Rhino- and enteroviruses are important human pathogens, against which no antivirals are available. The best-studied inhibitors are “capsid binders” that fit in a hydrophobic pocket of the viral capsid.

Growing political attention to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) offers a rare opportunity for achieving meaningful action. Many governments have developed national AMR action plans, but most have not yet implemented policy interventions to reduce antimicrobial overuse.

Although brown macroalgae holds potential as an alternative feedstock, its utilization by conventional microbial platforms has been limited due to the inability to metabolize one of the principal sugars, alginate. Here, we isolate Vibrio sp. dhg, a fast-growing bacterium that can efficiently assimilate alginate.

There is evidence that pathogenic bacteria can adapt to antiseptics upon repeated exposure. More alarming is the concomitant increase in antibiotic resistance that has been described for some pathogens. Unfortunately, efects of adaptation and cross-adaptation are hardly known for oral pathogens, which are very frequently exposed to antiseptics.

The search for a bioactive natural antibacterial agent with wound healing properties is a common practice for the development of new-generation molecules.