New aliphatic acid amides from Streptomyces maoxianensis sp. nov.
The Journal of Antibiotics advance online publication, July 27 2016. doi:10.1038/ja.2016.90
Authors: Jin-Meng Li, Kai Yan, Hui Zhang, Huan Qi, Ji Zhang, Wen-Sheng Xiang, Ji-Dong Wang & Xiang-Jing Wang
In vitro activity of tigecycline in combination with rifampin, doripenem or ceftazidime against carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae bloodstream isolates
The Journal of Antibiotics advance online publication, July 27 2016. doi:10.1038/ja.2016.93
Authors: Yongbo Zhang, Peizhen Li, Yuhan Yin, Fuqiang Li & Qinghua Zhang
Identification of a prodigiosin cyclization gene in the roseophilin producer and production of a new cyclized prodigiosin in a heterologous host
The Journal of Antibiotics advance online publication, July 27 2016. doi:10.1038/ja.2016.94
Authors: Shoko Kimata, Masumi Izawa, Takashi Kawasaki & Yoichi Hayakawa
Versicones E–H and arugosin K produced by the mangrove-derived fungus Aspergillus versicolor HDN11-84
The Journal of Antibiotics advance online publication, July 27 2016. doi:10.1038/ja.2016.95
Authors: Feng Li, Wenqiang Guo, Qian Che, Tianjiao Zhu, Qianqun Gu & Dehai Li
In this Leading article, we summarize current knowledge of the occurrence of the first and so far only transferable colistin resistance gene, mcr-1. Its location on a conjugative plasmid is likely to have driven its spread into a range of enteric bacteria in humans and animals. Screening studies have identified mcr-1 in five of the seven continents and retrospective studies in China have identified this gene in Escherichia coli originally isolated in the 1980s, while the first European isolate dates back to 2005. Based on the widespread use of colistin in pigs and poultry in several countries and the higher number of mcr-1-carrying isolates of animal origin than of human origin, it is tempting to assume that this resistance may have emerged in the animal sector. Whatever its origin, interventions to reduce its further spread will require an integrated global one-health approach, comprising robust antibiotic stewardship to reduce unnecessary colistin use, improved infection prevention, and control and surveillance of colistin usage and resistance in both veterinary and human medicine.
Despite the recognized problem of antibiotic multidrug resistance, very few antibacterial agents with new mechanisms of action are under development. Bacteriophage therapy could offer one alternative strategy to mitigate this challenge. Although widely used throughout the 20th century in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, this potential therapy has not yet been investigated according to rigorous scientific standards. This paper reports on a multistakeholder meeting held at the EMA, which outlined the existing regulatory framework to which such therapy should adhere and reviewed the current obstacles and shortcomings in scientific development for bacteriophage therapy.
Given reports showing a high prevalence of azole resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus, alternatives to azole therapy are discussed when a threshold of 10% of azole-resistant environmental isolates is reached. This raises the issue of calculation of this threshold, either on the prevalence of azole-resistant isolates as a whole or on the prevalence of azole-resistant cases in populations at risk of invasive aspergillosis (IA). For isolate evaluation, there are high disparities in routine microbiological procedures for the isolation of A. fumigatus and azole resistance detection. There are also huge differences between the microbiological work-up for diagnosing IA. Some centres rely on galactomannan detection alone without actively trying to culture appropriate samples, which affects reliability of the figures on the prevalence of resistance and thus the threshold of resistance. Moreover, reports from the laboratory could mix up figures from completely different patient populations: frequent azole-resistant isolates from pneumology patients and rare azole-resistant isolates from haematology patients. Therefore, to sum isolates from different specimens and different wards can lead to erroneous calculations for the restricted populations at risk of developing IA. In conclusion, assessing the incidence of azole resistance in A. fumigatus should be based on harmonized consensual microbiological methods and reports should be restricted to IA episodes in identified populations at risk of IA when the issue is to define an operational threshold for modifying recommendations.
Azole resistance is a growing concern with Aspergillus fumigatus, and may cause increased mortality in patients with azole-resistant invasive aspergillosis (IA). Microbial surveillance has been recognized as a fundamental component of resistance management. Surveillance information may be used to inform decisions regarding health services and research funding allocation, to guide local infection control in hospitals and communities, and to direct local and national drug policies and guidelines. Azole resistance frequencies have been based on screening of unselected A. fumigatus isolates, on the number of azole-resistant cases within a cohort of patients with a specific Aspergillus disease, or on analysis of patients within a specific risk group. The various surveillance approaches differ in their aims, as well as in their associated advantages and drawbacks. Nevertheless, a wide range of azole resistance frequencies has been reported, partly due to the denominator used. As most azole resistance is believed to develop in the environment and, as a consequence, azole-naive patients may present with azole-resistant aspergillosis, experts recommended a 10% resistance frequency threshold above which the standard treatment choice, i.e. voriconazole, should be reconsidered. We believe that local resistance rates based on Aspergillus disease and/or risk group should be leading for decisions regarding empirical antifungal therapy in specific units. In addition, patient factors should be considered, such as admission to the ICU. Collecting valid surveillance data may be challenging in azole resistance due to numerous factors that present potential biases. Surveillance research may benefit from further standardization, which may be facilitated through the recently instituted International Society for Human and Animal Mycology (ISHAM) Aspergillus Resistance Surveillance Working Group.
New tenvermectin analogs obtained by microbial conversion with Saccharopolyspora erythraea
The Journal of Antibiotics advance online publication, July 20 2016. doi:10.1038/ja.2016.91
Authors: Xu Wan, Shao-yong Zhang, Hui Zhang, Jun Zhai, Jun Huang, An-liang Chen & Ji-dong Wang
Polyols, not sugars, determine the structural diversity of anti-streptococcal liamocins produced by Aureobasidium pullulans strain NRRL 50380
The Journal of Antibiotics advance online publication, July 20 2016. doi:10.1038/ja.2016.92
Authors: Neil PJ Price, Kenneth M Bischoff, Timothy D Leathers, Allard A Cossé & Pennapa Manitchotpisit
New cytotoxic trichothecene macrolide epimers from endophytic Myrothecium roridum IFB-E012
The Journal of Antibiotics advance online publication, July 13 2016. doi:10.1038/ja.2016.86
Authors: Li Shen, Li Zhu, Qingwei Tan, Dan Wan, Ju Xie & Jiangnan Peng
A model to predict anti-tuberculosis activity: value proposition for marine microorganisms
The Journal of Antibiotics advance online publication, July 13 2016. doi:10.1038/ja.2016.87
Authors: Miaomiao Liu, Tanja Grkovic, Lixin Zhang, Xueting Liu & Ronald J Quinn
Crystal structure of SgcJ, an NTF2-like superfamily protein involved in biosynthesis of the nine-membered enediyne antitumor antibiotic C-1027
The Journal of Antibiotics advance online publication, July 13 2016. doi:10.1038/ja.2016.88
Authors: Tingting Huang, Chin-Yuan Chang, Jeremy R Lohman, Jeffrey D Rudolf, Youngchang Kim, Changsoo Chang, Dong Yang, Ming Ma, Xiaohui Yan, Ivana Crnovcic, Lance Bigelow, Shonda Clancy, Craig A Bingman, Ragothaman M Yennamalli, Gyorgy Babnigg, Andrzej Joachimiak, George N Phillips & Ben Shen
Antibiotic combinations for controlling colistin-resistant Enterobacter cloacae
The Journal of Antibiotics advance online publication, July 6 2016. doi:10.1038/ja.2016.77
Authors: Thais Bergamin Lima, Osmar Nascimento Silva, Keyla Caroline de Almeida, Suzana Meira Ribeiro, Dielle de Oliveira Motta, Simone Maria-Neto, Michelle Brizolla Lara, Carlos Roberto Souza Filho, Alicia Simalie Ombredane, Celio de Faria Junior, Nadia Skorupa Parachin, Beatriz Simas Magalhães & Octávio Luiz Franco
Identification and biological activity of ogipeptins, novel LPS inhibitors produced by marine bacterium
The Journal of Antibiotics advance online publication, July 6 2016. doi:10.1038/ja.2016.81
Authors: Shiho Kozuma, Yuki Hirota-Takahata, Daisuke Fukuda, Nahoki Kuraya, Mutsuo Nakajima & Osamu Ando
Insights into microbial cryptic gene activation and strain improvement: principle, application and technical aspects
The Journal of Antibiotics advance online publication, July 6 2016. doi:10.1038/ja.2016.82
Author: Kozo Ochi
