Evaluating the Translational Potential of Bacteriocins as an Alternative Treatment for <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> Infections in Animals and Humans
Antibiotic resistance remains a global threat to human and animal health. <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> is an opportunistic pathogen that causes minor to life-threatening infections. The widespread use of antibiotics in the clinical, veterinary, and agricultural setting combined with the...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-07-01
|
| Series: | Antibiotics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/12/8/1256 |
| _version_ | 1797585746779963392 |
|---|---|
| author | Lauren R. Heinzinger Aaron R. Pugh Julie A. Wagner Michael Otto |
| author_facet | Lauren R. Heinzinger Aaron R. Pugh Julie A. Wagner Michael Otto |
| author_sort | Lauren R. Heinzinger |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Antibiotic resistance remains a global threat to human and animal health. <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> is an opportunistic pathogen that causes minor to life-threatening infections. The widespread use of antibiotics in the clinical, veterinary, and agricultural setting combined with the increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant <i>S. aureus</i> strains makes it abundantly clear that alternatives to antibiotics are urgently needed. Bacteriocins represent one potential alternative therapeutic. They are antimicrobial peptides that are produced by bacteria that are generally nontoxic and have a relatively narrow target spectrum, and they leave many commensals and most mammalian cells unperturbed. Multiple studies involving bacteriocins (e.g., nisin, epidermicin, mersacidin, and lysostaphin) have demonstrated their efficacy at eliminating or treating a wide variety of <i>S. aureus</i> infections in animal models. This review provides a comprehensive and updated evaluation of animal studies involving bacteriocins and highlights their translational potential. The strengths and limitations associated with bacteriocin treatments compared with traditional antibiotic therapies are evaluated, and the challenges that are involved with implementing novel therapeutics are discussed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:11:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4b397594ec5240528ac29003ef4e912b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-6382 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:11:24Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Antibiotics |
| spelling | doaj.art-4b397594ec5240528ac29003ef4e912b2023-11-18T23:59:04ZengMDPI AGAntibiotics2079-63822023-07-01128125610.3390/antibiotics12081256Evaluating the Translational Potential of Bacteriocins as an Alternative Treatment for <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> Infections in Animals and HumansLauren R. Heinzinger0Aaron R. Pugh1Julie A. Wagner2Michael Otto3Pathogen Molecular Genetics Section, Laboratory of Bacteriology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20814, USAPathogen Molecular Genetics Section, Laboratory of Bacteriology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20814, USAPathogen Molecular Genetics Section, Laboratory of Bacteriology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20814, USAPathogen Molecular Genetics Section, Laboratory of Bacteriology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20814, USAAntibiotic resistance remains a global threat to human and animal health. <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> is an opportunistic pathogen that causes minor to life-threatening infections. The widespread use of antibiotics in the clinical, veterinary, and agricultural setting combined with the increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant <i>S. aureus</i> strains makes it abundantly clear that alternatives to antibiotics are urgently needed. Bacteriocins represent one potential alternative therapeutic. They are antimicrobial peptides that are produced by bacteria that are generally nontoxic and have a relatively narrow target spectrum, and they leave many commensals and most mammalian cells unperturbed. Multiple studies involving bacteriocins (e.g., nisin, epidermicin, mersacidin, and lysostaphin) have demonstrated their efficacy at eliminating or treating a wide variety of <i>S. aureus</i> infections in animal models. This review provides a comprehensive and updated evaluation of animal studies involving bacteriocins and highlights their translational potential. The strengths and limitations associated with bacteriocin treatments compared with traditional antibiotic therapies are evaluated, and the challenges that are involved with implementing novel therapeutics are discussed.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/12/8/1256antibiotic alternativesbacteriocins<i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>MRSAanimal studiesclinical trials |
| spellingShingle | Lauren R. Heinzinger Aaron R. Pugh Julie A. Wagner Michael Otto Evaluating the Translational Potential of Bacteriocins as an Alternative Treatment for <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> Infections in Animals and Humans Antibiotics antibiotic alternatives bacteriocins <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> MRSA animal studies clinical trials |
| title | Evaluating the Translational Potential of Bacteriocins as an Alternative Treatment for <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> Infections in Animals and Humans |
| title_full | Evaluating the Translational Potential of Bacteriocins as an Alternative Treatment for <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> Infections in Animals and Humans |
| title_fullStr | Evaluating the Translational Potential of Bacteriocins as an Alternative Treatment for <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> Infections in Animals and Humans |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluating the Translational Potential of Bacteriocins as an Alternative Treatment for <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> Infections in Animals and Humans |
| title_short | Evaluating the Translational Potential of Bacteriocins as an Alternative Treatment for <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> Infections in Animals and Humans |
| title_sort | evaluating the translational potential of bacteriocins as an alternative treatment for i staphylococcus aureus i infections in animals and humans |
| topic | antibiotic alternatives bacteriocins <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> MRSA animal studies clinical trials |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/12/8/1256 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT laurenrheinzinger evaluatingthetranslationalpotentialofbacteriocinsasanalternativetreatmentforistaphylococcusaureusiinfectionsinanimalsandhumans AT aaronrpugh evaluatingthetranslationalpotentialofbacteriocinsasanalternativetreatmentforistaphylococcusaureusiinfectionsinanimalsandhumans AT julieawagner evaluatingthetranslationalpotentialofbacteriocinsasanalternativetreatmentforistaphylococcusaureusiinfectionsinanimalsandhumans AT michaelotto evaluatingthetranslationalpotentialofbacteriocinsasanalternativetreatmentforistaphylococcusaureusiinfectionsinanimalsandhumans |