Future microbiology
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Future microbiology · Jul 2016
ReviewCurrent strategies for diagnosis of paracoccidioidomycosis and prospects of methods based on gold nanoparticles.
Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a human systemic granulomatous mycosis caused by thermodimorphic fungi from Paracoccidioides genus. The disease is prevalent in Latin America and triggers a serious clinical condition. Consequently, rapid diagnosis and treatment are crucial to prevent progression of the disease, which can result in death. ⋯ However, many of these tests still present challenges in terms of cost, accessibility and efficiency. In this scenario, gold nanoparticles represent a promising alternative since they have particular optical and electronic properties, which allow its use for biomolecules detection. This review will briefly present techniques available for PCM diagnosis and the perspectives of implementation of gold nanoparticles for diagnosis of this mycosis.
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Future microbiology · May 2016
Intranasal treatment with bacteriophage rescues mice from Acinetobacter baumannii-mediated pneumonia.
With the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria, finding alternative agents to treat antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections is imperative. ⋯ This research demonstrates that intranasal application of bacteriophage is viable, and could provide complete protection from pneumonia caused by A. baumannii.
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Future microbiology · Jan 2016
ReviewHistones as mediators of host defense, inflammation and thrombosis.
Histones are known for their ability to bind to and regulate expression of DNA. However, histones are also present in cytoplasm and extracellular fluids where they serve host defense functions and promote inflammatory responses. ⋯ In addition, histones can trigger inflammatory responses in some cases acting through Toll-like receptors or inflammasome pathways. Extracellular histones mediate organ injury (lung, liver), sepsis physiology, thrombocytopenia and thrombin generation and some proteins can bind histones and reduce these potentially harmful effects.
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Future microbiology · Jan 2015
Isavuconazole: a new extended spectrum triazole for invasive mold diseases.
Isavuconazole is the first broad spectrum prodrug triazole with efficacy against invasive fungal diseases including aspergillosis and mucormycosis. Characteristics include linear dose-proportional pharmacokinetics, intravenous and oral formulations allowing therapeutic streamlining, once daily dosing, absence of nephrotoxic solubilizing agents and excellent oral bioavailability independent of prandial status and gastric acidity. An open label noncomparator study demonstrated encouraging results for isavuconazole as primary or salvage therapy for a range of fungi including mucormycosis. ⋯ Cross-resistance of isavuconazole best correlates with voriconazole. In vitro resistance is not invariably predictive of clinical failure. Isavuconazole signals progress in pharmacokinetics, bioavailability and toxicity/tolerability supported by clinical efficacy from Phase III trials.
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Future microbiology · Jan 2015
ReviewSystematic review on intervention with prebiotics/probiotics in patients with obesity-related nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
The gut microbiota is modulated by metabolic derangements, such as nutrition overload and obesity. ⋯ Although probiotics and prebiotics have been proposed in the treatment and prevention of patients with obesity-related NAFLD, their therapeutic use is not supported by high-quality clinical studies.