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Khan FM, Rasheed F, Yang Y, Liu B, Zhang R. Endolysins: a new antimicrobial agent against antimicrobial resistance. Strategies and opportunities in overcoming the challenges of endolysins against Gram-negative bacteria. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1385261. [PMID: 38831886 PMCID: PMC11144922 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1385261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are rapidly emerging, and the increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii poses a severe threat to humans and healthcare organizations, due to the lack of innovative antibacterial drugs. Endolysins, which are peptidoglycan hydrolases encoded by a bacteriophage, are a promising new family of antimicrobials. Endolysins have been demonstrated as an effective therapeutic agent against bacterial infections of A. baumannii and many other Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Endolysin research has progressed from basic in vitro characterization to sophisticated protein engineering methodologies, including advanced preclinical and clinical testing. Endolysin are therapeutic agent that shows antimicrobial properties against bacterial infections caused by drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, there are still barriers to their implementation in clinical settings, such as safety concerns with outer membrane permeabilizers (OMP) use, low efficiency against stationary phase bacteria, and stability issues. The application of protein engineering and formulation techniques to improve enzyme stability, as well as combination therapy with other types of antibacterial drugs to optimize their medicinal value, have been reviewed as well. In this review, we summarize the clinical development of endolysin and its challenges and approaches for bringing endolysin therapies to the clinic. This review also discusses the different applications of endolysins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fazal Mehmood Khan
- College of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Fazal Rasheed
- Institute of Microscale Optoelectronics, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yunlan Yang
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Bin Liu
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Rui Zhang
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Zhuhai, China
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2
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Sisson HM, Jackson SA, Fagerlund RD, Warring SL, Fineran PC. Gram-negative endolysins: overcoming the outer membrane obstacle. Curr Opin Microbiol 2024; 78:102433. [PMID: 38350268 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2024.102433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
Our ability to control the growth of Gram-negative bacterial pathogens is challenged by rising antimicrobial resistance and requires new approaches. Endolysins are phage-derived enzymes that degrade peptidoglycan and therefore offer potential as antimicrobial agents. However, the outer membrane (OM) of Gram-negative bacteria impedes the access of externally applied endolysins to peptidoglycan. This review highlights recent advances in the discovery and characterization of natural endolysins that can breach the OM, as well as chemical and engineering approaches that increase antimicrobial efficacy of endolysins against Gram-negative pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hazel M Sisson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Genetics Otago, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Bioprotection Aotearoa, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Simon A Jackson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Genetics Otago, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Bioprotection Aotearoa, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Robert D Fagerlund
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Genetics Otago, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Bioprotection Aotearoa, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Suzanne L Warring
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Genetics Otago, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Peter C Fineran
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Genetics Otago, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Bioprotection Aotearoa, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand.
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3
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Dicks LMT, Vermeulen W. Bacteriophage-Host Interactions and the Therapeutic Potential of Bacteriophages. Viruses 2024; 16:478. [PMID: 38543843 PMCID: PMC10975011 DOI: 10.3390/v16030478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Healthcare faces a major problem with the increased emergence of antimicrobial resistance due to over-prescribing antibiotics. Bacteriophages may provide a solution to the treatment of bacterial infections given their specificity. Enzymes such as endolysins, exolysins, endopeptidases, endosialidases, and depolymerases produced by phages interact with bacterial surfaces, cell wall components, and exopolysaccharides, and may even destroy biofilms. Enzymatic cleavage of the host cell envelope components exposes specific receptors required for phage adhesion. Gram-positive bacteria are susceptible to phage infiltration through their peptidoglycan, cell wall teichoic acid (WTA), lipoteichoic acids (LTAs), and flagella. In Gram-negative bacteria, lipopolysaccharides (LPSs), pili, and capsules serve as targets. Defense mechanisms used by bacteria differ and include physical barriers (e.g., capsules) or endogenous mechanisms such as clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-associated protein (Cas) systems. Phage proteins stimulate immune responses against specific pathogens and improve antibiotic susceptibility. This review discusses the attachment of phages to bacterial cells, the penetration of bacterial cells, the use of phages in the treatment of bacterial infections, and the limitations of phage therapy. The therapeutic potential of phage-derived proteins and the impact that genomically engineered phages may have in the treatment of infections are summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leon M. T. Dicks
- Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa;
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Dzuvor CKO, Shen HH, Haritos VS, He L. Coassembled Multicomponent Protein Nanoparticles Elicit Enhanced Antibacterial Activity. ACS NANO 2024; 18:4478-4494. [PMID: 38266175 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c11179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
The waning pipeline of the useful antibacterial arsenal has necessitated the urgent development of more effective antibacterial strategies with distinct mechanisms to rival the continuing emergence of resistant pathogens, particularly Gram-negative bacteria, due to their explicit drug-impermeable, two-membrane-sandwiched cell wall envelope. Herein, we have developed multicomponent coassembled nanoparticles with strong bactericidal activity and simultaneous bacterial cell envelope targeting using a peptide coassembly strategy. Compared to the single-component self-assembled nanoparticle counterparts or cocktail mixtures of these at a similar concentration, coassembled multicomponent nanoparticles showed higher bacterial killing efficiency against Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli by several orders of magnitude (about 100-1,000,000-fold increase). Comprehensive confocal and electron microscopy suggest that the superior antibacterial activity of the coassembled nanoparticles proceeds via multiple complementary mechanisms of action, including membrane destabilization, disruption, and cell wall hydrolysis, actions that were not observed with the single nanoparticle counterparts. To understand the fundamental working mechanisms behind the improved performance of coassembled nanoparticles, we utilized a "dilution effect" system where the antibacterial components are intermolecularly mixed and coassembled with a non-antibacterial protein in the nanoparticles. We suggest that coassembled nanoparticles mediate enhanced bacterial killing activity by attributes such as optimized local concentration, high avidity, cooperativity, and synergy. The nanoparticles showed no cytotoxic or hemolytic activity against tested eukaryotic cells and erythrocytes. Collectively, these findings reveal potential strategies for disrupting the impermeable barrier that Gram-negative pathogens leverage to restrict antibacterial access and may serve as a platform technology for potential nano-antibacterial design to strengthen the declining antibiotic arsenal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian K O Dzuvor
- Bioengineering Laboratory, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Hsin-Hui Shen
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
- Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Victoria S Haritos
- Bioengineering Laboratory, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Lizhong He
- Bioengineering Laboratory, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
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van Hoek ML, Alsaab FM, Carpenter AM. GATR-3, a Peptide That Eradicates Preformed Biofilms of Multidrug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 13:39. [PMID: 38247598 PMCID: PMC10812447 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics13010039] [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: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Acinetobacter baumannii is a gram-negative bacterium that causes hospital-acquired and opportunistic infections, resulting in pneumonia, sepsis, and severe wound infections that can be difficult to treat due to antimicrobial resistance and the formation of biofilms. There is an urgent need to develop novel antimicrobials to tackle the rapid increase in antimicrobial resistance, and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) represent an additional class of potential agents with direct antimicrobial and/or host-defense activating activities. In this study, we present GATR-3, a synthetic, designed AMP that was modified from a cryptic peptide discovered in American alligator, as our lead peptide to target multidrug-resistant (MDR) A. baumannii. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing and antibiofilm assays were performed to assess GATR-3 against a panel of 8 MDR A. baumannii strains, including AB5075 and some clinical strains. The GATR-3 mechanism of action was determined to be via loss of membrane integrity as measured by DiSC3(5) and ethidium bromide assays. GATR-3 exhibited potent antimicrobial activity against all tested multidrug-resistant A. baumannii strains with rapid killing. Biofilms are difficult to treat and eradicate. Excitingly, GATR-3 inhibited biofilm formation and, more importantly, eradicated preformed biofilms of MDR A. baumannii AB5075, as evidenced by MBEC assays and scanning electron micrographs. GATR3 did not induce resistance in MDR A. baumannii, unlike colistin. Additionally, the toxicity of GATR-3 was evaluated using human red blood cells, HepG2 cells, and waxworms using hemolysis and MTT assays. GATR-3 demonstrated little to no cytotoxicity against HepG2 and red blood cells, even at 100 μg/mL. GATR-3 injection showed little toxicity in the waxworm model, resulting in a 90% survival rate. The therapeutic index of GATR-3 was estimated (based on the HC50/MIC against human RBCs) to be 1250. Overall, GATR-3 is a promising candidate to advance to preclinical testing to potentially treat MDR A. baumannii infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monique L. van Hoek
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, George Mason University, Manassas, VA 20110, USA
- School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, VA 20110, USA
| | - Fahad M. Alsaab
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, George Mason University, Manassas, VA 20110, USA
- School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, VA 20110, USA
- College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Al Ahsa 36428, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ashley M. Carpenter
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, George Mason University, Manassas, VA 20110, USA
- School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, VA 20110, USA
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Carratalá JV, Arís A, Garcia-Fruitós E, Ferrer-Miralles N. Design strategies for positively charged endolysins: Insights into Artilysin development. Biotechnol Adv 2023; 69:108250. [PMID: 37678419 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
Endolysins are bacteriophage-encoded enzymes that can specifically degrade the peptidoglycan layer of bacterial cell wall, making them an attractive tool for the development of novel antibacterial agents. The use of genetic engineering techniques for the production and modification of endolysins offers the opportunity to customize their properties and activity against specific bacterial targets, paving the way for the development of personalized therapies for bacterial infections. Gram-negative bacteria possess an outer membrane that can hinder the action of recombinantly produced endolysins. However, certain endolysins are capable of crossing the outer membrane by virtue of segments that share properties resembling those of cationic peptides. These regions increase the affinity of the endolysin towards the bacterial surface and assist in the permeabilization of the membrane. In order to improve the bactericidal effectiveness of endolysins, approaches have been implemented to increase their net charge, including the development of Artilysins containing positively charged amino acids at one end. At present, there are no specific guidelines outlining the steps for implementing these modifications. There is an ongoing debate surrounding the optimal location of positive charge, the need for a linker region, and the specific amino acid composition of peptides for modifying endolysins. The aim of this study is to provide clarity on these topics by analyzing and comparing the most effective modifications found in previous literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose Vicente Carratalá
- Department of Ruminant Production, Institute of Agriculture and Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA), Caldes de Montbui, 08140 Barcelona, Spain; Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine Networking Biomedical Research Centre (CIBER-BBN), C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Anna Arís
- Department of Ruminant Production, Institute of Agriculture and Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA), Caldes de Montbui, 08140 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elena Garcia-Fruitós
- Department of Ruminant Production, Institute of Agriculture and Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA), Caldes de Montbui, 08140 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Neus Ferrer-Miralles
- Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine Networking Biomedical Research Centre (CIBER-BBN), C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
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7
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Son SM, Kim J, Ryu S. Development of sensitizer peptide-fused endolysin Lys1S-L9P acting against multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1296796. [PMID: 38075915 PMCID: PMC10701683 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1296796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The advent of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria poses a major threat to public health, garnering attention to novel antibiotic replacements. Endolysin, a bacteriophage-derived cell wall-degrading enzyme, is a promising alternative to conventional antibiotics. However, it is challenging to control Gram-negative bacteria due to the presence of the outer membrane that shields the peptidoglycan layer from enzymatic degradation. To overcome this threshold, we constructed the fusion endolysin Lys1S-L9P by combining endolysin LysSPN1S with KL-L9P, a sensitizer peptide known to extend efficacy of antibiotics by perturbing the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. In addition, we established a new endolysin purification procedure that increases solubility allowing a 4-fold increase in production yield of Lys1S-L9P. The sensitizer peptide-fused endolysin Lys1S-L9P exhibited high bactericidal effects against many MDR Gram-negative pathogens and was more effective in eradicating biofilms compared to LysSPN1S. Moreover, Lys1S-L9P showed potential for clinical use, maintaining stability at various storage temperatures without cytotoxicity against human cells. In the in vivo Galleria mellonella model, Lys1S-L9P demonstrated potent antibacterial activity against MDR Gram-negative bacteria without inducing any toxic activity. This study suggest that Lys1S-L9P could be a potential biocontrol agent to combat MDR Gram-negative bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su Min Son
- Department of Food and Animal Biotechnology, Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Center for Food and Bioconvergence, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Joonbeom Kim
- Department of Food and Animal Biotechnology, Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sangryeol Ryu
- Department of Food and Animal Biotechnology, Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Center for Food and Bioconvergence, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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8
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Manoharadas S, Ahmad N, Altaf M, Alrefaei AF, Al-Rayes BF. An Enzybiotic Cocktail Effectively Disrupts Preformed Dual Biofilm of Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:ph16040564. [PMID: 37111322 PMCID: PMC10145859 DOI: 10.3390/ph16040564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Multidrug-resistant bacterial infections are on the rise around the world. Chronic infections caused by these pathogens through biofilm mediation often complicate the situation. In natural settings, biofilms are often formed with different species of bacteria existing synergistically or antagonistically. Biofilms on diabetic foot ulcers are formed predominantly by two opportunistic pathogens, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis. Bacteriophages and phage-based proteins, including endolysins, have been found to be active against biofilms. In this study, we evaluated the activity of two engineered enzybiotics either by themselves or as a combination against a dual biofilm formed by S. aureus and E. faecalis in an inert glass surface. An additive effect in rapidly disrupting the preformed dual biofilm was observed with the cocktail of proteins, in comparison with mono treatment. The cocktail-treated biofilms were dispersed by more than 90% within 3 h of treatment. Apart from biofilm disruption, bacterial cells embedded in the biofilm matrix were also effectively reduced by more than 90% within 3 h of treatment. This is the first instance where a cocktail of engineered enzybiotics has been effectively used to impede the structural integrity of a dual biofilm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salim Manoharadas
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2454, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
- Central Laboratory RM 63AA, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2454, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Naushad Ahmad
- Central Laboratory RM 63AA, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2454, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2454, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammad Altaf
- Central Laboratory RM 63AA, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2454, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2454, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulwahed Fahad Alrefaei
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2454, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Basel F Al-Rayes
- Central Laboratory RM 63AA, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2454, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
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9
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Espeche JC, Varas R, Maturana P, Cutro AC, Maffía PC, Hollmann A. Membrane permeability and antimicrobial peptides: Much more than just making a hole. Pept Sci (Hoboken) 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/pep2.24305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
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10
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Zhou Z, Zhou S, Zhang X, Zeng S, Xu Y, Nie W, Zhou Y, Xu T, Chen P. Quaternary Ammonium Salts: Insights into Synthesis and New Directions in Antibacterial Applications. Bioconjug Chem 2023; 34:302-325. [PMID: 36748912 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.2c00598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The overuse of antibiotics has led to the emergence of a large number of antibiotic-resistant genes in bacteria, and increasing evidence indicates that a fungicide with an antibacterial mechanism different from that of antibiotics is needed. Quaternary ammonium salts (QASs) are a biparental substance with good antibacterial properties that kills bacteria through simple electrostatic adsorption and insertion into cell membranes/altering of cell membrane permeability. Therefore, the probability of bacteria developing drug resistance is greatly reduced. In this review, we focus on the synthesis and application of single-chain QASs, double-chain QASs, heterocyclic QASs, and gemini QASs (GQASs). Some possible structure-function relationships of QASs are also summarized. As such, we hope this review will provide insight for researchers to explore more applications of QASs in the field of antimicrobials with the aim of developing systems for clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenyang Zhou
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Environment-Friendly Polymer Materials, School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Shuguang Zhou
- Department of Gynecology, Anhui Province Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Hefei, Anhui 236000, China
| | - Xiran Zhang
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Environment-Friendly Polymer Materials, School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Shaohua Zeng
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Environment-Friendly Polymer Materials, School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Ying Xu
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Environment-Friendly Polymer Materials, School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Wangyan Nie
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Environment-Friendly Polymer Materials, School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Yifeng Zhou
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Environment-Friendly Polymer Materials, School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Tao Xu
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Pengpeng Chen
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Environment-Friendly Polymer Materials, School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
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11
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Cecropin a Improves the Antibacterial Activity of Hen Egg White Lysozyme against Challenging Salmonella enterica Serovars. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14102201. [PMID: 36297635 PMCID: PMC9610619 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14102201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The prevalence of multidrug-resistant Salmonella enterica among animal- and plant-derived food products threatens global healthcare and economic sectors. Hen egg white lysozyme is widely exploited as a food preservative against Gram-positive pathogens. Nevertheless, its limited penetration of the outer membrane renders it ineffective against Gram-negative bacteria. Herein, we present a safe and effective approach to facilitate HEWL access to peptidoglycan layers using cecropin A. In silico analysis of cecropin A peptide revealed an amphipathic α-helical peptide with potential outer membrane permeabilizing activity through its interaction with both hydrophobic and ionic stabilizing forces. Evaluation of HEWL/cecropin A combination showed a cecropin A dose-dependent bacterial count reduction up to 4.16 and 3.18 ± 0.26 log units against Salmonella enterica ATCC 35664 at the logarithmic and stationary growth phases, respectively. Moreover, the combination displayed antibacterial activity of 2.1 ± 0.31 and ~1 log-unit reductions against Salmonella enterica serovars Kentucky, Typhimurium, and Enteritidis, respectively, whereas Hato and Shangani were found irresponsive. The cytotoxicity assay revealed compatibility of cecropin A with oral epithelial cells. These observations suggest HEWL/cecropin A combination as an effective and safe alternative to lysozyme against Salmonella enterica.
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12
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Islam MM, Kim D, Kim K, Park SJ, Akter S, Kim J, Bang S, Kim S, Kim J, Lee JC, Hong CW, Shin M. Engineering of lysin by fusion of antimicrobial peptide (cecropin A) enhances its antibacterial properties against multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:988522. [PMID: 36225352 PMCID: PMC9549208 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.988522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Most clinical isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii, a nosocomial pathogen, are multidrug-resistant (MDR), fueling the search for alternative therapies. Bacteriophage-derived endolysins have potent antibacterial activities and are considered as alternatives to antibiotics against A. baumannii infection. Gram-negative bacteria possess outer lipid membrane that prevents direct contact between the endolysins and the cell wall. We hypothesized that the fusion of antimicrobial peptide (AMP) with endolysin could help to reduce bacterial endolysin resistance and increase antimicrobial activity by membrane permeability action. Accordingly, we fused cecropin A, a commonly used AMP, with the N-terminus of AbEndolysin, which enhances the bactericidal activity of the chimeric endolysin. The bactericidal activity of cecropin A-fused AbEndolysin increased by at least 2–8 fold for various MDR A. baumannii clinical isolates. The in vitro bactericidal activity results also showed higher bacterial lysis by the chimeric endolysin than that by the parental lysin. The engineered AbEndolysin (eAbEndolysin) showed synergistic effects with the beta-lactam antibiotics cefotaxime, ceftazidime, and aztreonam, and an additive effect with meropenem and imipenem. eAbEndolysin had no cytotoxic effect on A549 cell line and rescued mice (40% survival rate) from systemic A. baumannii infection. Together, these findings suggest the potential of lysin therapy and may prompt its use as an alternative to antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Maidul Islam
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Dooyoung Kim
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Kyeongmin Kim
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Su-Jin Park
- Functional Bio-material Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Jeongeup, South Korea
| | - Samia Akter
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Jeongah Kim
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Seunghyeok Bang
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Shukho Kim
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Jungmin Kim
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Je Chul Lee
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Chang-Won Hong
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Minsang Shin
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
- *Correspondence: Minsang Shin,
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13
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Isolation and Characterization of the Lytic Pseudoxanthomonas kaohsiungensi Phage PW916. Viruses 2022; 14:v14081709. [PMID: 36016331 PMCID: PMC9414467 DOI: 10.3390/v14081709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence of multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens poses a serious global health threat. While patient infections by the opportunistic human pathogen Pseudoxanthomonas spp. have been increasingly reported worldwide, no phage associated with this bacterial genus has yet been isolated and reported. In this study, we isolated and characterized the novel phage PW916 to subsequently be used to lyse the multidrug-resistant Pseudoxanthomonas kaohsiungensi which was isolated from soil samples obtained from Chongqing, China. We studied the morphological features, thermal stability, pH stability, optimal multiplicity of infection, and genomic sequence of phage PW916. Transmission electron microscopy revealed the morphology of PW916 and indicated it to belong to the Siphoviridae family, with the morphological characteristics of a rounded head and a long noncontractile tail. The optimal multiplicity of infection of PW916 was 0.1. Moreover, PW916 was found to be stable under a wide range of temperatures (4–60 °C), pH (4–11) as well as treatment with 1% (v/w) chloroform. The genome of PW916 was determined to be a circular double-stranded structure with a length of 47,760 bp, containing 64 open reading frames that encoded functional and structural proteins, while no antibiotic resistance nor virulence factor genes were detected. The genomic sequencing and phylogenetic tree analysis showed that PW916 was a novel phage belonging to the Siphoviridae family that was closely related to the Stenotrophomonas phage. This is the first study to identify a novel phage infecting the multidrug-resistant P. kaohsiungensi and the findings provide insight into the potential application of PW916 in future phage therapies.
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14
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Venturini C, Petrovic Fabijan A, Fajardo Lubian A, Barbirz S, Iredell J. Biological foundations of successful bacteriophage therapy. EMBO Mol Med 2022; 14:e12435. [PMID: 35620963 PMCID: PMC9260219 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.202012435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophages (phages) are selective viral predators of bacteria. Abundant and ubiquitous in nature, phages can be used to treat bacterial infections (phage therapy), including refractory infections and those resistant to antibiotics. However, despite an abundance of anecdotal evidence of efficacy, significant hurdles remain before routine implementation of phage therapy into medical practice, including a dearth of robust clinical trial data. Phage-bacterium interactions are complex and diverse, characterized by co-evolution trajectories that are significantly influenced by the environments in which they occur (mammalian body sites, water, soil, etc.). An understanding of the molecular mechanisms underpinning these dynamics is essential for successful clinical translation. This review aims to cover key aspects of bacterium-phage interactions that affect bacterial killing by describing the most relevant published literature and detailing the current knowledge gaps most likely to influence therapeutic success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carola Venturini
- Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead, NSW, Australia.,Faculty of Science, Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Aleksandra Petrovic Fabijan
- Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead, NSW, Australia.,Faculty of Health and Medicine, School of Medicine, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Alicia Fajardo Lubian
- Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead, NSW, Australia.,Faculty of Health and Medicine, School of Medicine, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Stefanie Barbirz
- Department of Medicine, Science Faculty, MSB Medical School Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jonathan Iredell
- Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead, NSW, Australia.,Faculty of Health and Medicine, School of Medicine, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Westmead Hospital, Western Sydney Local Health District, Westmead, NSW, Australia
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15
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Chen X, Liu M, Zhang P, Xu M, Yuan W, Bian L, Liu Y, Xia J, Leung SSY. Phage-Derived Depolymerase as an Antibiotic Adjuvant Against Multidrug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:845500. [PMID: 35401491 PMCID: PMC8990738 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.845500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophage-encoded depolymerases are responsible for degrading capsular polysaccharides (CPS), lipopolysaccharides (LPS), and exopolysaccharides (EPS) of the host bacteria during phage invasion. They have been considered as promising antivirulence agents in controlling bacterial infections, including those caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. This feature inspires hope of utilizing these enzymes to disarm the polysaccharide capsules of the bacterial cells, which then strengthens the action of antibiotics. Here we have identified, cloned, and expressed a depolymerase Dpo71 from a bacteriophage specific for the gram-negative bacterium Acinetobacter baumannii in a heterologous host Escherichia coli. Dpo71 sensitizes the MDR A. baumannii to the host immune attack, and also acts as an adjuvant to assist or boost the action of antibiotics, for example colistin. Specifically, Dpo71 at 10 μg/ml enables a complete bacterial eradication by human serum at 50% volume ratio. A mechanistic study shows that the enhanced bactericidal effect of colistin is attributed to the improved outer membrane destabilization capacity and binding rate to bacteria after stripping off the bacterial capsule by Dpo71. Dpo71 inhibits biofilm formation and disrupts the pre-formed biofilm. Combination of Dpo71 could significantly enhance the antibiofilm activity of colistin and improve the survival rate of A. baumannii infected Galleria mellonella. Dpo71 retains the strain-specificity of the parent phage from which Dpo71 is derived: the phage-sensitive A. baumannii strains respond to Dpo71 treatment, whereas the phage-insensitive strains do not. In summary, our work demonstrates the feasibility of using recombinant depolymerases as an antibiotic adjuvant to supplement the development of new antibacterials and to battle against MDR pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Chen
- Department of Chemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Miao Liu
- Department of Chemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Pengfei Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Miao Xu
- School of Pharmacy, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Weihao Yuan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Liming Bian
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yannan Liu
- Emergency Medicine Clinical Research Center, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiang Xia
- Department of Chemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Sharon S Y Leung
- School of Pharmacy, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Hong Kong SAR, China
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16
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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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17
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Liu S, Lu H, Zhang S, Shi Y, Chen Q. Phages against Pathogenic Bacterial Biofilms and Biofilm-Based Infections: A Review. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14020427. [PMID: 35214158 PMCID: PMC8875263 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14020427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial biofilms formed by pathogens are known to be hundreds of times more resistant to antimicrobial agents than planktonic cells, making it extremely difficult to cure biofilm-based infections despite the use of antibiotics, which poses a serious threat to human health. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop promising alternative antimicrobial therapies to reduce the burden of drug-resistant bacterial infections caused by biofilms. As natural enemies of bacteria, bacteriophages (phages) have the advantages of high specificity, safety and non-toxicity, and possess great potential in the defense and removal of pathogenic bacterial biofilms, which are considered to be alternatives to treat bacterial diseases. This work mainly reviews the composition, structure and formation process of bacterial biofilms, briefly discusses the interaction between phages and biofilms, and summarizes several strategies based on phages and their derivatives against biofilms and drug-resistant bacterial infections caused by biofilms, serving the purpose of developing novel, safe and effective treatment methods against biofilm-based infections and promoting the application of phages in maintaining human health.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Ying Shi
- Correspondence: (Y.S.); (Q.C.); Tel.: +86-139-6717-1522 (Y.S.)
| | - Qihe Chen
- Correspondence: (Y.S.); (Q.C.); Tel.: +86-139-6717-1522 (Y.S.)
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18
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Vasina DV, Antonova NP, Grigoriev IV, Yakimakha VS, Lendel AM, Nikiforova MA, Pochtovyi AA, Remizov TA, Usachev EV, Shevlyagina NV, Zhukhovitsky VG, Fursov MV, Potapov VD, Vorobev AM, Aleshkin AV, Laishevtsev AI, Makarov VV, Yudin SM, Tkachuk AP, Gushchin VA. Discovering the Potentials of Four Phage Endolysins to Combat Gram-Negative Infections. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:748718. [PMID: 34721353 PMCID: PMC8548769 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.748718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Endolysin-based therapeutics are promising antibacterial agents and can successfully supplement the existing antibacterial drugs array. It is specifically important in the case of Gram-negative pathogens, e.g., ESKAPE group bacteria, which includes Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter species, and are highly inclined to gain multiple antibiotic resistance. Despite numerous works devoted to the screening of new lytic enzymes and investigations of their biochemical properties, there are significant breaches in some aspects of their operating characteristics, including safety issues of endolysin use. Here, we provide a comprehensive study of the antimicrobial efficacy aspects of four Gram-negative bacteria-targeting endolysins LysAm24, LysAp22, LysECD7, and LysSi3, their in vitro and in vivo activity, and their biological safety. These endolysins possess a wide spectrum of action, are active against planktonic bacteria and bacterial biofilms, and are effective in wound and burn skin infection animal models. In terms of safety, these enzymes do not contribute to the development of short-term resistance, are not cytotoxic, and do not significantly affect the normal intestinal microflora in vivo. Our results provide a confident base for the development of effective and safe candidate dosage forms for the treatment of local and systemic infections caused by Gram-negative bacterial species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daria V Vasina
- Laboratory of Pathogen Population Variability Mechanisms, N. F. Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Nataliia P Antonova
- Laboratory of Pathogen Population Variability Mechanisms, N. F. Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Igor V Grigoriev
- Translational Biomedicine Laboratory, N. F. Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | | | - Anastasiya M Lendel
- Laboratory of Pathogen Population Variability Mechanisms, N. F. Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia.,Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Maria A Nikiforova
- Laboratory of Pathogen Population Variability Mechanisms, N. F. Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Andrei A Pochtovyi
- Laboratory of Pathogen Population Variability Mechanisms, N. F. Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia.,Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Timofey A Remizov
- Translational Biomedicine Laboratory, N. F. Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Evgeny V Usachev
- Laboratory of Pathogen Population Variability Mechanisms, N. F. Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Natalia V Shevlyagina
- Laboratory of Indication and Ultrastructural Analysis of Microorganisms, N. F. Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladimir G Zhukhovitsky
- Laboratory of Indication and Ultrastructural Analysis of Microorganisms, N. F. Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia.,Russian Medical Academy of Continuing Professional Education (RMANPO), Ministry of Public Health, Moscow, Russia
| | - Mikhail V Fursov
- Aerobiological Laboratory, State Research Center for Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, Obolensk, Russia
| | - Vasiliy D Potapov
- Aerobiological Laboratory, State Research Center for Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, Obolensk, Russia
| | - Aleksei M Vorobev
- Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology and Biotechnology of Bacteriophages, G. N. Gabrichevsky Moscow Research Institute for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Andrey V Aleshkin
- Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology and Biotechnology of Bacteriophages, G. N. Gabrichevsky Moscow Research Institute for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Aleksei I Laishevtsev
- Laboratory for Diagnostics and Control of Antibiotic Resistance of the Most Clinically Significant Pathogens of Animals, Federal State Budget Scientific Institution "Federal Scientific Centre VIEV" (FSC VIEV), Moscow, Russia
| | - Valentine V Makarov
- Center for Strategic Planning of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Sergey M Yudin
- Center for Strategic Planning of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Artem P Tkachuk
- Translational Biomedicine Laboratory, N. F. Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladimir A Gushchin
- Laboratory of Pathogen Population Variability Mechanisms, N. F. Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia.,Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
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19
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Engineering a lysin with intrinsic antibacterial activity (LysMK34) with cecropin A enhances its antibacterial properties against Acinetobacter baumannii. Appl Environ Microbiol 2021; 88:e0151521. [PMID: 34669452 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01515-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophage-encoded lysins are increasingly reported as alternatives to combat Acinetobacter baumannii infections for which limited therapeutic options are available. Some lysins such as LysMK34 have a C-terminal amphipathic helix allowing them to penetrate the otherwise impermeable outer membrane barrier. Another approach to kill Gram-negative pathogens with lysins relies on fusion of a peptide with outer membrane permeabilizing properties to the lysin. In this work, we aimed to leverage the intrinsic antibacterial activity of LysMK34 by fusing the peptide cecropin A to its N-terminus via a linker of three Ala-Gly repeats, resulting in eLysMK34. The engineered lysin has an improved antibacterial activity compared to the parental lysin LysMK34 in terms of minimum inhibitory concentration (0.45 - 1.2 μM), killing rate and killing extent. eLysMK34 has an at least two-fold increased activity against stationary-phase cells and the bactericidal effect becomes less dependent on the intracellular osmotic pressure. Particularly colistin-resistant strains become highly susceptible to eLysMK34 and enhanced antibacterial activity is observed in complement-deactivated human serum. These observations demonstrate that fusion of a lysin with intrinsic antibacterial activity with a selected outer membrane permeabilizing peptide is a useful strategy to further improve the in vitro antibacterial properties of such lysins. Importance Phage lysins are a new class of enzyme-based antibiotics that increasingly gain interest. Lysins kill cells through rapid degradation of the peptidoglycan layer, resulting in sudden osmotic lysis. Whereas Gram-positive bacteria are readily susceptible to the action of lysins, Gram-negative bacteria are naturally resistant as the outer membrane protects their peptidoglycan layer. This work reveals that fusing an outer membrane permeabilizing peptide to a lysin with intrinsic antibacterial activity results in a superior lysin that shows improved robustness in its antibacterial activity, including against the most worrisome colistin-resistant strains A. baumannii.
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