iBB

The attachment of bacteria and other microbes to natural and artificial surfaces leads to the development of biofilms, which can further cause nosocomial infections. Thus, an important field of research is the development of new materials capable of preventing the initial adhesion of pathogenic microorganisms. In this work, novel polymer/particle composite materials were developed and characterized with respect to their mechanical, chemical and surface properties. Both S. aureus and C. glabrata exhibit a reduced capacity to adhere to the newly developed nanomaterials used in this study, thus showing their potential for bio-medical applications. This study, led by researchers from LAAS-CNRS, Toulouse, and co-authored by Mafalda Cavalheiro and Miguel Cacho Teixeira from BSRG-iBB, was just published in Nanomaterials.

The effectiveness of Candida glabrata as an emerging human pathogen relies on its ability to acquire azole drug resistance. In a paper just published in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, the first time-course evaluation of the global gene expression changes that lead a drug susceptible C. glabrata clinical isolate to step-wise acquisition of resistance to azole drugs was conducted. This work, which results from the collaboration of six different teams under the coordination of Miguel C Teixeira from BSRG-iBB, highlights the multifactorial nature of azole resistance acquisition, including the Epa3 adhesin as a new player, while providing fascinating clues on the underlying evolutionary path. This knowledge is of crucial importance to design more effective antifungal therapy.