Lantibiotics As Alternative Therapeutics

Lantibiotics as Alternative Therapeutics explores alternative therapeutics, lantibiotics and other novel drugs. This book provides concrete information to readers regarding lantibiotics and various types of antimicrobial peptides with their mode of actions in treating various multidrug resistant organisms. It explains various techniques that are involved in analyzing antimicrobial peptides and their mode of actions. The development of antibiotic resistance has now reached a point of crisis where innovative methods and application of novel compounds and methods are required to prevent the spread of drug resistant infections. Novel compounds exhibit different modes of action to the currently used mechanism of therapeutics in order to combat against the resistant organisms. Lantibiotics hold considerable potential as a consequence of their unusual structure, unique mechanisms of action and their potency against multi-drug resistant bacteria. This book will be useful for pharmaceutical industry scientists and researchers in microbial and biomedical research as well as graduate and advanced students in microbiology, medical biotechnology, health, and pharmaceutical sciences. Includes the biology, molecular interaction with target molecule, putative genes and analytical techniques to isolate and identify compounds Incorporates relevant case studies to increase understanding Focuses on recent trends on novel antimicrobial agents and antibiotic resistance research Discusses new arena of diseases, apart from acute and chronic infections

Peptide Applications in Biomedicine, Biotechnology and Bioengineering summarizes the current knowledge on peptide applications in biomedicine, biotechnology and bioengineering. After a general introduction to peptides, the book addresses the many applications of peptides in biomedicine and medical technology. Next, the text focuses on peptide applications in biotechnology and bioengineering and reviews of peptide applications in nanotechnology. This book is a valuable resource for biomaterial scientists, polymer scientists, bioengineers, mechanical engineers, synthetic chemists, medical doctors and biologists. Presents a self-contained work for the field of biomedical peptides Summarizes the current knowledge on peptides in biomedicine, biotechnology and bioengineering Covers current and potential applications of biomedical peptides

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is among the leading causes of infectious diarrhea among patients in hospitals. Multidrug resistance in C. difficile continues to plague antimicrobial chemotherapy of CDI, posing a major cause of concerns within healthcare and hospital environments. Hence, there is an urgent need for alternative therapeutic approaches for multidrug resistant C. difficile.

Molecular and Cellular Therapeutics aims to bring together key developments in the areas of molecular diagnostics, therapeutics and drug discovery. The book covers topics including diagnostics, therapeutics, model systems, clinical trials and drug discovery. The developing approaches to molecular and cellular therapies, diagnostics and drug discovery are presented in the context of the pathologies they are devised to treat.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have attracted extensive research attention worldwide. Harnessing and creating AMPs synthetically has the potential to help overcome increasing antibiotic resistance in many pathogens. This new edition lays the foundations for studying AMPs, including a discovery timeline, terminology, nomenclature and classifications. It covers current advances in AMP research and examines state-of-the-art technologies such as bioinformatics, combinatorial libraries, high-throughput screening, database-guided identification, genomics and proteomics-based prediction, and structure-based design of AMPs. Thoroughly updated and revised, this second edition contains new content covering: defensins; cathelicidins; anti-MRSA, antifungal, antiviral, anticancer and antibiofilm strategies; combined treatments; adjuvants in vaccines; advances in AMP technologies that cover surface coating to prevent biofilm formation; nanofiber encapsulation technologies for delivery and sustained release; and understanding innate immunity and the basis for immune boosting to overcome obstacles in developing AMPs into therapeutic agents. Written and reviewed by a group of established investigators in the field, Antimicrobial Peptides is a valuable resource for postgraduate students, researchers, educators, and medical and industrial personnel.

The global increase in antimicrobial resistance has led to renewed interest in alternative antimicrobial treatment strategies. Research is being done into a wide range of possible treatment regimens, including phage therapy, novel vaccines, and novel peptides, to name a few. Many microbiologists continue to lobby their governments to ensure that the available antibiotics are retained for the treatment of serious infections and their inappropriate use is stopped. In addition, large pharmaceutical companies are being encouraged to develop new treatments for the future. Much research now focuses on medicinal plants and essential oils. These and other alternative approaches are outlined in this chapter.

Comprehensive Natural Products Chemistry

Fighting Multidrug Resistance with Herbal Extracts, Essential Oils and their Components offers scientists a single source aimed at fighting specific multidrug-resistant (MDR) microorganisms such as bacteria, protozoans, viruses and fungi using natural products. This essential reference discusses herbal extracts and essential oils used or under investigation to treat MDR infections, as well as those containing antimicrobial activity that could be of potential interest in future studies against MDR microorganisms. The need to combat multidrug-resistant microorganisms is an urgent one and this book provides important coverage of mechanism of action, the advantages and disadvantages of using herbal extracts, essential oils and their components and more to aid researchers in effective antimicrobial drug discovery Addresses the need to develop safe and effective approaches to coping with resistance to all classes of antimicrobial drugs Provides readers with current evidence-based content aimed at using herbal extracts and essential oils in antimicrobial drug development Includes chapters devoted to the activity of herbal products against herpes, AIDS, tuberculosis, drug-resistant cancer cells and more