There is a world-wide quest for development of new-generation antibiotics, due to the emergence of microbial pathogens that have developed resistance to the currently available antibiotics. The antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a strong candidate in this regard, due to minimal possibilities of emergence of resistance against these. The tryptophan (Trp)-rich peptides comprise an important class ...

Allicin, one of the active principles of freshly crushed garlic homogenates, has a variety of antimicrobial activities. Allicin in its pure form was found to exhibit i) antibacterial activity against a wide range of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, including multidrug-resistant enterotoxicogenic strains of Escherichia coli; ii) antifungal activity, particularly against Candida albicans...

L. Paulo,M. Oleastro, Eugenia Gallardo, J.A. Queiroz and F. Domingues 1 CICS-UBICentro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade da Beira Interior, Av. Infante D. Henrique, 6201-556 Covilhã, Portugal Unidade Helicobacter/Campylobacter, Laboratório Nacional de Referência de Infecções Gastrentestinais, Departamento de Doenças Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge, I. P....

High-pressure laminates (HPLs) are durable, resistant to environmental effects and good cost-benefit decorative surface composite materials with special properties tailored to meet market demand. In the present work, polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) was incorporated for the first time into melamine-formaldehyde resin (MF) matrix on the outer layer of HPLs to provide them antimicrobial propert...

Release of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (endotoxin) from bacteria into the bloodstream may cause serious unwanted stimulation of the host immune system. Some but not all antimicrobial peptides can neutralize LPS-stimulated proinflammatory responses. Salt resistance and serum stability of short antimicrobial peptides can be boosted by adding β-naphthylalanine to their termini. Herein, significant an...

Biodegradable and bioresorbable polyesters (BBPEs) are a widespread class of aliphatic polymers with a plethora of applications in the medical field. Some reports speculate that these polymers have intrinsic antibacterial activity as a consequence of their acidic degradation by-products. The release of organic acids as a result of the hydrolytic degradation of BBPEs in vivo and the resulting pH...

Phytomedicine such as tea tree (melaleuca) oil have become increasingly popular in recent decades. This essential oil has been used for almost 100 years in Australia but is now available worldwide both as neat oil and as an active component in an array of products. The primary uses of tea tree oil have historically capitalized on the antiseptic, antifungal, antiviral and anti-inflammatory actio...

long-term use of orthodontic appliances and fixation ligatures creates a favorable environment for the accumulation of oral normal microflora and increases the risk of enamel demineralization and periodontal disease. the aim of this study was to compare the antimicrobial effects of zataria multiflora extract and 0.2% chlorhexidine (chx) mouthwash on experimentally contaminated orthodontic elast...