Novel Antimicrobial Agents and Strategies

By integrating knowledge from pharmacology, microbiology, molecular medicine, and engineering, researchers from Europe, the U.S. and Asia cover a broad spectrum of current and potential antimicrobial medications and treatments.
The result is a comprehensive survey ranging from small-molecule antibiotics to antimicrobial peptides and their engineered mimetics, from enzymes to nucleic acid therapeutics, from metallic nanoparticles to photo- and sonosensitizers and to phage therapy. In each case, the therapeutic approaches are compared in terms of their mechanisms, likelihood to induce resistance, and their efficiency in a global healthcare context.
Unrivaled knowledge for professionals in fundamental research, pharmaceutical development and clinical practice.

Professor David Andrew Phoenix studied Biochemistry at degree and doctoral level at Liverpool University which in 2009 awarded him a Doctor of Science for his impact on the field. In 2000 he was appointed Professor of Biochemistry, at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) and has held visiting chairs in Canada and Russia. He has published over 150 papers as well as a number of edited collections and monographs. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, The Society of Biology, The Institute of Mathematics and Its Applications and the Royal Society of Medicine. Since 2008 he has been the Deputy Vice Chancellor of UCLan and also chairs a research institute in Shenzhen focused on nanotechnology and biomedical engineering. He was made an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 2010 for services to Science and Higher Education and recognized as an Academician by the Academy of Social Sciences in 2012.

Dr. Frederick Harris studied at UCLan, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Microbiology in 1993 before gaining his Doctorate for work on the penicillin-binding proteins of Escherichia coli in 1998. Subsequently, he has undertaken research at Utrecht University and the Leibniz-Centre for Medicine and Biosciences, Germany. In 2000, Frederick started as a Research Fellow at UCLan and now has more than 75 publications to his name, which primarily focus on antimicrobial and anticancer peptides.

Dr. Sarah Rachel Dennison graduated from the University of Wales, Bangor with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Biology in 1999. Subsequently, she undertook postgraduate research in Biochemistry / Biophysics, which led to a doctorate in 2004. Currently, Sarah is a Research Associate in the School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences at UCLan where she is investigating the role of amphiphilicity in the function of antimicrobial peptides using a number of biophysical techniques.

Preface

THE PROBLEM OF MICROBIAL DRUG RESISTANCE
Introduction
History of the Origins, Development, and Use of Conventional Antibiotics
Problems of Antibiotic Resistance
Multiple Drug-Resistant (MDR), Extensively Drug-Resistant (XFR), and Pan-Drug-Resistant (PDR) Organisms
MDR Mechanisms of Major Pathogens
Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs
Discussion

CONVENTIONAL ANTIBIOTICS -
REVITALIZED BY NEW AGENTS
Introduction
Conventional Antibiotics
The Principle of Combination Antibiotic Therapy
Antibiotic Resistance Breakers: Revitalize Conventional Antibiotics
Discussion

DEVELOPING NOVEL BACTERIAL TARGETS: CARBONIC ANHYDRASES AS ANTIBACTERIAL DRUG TARGETS
Introduction
Carbonic Anhydrases
CA Inhibitors
Classes of CAs Present in Bacteria
Pathogenic Bacterial CAs
Alpha-CAs in Pathogenic Bacteria
Beta-CAs in Pathogenic Bacteria
Gamma-CAs from Pathogenic Bacteria
Conclusions

MAGAININS -
A MODEL FOR DEVELOPMENT OF EUKARYOTIC ANTIMICROBIAL PEPTIDES (AMPs)
Introduction
Magainins and Their Antimicrobial Action
Magainins as Antibiotics
Other Antimicrobial Uses of Magainins
Future Prospects for Magainins

ANTIMICROBIAL PEPTIDES FROM PROKARYOTES
Introduction
Bacteriocins
Applications of Prokaryotic AMPs
Development and Discovery of Novel AMP

PEPTIDOMIMETICS AS ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS
Introduction
Antimicrobial Peptidomimetics
Discussion

SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY AND THERAPIES FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Current Challenges in the Treatment of Infectious Diseases
Introduction to Synthetic Biology
Vaccinology
Bacteriophages: A Re-emerging Solution?
Isolated Phage Parts as Antimicrobials
Predatory Bacteria and Probiotic Bacterial Therapy
Natural Products Discovery and Engineering
Summary

NANO-ANTIMICROBIALS BASED ON METALS
Introduction
Silver Nano-Antimicrobials
Copper Nano-Antimicrobials
Zinc Oxide Nano-Antimicrobials
Conclusions

NATURAL PRODUCTS AS ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS -
AN UPDATE
Introduction
Antimicrobial Natural Products from Plants
Antimicrobial Natural Products Bearing an Acetylene Function
Antimicrobial Carbohydrates
Antimicrobial Natural Chromenes
Antimicrobial Natural Coumarins
Antimicrobial Flavonoids
Antimicrobial Iridoids
Antimicrobial Lignans
Antimicrobial Phenolics Other Than Flavonoids and Lignans
Antimicrobial Polypeptides
Antimicrobial Polyketides
Antimicrobial Steroids
Antimicrobial Terpenoids
Miscellaneous Antimicrobial Compounds
Platensimycin Family as Antibacterial Natural Products

PHOTODYNAMIC ANTIMICROBIAL CHEMOTHERAPY
Introduction
The Administration and Photoactivation of PS
Applications of PACT Based on MB
The Applications of PACT Based on ALA
Future Prospects

THE ANTIMICROBIAL EFFECTS OF ULTRASOUND
Introduction
The Antimicrobial Activity of Ultrasound Alone
The Antimicrobial Activity of Assisted Ultrasound
SynergisticEffects
Sonosensitizers
Future Prospects

ANTIMICROBIAL THERAPY BASED ON ANTISENSE AGENTS
Introduction
Antisense Oligonucleotides
First-Generation ASOs
Second-Generation ASOs
Third-Generation ASOs
Antisense Antibacterials
Broad-Spectrum Antisense Antibacterials
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
RNA Interference (RNAi)
Progress Using siRNA
Discussion

NEW DELIVERY SYSTEMS -
LIPOSOMES FOR PULMONARY DELIVERY OF ANTIBACTERIAL DRUGS
Introduction
Pulmonary Drug Delivery
Liposomes as Drug Carriers in Pulmonary Delivery
Present and Future Trends of Liposome Research in Pulmonary Drug Delivery
Conclusions

Index