Fatty acids from Hermetia illucens larvae disrupt membrane integrity in colistin-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Heakal Mohamed, Sergey Leonov, Elena Marusich BMC Microbiology, 2026 BACKGROUND: The overuse and prolonged application of antibiotics have led to the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens, notably Acinetobacter baumannii, a leading cause of nosocomial infections and increased mortality in healthcare settings. In natural conditions, fatty acids possess well-documented antibacterial activity. This research investigates an eco-friendly way to extract fat from Hermetia illucens (HI) larvae to analyze its antimicrobial properties against colistin-resistant A. baumannii ATCC 19606. METHODS: Larval fat from H. illucens was processed using a sustainable extraction protocol to yield multiple fractions. Antibacterial activity was assessed via disc diffusion and broth microdilution assays. The most potent fraction, acidic water methanol extract 3 (AWME3), was further evaluated for inhibition zone diameter, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), MIC50, and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). Salt tolerance assays were conducted under 0-10% NaCl conditions to assess robustness. Morphological and intracellular changes were examined using electron microscopy. RESULTS: Among the obtained fractions, the third acidic water methanol extract (AWME3) demonstrated the highest activity against A. baumannii ATCC 19606. AWME3 exhibited a clear inhibition zone of 18.1 ± 0.35 mm at 20 mg/mL. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), MIC50, and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were found to be 380 µg/mL, 222 µg/mL, and 380 µg/mL, respectively. Complete inhibition of colony formation was observed at both MIC and 2×MIC levels under NaCl concentrations ranging from 0 to 10%. Electron microscopy revealed that fatty acids severely damaged bacterial cell walls and membranes, increasing permeability and causing leakage of cell contents, leading to cell death. CONCLUSIONS: Fatty acid-enriched extracts from H. illucens larvae, particularly AWME3, exhibited potent antibacterial activity against colistin-resistant A. baumannii, likely through membrane-disruptive mechanisms. These findings highlight the potential of insect-derived bioactive compounds as sustainable alternatives for managing MDR pathogens.
Targeting autophagy via mitochondrial uncoupling: Discovery of novel serratin derivative as a potential therapeutic for Parkinson's disease Alexander Yu Rudenko, Ekaterina А. Guseva, Ratislav M. Ozhiganov, Boris P. Myasnikov, Maria V. Belopolskaya, Olga V. Fadeeva, Elena О. Morgun, Olga A. Averina, Elena A. Tukhovskaya, Gulsara A. Slashcheva, Igor A. Dyachenko, Elena I. Marusich, Mariia Mokhina, Rose-Lys Zaranaina, Yuriy A. Ikhalaynen, Igor A. Rodin, Ljudmila S. Khailova, Yuri N. Antonenko, Vladimir I. Polshakov, Maxim L. Lovat, Viktor G. Kartsev, Arkady N. Murashev, Petr V. Sergiev Biochimie, 2026
Biofilms of MDR K. pneumoniae (hvKp) Strains Can be Destroyed by Free Fatty Acids Interactions with Bacterial Cell Wall Membranes E. I. Marusich, H. Mohamed Biochemistry Moscow Supplement Series A Membrane and Cell Biology, 2025 Abstract— Hypervirulent mucoviscus Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKp) is rapidly emerging as opportunistic pathogens that have a global impact leading to a significant increase in mortality rates among clinical patients. Anti-virulence strategies that target bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation, proposed as alternatives to antibiotic treatments for reducing the rapid emergence of bacterial resistance. The main objective of this study was to examine the efficacy of fatty acid-enriched extract (AWME3) derived from the fat of Hermetia illucens fly larvae to combat biofilms formed by multidrug-resistant (MDR) and highly virulent hvKp pathogens. To reach these goals we used crystal violet (CV) and ethidium bromide (EtBr) assays on the mature biofilms of K. pneumoniae KPi1627, KPM9 and ATCC BAA-2473 strains. We found that exposure of hvKp strains to AWME3 at a concentration of 500 µg/mL (corresponding to 2× minimum inhibitory concentration, MIC) significantly affects the membrane permeability (p < 0.0001), causing serious disturbances and changes in the composition of membrane phospholipids, as confirmed by the detected increase in CV and EtBr uptake by 70 and 80%, respectively, compared to the control group. We used scanning electron microscopy (SEM) as a direct microscopic method to collect evidence of bactericidal action of AWME3 extract and the destruction of hvKp biofilms. In conclusion, our study demonstrates the exceptional capability of natural AWME3 extract, enriched with a unique combination of fatty acids, to effectively eliminate biofilms formed by highly drug-resistant and highly virulent pathogens K. pneumoniae (hvKp). Our results highlight the potential to control and minimize the rapid emergence of bacterial resistance by treating biofilm-associated infections caused by hvK pathogens with AWME3.
Atomic force microscopy reveals antibacterial mechanisms of Hermetia illucens fatty acids against MDR bacteria Heakal Mohamed, Sergey Leonov, Elena Marusich Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2025 Acinetobacter baumannii and Staphylococcus aureus are major multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens frequently associated with healthcare-acquired infections. The emergence of antimicrobial resistance underscores the urgent need for alternative therapeutics. This study explores the antimicrobial potential of fatty acids (FAs) extracted from Hermetia illucens (HI) larvae fat (AWME3) against MDR strains A. baumannii ATCC 19606 and S. aureus ATCC 55804. AWME3 exhibited potent inhibitory effects, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 0.38 mg/mL for A. baumannii and 0.19 mg/mL for S. aureus. Bactericidal activity occurred within 5-10 min at 0.75 mg/mL. Broth microdilution and propidium iodide uptake assays manifested FA-induced membrane permeabilization (55-70%) within 5 min, supporting a rapid membrane-targeting mechanism. Disruption of membrane integrity was accompanied by significant intracellular ATP depletion, cytoplasmic protein leakage, and altered cellular ultrastructure. AFM imaging showed significant morphological damage, with increased cell surface roughness in both bacterial strains. A. baumannii showed a significant height reduction (51-80%), while S. aureus had a reduction of 26-38% after exposure to 1 × MIC and 2 × MIC. AFM visualizations indicated severe cell envelope damage, including pore formation, blebbing, and surface collapse, consistent with membrane lysis. These findings reveal the swift and membrane-disrupting effects of AWME3 fatty acids on MDR nosocomial pathogens, underscoring their potential as a natural antimicrobial agent. KEY POINTS: • Fatty acids from H. illucens fat show strong activity against MDR pathogens. • Rapid bactericidal effect via membrane disruption and cytoplasmic leakage. • AFM reveals nanoscale cell damage confirming membranolytic action.
Mechanism of bactericidal efficacy against nosocomial pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus strain caused by fatty acids from Hermetia illucens larvae fat Heakal Mohamed, Elena Marusich, Margarita Pustovalova, Sergey Leonov Scientific Reports, 2025 Hermetia illucens (HI) is a promising insect that widely employed as a sustainable source of food and has been recently used as a successful antimicrobial agent. Fatty acids extracted sequentially from HI larvae fight against MDR nosocomial pathogenic bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus. This strain is resistant to various antibiotics, causing many issues and deaths in healthcare sectors. The present study aimed to elucidate the mechanism of bactericidal efficacy of fatty acids (FAs) in HI larvae fat against S. aureus ATCC 55804 strain. The disk diffusion assay, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), and half of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC50) applied in this study, proved the antimicrobial activity of fatty acids. The mechanism of FAs action was evaluated by several approaches, including inhibition of the bacterial growth curves and salt tolerance assays, scanning electron (SEM) and transmission electron (TEM) microscopies. S. aureus ATCC 55804 was resistant to 30% out of ten tested antibiotics belonging to different classes. In addition, microscopic observations showed the inhibitory effect of acidic water methanol extract (AWME3) by targeting of the S. aureus ATCC 55804 cell membrane and causing the considerable morphological alterations on the bacterial wall and destruction its cytoplasmic contents leading to the cellular content release and cell death. This study revealed the potential efficacy of AWME3 as a novel therapeutic antibacterial agent effective against resistant nosocomial bacterial pathogens.
PCMM Nanomaterials as Multifunctional Bioprobes Studied in Animal Model of C. elegans E. Marusich, M. Nikiforova, E. Stepanidenko, I. Arefina, A. Yashenok Biochemistry Moscow Supplement Series A Membrane and Cell Biology, 2025 Abstract— Multifunctional nanomaterials which are active in the near infrared (NIR) region and can be physically guided (laser light, magnetic field, ultrasound, etc.) hold a great promise in several biomedical applications, such as drug delivery, cell biology, biosensing, and bioimaging. In this study, we have developed multifunctional photoluminescence coding magnetic microspheres (PCMMs), studied their physical and chemical properties, and explored the possibility of using PCMMs in living biological organisms. To reach this goal, we investigated the possibility of PCMM imaging in the C. elegance animal model. We performed extensive toxicity screening of 10 types of luminescent magnetic microspheres (LMMs) and 5 types of carbon dots (CDs), which were embedded into LMM. We also explored the delivery and localization of tested nanoparticles inside the nematode body. It was found that the particles we studied are not toxic to living C. elegance tissue in the optimized concentration range and tend to extend the lifespan of nematodes. Fluorescent microscopy studies revealed the localization of CDs and LMMs in the intestinal part of the nematode body. Our results demonstrated the possibility of detecting photoluminescent PCMM magnetic microspheres in living organisms, implying the potential of PCMM for the development of this nanoscale drug delivery system for future human studies.
The Protective Role of Mangiferin and trans-Cinnamic Acid against Oxidative Stress in Wild Type and aak-2 Mutant Caenorhabditiselegans Strains S. S. Salimon, S. V. Leonov, E. I. Marusich Biochemistry Moscow Supplement Series A Membrane and Cell Biology, 2025 Abstract During cellular metabolism, reactive oxygen species and nitrogen species are produced which inherently results in oxidative damage of DNA and proteins. As a survival mechanism, these stressors modulate gene expression and various signalling pathways in C. elegans. The resistance to various forms of stress peaks in early adulthood and thereafter, decreases with age. In C. elegans, the gene aak-2 enables the adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase activity which is involved in stress responses, germ cell cycle arrest during dauer formation, and maintenance of longevity. In this study, we evaluated the effects of mangiferin (MF) and trans-cinnamic acid (TCA) at concentrations of 10, 50, 100, and 200 µM on the survival rate, lifespan, and motility of C. elegans treated with hydrogen peroxide. The nematodes (wild type N2-Bristol and aak-2 mutant strains) were exposed to oxidative stress and then observed for the computation of percentage of survival (survival rate), motility, and maximum lifespan (ML). Treatment of wild-type C. elegans exposed to oxidative stress with TCA at concentrations of 50, 100, and 200 μM significantly (p < 0.05) increased the survival rate and ML of nematodes compared to the control. Furthermore, MF at all doses studied significantly (p < 0.05) increased the survival rate and extended the life span of H2O2-stressed wild-type nematodes fourfold. In the aak-2 mutant strain, the survival rate and ML were only increased in the nematodes treated with 100 and 200 µM of TCA. There was also a dose-dependent increase in survival rate and ML of nematodes treated with MF. MF at the concentration of 200 µM prolonged the lifespan of nematodes by 5 days and restored motility function in 30% of the total nematode population.
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PIPER BETLE FROM INDONESIAN-АSIAN REGION AND PROSPECTS OF ITS USE IN BIOMEDICAL PURPOSES Z. R.-L. Zaranaina, S. N. Suslina, Y. K. Kozlova, A. M.-A. Ebzeyeva, O. A. Paevskaya, P. A. Lisova, E. I. Marusich Acta Biomedica Scientifica, 2025 Rationale . Piper betle of the family of Piperaceae, (P. betle) is a liana growing in the tropics of the Indonesian-Asian region, has long been actively used in folk medicine as a source of remedies for a variety of health problems. At the same time, the methods and purposes of using P. betle in folk medicine vary from region to region, and the effectiveness of its impact on human remains fully underestimated. The aim of the study . To systematize and analyze modern literature data on the pharmacological potential of the medicinal plant Piper betle, growing in the countries of Madagascar, India, Bali and China of the Indonesian-Asian region. Materials and methods . The search and analysis of data were carried out in international and regional databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct, and Google Scholar) for the period from 1996 to 2025. Results . The analysis of scientific literature data showed that the target fragment of metabolome (TFM) of Peper betle is characterized by a complex composition of biologically active compounds (BAS), which varies significantly from region to region. BAS of the TFM of this plant are responsible for various types of pharmacological activity, which justifies its use in traditional medicine and growing interest to the medical scientific community. It was found that within the range of P. betle growth, the chemical composition of TFM varies in terms of the content of alkaloids, terpenes, phenolic compounds, including flavonoids and volatile components. Conclusion . P. betle is a promising object for further research in the field of phytopharmacology and reproductive medicine. Obviously, in-depth preclinical and clinical studies are needed to confirm the identified effects based on literature sources. At the same time, the collected literature data can contribute to future research in the field of pharmacology in order to create new promising drugs.
Application of reporter strains for screening of new antibiotics P. V. Sergiev, I. A. Osterman, A. Ya. Golovina, E. S. Andreyanova, I. G. Laptev, P. I. Pletnev, S. A. Evfratov, E. I. Marusich, S. V. Leonov, Ya. A. Ivanenkov, A. A. Bogdanov, O. A. Dontsova Biochemistry Moscow Supplement Series B Biomedical Chemistry, 2016
High throughput screening platform for new inhibitors of protein biosynthesis P. V. Sergiev, I. A. Osterman, A. Ya. Golovina, E. S. Andreyanova, I. G. Laptev, F. I. Pletnev, S. A. Evfratov, E. I. Marusich, M. S. Veselov, S. V. Leonov, Ya. A. Ivanenkov, A. A. Bogdanov, O. A. Dontsova Moscow University Chemistry Bulletin, 2016
Properties of recombinant bacteriophage T4 tail sheath protein and its deletion fragments Biochemistry Moscow, 1998
Evolution of T4-related phages Elizabeth Kutter, Ketevan Gachechiladze, Alexandr Poglazov, Elena Marusich, Mikhail Shneider, Pia Aronsson, Alberto Napuli, Darlene Porter, Vadim Mesyanzhinov Virus Genes, 1995