Tag Archives: antibiotics
Interesting structural properties of auricin and its biosynthetic gene cluster
Streptomycetes belong to the main producers of secondary metabolites with a broad range of biological activities. A large number of these products belong to polyketides. These structurally diverse compounds are synthesized by a repeated decarboxylative condensation from
Antibiotic tolerance in bacteria: how to regain susceptibility?
Bacteria use a plethora of mechanisms to evade killing by antibiotics. Resistance is the best documented mechanism. Here, genetic changes in the bacterial DNA result in antibiotic insensitivity. As a consequence, resistant bacteria are able to grow
Stevensite: an efficient clay to retain tetracycline from wastewater
The tetracycline family of antibiotics are widely used for human therapy and animal feed. However, tetracycline (TC) is considered a contaminant of emerging concern in the environment due to its presence in wastewater effluents, surface waters and
Counting choline: why this nutrient is important and how we can measure it
Choline is an important nutrient for the growth and sustenance of living things, from humans to bacteria. Cells covert choline into phosphocholine via the activity of the enzyme choline kinase, and a change of other enzyme mediated
Apple cider vinegar can help clear bacteria and yeast infections; a natural cure
Antibiotic resistance poses a major health issue worldwide. There has never been a greater need for new anti-microbials which are natural, active on multiple organisms and ideally beneficial to the patient. Bacteria such as E-Coli, Staphylococcus aureus
The antibiotics of tomorrow: from enzyme Lego blocks to customized enzybiotics
Antibiotics play a key role in the treatment of bacterial infections and have saved millions of lives since their invention. Moreover, they allowed the development of complex surgeries and cancer treatments. However, already in 1945, after receiving
Rapid monitoring of bacterial growth and antibiotic susceptibility with quantum semiconductor biochips
Public Health authorities sound the alarm over the increasing bacterial resistance to antibiotics and project a dark picture back to the pre-antibiotic era. One avenue of solutions proposed is to identify the spectrum of susceptibility to antibiotics
Antimicrobial peptides: the future of tuberculosis therapeutics?
Tuberculosis (TB) is a life-threatening disease that caused 1.2 million deaths, of a total 9.6 million new diagnosed cases, in 2014 alone, according to data from the World Health Organization (WHO). These data rank TB on top
Inhibitors that reduce the acquisition of antibiotic resistance
The rapid emergence of antibiotic resistance is a worldwide crisis, endangering the efficacy of antibiotic treatment. A recent article in Scientific America (December 16, 2014) highlights the importance of developing strategies for reducing antibiotic resistance and prolonging
Antibiotics for treatment of asthma-like episodes in childhood
Childhood asthma is often preceded by recurrent episodes of asthma-like symptoms in relation to airway infections in the first years of life. Treatment of such episodes represents a major unmet clinical need; they are the most common
Diamonds – The doctors’s best friend?!
Most people know about diamonds as jewelry and as the hardest material that can cut nearly everything. It is also known that what makes diamonds unique is the crystalline structure, which is brought about primarily with high
The antibacterials that have yet to be found
Science has contributed greatly to prolong the lifespan and health conditions of humans. However, close to the coming of age of the XXI Century, humankind is confronting the global war against infectious diseases. Leaving aside other microorganisms-associated
Antibiotics: what patients don’t know
Antibiotics are among the most frequently prescribed and precious medicines we have. They cure infections if used correctly but overuse, underuse and usage errors pose risks to patients and the community. Risks include excess side effects, uncured
