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Nakonieczna A, Topolska-Woś A, Łobocka M. New bacteriophage-derived lysins, LysJ and LysF, with the potential to control Bacillus anthracis. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 108:76. [PMID: 38194144 PMCID: PMC10776502 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12839-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Bacillus anthracis is an etiological agent of anthrax, a severe zoonotic disease that can be transmitted to people and cause high mortalities. Bacteriophages and their lytic enzymes, endolysins, have potential therapeutic value in treating infections caused by this bacterium as alternatives or complements to antibiotic therapy. They can also be used to identify and detect B. anthracis. Endolysins of two B. anthracis Wbetavirus phages, J5a and F16Ba which were described by us recently, differ significantly from the best-known B. anthracis phage endolysin PlyG from Wbetavirus genus bacteriophage Gamma and a few other Wbetavirus genus phages. They are larger than PlyG (351 vs. 233 amino acid residues), contain a signal peptide at their N-termini, and, by prediction, have a different fold of cell binding domain suggesting different structural basis of cell epitope recognition. We purified in a soluble form the modified versions of these endolysins, designated by us LysJ and LysF, respectively, and depleted of signal peptides. Both modified endolysins could lyse the B. anthracis cell wall in zymogram assays. Their activity against the living cells of B. anthracis and other species of Bacillus genus was tested by spotting on the layers of bacteria in soft agar and by assessing the reduction of optical density of bacterial suspensions. Both methods proved the effectiveness of LysJ and LysF in killing the anthrax bacilli, although the results obtained by each method differed. Additionally, the lytic efficiency of both proteins was different, which apparently correlates with differences in their amino acid sequence. KEY POINTS: • LysJ and LysF are B. anthracis-targeting lysins differing from lysins studied so far • LysJ and LysF could be overproduced in E. coli in soluble and active forms • LysJ and LysF are active in killing cells of B. anthracis virulent strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Nakonieczna
- Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Biological Threats Identification and Countermeasure Center, 24-100, Puławy, Poland.
| | | | - Małgorzata Łobocka
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics of the Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-106, Warsaw, Poland
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Habjan E, Schouten GK, Speer A, van Ulsen P, Bitter W. Diving into drug-screening: zebrafish embryos as an in vivo platform for antimicrobial drug discovery and assessment. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2024; 48:fuae011. [PMID: 38684467 PMCID: PMC11078164 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuae011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The rise of multidrug-resistant bacteria underlines the need for innovative treatments, yet the introduction of new drugs has stagnated despite numerous antimicrobial discoveries. A major hurdle is a poor correlation between promising in vitro data and in vivo efficacy in animal models, which is essential for clinical development. Early in vivo testing is hindered by the expense and complexity of existing animal models. Therefore, there is a pressing need for cost-effective, rapid preclinical models with high translational value. To overcome these challenges, zebrafish embryos have emerged as an attractive model for infectious disease studies, offering advantages such as ethical alignment, rapid development, ease of maintenance, and genetic manipulability. The zebrafish embryo infection model, involving microinjection or immersion of pathogens and potential antibiotic hit compounds, provides a promising solution for early-stage drug screening. It offers a cost-effective and rapid means of assessing the efficacy, toxicity and mechanism of action of compounds in a whole-organism context. This review discusses the experimental design of this model, but also its benefits and challenges. Additionally, it highlights recently identified compounds in the zebrafish embryo infection model and discusses the relevance of the model in predicting the compound's clinical potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Habjan
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, Amsterdam UMC, Location VU Medical Center,De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Gina K Schouten
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, Amsterdam UMC, Location VU Medical Center,De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Alexander Speer
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, Amsterdam UMC, Location VU Medical Center,De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Peter van Ulsen
- Section Molecular Microbiology of A-LIFE, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Wilbert Bitter
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, Amsterdam UMC, Location VU Medical Center,De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Section Molecular Microbiology of A-LIFE, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Weng Z, Zeng F, Wang M, Guo S, Tang Z, Itagaki K, Lin Y, Shen X, Cao Y, Duan JA, Wang F. Antimicrobial activities of lavandulylated flavonoids in Sophora flavences against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus via membrane disruption. J Adv Res 2024; 57:197-212. [PMID: 37137428 PMCID: PMC10918359 DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2023.04.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The continuous emergence and rapid spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria have accelerated the demand for the discovery of alternative antibiotics. Natural plants contain a variety of antibacterial components, which is an important source for the discovery of antimicrobial agents. OBJECTIVE To explore the antimicrobial activities and related mechanisms of two lavandulylated flavonoids, sophoraflavanone G and kurarinone in Sophora flavescens against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. METHODS The effects of sophoraflavanone G and kurarinone on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus were comprehensively investigated by a combination of proteomics and metabolomics studies. Bacterial morphology was observed by scanning electron microscopy. Membrane fluidity, membrane potential, and membrane integrity were determined using the fluorescent probes Laurdan, DiSC3(5), and propidium iodide, respectively. Adenosine triphosphate and reactive oxygen species levels were determined using the adenosine triphosphate kit and reactive oxygen species kit, respectively. The affinity activity of sophoraflavanone G to the cell membrane was determined by isothermal titration calorimetry assays. RESULTS Sophoraflavanone G and kurarinone showed significant antibacterial activity and anti-multidrug resistance properties. Mechanistic studies mainly showed that they could target the bacterial membrane and cause the destruction of the membrane integrity and biosynthesis. They could inhibit cell wall synthesis, induce hydrolysis and prevent bacteria from synthesizing biofilms. In addition, they can interfere with the energy metabolism of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and disrupt the normal physiological activities of the bacteria. In vivo studies have shown that they can significantly improve wound infection and promote wound healing. CONCLUSION Kurarinone and sophoraflavanone G showed promising antimicrobial properties against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, suggesting that they may be potential candidates for the development of new antibiotic agents against multidrug-resistant bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zebin Weng
- School of Chinese Medicine & School of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, and Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Fei Zeng
- College of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan 430065, China
| | - Minxin Wang
- School of Chinese Medicine & School of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, and Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Sheng Guo
- School of Chinese Medicine & School of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, and Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Zhijuan Tang
- School of Chinese Medicine & School of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, and Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Kiyoshi Itagaki
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Yajuan Lin
- School of Chinese Medicine & School of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, and Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Xinchun Shen
- College of Food Science and Engineering, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Grain Circulation and Safety, Nanjing University of Finance and Economics, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yaqi Cao
- National Center of Meat Quality and Safety Control, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Jin-Ao Duan
- School of Chinese Medicine & School of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, and Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - Fang Wang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Grain Circulation and Safety, Nanjing University of Finance and Economics, Nanjing 210023, China; Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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Gao F, Ahmed A, Cong H, Yu B, Shen Y. Effective Strategies for Developing Potent, Broad-Spectrum Antibacterial and Wound Healing Promotion from Short-Chain Antimicrobial Peptides. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023. [PMID: 37379222 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c03069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Traumatic multidrug resistant bacterial infections are the most lethal threat to wound healing. Antimicrobial peptides have been widely used in the antimicrobial field for their good biocompatibility and resistance to multidrug-resistant bacteria. In this work, bacterial membranes of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) were extracted and immobilized on homemade silica microspheres to make a bacterial membrane chromatography stationary phase in order to quickly screen for peptides with antibacterial effects. The antimicrobial peptide was then successfully screened using bacterial membrane chromatography from a library of peptides synthesized by the one-bead-one-compound method. The antimicrobial peptide was effective in better shielding both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Based on this antimicrobial peptide (RWPIL), we have developed an antimicrobial hydrogel with a backbone of this antimicrobial peptide and oxidized dextran (ODEX). Owing to the interlinkage between the aldehyde group in oxidized dextran and the amine group from the trauma tissue, the hydrogel extends over the irregular obverse of the skin defect and promotes epithelial cell adhesion. Based on the histomorphological analysis, we confirmed that the RWPIL-ODEX hydrogel exerts a powerful therapeutic effect in a wound infection model. In conclusion, we have developed a new antimicrobial peptide, RWPIL, and a hydrogel based on the peptide that kills multidrug-resistant bacteria parasitic on wounds and promotes wound healing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengyuan Gao
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Adeel Ahmed
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Hailin Cong
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
- State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-Textiles, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255000, China
| | - Bing Yu
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
- State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-Textiles, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Youqing Shen
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Center for Bionanoengineering, and Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310027, China
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Qiao L, Dou X, Song X, Chang J, Zeng X, Zhu L, Xu C. Selenite Bioremediation by Food-Grade Probiotic Lactobacillus casei ATCC 393: Insights from Proteomics Analysis. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0065923. [PMID: 37219421 PMCID: PMC10269480 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00659-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Microorganisms capable of converting toxic selenite into elemental selenium (Se0) are considered an important and effective approach for bioremediation of Se contamination. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of reducing selenite to Se0 and forming Se nanoparticles (SeNPs) by food-grade probiotic Lactobacillus casei ATCC 393 (L. casei ATCC 393) through proteomics analysis. The results showed that selenite added during the exponential growth period of bacteria has the highest reduction efficiency, and 4.0 mM selenite decreased by nearly 95% within 72 h and formed protein-capped-SeNPs. Proteomics analysis revealed that selenite induced a significant increase in the expression of glutaredoxin, oxidoreductase, and ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporter, which can transport glutathione (GSH) and selenite. Selenite treatment significantly increased the CydC and CydD (putative cysteine and glutathione importer, ABC transporter) mRNA expression level, GSH content, and GSH reductase activity. Furthermore, supplementation with an additional GSH significantly increased the reduction rate of selenite, while GSH depletion significantly inhibited the reduction of selenite, indicating that GSH-mediated Painter-type reaction may be the main pathway of selenite reduction in L. casei ATCC 393. Moreover, nitrate reductase also participates in the reduction process of selenite, but it is not the primary factor. Overall, L. casei ATCC 393 effectively reduced selenite to SeNPs by GSH and nitrate reductase-mediated reduction pathway, and the GSH pathway played the decisive role, which provides an environmentally friendly biocatalyst for the bioremediation of Se contamination. IMPORTANCE Due to the high solubility and bioavailability of selenite, and its widespread use in industrial and agricultural production, it is easy to cause selenite to accumulate in the environment and reach toxic levels. Although the bacteria screened from special environments have high selenite tolerance, their safety has not been fully verified. It is necessary to screen out strains with selenite-reducing ability from nonpathogenic, functionally known, and widely used strains. Herein, we found food-grade probiotic L. casei ATCC 393 effectively reduced selenite to SeNPs by GSH and nitrate reductase-mediated reduction pathway, which provides an environmentally friendly biocatalyst for the bioremediation of Se contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Qiao
- School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xina Dou
- School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xiaofan Song
- School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Jiajing Chang
- School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xiaonan Zeng
- School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Lixu Zhu
- School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Chunlan Xu
- School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
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Liu H, Hu Z, Li M, Yang Y, Lu S, Rao X. Therapeutic potential of bacteriophage endolysins for infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria. J Biomed Sci 2023; 30:29. [PMID: 37101261 PMCID: PMC10131408 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-023-00919-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Gram-positive (G+) bacterial infection is a great burden to both healthcare and community medical resources. As a result of the increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant G+ bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), novel antimicrobial agents must urgently be developed for the treatment of infections caused by G+ bacteria. Endolysins are bacteriophage (phage)-encoded enzymes that can specifically hydrolyze the bacterial cell wall and quickly kill bacteria. Bacterial resistance to endolysins is low. Therefore, endolysins are considered promising alternatives for solving the mounting resistance problem. In this review, endolysins derived from phages targeting G+ bacteria were classified based on their structural characteristics. The active mechanisms, efficacy, and advantages of endolysins as antibacterial drug candidates were summarized. Moreover, the remarkable potential of phage endolysins in the treatment of G+ bacterial infections was described. In addition, the safety of endolysins, challenges, and possible solutions were addressed. Notwithstanding the limitations of endolysins, the trends in development indicate that endolysin-based drugs will be approved in the near future. Overall, this review presents crucial information of the current progress involving endolysins as potential therapeutic agents, and it provides a guideline for biomaterial researchers who are devoting themselves to fighting against bacterial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- He Liu
- Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Microbial Engineering Under the Educational Committee in Chongqing, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Zhen Hu
- Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Microbial Engineering Under the Educational Committee in Chongqing, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Mengyang Li
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China
| | - Yi Yang
- Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Microbial Engineering Under the Educational Committee in Chongqing, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Shuguang Lu
- Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Microbial Engineering Under the Educational Committee in Chongqing, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China.
| | - Xiancai Rao
- Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Microbial Engineering Under the Educational Committee in Chongqing, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China.
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Oh J, Warner M, Ambler JE, Schuch R. The Lysin Exebacase Has a Low Propensity for Resistance Development in Staphylococcus aureus and Suppresses the Emergence of Resistance to Antistaphylococcal Antibiotics. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0526122. [PMID: 36862002 PMCID: PMC10100934 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.05261-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Exebacase (CF-301) belongs to a novel class of protein-based antibacterial agents, called lysins (peptidoglycan hydrolases). Exebacase exhibits potent antistaphylococcal activity and is the first lysin to initiate clinical trials in the United States. To support clinical development, the potential for resistance development to exebacase was assessed over 28 days of serial daily subculture in the presence of increasing concentrations of the lysin performed in its reference broth medium. Exebacase MICs remained unchanged over serial subculture for three replicates each of methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) strain ATCC 29213 and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strain MW2. For comparator antibiotics also tested, oxacillin MICs increased by 32-fold with ATCC 29213 and daptomycin and vancomycin MICs increased by 16- and 8-fold, respectively, with MW2. Serial passage was also used to examine the capacity of exebacase to suppress selection for increased oxacillin, daptomycin, and vancomycin MICs when used together in combination, wherein daily exposures to increasing concentrations of antibiotic were performed over 28 days with the added presence of fixed sub-MIC amounts of exebacase. Exebacase suppressed increases in antibiotic MICs over this period. These findings are consistent with a low propensity for resistance to exebacase and an added benefit of reducing the potential for development of antibiotic resistance. IMPORTANCE To guide development of an investigational new antibacterial drug, microbiological data are required to understand the potential for development of resistance to the drug in the target organism(s). Exebacase is a lysin (peptidoglycan hydrolase) that represents a novel antimicrobial modality based on degradation of the cell wall of Staphylococcus aureus. Exebacase resistance was examined here using an in vitro serial passage method that assesses the impact of daily exposures to increasing concentrations of exebacase over 28 days in medium approved for use in exebacase antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). No changes in susceptibility to exebacase were observed over the 28-day period for multiple replicates of two S. aureus strains, indicating a low propensity for resistance development. Interestingly, while high-level resistance to commonly used antistaphylococcal antibiotics was readily obtained using the same method, the added presence of exebacase acted to suppress antibiotic resistance development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Oh
- ContraFect Corporation, Yonkers, New York, USA
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Liu P, Dong X, Cao X, Xie Q, Huang X, Jiang J, Dai H, Tang Z, Lin Y, Feng S, Luo K. Identification of Three Campylobacter Lysins and Enhancement of Their Anti-Escherichia coli Efficacy Using Colicin-Based Translocation and Receptor-Binding Domain Fusion. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0451522. [PMID: 36749047 PMCID: PMC10100823 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.04515-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli, which poses a major threat to public health, has motivated the development of numerous alternative antimicrobials. Lysins are bacteriophage- and bacterium-derived peptidoglycan hydrolases that represent a new antibiotic treatment targeting bacterial cell walls. However, the bactericidal effect of native lysins on Gram-negative bacteria is restricted by the presence of an outer membrane. Here, we first evaluated the antibacterial activity of three Campylobacter-derived lysins (Clysins) against E. coli. To improve their transmembrane ability and antibacterial activities, six engineered Clysins were constructed by fusing with the translocation and receptor-binding (TRB) domains from two types of colicins (colicin A [TRBA] and colicin K [TRBK]), and their biological activities were determined. Notably, engineered lysin TRBK-Cly02 exhibited the highest bactericidal activity against the E. coli BL21 strain, with a reduction of 6.22 ± 0.34 log units of cells at a concentration of 60.1 μg/mL, and formed an observable inhibition zone even at a dose of 6.01 μg. Moreover, TRBK-Cly02 killed E. coli dose dependently and exhibited the strongest bactericidal activity at pH 6. It also exhibited potential bioactivity against multidrug-resistant E. coli clinical isolates. In summary, this study identified three lysins from Campylobacter strains against E. coli, and the enhancement of their antibacterial activities by TRB domains fusion may allow them to be developed as potential alternatives to antibiotics. IMPORTANCE Three lysins from Campylobacter, namely, Clysins, were investigated, and their antibacterial activities against E. coli were determined for the first time. To overcome the restriction of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, we combined the TRB domains of colicins with these Clysins. Moreover, we discovered that the Clysins fused with TRB domains from colicin K (TRBK) killed E. coli more effectively, and this provides a new foundation for the development of novel bioengineered lysins by employing TRBK constructs that target outer membrane receptor/transport systems. One of the designed lysins, TRBK-Cly02, exhibited potent bactericidal efficacy against E. coli strains and may be used for control of multidrug-resistant clinical isolates. The results suggest that TRBK-Cly02 can be considered a potential antibacterial agent against pathogenic E. coli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peiqi Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xinying Dong
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xuewei Cao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qianmei Xie
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiuqin Huang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jinfei Jiang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huilin Dai
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zheng Tang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yizhen Lin
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Saixiang Feng
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Kaijian Luo
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
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Chen Y, Xue Y, Yuan DJ, Chen KJ. Hydrogel combined with antimicrobial protease dressing accompanied with emotional support to treat wounds of patients taking immunosuppressive agents: A longitudinal study. J Tissue Viability 2023; 32:63-68. [PMID: 36658004 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtv.2023.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to evaluate the healing process of chronic wounds treated with hydrogel combined with antimicrobial protease dressing and emotional support intervention in patients taking immunosuppressive agents. CASES The case series involved 8 patients treated at a tertiary public hospital for 12 weeks. Data were analysed by SPSS version 27.0. The intention-to-treat principle was carried out, without the loss or exclusion of the participants. The subjects had wounds for 70 (98) days, and they consisted of 50% (4/8) males with a mean age of 42.63 years (±16.94). All (100%) subjects had taken immunosuppressive agents, and 62.5% (5/8) had systolic hypertension. The mean initial area of all wounds was 19.54 (5.89) cm2, and the mean final area was 3.0 cm2, with a reduction rate of 89% over the 12 weeks of treatment. In addition, we found that tissue types of these wounds changed by using hydrogel combined with antibacterial protease dressings, especially devitalised tissue (P = 0.011). The amount of exudate did not statistically change (P = 0.083). No participant had severe or local adverse events during the study period. Hence, giving emotional support along with wound care for 12 weeks could significantly reduce anxiety scores (P = 0.012). These results suggested that hydrogel combined with antimicrobial protease dressing and emotional support intervention is a promising method for the healing of wounds in patients who suffer from immunosuppressive diseases or are receiving current immunosuppressive treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Chen
- Wound care clinic, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215006, China.
| | - Yuan Xue
- Cardiology Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215006, China
| | - De-Jing Yuan
- Cardiology Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215006, China.
| | - Ke-Jian Chen
- Outpatient Department of Internal Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215006, China.
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Kudinova A, Grishin A, Grunina T, Poponova M, Bulygina I, Gromova M, Choudhary R, Senatov F, Karyagina A. Antibacterial and Anti-Biofilm Properties of Diopside Powder Loaded with Lysostaphin. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12020177. [PMID: 36839449 PMCID: PMC9959908 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12020177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diopside-based ceramic is a perspective biocompatible material with numerous potential applications in the field of bone prosthetics. Implantable devices and materials are often prone to colonization and biofilm formation by pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, which in the case of bone grafting leads to osteomyelitis, an infectious bone and bone marrow injury. To lower the risk of bacterial colonization, implanted materials can be impregnated with antimicrobials. In this work, we loaded the antibacterial enzyme lysostaphin on diopside powder and studied the antibacterial and antibiofilm properties of such material to probe the utility of this approach for diopside-based prosthetic materials. METHODS Diopside powder was synthesized by the solid-state method, lysostaphin was loaded on diopside by adsorption, the release of lysostaphin from diopside was monitored by ELISA, and antibacterial and anti-biofilm activity was assessed by standard microbiological procedures. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Lysostaphin released from diopside powder showed high antibacterial activity against planktonic bacteria and effectively destroyed 24-h staphylococcal biofilms. Diopside-based materials possess a potential for the development of antibacterial bone grafting materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alina Kudinova
- Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, 123098 Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander Grishin
- Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, 123098 Moscow, Russia
- All-Russia Research Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 127550 Moscow, Russia
- Correspondence: (A.G.); (A.K.)
| | - Tatiana Grunina
- Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, 123098 Moscow, Russia
- All-Russia Research Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 127550 Moscow, Russia
| | - Maria Poponova
- Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, 123098 Moscow, Russia
| | - Inna Bulygina
- Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, 123098 Moscow, Russia
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, National University of Science and Technology “MISIS”, 119049 Moscow, Russia
| | - Maria Gromova
- Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, 123098 Moscow, Russia
| | - Rajan Choudhary
- Rudolfs Cimdins Riga Biomaterials Innovations and Development Centre of RTU, Institute of General Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Materials Science and Applied Chemistry, Riga Technical University, Pulka St 3, LV-1007 Riga, Latvia
- Baltic Biomaterials Centre of Excellence, Headquarters at Riga Technical University, Kipsala Street 6A, LV-1048 Riga, Latvia
| | - Fedor Senatov
- Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, 123098 Moscow, Russia
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, National University of Science and Technology “MISIS”, 119049 Moscow, Russia
| | - Anna Karyagina
- Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, 123098 Moscow, Russia
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, National University of Science and Technology “MISIS”, 119049 Moscow, Russia
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119992 Moscow, Russia
- Correspondence: (A.G.); (A.K.)
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11
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Arshinov IR, Antonova NP, Grigoriev IV, Pochtovyi AA, Tkachuk AP, Gushchin VA, Vasina DV. Engineered Endolysin LysECD7-SMAP Reveals Antimicrobial Synergy with Antibiotics and Restores Sensitivity in Gram-negative Pathogens. APPL BIOCHEM MICRO+ 2022. [DOI: 10.1134/s0003683822100027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
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12
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Razew A, Schwarz JN, Mitkowski P, Sabala I, Kaus-Drobek M. One fold, many functions-M23 family of peptidoglycan hydrolases. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1036964. [PMID: 36386627 PMCID: PMC9662197 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1036964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial cell walls are the guards of cell integrity. They are composed of peptidoglycan that provides rigidity to sustain internal turgor and ensures isolation from the external environment. In addition, they harbor the enzymatic machinery to secure cell wall modulations needed throughout the bacterial lifespan. The main players in this process are peptidoglycan hydrolases, a large group of enzymes with diverse specificities and different mechanisms of action. They are commonly, but not exclusively, found in prokaryotes. Although in most cases, these enzymes share the same molecular function, namely peptidoglycan hydrolysis, they are leveraged to perform a variety of physiological roles. A well-investigated family of peptidoglycan hydrolases is M23 peptidases, which display a very conserved fold, but their spectrum of lytic action is broad and includes both Gram- positive and Gram- negative bacteria. In this review, we summarize the structural, biochemical, and functional studies concerning the M23 family of peptidases based on literature and complement this knowledge by performing large-scale analyses of available protein sequences. This review has led us to gain new insight into the role of surface charge in the activity of this group of enzymes. We present relevant conclusions drawn from the analysis of available structures and indicate the main structural features that play a crucial role in specificity determination and mechanisms of latency. Our work systematizes the knowledge of the M23 family enzymes in the context of their unique antimicrobial potential against drug-resistant pathogens and presents possibilities to modulate and engineer their features to develop perfect antibacterial weapons.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Izabela Sabala
- Laboratory of Protein Engineering, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Magdalena Kaus-Drobek
- Laboratory of Protein Engineering, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
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13
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Hibstu Z, Belew H, Akelew Y, Mengist HM. Phage Therapy: A Different Approach to Fight Bacterial Infections. Biologics 2022; 16:173-186. [PMID: 36225325 PMCID: PMC9550173 DOI: 10.2147/btt.s381237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Phage therapy is one of the alternatives to treat infections caused by both antibiotic-sensitive and antibiotic-resistant bacteria, with no or low toxicity to patients. It was started a century ago, although rapidly growing bacterial antimicrobial resistance, resulting in high levels of morbidity, mortality, and financial cost, has initiated the revival of phage therapy. It involves the use of live lytic, bioengineered, phage-encoded biological products, in combination with chemical antibiotics to treat bacterial infections. Importantly, phages will be removed from the body within seven days of clearing an infection. They target specific bacterial strains and cause minimal disruption to the microbial balance in humans. Phages for medication must be screened for the absence of resistant genes, virulent genes, cytotoxicity, and their interaction with the host tissue and organs. Since they are immunogenic, applying a high phage titer for therapy exposes them and activates the host immune system. To date, no serious side effects have been reported with human phage therapy. In this review, we describe phage–phagocyte interaction, bacterial resistance to phages, how phages conquer bacterial resistance, the role of genetic engineering and other technologies in phage therapy, and the therapeutic application of modified phages and phage-encoded products. We also highlight the comparison of antibiotics and lytic phage therapy, the pros and cons of phage therapy, determinants of human phage therapy trials, phage quality and safety requirements, phage storage and handling, and current challenges in phage therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zigale Hibstu
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia,Correspondence: Zigale Hibstu, Email
| | - Habtamu Belew
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
| | - Yibeltal Akelew
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
| | - Hylemariam Mihiretie Mengist
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
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14
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Zha J, Li J, Su Z, Akimbekov N, Wu X. Lysostaphin: Engineering and Potentiation toward Better Applications. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2022; 70:11441-11457. [PMID: 36082619 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.2c03459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Lysostaphin is a potent bacteriolytic enzyme with endopeptidase activity against the common pathogen Staphylococcus aureus. By digesting the pentaglycine crossbridge in the cell wall peptidoglycan of S. aureus including the methicillin-resistant strains, lysostaphin initiates rapid lysis of planktonic and sessile cells (biofilms) and has great potential for use in agriculture, food industries, and pharmaceutical industries. In the past few decades, there have been tremendous efforts in potentiating lysostaphin for better applications in these fields, including engineering of the enzyme for higher potency and lower immunogenicity with longer-lasting effects, formulation and immobilization of the enzyme for higher stability and better durability, and recombinant expression for low-cost industrial production and in situ biocontrol. These achievements are extensively reviewed in this article focusing on applications in disease control, food preservation, surface decontamination, and pathogen detection. In addition, some basic properties of lysostaphin that have been controversial and only elucidated recently are summarized, including the substrate-binding properties, the number of zinc-binding sites, the substrate range, and the cleavage site in the pentaglycine crossbridge. Resistance to lysostaphin is also highlighted with a focus on various mechanisms. This article is concluded with a discussion on the limitations and future perspectives for the actual applications of lysostaphin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Zha
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710021, China
| | - Jingyuan Li
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710021, China
| | - Zheng Su
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710021, China
| | - Nuraly Akimbekov
- Department of Biotechnology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty 050040, Kazakhstan
| | - Xia Wu
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710021, China
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15
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Mptx2 defends against peritoneal infection by methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus. Int Immunopharmacol 2022; 108:108856. [DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2022.108856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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16
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Arroyo-Moreno S, Cummings M, Corcoran DB, Coffey A, McCarthy RR. Identification and characterization of novel endolysins targeting Gardnerella vaginalis biofilms to treat bacterial vaginosis. NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes 2022; 8:29. [PMID: 35440653 PMCID: PMC9018826 DOI: 10.1038/s41522-022-00285-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a recurrent dysbiosis that is frequently associated with preterm birth, increased risk for acquisition of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The overgrowth of a key pathobiont, Gardnerella vaginalis, as a recalcitrant biofilm is central to the development of this dysbiosis. Overgrowth of vaginal biofilms, seeded by initial G. vaginalis colonization, leads to recurrent symptomatic BV which is poorly resolved by classically used antibiotics. In this light, the use of bacteriophages and/or their proteins, represents a promising alternative. Here we identify 84 diverse anti-Gardnerella endolysins across 7 protein families. A subset of 36 endolysin candidates were refactored and overexpressed in an E. coli BL21 (DE3) system and 5 biochemically and structurally diverse endolysins were fully characterized. Each candidate endolysin showed good lytic activity against planktonic G. vaginalis ATCC14018, as well as G. vaginalis clinical isolates. These endolysin candidates were assayed in biofilm prevention and disruption assays, with biofilm disruption at low microgram concentrations (5 μg/ml) observed. In addition to clonal G. vaginalis biofilms, endolysin candidates could also successfully disrupt polyspecies biofilms. Importantly, none of our candidates showed lytic activity against commensal lactobacilli present in the vaginal microbiota such as L. crispatus, L. jensenii, L. gasseri, and L. iners or against Atopobium vaginae (currently classified as Fannyhessa vaginae). The potency and selectivity of these novel endolysins constitute a promising alternative treatment to combat BV, avoiding problems associated with antibiotic resistance, while retaining beneficial commensal bacteria in the vaginal flora. The diverse library of candidates reported here represents a strong repository of endolysins for further preclinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Arroyo-Moreno
- Division of Biosciences, Department of Life Sciences, College of Health and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UB8 3PH, UK
- Department of Biological Sciences, Munster Technological University, Cork, Ireland
| | | | | | - Aidan Coffey
- Department of Biological Sciences, Munster Technological University, Cork, Ireland
| | - Ronan R McCarthy
- Division of Biosciences, Department of Life Sciences, College of Health and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UB8 3PH, UK.
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17
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Schuch R, Cassino C, Vila-Farres X. Direct Lytic Agents: Novel, Rapidly Acting Potential Antimicrobial Treatment Modalities for Systemic Use in the Era of Rising Antibiotic Resistance. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:841905. [PMID: 35308352 PMCID: PMC8928733 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.841905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Direct lytic agents (DLAs) are novel antimicrobial compounds with unique mechanisms of action based on rapid cell wall destabilization and bacteriolysis. DLAs include two classes of purified polypeptides—lysins (peptidoglycan hydrolase enzymes) and amurins (outer membrane targeting peptides). Their intended use is to kill bacteria in a manner that is complimentary to and synergistic with traditional antibiotics without selection for DLA resistance. Lysins were originally described as having activity against Gram-positive pathogens and of those, exebacase, is the first to have advanced into Phase 3 of clinical development. Recently, both engineered and native DLAs have now been described with potent bactericidal activity against a range of Gram-negative pathogens, including multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Acinetobacter baumannii. Importantly, novel DLAs targeting Gram-negatives, including the lysin CF-370 and the amurin peptides, are active in biological matrices (blood/serum) and, as such, offer promise for therapeutic use as systemically administered agents for the treatment of life-threatening invasive infections. In this review, DLAs are discussed as potential new classes of antimicrobial biologics that can be used to treat serious systemic infections.
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18
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Wu S, Yang Y, Wang S, Dong C, Zhang X, Zhang R, Yang L. Dextran and peptide-based pH-sensitive hydrogel boosts healing process in multidrug-resistant bacteria-infected wounds. Carbohydr Polym 2022; 278:118994. [PMID: 34973798 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2021.118994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Traumatic multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections are deadly threat to the public. To combat MDR bacteria, we developed a dual functional pH-sensitive hydrogel based on peptide DP7 (VQWRIRVAVIRK) and oxidized dextran (DP7-ODEX hydrogel). As an antimicrobial peptide, DP7 can synergize with many antibiotics; thus, we loaded ceftazidime into DP7-ODEX hydrogel, which showed an obvious advantage in MDR P. aeruginosa inhibition. Additionally, due to the interaction between aldehyde groups in oxidized dextran and amine groups from wound tissue, the hydrogel could extend on the irregular surface of skin defects and promote epithelial cells adhesion. DP7 could also be used as a wound-healing peptide and accelerate the healing process. We confirmed that the DP7-ODEX hydrogel exerted formidable therapeutic effects in normal or diabetic wound infection model. According to histomorphology analysis we found that DP7 hydrogel also have a scarless wound healing ability. In summary, we developed a hydrogel fabricated by the dual functional peptide DP7 that can kill multidrug-resistant bacteria colonizing the wound bed and boost scarless wound healing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siwen Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China
| | - Yuling Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China
| | - Shihan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China
| | - Chunyan Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China
| | - Xueyan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China
| | - Rui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China
| | - Li Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China.
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19
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Gouveia A, Pinto D, Veiga H, Antunes W, Pinho MG, São-José C. Synthetic antimicrobial peptides as enhancers of the bacteriolytic action of staphylococcal phage endolysins. Sci Rep 2022; 12:1245. [PMID: 35075218 PMCID: PMC8786859 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-05361-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophage endolysins degrade the bacterial cell wall and are therefore considered promising antimicrobial alternatives to fight pathogens resistant to conventional antibiotics. Gram-positive bacteria are usually considered easy targets to exogenously added endolysins, since their cell walls are not shielded by an outer membrane. However, in nutrient rich environments these bacteria can also tolerate endolysin attack if they keep an energized cytoplasmic membrane. Hence, we have hypothesized that the membrane depolarizing action of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), another attractive class of alternative antibacterials, could be explored to overcome bacterial tolerance to endolysins and consequently improve their antibacterial potential. Accordingly, we show that under conditions supporting bacterial growth, Staphylococcus aureus becomes much more susceptible to the bacteriolytic action of endolysins if an AMP is also present. The bactericidal gain resulting from the AMP/endolysin combined action ranged from 1 to 3 logs for different S. aureus strains, which included drug-resistant clinical isolates. In presence of an AMP, as with a reduced content of cell wall teichoic acids, higher endolysin binding to cells is observed. However, our results indicate that this higher endolysin binding alone does not fully explain the higher susceptibility of S. aureus to lysis in these conditions. Other factors possibly contributing to the increased endolysin susceptibility in presence of an AMP are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Gouveia
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Daniela Pinto
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Helena Veiga
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da Républica, 2780-157, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Wilson Antunes
- Unidade Militar Laboratorial de Defesa Biológica e Química (UMLDBQ), Instituto Universitário Militar, Centro de Investigação da Academia Militar (CINAMIL), Av. Dr. Alfredo Bensaúde, 1849-012, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Mariana G Pinho
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da Républica, 2780-157, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Carlos São-José
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003, Lisbon, Portugal.
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20
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Exebacase Is Active In Vitro in Pulmonary Surfactant and Is Efficacious Alone and Synergistic with Daptomycin in a Mouse Model of Lethal Staphylococcus aureus Lung Infection. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2021; 65:e0272320. [PMID: 34228536 PMCID: PMC8370210 DOI: 10.1128/aac.02723-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Exebacase (CF-301) is a novel antistaphylococcal lysin (cell wall hydrolase) in phase 3 of clinical development for the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia, including right-sided endocarditis, used in addition to standard-of-care antibiotics. In the current study, the potential for exebacase to treat S. aureus pneumonia was explored in vitro using bovine pulmonary surfactant (Survanta) and in vivo using a lethal murine pneumonia model. Exebacase was active against a set of methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains, with an MIC90 of 2 μg/ml (n = 18 strains), in the presence of a surfactant concentration (7.5%) inhibitory to the antistaphylococcal antibiotic daptomycin, which is inactive in pulmonary environments due to specific inhibition by surfactant. In a rigorous test of the ability of exebacase to synergize with antistaphylococcal antibiotics, exebacase synergized with daptomycin in the presence of surfactant in vitro, resulting in daptomycin MIC reductions of up to 64-fold against 9 MRSA and 9 MSSA strains. Exebacase was also observed to facilitate the binding of daptomycin to S. aureus and the elimination of biofilm-like structures formed in the presence of surfactant. Exebacase (5 mg/kg of body weight 1 time every 24 h [q24h], administered intravenously for 3 days) was efficacious in a murine model of staphylococcal pneumonia, resulting in 50% survival, compared to 0% survival with the vehicle control; exebacase in addition to daptomycin (50 mg/kg q24h for 3 days) resulted in 70% survival, compared to 0% survival in the daptomycin-alone control group. Overall, exebacase is active in pulmonary environments and may be appropriate for development as a treatment for staphylococcal pneumonia.
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21
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Abstract
Exebacase is a lysin (cell wall hydrolase) with direct lytic activity against Staphylococcus aureus including methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Time kill analysis experiments illustrated bactericidal activity of exebacase-daptomycin, against MRSA strains MW2 and 494. Furthermore, exebacase in addition to daptomycin (10, 6 and 4 mg/kg/d) in a two-compartment ex-vivo pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic simulated endocardial vegetation model with humanized doses resulted in reductions of 6.01, 4.99 and 2.81 log10 CFU/g (from initial inoculum) against MRSA strain MW2.
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22
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Asempa TE, DeRosa NA, Cassino C, Lehoux D, Schuch R, Nicolau DP. Efficacy assessment of lysin CF-296 in addition to daptomycin or vancomycin against Staphylococcus aureus in the murine thigh infection model. J Antimicrob Chemother 2021; 76:2622-2628. [PMID: 34223628 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkab206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES CF-296 is a lysin in pre-clinical development for the treatment of MSSA and MRSA infections, used in addition to standard-of-care (SOC) antibiotics. We evaluated the efficacy of CF-296 alone and in addition to daptomycin or vancomycin against Staphylococcus aureus in the neutropenic mouse thigh infection model. METHODS Eight isolates (one MSSA and seven MRSA) were studied. Mice were administered five CF-296 monotherapy doses ranging from 0.5 to 50 mg/kg intravenously. To assess adjunctive therapy, mice received sub-therapeutic daptomycin alone, sub-therapeutic vancomycin alone, or the five CF-296 doses in addition to either daptomycin or vancomycin. RESULTS Relative to starting inoculum (5.80 ± 0.31 log10 cfu/thigh), bacterial density in vehicle controls increased by +2.49 ± 0.98 across all eight strains. Relative to 24 h controls, a dose-response in bacterial killing (range -0.22 ± 0.87 to -2.01 ± 1.71 log10 cfu/thigh) was observed with increasing CF-296 monotherapy against the eight isolates. Daptomycin and vancomycin resulted in -1.36 ± 0.77 and -1.37 ± 1.01 log10 cfu/thigh bacteria reduction, respectively, relative to 24 h controls. Escalating CF-296 exposures (0.5-50 mg/kg) in addition to daptomycin resulted in an enhanced dose-response, ranging from bacterial killing of -0.69 to -2.13 log10 cfu/thigh, relative to daptomycin alone. Similarly, in addition to vancomycin, escalating CF-296 exposures resulted in bacterial reduction ranging from -1.37 to -2.29 log10 cfu/thigh, relative to vancomycin alone. CONCLUSIONS Relative to SOC antibiotics (daptomycin or vancomycin), addition of CF-296 resulted in robust and enhanced antibacterial dose-response, achieving ≥1 log10 cfu/thigh decrease across most doses, highlighting a potential role for CF-296 adjunctive therapy against MSSA and MRSA isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomefa E Asempa
- Center for Anti-Infective Research and Development, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT, USA
| | - Nicole A DeRosa
- Center for Anti-Infective Research and Development, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT, USA
| | | | | | | | - David P Nicolau
- Center for Anti-Infective Research and Development, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT, USA.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT, USA
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23
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Furlon JM, Mitchell SJ, Bailey-Kellogg C, Griswold KE. Bioinformatics-driven discovery of novel Clostridioides difficile lysins and experimental comparison with highly active benchmarks. Biotechnol Bioeng 2021; 118:2482-2492. [PMID: 33748952 PMCID: PMC10049856 DOI: 10.1002/bit.27759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 03/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile is the single most deadly bacterial pathogen in the United States, and its global prevalence and outsized health impacts underscore the need for more effective therapeutic options. Towards this goal, a novel group of modified peptidoglycan hydrolases with significant in vitro bactericidal activity have emerged as potential candidates for treating C. difficile infections (CDI). To date, discovery and development efforts directed at these CDI-specific lysins have been limited, and in particular there has been no systematic comparison of known or newly discovered lysin candidates. Here, we detail bioinformatics-driven discovery of six new anti-C. difficile lysins belonging to the amidase-3 family of enzymes, and we describe experimental comparison of their respective catalytic domains (CATs) with highly active CATs from the literature. Our quantitative analyses include metrics for expression level, inherent antibacterial activity, breadth of strain selectivity, killing of germinating spores, and structural and functional measures of thermal stability. Importantly, prior studies have not examined stability as a performance metric, and our results show that the panel of eight enzymes possess widely variable thermal denaturation temperatures and resistance to heat inactivation, including some enzymes that exhibit marginal stability at body temperature. Ultimately, no single enzyme dominated with respect to all performance measures, suggesting the need for a balanced assessment of lysin properties during efforts to find, engineer, and develop candidates with true clinical potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob M Furlon
- Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | | | - Chris Bailey-Kellogg
- Department of Computer Science, Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA.,Lyticon LLC, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Karl E Griswold
- Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA.,Lyticon LLC, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA
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24
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Development of a Broth Microdilution Method for Exebacase Susceptibility Testing. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2021; 65:e0258720. [PMID: 33903102 PMCID: PMC8218677 DOI: 10.1128/aac.02587-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Exebacase (CF-301) belongs to a new class of protein-based antibacterial agents, known as lysins (peptidoglycan hydrolases). Exebacase, a novel lysin with antistaphylococcal activity, is in phase 3 of clinical development. To advance into the clinic, it was necessary to develop an accurate and reproducible method for exebacase MIC determination. The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) reference broth microdilution (BMD) method using cation-adjusted Mueller-Hinton broth (CAMHB) produced trailing MIC endpoints, and exebacase activity was diminished when frozen BMD panels were used. A modified BMD method was developed using CAMHB supplemented with 25% horse serum and 0.5 mM dl-dithiothreitol (CAMHB-HSD). Preliminary quality control (QC) ranges for Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 of 0.25 to 1 μg/ml and for Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 of 16 to 64 μg/ml were determined based on the results of a CLSI M23-defined MIC QC tier 1 study. These preliminary QC ranges validated the MIC data generated from a systematic study testing a discrete S. aureus strain collection using CAMHB-HSD to investigate the impact of parameters known to influence susceptibility test results and to evaluate the exebacase MIC distribution against clinical S. aureus isolates. Presentation of these data led to the CLSI Subcommittee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (AST) approval of the use of CAMHB-HSD to determine exebacase susceptibility and commencement of a multilaboratory (tier 2) QC study. Use of a standard BMD method and concomitant QC testing provides confidence in the assessment of test performance to generate accurate and reproducible susceptibility data during antibacterial drug development.
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Ferry T, Batailler C, Souche A, Cassino C, Chidiac C, Perpoint T, le Corvaisier C, Josse J, Gaillard R, Roger J, Kolenda C, Lustig S, Laurent F. Arthroscopic "Debridement and Implant Retention" With Local Administration of Exebacase (Lysin CF-301) Followed by Suppressive Tedizolid as Salvage Therapy in Elderly Patients for Relapsing Multidrug-Resistant S. epidermidis Prosthetic Knee Infection. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:550853. [PMID: 34055817 PMCID: PMC8163228 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.550853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Exebacase, a recombinantly produced lysin has recently (i) reported proof-of-concept data from a phase II study in S. aureus bacteremia and (ii) demonstrated antibiofilm activity in vitro against S. epidermidis. In patients with relapsing multidrug-resistant (MDR) S. epidermidis prosthetic knee infection (PKI), the only surgical option is prosthesis exchange. In elderly patients who have undergone several revisions, prosthesis explantation could be associated with definitive loss of function and mortality. In our BJI reference regional center, arthroscopic debridement and implant retention with local administration of exebacase (LysinDAIR) followed by suppressive tedizolid as salvage therapy is proposed for elderly patients with recurrent MDR S. epidermidis PKI with no therapeutic option or therapeutic dead end (for whom revision or transfemoral amputation is not feasible and no other oral option is available). Each use was decided in agreement with the French health authority and in accordance with the local ethics committee. A written consent was obtained for each patient. Exebacase (75 mg/mL; 30 mL) was administered directly into the joint during arthroscopy. Four patients (79-89 years old) were treated with the LysinDAIR procedure. All had several previous prosthetic knee revisions without prosthesis loosening. Three had relapsing PKI despite suppressive antibiotics following open DAIR. Two had clinical signs of septic arthritis; the two others had sinus tract. After the LysinDAIR procedure, no adverse events occurred during arthroscopy; all patients received daptomycin 8 mg/kg and linezolid 600 mg bid (4-6 weeks) as primary therapy, followed by tedizolid 200 mg/day as suppressive therapy. At 6 months, recurrence of the sinus tract occurred in the two patients with sinus tract at baseline. After >1 year follow up, the clinical outcome was favorable in the last two patients with total disappearance of clinical signs of septic arthritis even if microbiological persistence was detected in one of them. Exebacase has the potential to be used in patients with staphylococci PKI during arthroscopic DAIR as salvage therapy to improve the efficacy of suppressive antibiotics and to prevent major loss of function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tristan Ferry
- Service des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Hôpital de la Croix-Rousse, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France.,Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France.,Centre Interrégional de Référence Pour la Prise en Charge des Infections Ostéo-Articulaires Complexes (CRIOAc Lyon), Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France.,CIRI - Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Inserm U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Univ Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Cécile Batailler
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France.,Centre Interrégional de Référence Pour la Prise en Charge des Infections Ostéo-Articulaires Complexes (CRIOAc Lyon), Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France.,Service de Chirurgie Orthopédique, Hôpital de la Croix-Rousse, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Aubin Souche
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France.,Centre Interrégional de Référence Pour la Prise en Charge des Infections Ostéo-Articulaires Complexes (CRIOAc Lyon), Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France.,CIRI - Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Inserm U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Univ Lyon, Lyon, France.,Institut des Agents Infectieux, Laboratoire de Bactériologie, Centre National de Référence des Staphylocoques, Hôpital de la Croix-Rousse, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Cara Cassino
- ContraFect Corporation, Yonkers, NY, United States
| | - Christian Chidiac
- Service des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Hôpital de la Croix-Rousse, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France.,Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France.,Centre Interrégional de Référence Pour la Prise en Charge des Infections Ostéo-Articulaires Complexes (CRIOAc Lyon), Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Thomas Perpoint
- Service des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Hôpital de la Croix-Rousse, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France.,Centre Interrégional de Référence Pour la Prise en Charge des Infections Ostéo-Articulaires Complexes (CRIOAc Lyon), Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | | | - Jérôme Josse
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France.,Centre Interrégional de Référence Pour la Prise en Charge des Infections Ostéo-Articulaires Complexes (CRIOAc Lyon), Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France.,CIRI - Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Inserm U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Univ Lyon, Lyon, France.,Institut des Agents Infectieux, Laboratoire de Bactériologie, Centre National de Référence des Staphylocoques, Hôpital de la Croix-Rousse, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Romain Gaillard
- Service de Chirurgie Orthopédique, Hôpital de la Croix-Rousse, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Julien Roger
- Service de Chirurgie Orthopédique, Hôpital de la Croix-Rousse, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Camille Kolenda
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France.,Centre Interrégional de Référence Pour la Prise en Charge des Infections Ostéo-Articulaires Complexes (CRIOAc Lyon), Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France.,CIRI - Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Inserm U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Univ Lyon, Lyon, France.,Institut des Agents Infectieux, Laboratoire de Bactériologie, Centre National de Référence des Staphylocoques, Hôpital de la Croix-Rousse, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Sébastien Lustig
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France.,Centre Interrégional de Référence Pour la Prise en Charge des Infections Ostéo-Articulaires Complexes (CRIOAc Lyon), Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France.,Service de Chirurgie Orthopédique, Hôpital de la Croix-Rousse, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Frédéric Laurent
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France.,Centre Interrégional de Référence Pour la Prise en Charge des Infections Ostéo-Articulaires Complexes (CRIOAc Lyon), Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France.,CIRI - Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Inserm U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Univ Lyon, Lyon, France.,Institut des Agents Infectieux, Laboratoire de Bactériologie, Centre National de Référence des Staphylocoques, Hôpital de la Croix-Rousse, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France
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Zhang H, Venkatesan S, Nan B. Myxococcus xanthus as a Model Organism for Peptidoglycan Assembly and Bacterial Morphogenesis. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9050916. [PMID: 33923279 PMCID: PMC8144978 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9050916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
A fundamental question in biology is how cell shapes are genetically encoded and enzymatically generated. Prevalent shapes among walled bacteria include spheres and rods. These shapes are chiefly determined by the peptidoglycan (PG) cell wall. Bacterial division results in two daughter cells, whose shapes are predetermined by the mother. This makes it difficult to explore the origin of cell shapes in healthy bacteria. In this review, we argue that the Gram-negative bacterium Myxococcus xanthus is an ideal model for understanding PG assembly and bacterial morphogenesis, because it forms rods and spheres at different life stages. Rod-shaped vegetative cells of M. xanthus can thoroughly degrade their PG and form spherical spores. As these spores germinate, cells rebuild their PG and reestablish rod shape without preexisting templates. Such a unique sphere-to-rod transition provides a rare opportunity to visualize de novo PG assembly and rod-like morphogenesis in a well-established model organism.
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Mitchell SJ, Verma D, Griswold KE, Bailey-Kellogg C. Building blocks and blueprints for bacterial autolysins. PLoS Comput Biol 2021; 17:e1008889. [PMID: 33793553 PMCID: PMC8051824 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1008889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteria utilize a wide variety of endogenous cell wall hydrolases, or autolysins, to remodel their cell walls during processes including cell division, biofilm formation, and programmed death. We here systematically investigate the composition of these enzymes in order to gain insights into their associated biological processes, potential ways to disrupt them via chemotherapeutics, and strategies by which they might be leveraged as recombinant antibacterial biotherapies. To do so, we developed LEDGOs (lytic enzyme domains grouped by organism), a pipeline to create and analyze databases of autolytic enzyme sequences, constituent domain annotations, and architectural patterns of multi-domain enzymes that integrate peptidoglycan binding and degrading functions. We applied LEDGOs to eight pathogenic bacteria, gram negatives Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa; and gram positives Clostridioides difficile, Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pneumoniae. Our analysis of the autolytic enzyme repertoires of these pathogens reveals commonalities and differences in their key domain building blocks and architectures, including correlations and preferred orders among domains in multi-domain enzymes, repetitions of homologous binding domains with potentially complementarity recognition modalities, and sequence similarity patterns indicative of potential divergence of functional specificity among related domains. We have further identified a variety of unannotated sequence regions within the lytic enzymes that may themselves contain new domains with important functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Spencer J. Mitchell
- Department of Computer Science, Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
| | - Deeptak Verma
- Computational and Structural Chemistry, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Karl E. Griswold
- Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
- Lyticon LLC, Lebanon, New Hampshire, United States of America
| | - Chris Bailey-Kellogg
- Department of Computer Science, Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
- Lyticon LLC, Lebanon, New Hampshire, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Electrostatic-Mediated Affinity Tuning of Lysostaphin Accelerates Bacterial Lysis Kinetics and Enhances In Vivo Efficacy. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2021; 65:AAC.02199-20. [PMID: 33468459 DOI: 10.1128/aac.02199-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug-resistant bacterial pathogens are a serious threat to global health, and antibacterial lysins are at the forefront of innovative treatments for these life-threatening infections. While lysins' general mechanism of action is well understood, the design principles that might enable engineering of performance-enhanced variants are still being formulated. Here, we report a detailed analysis of molecular determinants underlying the in vivo efficacy of lysostaphin, a canonical anti-MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) lysin. Systematic analysis of bacterial binding, growth inhibition, lysis kinetics, and in vivo therapeutic efficacy revealed that binding affinity, and not inherent catalytic firepower, is the dominant driver of lysostaphin efficacy. This insight enabled electrostatic affinity tuning of lysostaphin to produce a single point mutant that manifested dramatically enhanced processivity and lysis kinetics and trended toward improved in vivo efficacy. More generally, these studies provide important insights into the complex relationships between lysin electrostatics, bacterial targeting, cell lysis efficiency, and in vivo efficacy. The lessons learned may enable engineering of other high-performance antibacterial biocatalysts.
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Deimmunized Lysostaphin Synergizes with Small-Molecule Chemotherapies and Resensitizes Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus to β-Lactam Antibiotics. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2021; 65:AAC.01707-20. [PMID: 33318001 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01707-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
There is an urgent need for novel agents to treat drug-resistant bacterial infections, such as multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Desirable properties for new antibiotics include high potency, narrow species selectivity, low propensity to elicit new resistance phenotypes, and synergy with standard-of-care (SOC) chemotherapies. Here, we describe analysis of the antibacterial potential exhibited by F12, an innovative anti-MRSA lysin that has been genetically engineered to evade detrimental antidrug immune responses in human patients. F12 possesses high potency and rapid onset of action, it has narrow selectivity against pathogenic staphylococci, and it manifests synergy with numerous SOC antibiotics. Additionally, resistance to F12 and β-lactam antibiotics appears mutually exclusive, and, importantly, we provide evidence that F12 resensitizes normally resistant MRSA strains to β-lactams both in vitro and in vivo These results suggest that combinations of F12 and SOC antibiotics are a promising new approach to treating refractory S. aureus infections.
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30
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Blumenthal I, Davis LR, Berman CM, Griswold KE. Nonclassical antagonism between human lysozyme and AMPs against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. FEBS Open Bio 2021; 11:705-713. [PMID: 33480189 PMCID: PMC7931236 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.13094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Revised: 12/25/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Combinations of human lysozyme (hLYS) and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are known to exhibit either additive or synergistic activity, and as a result, they have therapeutic potential for persistent and antibiotic‐resistant infections. We examined hLYS activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa when combined with six different AMPs. In contrast to prior reports, we discovered that some therapeutically relevant AMPs manifest striking antagonistic interactions with hLYS across particular concentration ranges. We further found that the synthetic AMP Tet009 can inhibit hLYS‐mediated bacterial lysis. To the best of our knowledge, these results represent the first observations of antagonism between hLYS and AMPs, and they advise that future development of lytic enzyme and AMP combination therapies considers the potential for antagonistic interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian Blumenthal
- Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Lydia R Davis
- Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Chet M Berman
- Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Karl E Griswold
- Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA.,Lyticon LLC, Lebanon, NH, USA
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31
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Li HS, Tang XF, Huang YH, Xu ZY, Chen ML, Du XY, Qiu BY, Chen PT, Zhang W, Ślipiński A, Escalona HE, Waterhouse RM, Zwick A, Pang H. Horizontally acquired antibacterial genes associated with adaptive radiation of ladybird beetles. BMC Biol 2021; 19:7. [PMID: 33446206 PMCID: PMC7807722 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-020-00945-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) has been documented in many herbivorous insects, conferring the ability to digest plant material and promoting their remarkable ecological diversification. Previous reports suggest HGT of antibacterial enzymes may have contributed to the insect immune response and limit bacterial growth. Carnivorous insects also display many evolutionary successful lineages, but in contrast to the plant feeders, the potential role of HGTs has been less well-studied. RESULTS Using genomic and transcriptomic data from 38 species of ladybird beetles, we identified a set of bacterial cell wall hydrolase (cwh) genes acquired by this group of beetles. Infection with Bacillus subtilis led to upregulated expression of these ladybird cwh genes, and their recombinantly produced proteins limited bacterial proliferation. Moreover, RNAi-mediated cwh knockdown led to downregulation of other antibacterial genes, indicating a role in antibacterial immune defense. cwh genes are rare in eukaryotes, but have been maintained in all tested Coccinellinae species, suggesting that this putative immune-related HGT event played a role in the evolution of this speciose subfamily of predominant predatory ladybirds. CONCLUSION Our work demonstrates that, in a manner analogous to HGT-facilitated plant feeding, enhanced immunity through HGT might have played a key role in the prey adaptation and niche expansion that promoted the diversification of carnivorous beetle lineages. We believe that this represents the first example of immune-related HGT in carnivorous insects with an association with a subsequent successful species radiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao-Sen Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences / School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Xue-Fei Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences / School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Yu-Hao Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences / School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Ze-Yu Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences / School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Mei-Lan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences / School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
- School of Environment and Life Science, Nanning Normal University, Nanning, 530001, China
| | - Xue-Yong Du
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences / School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Bo-Yuan Qiu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences / School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Pei-Tao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences / School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences / School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Adam Ślipiński
- Australian National Insect Collection, CSIRO, GPO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Hermes E Escalona
- Australian National Insect Collection, CSIRO, GPO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Robert M Waterhouse
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Zwick
- Australian National Insect Collection, CSIRO, GPO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Hong Pang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences / School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China.
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Weakest-Link Dynamics Predict Apparent Antibiotic Interactions in a Model Cross-Feeding Community. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2020; 64:AAC.00465-20. [PMID: 32778550 PMCID: PMC7577160 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00465-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
With the growing global threat of antimicrobial resistance, novel strategies are required for combatting resistant pathogens. Combination therapy, in which multiple drugs are used to treat an infection, has proven highly successful in the treatment of cancer and HIV. However, this practice has proven challenging for the treatment of bacterial infections due to difficulties in selecting the correct combinations and dosages. An additional challenge in infection treatment is the polymicrobial nature of many infections, which may respond to antibiotics differently than a monoculture pathogen. With the growing global threat of antimicrobial resistance, novel strategies are required for combatting resistant pathogens. Combination therapy, in which multiple drugs are used to treat an infection, has proven highly successful in the treatment of cancer and HIV. However, this practice has proven challenging for the treatment of bacterial infections due to difficulties in selecting the correct combinations and dosages. An additional challenge in infection treatment is the polymicrobial nature of many infections, which may respond to antibiotics differently than a monoculture pathogen. This study tests whether patterns of antibiotic interactions (synergy, antagonism, or independence/additivity) in monoculture can be used to predict antibiotic interactions in an obligate cross-feeding coculture. Using our previously described weakest-link hypothesis, we hypothesized antibiotic interactions in coculture based on the interactions we observed in monoculture. We then compared our predictions to observed antibiotic interactions in coculture. We tested the interactions between 10 previously identified antibiotic combinations using checkerboard assays. Although our antibiotic combinations interacted differently than predicted in our monocultures, our monoculture results were generally sufficient to predict coculture patterns based solely on the weakest-link hypothesis. These results suggest that combination therapy for cross-feeding multispecies infections may be successfully designed based on antibiotic interaction patterns for their component species.
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Grishin AV, Karyagina AS, Vasina DV, Vasina IV, Gushchin VA, Lunin VG. Resistance to peptidoglycan-degrading enzymes. Crit Rev Microbiol 2020; 46:703-726. [PMID: 32985279 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2020.1825333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The spread of bacterial strains resistant to commonly used antibiotics urges the development of novel antibacterial compounds. Ideally, these novel antimicrobials should be less prone to the development of resistance. Peptidoglycan-degrading enzymes are a promising class of compounds with a fundamentally different mode of action compared to traditionally used antibiotics. The difference in the mechanism of action implies differences both in the mechanisms of resistance and the chances of its emergence. To critically assess the potential of resistance development to peptidoglycan-degrading enzymes, we review the available evidence for the development of resistance to these enzymes in vitro, along with the known mechanisms of resistance to lysozyme, bacteriocins, autolysins, and phage endolysins. We conclude that genetic determinants of resistance to peptidoglycan-degrading enzymes are unlikely to readily emerge de novo. However, resistance to these enzymes would probably spread by the horizontal transfer between intrinsically resistant and susceptible species. Finally, we speculate that the higher cost of the therapeutics based on peptidoglycan degrading enzymes compared to classical antibiotics might result in less misuse, which in turn would lead to lower selective pressure, making these antibacterials less prone to resistance development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander V Grishin
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia.,All-Russia Research Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Anna S Karyagina
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia.,All-Russia Research Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.,A.N. Belozersky Institute of Physical and Chemical Biology, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Daria V Vasina
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia.,A.N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Irina V Vasina
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladimir A Gushchin
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia.,Faculty of Biology, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladimir G Lunin
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia.,All-Russia Research Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
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Lysin LysMK34 of Acinetobacter baumannii Bacteriophage PMK34 Has a Turgor Pressure-Dependent Intrinsic Antibacterial Activity and Reverts Colistin Resistance. Appl Environ Microbiol 2020; 86:AEM.01311-20. [PMID: 32709718 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01311-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The prevalence of extensively and pandrug-resistant strains of Acinetobacter baumannii leaves little or no therapeutic options for treatment for this bacterial pathogen. Bacteriophages and their lysins represent attractive alternative antibacterial strategies in this regard. We used the extensively drug-resistant A. baumannii strain MK34 to isolate the bacteriophage PMK34 (vB_AbaP_PMK34). This phage shows fast adsorption and lacks virulence genes; nonetheless, its narrow host spectrum based on capsule recognition limits broad application. PMK34 is a Fri1virus member of the Autographiviridae and has a 41.8-kb genome (50 open reading frames), encoding an endolysin (LysMK34) with potent muralytic activity (1,499.9 ± 131 U/μM), a typical mesophilic thermal stability up to 55°C, and a broad pH activity range (4 to 10). LysMK34 has an intrinsic antibacterial activity up to 4.8 and 2.4 log units for A. baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains, respectively, but only when a high turgor pressure is present. The addition of 0.5 mM EDTA or application of an osmotic shock after treatment can compensate for the lack of a high turgor pressure. The combination of LysMK34 and colistin results in up to 32-fold reduction of the MIC of colistin, and colistin-resistant strains are resensitized in both Mueller-Hinton broth and 50% human serum. As such, LysMK34 may be used to safeguard the applicability of colistin as a last-resort antibiotic.IMPORTANCE A. baumannii is one of the most challenging pathogens for which development of new and effective antimicrobials is urgently needed. Colistin is a last-resort antibiotic, and even colistin-resistant A. baumannii strains exist. Here, we present a lysin that sensitizes A. baumannii for colistin and can revert colistin resistance to colistin susceptibility. The lysin also shows a strong, turgor pressure-dependent intrinsic antibacterial activity, providing new insights in the mode of action of lysins with intrinsic activity against Gram-negative bacteria.
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Abstract
Despite efforts to develop new antibiotics, antibacterial resistance still develops too fast for drug discovery to keep pace. Often, resistance against a new drug develops even before it reaches the market. This continued resistance crisis has demonstrated that resistance to antibiotics with single protein targets develops too rapidly to be sustainable. Most successful long-established antibiotics target more than one molecule or possess targets, which are encoded by multiple genes. This realization has motivated a change in antibiotic development toward drug candidates with multiple targets. Some mechanisms of action presuppose multiple targets or at least multiple effects, such as targeting the cytoplasmic membrane or the carrier molecule bactoprenol phosphate and are therefore particularly promising. Moreover, combination therapy approaches are being developed to break antibiotic resistance or to sensitize bacteria to antibiotic action. In this Review, we provide an overview of antibacterial multitarget approaches and the mechanisms behind them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Declan Alan Gray
- Newcastle University
Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, NE2 4HH Newcastle
upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Michaela Wenzel
- Division of Chemical
Biology, Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, 412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden
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36
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Muharram MM, Abulhamd AT, Aldawsari MF, Alqarni MH, Labrou NE. Development of Staphylococcus Enzybiotics: The Ph28 Gene of Staphylococcus epidermidis Phage PH15 Is a Two-Domain Endolysin. Antibiotics (Basel) 2020; 9:antibiotics9040148. [PMID: 32235599 PMCID: PMC7235722 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics9040148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Revised: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Given the worldwide increase in antibiotic resistant bacteria, bacteriophage derived endolysins represent a very promising new alternative class of antibacterials in the fight against infectious diseases. Endolysins are able to degrade the prokaryotic cell wall, and therefore have potential to be exploited for biotechnological and medical purposes. Staphylococcus epidermidis is a Gram-positive multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterium of human skin. It is a health concern as it is involved in nosocomial infections. Genome-based screening approach of the complete genome of Staphylococcus virus PH15 allowed the identification of an endolysin gene (Ph28; NCBI accession number: YP_950690). Bioinformatics analysis of the Ph28 protein predicted that it is a two-domain enzyme composed by a CHAP (22-112) and MurNAc-LAA (171-349) domain. Phylogenetic analysis and molecular modelling studies revealed the structural and evolutionary features of both domains. The MurNAc-LAA domain was cloned, and expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3). In turbidity reduction assays, the recombinant enzyme can lyse more efficiently untreated S. epidermidis cells, compared to other Staphylococcus strains, suggesting enhanced specificity for S. epidermidis. These results suggest that the MurNAc-LAA domain from Ph28 endolysin may represent a promising new enzybiotic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdy Mohamed Muharram
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Alkharj 11942, Saudi Arabia;
- Department of Microbiology, College of Science, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11884, Egypt;
- Correspondence:
| | - Ashraf Tawfik Abulhamd
- Department of Microbiology, College of Science, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11884, Egypt;
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam Bin AbdulAziz University, P.O. Box 173, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed F. Aldawsari
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Alkharj 11942, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Mohamed Hamed Alqarni
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Alkharj 11942, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Nikolaos E. Labrou
- Laboratory of Enzyme Technology, Department of Biotechnology, School of Food, Biotechnology and Development, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos Street, 11855 Athens, Greece;
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37
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Synergistic Activity of Exebacase (CF-301) in Addition to Daptomycin against Staphylococcus aureus in a Neutropenic Murine Thigh Infection Model. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2020; 64:AAC.02176-19. [PMID: 31818816 DOI: 10.1128/aac.02176-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
We evaluated the efficacy of escalating doses of exebacase administered with subtherapeutic daptomycin exposures against 8 Staphylococcus aureus isolates in a neutropenic murine thigh infection model. Daptomycin alone resulted in mean growth of 0.39 ± 1.19 log10 CFU/thigh. When administered with daptomycin, exebacase resulted in a mean log10 CFU/thigh reduction of -1.03 ± 0.72 (range, -0.77 ± 0.98 to -1.20 ± 0.59) across evaluated doses (15 to 90 mg/kg), indicative of potential in vivo synergy.
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38
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Exebacase Demonstrates In Vitro Synergy with a Broad Range of Antibiotics against both Methicillin-Resistant and Methicillin-Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2020; 64:AAC.01885-19. [PMID: 31712212 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01885-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Accepted: 11/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In vitro synergy between an antimicrobial protein lysin (cell wall hydrolase) called exebacase and each of 12 different antibiotics was examined against Staphylococcus aureus isolates using a nonstandard medium approved for exebacase susceptibility testing by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. In the checkerboard assay format, fractional inhibitory concentration index values of ≤0.5, consistent with synergy, were observed for the majority of interactions tested. Synergy was further confirmed in time-kill assays.
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Gonzalez-Delgado LS, Walters-Morgan H, Salamaga B, Robertson AJ, Hounslow AM, Jagielska E, Sabała I, Williamson MP, Lovering AL, Mesnage S. Two-site recognition of Staphylococcus aureus peptidoglycan by lysostaphin SH3b. Nat Chem Biol 2019; 16:24-30. [PMID: 31686030 PMCID: PMC6920042 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-019-0393-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2018] [Accepted: 09/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Lysostaphin is a bacteriolytic enzyme targeting peptidoglycan, the essential component of the bacterial cell envelope. It displays a very potent and specific activity toward staphylococci, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Lysostaphin causes rapid cell lysis and disrupts biofilms, and is therefore a therapeutic agent of choice to eradicate staphylococcal infections. The C-terminal SH3b domain of lysostaphin recognizes peptidoglycans containing a pentaglycine crossbridge and has been proposed to drive the preferential digestion of staphylococcal cell walls. Here we elucidate the molecular mechanism underpinning recognition of staphylococcal peptidoglycan by the lysostaphin SH3b domain. We show that the pentaglycine crossbridge and the peptide stem are recognized by two independent binding sites located on opposite sides of the SH3b domain, thereby inducing a clustering of SH3b domains. We propose that this unusual binding mechanism allows synergistic and structurally dynamic recognition of S. aureus peptidoglycan and underpins the potent bacteriolytic activity of this enzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luz S Gonzalez-Delgado
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.,Krebs Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Hannah Walters-Morgan
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, and School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Bartłomiej Salamaga
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.,Krebs Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Angus J Robertson
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.,Krebs Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Andrea M Hounslow
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.,Krebs Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | | | - Izabela Sabała
- International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Mike P Williamson
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK. .,Krebs Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
| | - Andrew L Lovering
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, and School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
| | - Stéphane Mesnage
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK. .,Krebs Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
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40
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Antimicrobial Activity of Exebacase (Lysin CF-301) against the Most Common Causes of Infective Endocarditis. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2019; 63:AAC.01078-19. [PMID: 31332073 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01078-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2019] [Accepted: 07/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Exebacase, a recombinantly produced lysin (cell wall hydrolase), and comparator antibiotics were tested by the broth microdilution method against strain sets of Staphylococcus and Streptococcus spp., which are the most common causes of infective endocarditis in humans. Exebacase was active against all Staphylococcus spp. tested, including S. aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci (MIC50/90, 0.5/1 μg/ml). Activity against Streptococcus spp. was variable, with S. pyogenes, S. agalactiae, and S. dysgalactiae (MIC50/90, 1/2 μg/ml) among the most susceptible.
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41
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Fusion of Lysostaphin to an Albumin Binding Domain Prolongs Its Half-Life and Bactericidal Activity in the Systemic Circulation. Molecules 2019; 24:molecules24162892. [PMID: 31395814 PMCID: PMC6719061 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24162892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2019] [Revised: 08/03/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibacterial lysins are promising proteins that are active against both antibiotic-susceptible and antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains. However, a major limitation of antibacterial lysins is their fast elimination from systemic circulation. PEGylation increases the plasma half-life of lysins but renders them inactive. Here we report the construction of a fusion protein of lysostaphin, a potent anti-staphylococcal lysin, and an albumin-binding domain from streptococcal protein G. The resulting fusion protein was less active than the parent enzyme lysostaphin, but it still retained significant antibacterial activity even when bound to serum albumin. The terminal half-life of the fusion protein in rats was five-fold greater than that of lysostaphin (7.4 vs. 1.5 h), and the area under the curve increased more than 115 times. Most importantly, this increase in systemic circulation time compensated for the decrease in activity. The plasma from rats that received an injection of the fusion protein retained bactericidal activity for up to 7 h, while plasma from rats that received plain lysostaphin lacked any detectable activity after 4 h. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of an antibacterial lysin with both improved pharmacokinetic parameters and prolonged bactericidal activity in the systemic circulation.
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42
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Traczewski M, Oh J, Cassino C, Schuch R. In vitro activity of Exebacase (CF-301) against clinical Staphylococcus aureus surveillance isolates from the United States, Europe, and Latin America, 2015-2017. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 2019; 95:114879. [PMID: 31466875 DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2019.114879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Revised: 07/16/2019] [Accepted: 07/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Lysins are direct lytic agents which act through enzymatic cell-wall-hydrolysis and represent a potential new class of antimicrobial agents in development to treat antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. Exebacase (CF-301) is a first-in-class lysin now in clinical development for the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) bacteremia and infective endocarditis (IE) when used in addition to conventional antibiotics. Exebacase and comparator antibiotics were tested by broth microdilution against a set of 535 clinical MSSA and MRSA isolates collected from 2015 to 2017 throughout the United States, Europe and South America. All S. aureus isolates were inhibited by ≤1 mg/L exebacase (MIC50/90, 0.5/1 mg/L) with a range of 0.25-1 mg/L. No difference in susceptibility was observed between the MSSA and MRSA isolates. Exebacase was uniformly and equivalently active against all recent clinical MSSA and MRSA surveillance isolates from a broad survey across 3 continents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Traczewski
- The Clinical Microbiology Institute, 9725 SW Commerce Circle, Wilsonville, OR, 97070, USA
| | - Jun Oh
- ContraFect Corporation, 28 Wells Avenue, Yonkers, New York 10701, USA
| | - Cara Cassino
- ContraFect Corporation, 28 Wells Avenue, Yonkers, New York 10701, USA
| | - Raymond Schuch
- ContraFect Corporation, 28 Wells Avenue, Yonkers, New York 10701, USA.
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43
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Postantibiotic and Sub-MIC Effects of Exebacase (Lysin CF-301) Enhance Antimicrobial Activity against Staphylococcus aureus. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2019; 63:AAC.02616-18. [PMID: 30936103 DOI: 10.1128/aac.02616-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2018] [Accepted: 03/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
CF-301 (exebacase) is a recombinantly produced bacteriophage-derived lysin (cell wall hydrolase) and is the first agent of this class to enter clinical development in the United States for treating bacteremia including endocarditis due to Staphylococcus aureus Whereas rapid bactericidal activity is the hallmark in vitro and in vivo response to CF-301 at exposures higher than the MIC, prolonged antimicrobial activity, mediated by cell wall damage, is predicted at concentrations less than the MIC. In the current study, a series of in vitro pharmacodynamic parameters, including the postantibiotic effect (PAE), postantibiotic sub-MIC effect (PA-SME), and sub-MIC effect (SME), were studied to determine how short-duration and sub-MIC CF-301 exposures affect the growth of surviving staphylococci and extend its antimicrobial activity. Mean PAE, PA-SME, and SME values up to 4.8, 9.3, and 9.8 h, respectively, were observed against 14 staphylococcal strains tested in human serum; growth delays were extended by 6 h in the presence of daptomycin. Exposures to CF-301 at sub-MIC levels as low as 0.001× to 0.01× MIC (∼1 to 10 ng/ml) resulted in aberrant cell wall ultrastructure, increased membrane permeability, dissipation of membrane potential, and inhibition of virulence phenotypes, including agglutination and biofilm formation. A mouse thigh infection model designed to study the PAE was used to confirm our findings and demonstrate in vivo growth delays of ≥19.3 h. Our findings suggest that at CF-301 concentrations less than the MIC during therapeutic use, sustained reductions in bacterial fitness and virulence may substantially enhance efficacy.
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44
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Duman ZE, Ünlü A, Çakar MM, Ünal H, Binay B. Enhanced production of recombinant Staphylococcus simulans lysostaphin using medium engineering. Prep Biochem Biotechnol 2019; 49:521-528. [DOI: 10.1080/10826068.2019.1599393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Zeynep Efsun Duman
- Department of Biotechnology, Gebze Technical University, Gebze, Kocaeli, Turkey
| | - Aişe Ünlü
- Department of Chemistry, Gebze Technical University, Gebze, Kocaeli, Turkey
| | - Mehmet Mervan Çakar
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Gebze Technical University, Gebze, Kocaeli, Turkey
| | - Hayriye Ünal
- Nanotechnology Research Center (SUNUM), Sabanci University, Tuzla, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Barış Binay
- Department of Bioengineering, Gebze Technical University, Gebze, Kocaeli, Turkey
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45
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The PlyB Endolysin of Bacteriophage vB_BanS_Bcp1 Exhibits Broad-Spectrum Bactericidal Activity against Bacillus cereus Sensu Lato Isolates. Appl Environ Microbiol 2019; 85:AEM.00003-19. [PMID: 30850428 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00003-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Lytic bacteriophages (or phages) drive bacterial mortality by elaborating exquisite abilities to bind, breach, and destroy bacterial cell membranes and subjugate critical bacterial cell functions. These antimicrobial activities make phages ideal candidates to serve as, or provide sources of, biological control measures for bacterial pathogens. In this study, we isolated the Myoviridae phage vB_BanS_Bcp1 (here referred to as Bcp1) from landfill soil, using a Bacillus anthracis host. The antimicrobial activities of both Bcp1 and its encoded endolysin, PlyB, were examined across different B. cereus sensu lato group species, including B. cereus sensu stricto, Bacillus thuringiensis, and Bacillus anthracis, with pathogenic potential in humans and multiple different uses in biotechnological applications. The Bcp1 phage infected only a subset (11 to 66%) of each B. cereus sensu lato species group tested. In contrast, functional analysis of purified PlyB revealed a potent bacteriolytic activity against all B. cereus sensu lato isolates tested (n = 79). PlyB was, furthermore, active across broad temperature, pH, and salt ranges, refractory to the development of resistance, bactericidal as a single agent, and synergistic with a second endolysin, PlyG. To confirm the potential for PlyB as an antimicrobial agent, we demonstrated the efficacy of a single intravenous treatment with PlyB alone or combination with PlyG in a murine model of lethal B. anthracis infection. Overall, our findings show exciting potential for the Bcp1 bacteriophage and the PlyB endolysin as potential new additions to the antimicrobial armamentarium.IMPORTANCE Organisms of the Bacillus cereus sensu lato lineage are ubiquitous in the environment and are responsible for toxin-mediated infections ranging from severe food poisoning (B. cereus sensu stricto) to anthrax (Bacillus anthracis). The increasing incidence of many of these infections, combined with the specter of antibiotic resistance, has created a need for novel antimicrobials with potent activity, including bacteriophages (or phages) and phage-encoded products (i.e., endolysins). In this study, we describe a broadly infective phage, Bcp1, and its encoded endolysin, PlyB, which exhibited a rapidly bacteriolytic effect against all B. cereus sensu lato isolates tested with no evidence of evolving resistance. Importantly, PlyB was highly efficacious in a mouse model of lethal bacteremia with B. anthracis Both the Bcp1 phage and the PlyB endolysin represent novel mechanisms of action compared to antibiotics, with potential applications to address the evolving problem of antimicrobial resistance.
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The Antistaphylococcal Lysin, CF-301, Activates Key Host Factors in Human Blood To Potentiate Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Bacteriolysis. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2019; 63:AAC.02291-18. [PMID: 30670427 DOI: 10.1128/aac.02291-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophage-derived lysins are cell-wall-hydrolytic enzymes that represent a potential new class of antibacterial therapeutics in development to address burgeoning antimicrobial resistance. CF-301, the lead compound in this class, is in clinical development as an adjunctive treatment to potentially improve clinical cure rates of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia and infective endocarditis (IE) when used in addition to antibiotics. In order to profile the activity of CF-301 in a clinically relevant milieu, we assessed its in vitro activity in human blood versus in a conventional testing medium (cation-adjusted Mueller-Hinton broth [caMHB]). CF-301 exhibited substantially greater potency (32 to ≥100-fold) in human blood versus caMHB in three standard microbiologic testing formats (e.g., broth dilution MICs, checkerboard synergy, and time-kill assays). We demonstrated that CF-301 acted synergistically with two key human blood factors, human serum lysozyme (HuLYZ) and human serum albumin (HSA), which normally have no nascent antistaphylococcal activity, against a prototypic methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strain (MW2). Similar in vitro enhancement of CF-301 activity was also observed in rabbit, horse, and dog (but not rat or mouse) blood. Two well-established MRSA IE models in rabbit and rat were used to validate these findings in vivo by demonstrating comparable synergistic efficacy with standard-of-care anti-MRSA antibiotics at >100-fold lower lysin doses in the rabbit than in the rat model. The unique properties of CF-301 that enable bactericidal potentiation of antimicrobial activity via activation of "latent" host factors in human blood may have important therapeutic implications for durable improvements in clinical outcomes of serious antibiotic-resistant staphylococcal infections.
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47
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Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most important human pathogens that is responsible for a variety of diseases ranging from skin and soft tissue infections to endocarditis and sepsis. In recent decades, the treatment of staphylococcal infections has become increasingly difficult as the prevalence of multi-drug resistant strains continues to rise. With increasing mortality rates and medical costs associated with drug resistant strains, there is an urgent need for alternative therapeutic options. Many innovative strategies for alternative drug development are being pursued, including disruption of biofilms, inhibition of virulence factor production, bacteriophage-derived antimicrobials, anti-staphylococcal vaccines, and light-based therapies. While many compounds and methods still need further study to determine their feasibility, some are quickly approaching clinical application and may be available in the near future.
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48
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Letrado P, Corsini B, Díez-Martínez R, Bustamante N, Yuste JE, García P. Bactericidal synergism between antibiotics and phage endolysin Cpl-711 to kill multidrug-resistant pneumococcus. Future Microbiol 2018; 13:1215-1223. [PMID: 30238774 PMCID: PMC6190277 DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2018-0077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: To test the synergistic effect of Cpl-711 endolysin and antibiotics for antipneumococcal activity. Materials & methods: A combination of Cpl-711 and different antibiotics (amoxicillin, cefotaxime, levofloxacin and vancomycin) was tested in a checkerboard assay against several multidrug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae strains. Mouse and zebrafish models of pneumococcal sepsis were used to confirm the in vitro data. Results: The activity of Cpl-711 combined with amoxicillin or cefotaxime was synergistic in the bactericidal effect against a serotype 23F multiresistant clinical isolate of S. pneumoniae. Synergy between Cpl-711 and cefotaxime was validated using both mouse and zebrafish models. Conclusion: Combination of Cpl-711 and cefotaxime may help in the treatment of diseases caused by multiresistant pneumococcal strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Letrado
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Madrid, Spain.,Ikan Biotech SL, Noáin, Navarra, Spain
| | - Bruno Corsini
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, Departamento de Biotecnología Microbiana y de Plantas, CSIC, 28048 Madrid, Spain
| | - Roberto Díez-Martínez
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Madrid, Spain.,Ikan Biotech SL, Noáin, Navarra, Spain
| | - Noemí Bustamante
- Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), 28220 Madrid, Spain.,Instituto Química-Física Rocasolano, Departamento de Química-Física Biológica, CSIC, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - José E Yuste
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, Departamento de Biotecnología Microbiana y de Plantas, CSIC, 28048 Madrid, Spain.,Instituto Química-Física Rocasolano, Departamento de Química-Física Biológica, CSIC, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Pedro García
- Instituto Química-Física Rocasolano, Departamento de Química-Física Biológica, CSIC, 28006 Madrid, Spain.,Ikan Biotech SL, Noáin, Navarra, Spain
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49
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Gerstmans H, Criel B, Briers Y. Synthetic biology of modular endolysins. Biotechnol Adv 2018; 36:624-640. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2017.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2017] [Revised: 12/08/2017] [Accepted: 12/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
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50
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Khan A, Miller WR, Arias CA. Mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance among hospital-associated pathogens. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2018; 16:269-287. [PMID: 29617188 DOI: 10.1080/14787210.2018.1456919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The introduction of antibiotics revolutionized medicine in the 20th-century permitting the treatment of once incurable infections. Widespread use of antibiotics, however, has led to the development of resistant organisms, particularly in the healthcare setting. Today, the clinician is often faced with pathogens carrying a cadre of resistance determinants that severely limit therapeutic options. The genetic plasticity of microbes allows them to adapt to stressors via genetic mutations, acquisition or sharing of genetic material and modulation of genetic expression leading to resistance to virtually any antimicrobial used in clinical practice. Areas covered: This is a comprehensive review that outlines major mechanisms of resistance in the most common hospital-associated pathogens including bacteria and fungi. Expert commentary: Understanding the genetic and biochemical mechanisms of such antimicrobial adaptation is crucial to tackling the rapid spread of resistance, can expose unconventional therapeutic targets to combat multidrug resistant pathogens and lead to more accurate prediction of antimicrobial susceptibility using rapid molecular diagnostics. Clinicians making treatment decisions based on the molecular basis of resistance may design therapeutic strategies that include de-escalation of broad spectrum antimicrobial usage, more focused therapies or combination therapies. These strategies are likely to improve patient outcomes and decrease the risk of resistance in hospital settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayesha Khan
- a Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics , University of Texas McGovern Medical School , Houston , Texas , USA.,b Center for Antimicrobial Resistance and Microbial Genomics , University of Texas Health Science Center , Houston , TX , USA
| | - William R Miller
- b Center for Antimicrobial Resistance and Microbial Genomics , University of Texas Health Science Center , Houston , TX , USA.,c Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases , McGovern Medical School
| | - Cesar A Arias
- a Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics , University of Texas McGovern Medical School , Houston , Texas , USA.,b Center for Antimicrobial Resistance and Microbial Genomics , University of Texas Health Science Center , Houston , TX , USA.,c Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases , McGovern Medical School.,d Molecular Genetics and Antimicrobial Resistance Unit and International Center for Microbial Genomics , Universidad El Bosque , Bogota , Colombia.,e School of Public Health , UTHealth Center for Infectious Diseases , Houston , TX , USA
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