Antimicrobial resistance | Sporobiota | Sporobiome

Each of us is surrounded by and interacts with trillions of microorganisms each day, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses. To minimize the risk of these interactions to human health is one of the primary goals of the Human Microbiology Institute. Based on our research, we develop algorithms and approaches for the prevention of diseases associated with exposure to microorganisms and their spores within the environment (water, food, and air, and exposure to public places) on an individual and microbiota-specific basis.

Antibiotics have saved millions of lives worldwide; however, due to increased rates of antimicrobial resistance, these drugs are losing their effectiveness. As such, the problem of antibiotic resistance has been widely discussed in recent years, with reports from the Review on Antimicrobial Resistance estimating that medicine-resistant infections will claim more lives annually than cancer by the year 2050. Indeed, according to this important scientific journal, deaths caused by drug resistance will rise from 700,000 in 2015 to an estimated 10 million per year in 2050 in the United States alone.

Data Regarding Antibiotic Resistance
  • Recognized as one of the biggest challenges facing human health.
  • The emergence of antibiotic resistance is occurring at a faster rate than that for the development of novel antibiotics.
  • More than 2 million patients in the US develop hospital-acquired infections annually, the vast majority of which are due to antibacterial-resistant species.
  • Greater than 700,000 deaths are caused by drug resistant microorganisms in the US each year.

Today, the majority of people are concentrated in urban areas with numerous common areas that are characterized by high population densities. As a result, the widespread use of antimicrobials and antiseptics has led to the selective breeding and spread of resistant strains. In addition, such crowded areas facilitate the accumulation of microorganisms and their distribution among humans.

Our goals

The goals of Human Microbiology Institute include the development and improvement of methods for antimicrobial usage in order to:

  • Overcome antibiotic resistance
  • Prevent the spread of pathogenic species of bacteria and fungi that are resistant to antibiotics
  • Prevent the spread of pathogenic species of bacteria and fungi that are resistant to sanitizers and disinfectants
  • Develop a method for fighting some of the most dangerous bacterial and fungal pathogens that have grown resistant to drugs currently on the market.
READ MORE ABOUT ANTIBIOTC RESISTANCE AND WAYS TO OVERCOME IT

In vitro antimicrobial activity of a novel compound, Mul-1867, against clinically important bacteria.

Antimicrobial resistance and infection control (2015)

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In vitro antimicrobial activity of a novel compound, Mul-1867, against clinically important bacteria.

Publication Type Journal Article
Authors George Tetz
Victor Tetz
Abstract Background

The antimicrobial activity of Mul-1867, a novel synthetic compound, was tested against 18 bacterial strains, including clinical isolates and reference strains from culture collections.

Methods

The minimal inhibitory concentration (MICs) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBCs) were determined by using the broth macrodilution method. The kinetics of the inhibitory effects of Mul-1867 against biofilm-growing microorganisms was assessed at time-kill test in vitro against 48-h-old biofilms of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Transmission electron microscopy analyses was conducted to examine cell disruption.

Results

A comparative assessment of the antimicrobial activities of Mul-1867 and chlorhexidine
digluconate (CHG), used as a control antimicrobial, indicated that Mul-1867 was significantly more effective as a disinfectant than CHG. Mul-1867 showed potent antimicrobial activities against all the tested bacteria (MIC: 0.03–0.5 μg/mL). Furthermore, MBC/MIC ratio of Mul-1867 for all tested strains was less than or equal to 4. Time-kill studies showed that treatment with Mul-1867 (0.05–2%) reduced bacterial numbers by 2.8–4.8 log10 colony forming units (CFU)/mL within 15–60 s. Bactericidal activity of Mul-1867 was confirmed by morphological changes revealed by TEM suggested that the killing of bacteria was the result of membrane disruption.

Conclusion

Overall, these data indicated that Mul-1867 may be a promising antimicrobial for the treatment and prevention of human infections.

Year of Publication 2015
Journal Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials
DOI 10.1186/s13756-015-0088-x

Antimicrobial activity of Mul-1867, a novel antimicrobial compoud, against multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials (2016)

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Antimicrobial activity of Mul-1867, a novel antimicrobial compound, against multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Publication Type Journal Article
Authors George Tetz
Daria Vikina
Victor Tetz
Abstract Background

There is an urgent need for new antimicrobial compounds to treat various lung infections caused by multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MDR-PA).

Methods

We studied the potency of Mul-1867 against MDR-PA isolates from patients with cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and ventilator-associated pneumonia. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum biofilm eliminating concentrations (MBECs), defined as the concentrations of drug that kill 50 % (MBEC50), 90 % (MBEC90), and 100 % (MBEC100) of the bacteria in preformed biofilms, were determined by using the broth macrodilution method.

Results

Mul-1867 exhibited significant activity against MDR-PA and susceptible control strains, with MICs ranging from 1.0 to 8.0 µg/mL. Mul-1867 also possesses anti-biofilm activity against mucoid and non-mucoid 24-h- old MDR-PA biofilms. The MBEC50 value was equal to onefold the MIC. The MBEC90 value ranged from two to fourfold the MIC. Moreover, Mul-1867 completely eradicated mature biofilms at the concentrations tested, with
MBEC100 values ranging between 16- and 32-fold the MIC. Mul-1867 was non-toxic to Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells at concentrations up to 256 µg/mL.

Conclusion

Overall, these data indicate that Mul-1867 is a promising locally acting antimicrobial for the treatment and prevention of P. aeruginosa infections.

Year of
Publication
2016
Journal Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials
DOI 10.1186/s12941-016-0134-4

Introducing the sporobiota and sporobiome.

Gut pathogens. 2017 Dec;9(1):38.

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Tetz G, Cynamon M, Hendricks G, Vikina D, Tetz V. In vitro activity of a novel compound, Mul-1867, against clinically significant fungi Candida spp. and Aspergillus spp.

International journal of antimicrobialagents. 2017 Jul 1;50(1):47-54.

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Antimicrobial activity of Mul-1867, a novel antimicrobial compoud, against multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials (2016)

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In vitro antimicrobial activity of a novel compound, Mul-1867, against clinically important bacteria.

Antimicrobial resistance and infection control (2015)

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