Manuka honey as a non-antibiotic alternative against Staphylococcus spp. and their small colony variant (SCVs) phenotypes

Bibliographic Details
Title: Manuka honey as a non-antibiotic alternative against Staphylococcus spp. and their small colony variant (SCVs) phenotypes
Authors: Laura A. Onyango, Jiawei Liang
Source: Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, Vol 14 (2024)
Publisher Information: Frontiers Media S.A., 2024.
Publication Year: 2024
Collection: LCC:Microbiology
Subject Terms: Staphylococci, coagulase-negative staphylococci, small colony variants, antibiotic resistance, Manuka honey, non-antibiotic therapy, Microbiology, QR1-502
More Details: The antibiotic resistance (ABR) crisis is an urgent global health priority. Staphylococci are among the problematic bacteria contributing to this emergency owing to their recalcitrance to many clinically important antibiotics. Staphylococcal pathogenesis is further complicated by the presence of small colony variants (SCVs), a bacterial subpopulation displaying atypical characteristics including retarded growth, prolific biofilm formation, heightened antibiotic tolerance, and enhanced intracellular persistence. These capabilities severely impede current chemotherapeutics, resulting in chronic infections, poor patient outcomes, and significant economic burden. Tackling ABR requires alternative measures beyond the conventional options that have dominated treatment regimens over the past 8 decades. Non-antibiotic therapies are gaining interest in this arena, including the use of honey, which despite having ancient therapeutic roots has now been reimagined as an alternative treatment beyond just traditional topical use, to include the treatment of an array of difficult-to-treat staphylococcal infections. This literature review focused on Manuka honey (MH) and its efficacy as an anti-staphylococcal treatment. We summarized the studies that have used this product and the technologies employed to study the antibacterial mechanisms that render MH a suitable agent for the management of problematic staphylococcal infections, including those involving staphylococcal SCVs. We also discussed the status of staphylococcal resistance development to MH and other factors that may impact its efficacy as an alternative therapy to help combat ABR.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 2235-2988
Relation: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2024.1380289/full; https://doaj.org/toc/2235-2988
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1380289
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/041cb85cdf6642a48d805831c63ea460
Accession Number: edsdoj.041cb85cdf6642a48d805831c63ea460
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
More Details
ISSN:22352988
DOI:10.3389/fcimb.2024.1380289
Published in:Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
Language:English