Tackling Multidrug Resistance in Streptococci – From Novel Biotherapeutic Strategies to Nanomedicines

The pyogenic streptococci group includes pathogenic species for humans and other animals and has been associated with enduring morbidity and high mortality. The main reason for the treatment failure of streptococcal infections is the increased resistance to antibiotics. In recent years, infectious d...

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Main Authors: Cinthia Alves-Barroco, Lorenzo Rivas-García, Alexandra R. Fernandes, Pedro Viana Baptista
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2020-10-01
Series:Frontiers in Microbiology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmicb.2020.579916/full
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author Cinthia Alves-Barroco
Lorenzo Rivas-García
Lorenzo Rivas-García
Alexandra R. Fernandes
Pedro Viana Baptista
author_facet Cinthia Alves-Barroco
Lorenzo Rivas-García
Lorenzo Rivas-García
Alexandra R. Fernandes
Pedro Viana Baptista
author_sort Cinthia Alves-Barroco
collection DOAJ
description The pyogenic streptococci group includes pathogenic species for humans and other animals and has been associated with enduring morbidity and high mortality. The main reason for the treatment failure of streptococcal infections is the increased resistance to antibiotics. In recent years, infectious diseases caused by pyogenic streptococci resistant to multiple antibiotics have been raising with a significant impact to public health and veterinary industry. The rise of antibiotic-resistant streptococci has been associated to diverse mechanisms, such as efflux pumps and modifications of the antimicrobial target. Among streptococci, antibiotic resistance emerges from previously sensitive populations as result of horizontal gene transfer or chromosomal point mutations due to excessive use of antimicrobials. Streptococci strains are also recognized as biofilm producers. The increased resistance of biofilms to antibiotics among streptococci promote persistent infection, which comprise circa 80% of microbial infections in humans. Therefore, to overcome drug resistance, new strategies, including new antibacterial and antibiofilm agents, have been studied. Interestingly, the use of systems based on nanoparticles have been applied to tackle infection and reduce the emergence of drug resistance. Herein, we present a synopsis of mechanisms associated to drug resistance in (pyogenic) streptococci and discuss some innovative strategies as alternative to conventional antibiotics, such as bacteriocins, bacteriophage, and phage lysins, and metal nanoparticles. We shall provide focused discussion on the advantages and limitations of agents considering application, efficacy and safety in the context of impact to the host and evolution of bacterial resistance.
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spelling doaj.art-cb848c71222249158488d9d3e9be77512022-12-22T02:43:29ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Microbiology1664-302X2020-10-011110.3389/fmicb.2020.579916579916Tackling Multidrug Resistance in Streptococci – From Novel Biotherapeutic Strategies to NanomedicinesCinthia Alves-Barroco0Lorenzo Rivas-García1Lorenzo Rivas-García2Alexandra R. Fernandes3Pedro Viana Baptista4UCIBIO, Departamento de Ciências da Vida, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Caparica, PortugalUCIBIO, Departamento de Ciências da Vida, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Caparica, PortugalBiomedical Research Centre, University of Granada, Granada, SpainUCIBIO, Departamento de Ciências da Vida, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Caparica, PortugalUCIBIO, Departamento de Ciências da Vida, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Caparica, PortugalThe pyogenic streptococci group includes pathogenic species for humans and other animals and has been associated with enduring morbidity and high mortality. The main reason for the treatment failure of streptococcal infections is the increased resistance to antibiotics. In recent years, infectious diseases caused by pyogenic streptococci resistant to multiple antibiotics have been raising with a significant impact to public health and veterinary industry. The rise of antibiotic-resistant streptococci has been associated to diverse mechanisms, such as efflux pumps and modifications of the antimicrobial target. Among streptococci, antibiotic resistance emerges from previously sensitive populations as result of horizontal gene transfer or chromosomal point mutations due to excessive use of antimicrobials. Streptococci strains are also recognized as biofilm producers. The increased resistance of biofilms to antibiotics among streptococci promote persistent infection, which comprise circa 80% of microbial infections in humans. Therefore, to overcome drug resistance, new strategies, including new antibacterial and antibiofilm agents, have been studied. Interestingly, the use of systems based on nanoparticles have been applied to tackle infection and reduce the emergence of drug resistance. Herein, we present a synopsis of mechanisms associated to drug resistance in (pyogenic) streptococci and discuss some innovative strategies as alternative to conventional antibiotics, such as bacteriocins, bacteriophage, and phage lysins, and metal nanoparticles. We shall provide focused discussion on the advantages and limitations of agents considering application, efficacy and safety in the context of impact to the host and evolution of bacterial resistance.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmicb.2020.579916/fullantimicrobial resistancebiofilmspyogenic streptococcibacteriocinsbacteriophagenanoparticles
spellingShingle Cinthia Alves-Barroco
Lorenzo Rivas-García
Lorenzo Rivas-García
Alexandra R. Fernandes
Pedro Viana Baptista
Tackling Multidrug Resistance in Streptococci – From Novel Biotherapeutic Strategies to Nanomedicines
Frontiers in Microbiology
antimicrobial resistance
biofilms
pyogenic streptococci
bacteriocins
bacteriophage
nanoparticles
title Tackling Multidrug Resistance in Streptococci – From Novel Biotherapeutic Strategies to Nanomedicines
title_full Tackling Multidrug Resistance in Streptococci – From Novel Biotherapeutic Strategies to Nanomedicines
title_fullStr Tackling Multidrug Resistance in Streptococci – From Novel Biotherapeutic Strategies to Nanomedicines
title_full_unstemmed Tackling Multidrug Resistance in Streptococci – From Novel Biotherapeutic Strategies to Nanomedicines
title_short Tackling Multidrug Resistance in Streptococci – From Novel Biotherapeutic Strategies to Nanomedicines
title_sort tackling multidrug resistance in streptococci from novel biotherapeutic strategies to nanomedicines
topic antimicrobial resistance
biofilms
pyogenic streptococci
bacteriocins
bacteriophage
nanoparticles
url https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmicb.2020.579916/full
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