Molecular modification of T4 bacteriophage proteins and its potential application - review

Plant/Bacterial Virus-Based Drug Discovery, Drug Delivery, and Therapeutics

Viruses have recently emerged as promising nanomaterials for biotechnological applications. One of the most important applications of viruses is phage display, which has already been employed to identify a broad range of potential therapeutic peptides and antibodies, as well as other biotechnologically relevant polypeptides (including protease inhibitors, minimizing proteins, and cell/organ targeting peptides). Additionally, their high stability, easily modifiable surface, and enormous diversity in shape and size, distinguish viruses from synthetic nanocarriers used for drug delivery. Indeed, several plant and bacterial viruses (e.g., phages) have been investigated and applied as drug carriers. The ability to remove the genetic material within the capsids of some plant viruses and phages produces empty viral-like particles that are replication-deficient and can be loaded with therapeutic agents. This review summarizes the current applications of plant viruses and phages in drug discovery and as drug delivery systems and includes a discussion of the present status of virus-based materials in clinical research, alongside the observed challenges and opportunities.

Metacaspase-binding peptide inhibits heat shock-induced death in Leishmania (L.) amazonensis

Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis is an important agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Brazil. This parasite faces cell death in some situations during transmission to the vertebrate host, and this process seems to be dependent on the activity of metacaspase (MCA), an enzyme bearing trypsin-like activity present in protozoans, plants and fungi. In fact, the association between MCA expression and cell death induced by different stimuli has been demonstrated for several Leishmania species. Regulators and natural substrates of MCA are poorly known. To fulfill this gap, we have employed phage display over recombinant L. (L.) amazonensis MCA to identify peptides that could interact with the enzyme and modulate its activity. Four peptides were selected for their capacity to specifically bind to MCA and interfere with its activity. One of these peptides, similar to ecotin-like ISP3 of L. (L.) major, decreases trypsin-like activity of promastigotes under heat shock, and significantly decreases parasite heat shock-induced death. These findings indicate that peptide ligands identified by phage display affect trypsin-like activity and parasite death, and that an endogenous peptidase inhibitor is a possible natural regulator of the enzyme.

SDS-PAGE and IR spectroscopy to evaluate modifications in the viral protein profile induced by a cationic porphyrinic photosensitizer

Reactive oxygen species can be responsible for microbial photodynamic inactivation due to its toxic effects, which include severe damage to proteins, lipids and nucleic acids. In this study, the photo-oxidative modifications of the proteins of a non-enveloped T4-like bacteriophage, induced by the cationic porphyrin 5,10,15-tris(1-methylpyridinium-4-yl)-20-(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin tri-iodide were evaluated. Two methods were used: sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and infrared spectroscopy. SDS-PAGE analysis showed that the phage protein profile was considerably altered after photodynamic treatment. Seven protein bands putatively corresponding to capsid and tail tube proteins were attenuated and two other were enhanced. Infrared spectroscopy confirmed the time-dependent alteration on the phage protein profile detected by SDS-PAGE, indicative of a response to oxidative damage. Infrared analysis showed to be a promising and rapid screening approach for the analysis of the modifications induced on viral proteins by photosensitization. In fact, one single infrared spectrum can highlight the changes induced to all viral molecular structures, overcoming the delays and complex protocols of the conventional methods, in a much simple and cost effective way.

Bacteriophage vehicles for phage display: biology, mechanism, and application

The phage display technique is a powerful tool for selection of various biological agents. This technique allows construction of large libraries from the antibody repertoire of different hosts and provides a fast and high-throughput selection method. Specific antibodies can be isolated based on distinctive characteristics from a library consisting of millions of members. These features made phage display technology preferred method for antibody selection and engineering. There are several phage display methods available and each has its unique merits and application. Selection of appropriate display technique requires basic knowledge of available methods and their mechanism. In this review, we describe different phage display techniques, available bacteriophage vehicles, and their mechanism.

Tools from viruses: bacteriophage successes and beyond

Viruses are ubiquitous and can infect any of the three existing cellular lineages (Archaea, Bacteria and Eukarya). Despite the persisting negative public perception of these entities, scientists learnt how to domesticate some of them. The study of molecular mechanisms essential to the completion of viral cycles has greatly contributed to deciphering fundamental processes in biology. Nowadays, viruses have entered the biotechnological era and numerous applications have already been developed. Viral-derived tools are used to manipulate genetic information, detect, diagnose, control and cure infectious diseases, or even design new structural assemblies. With the recent advances in the field of metagenomics, an overwhelming amount of information on novel viruses has become available. As current tools have been historically developed from a limited number of viruses, the potential of discoveries from new archaeal, bacterial and eukaryotic viruses may be limited only by our understanding of the multiple facets of viral cycles.

Filamentous bacteriophage fd as an antigen delivery system in vaccination

Peptides displayed on the surface of filamentous bacteriophage fd are able to induce humoral as well as cell-mediated immune responses, which makes phage particles an attractive antigen delivery system to design new vaccines. The immune response induced by phage-displayed peptides can be enhanced by targeting phage particles to the professional antigen presenting cells, utilizing a single-chain antibody fragment that binds dendritic cell receptor DEC-205. Here, we review recent advances in the use of filamentous phage fd as a platform for peptide vaccines, with a special focus on the use of phage fd as an antigen delivery platform for peptide vaccines in Alzheimer's Disease and cancer.

Improved adsorption of an Enterococcus faecalis bacteriophage ΦEF24C with a spontaneous point mutation

Some bacterial strains of the multidrug-resistant Gram-positive bacteria Enterococcus faecalis can significantly reduce the efficacy of conventional antimicrobial chemotherapy. Thus, the introduction of bacteriophage (phage) therapy is expected, where a phage is used as a bioagent to destroy bacteria. E. faecalis phage ΦEF24C is known to be a good candidate for a therapeutic phage against E. faecalis. However, this therapeutic phage still produces nonuniform antimicrobial effects with different bacterial strains of the same species and this might prove detrimental to its therapeutic effects. One solution to this problem is the preparation of mutant phages with higher activity, based on a scientific rationale. This study isolated and analyzed a spontaneous mutant phage, ΦEF24C-P2, which exhibited higher infectivity against various bacterial strains when compared with phage ΦEF24C. First, the improved bactericidal effects of phage ΦEF24C-P2 were attributable to its increased adsorption rate. Moreover, genomic sequence scanning revealed that phage ΦEF24C-P2 had a point mutation in orf31. Proteomic analysis showed that ORF31 (mw, 203 kDa) was present in structural components, and immunological analysis using rabbit-derived antibodies showed that it was a component of a long, flexible fine tail fiber extending from the tail end. Finally, phage ΦEF24C-P2 also showed higher bactericidal activity in human blood compared with phage ΦEF24C using the in vitro assay system. In conclusion, the therapeutic effects of phage ΦEF24C-P2 were improved by a point mutation in gene orf31, which encoded a tail fiber component.

Isolation and characterization of Klebsiella pneumoniae specific bacteriophages from sewage samples

Five bacteriophages (Kpn5, Kpn12, Kpn13, Kpn17 and Kpn22), each having specificity against Klebsiella pneumoniae strain B5055, were isolated from sewage samples and characterized in terms of growth characteristics, genetic material, morphology and structural proteins. Adsorption rate as well as single step growth curve experiments showed variation among phages. Restriction enzyme digestion of DNA confirmed the presence of double stranded DNA as well as the heterogeneous nature of genetic material. RAPD-PCR was performed to further distinguish these closely related phages. Their genome fingerprint confirmed their diversity. Transmission electron microscopy, on the other hand, showed their morphological similarity; they were assigned to family Podoviridae, order Caudovirales on the basis of their head and tail morphology. Structural proteins resolved on SDS-PAGE showed the presence of similar major outer membrane proteins. The bacteriophages, belonging to Podoviridae family with short stumpy tails, were found to be nontoxic to mice. They showed maximum count in various organs at 6 h post inoculation, which persisted till 36 h. These phages thus have the potential to be used for phage therapy.

Eradication of Enterococcus faecalis by phage therapy in chronic bacterial prostatitis--case report

The treatment of three patients suffering from chronic bacterial prostatitis who were qualified for an experimental phage therapy protocol managed at the Phage Therapy Unit in Wrocław is described. They had previously been treated unsuccessfully with long-term targeted antibiotics, autovaccines, and laser biostimulation. Rectal application of phage lysates targeted against Enterococcus faecalis cultured from the prostatic fluid gave encouraging results regarding bacterial eradication, abatement of clinical symptoms of prostatitis, and lack of early disease recurrence.