detected by CCK-8 and CLSM in vitro. Results showed that the percent decrease in metabolic activity resulting from the US + aPDT group (75.76%) was higher than the sum of the aPDT group (44.14%) and the US group (9.88%), suggesting synergistic effects. Meanwhile, the diffusion of PS in the biofilm of MRSA was significantly increased by 1 MHz ultrasonic irradiation. Ultrasonic irradiation neither induced the PS uptake by WS-1 cells nor reduced the viability of WS-1 cells. These results suggested that 1 MHz ultrasonic irradiation significantly enhanced the efficacy of aPDT against MRSA biofilm by increasing the penetration depth of PS. In addition, the antibacterial efficacy of aPDT can be enhanced by ultrasonic irradiation, the US + aPDT treatment demonstrated encouraging in vivo antibacterial efficacy (1.73 log₁₀ CFU/mL reduction). In conclusion, the combination of aPDT and 1 MHz ultrasound is a potential and promising strategy to eradicate biofilm-associated infections of MRSA.     

致病性金黄色葡萄球菌引起乌骨鸡坏疽性皮炎的诊治

通过病理剖检，病原分离鉴定及动物试验，确诊致病性金黄色葡萄球菌引起的乌骨鸡坏疽性皮炎．将所分离的病原菌作药敏试验，用对该病原菌高度敏感的药物进行治疗，使病情缓解，疫情很快得到了控制     

"JT烧伤液"对烧伤感染细菌作用的超微观察及研究

本文利用扫描电子显微镜观察“JT烧伤液”对烧伤感染细菌作用的超微现象.结果表明,“JT烧伤液”对金黄色葡萄球菌（S·Aureus G+）和志贺氏痢疾杆菌（Shigrellre G-）有明显的杀伤和抑制作用,为临床推广和使用“JT烧伤液”治疗烧伤创面提供一定的参考依据.     

用于活细胞持续动态观测的原位培养系统设计

为满足对活细胞进行数小时以上跟踪观测的实验需求,设计了一种能放置在显微镜载物台上对其进行持续动态观测的原位恒温培养系统。系统以微控制器STM32为核心,以增量式PID算法实现对温度的高精度控制,采用引入权重矩阵的分布式温度控制技术保证了微型培养箱内的温度高均匀态。实验结果表明,系统温度控制精度为±0.10℃,温度均匀性为±0.20℃。通过在系统中连续培养金黄色葡萄球菌3 h,对比标准37℃恒温培养箱始终状态下细菌菌群平均面积增长率间无显著性差异(P>0.05),证明了系统性能满足实验所需,同时,对比在标准培养箱下同步进行的间断细菌培养对照组细菌生长状态,证明了生长环境温度的改变对细菌活性有负面影响,原位培养系统能够提高实验效率和实验结果可靠性。     

Ultrafiltration polyanionic poly (3-sulfopropyl methacrylate) membranes with enhanced antifouling and water flux

Polyethersulfone (PES) membranes are prevalent in the field of water treatment owing to their exceptional separation efficiency, robust mechanical properties, and resistance to chemical degradation. Nevertheless, these membranes are prone to fouling, resulting in a decrease in both flux and ultrafiltration efficiency. In the present study, PES membranes are blended with poly (3-Sulfopropyl Methacrylate) (PSPMA) in various weight percentages (0%–3%) to improve their antifouling and ultrafiltration properties. The physicochemical properties of the blended membranes, including surface morphology, contact angle, hydrophilicity and surface energy are evaluated. The findings indicate that incorporation PSPMA results in an enhancement of the hydrophilic properties and surface charge of the PES membranes, assessed by employing Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) as a representative protein. Modified blended membranes display greater Flux Recovery Ratio (FRR%) and exhibit superior fouling resistance. Under the same experimental conditions (0.2 MPa applied pressure), a pure water flux of 154.18 L·m⁻²·h⁻¹ for PES/PSPMA membrane found substantially greater than pure PES membrane (103.52 L·m⁻²·h⁻¹) along with Total Fouling Ratio (TFR) of 36% and 64.9% respectively. Exceptional antimicrobial efficacy for modified membranes is revealed against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) using disc diffusion technique rendering them well-suited for water treatment applications.