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Kajsikova M, Kajsik M, Bocanova L, Papayova K, Drahovska H, Bukovska G. Endolysin EN572-5 as an alternative to treat urinary tract infection caused by Streptococcus agalactiae. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 108:79. [PMID: 38189950 PMCID: PMC10774192 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12949-8] [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: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B Streptococcus, GBS) is an opportunistic pathogen causing urinary tract infection (UTI). Endolysin EN572-5 was identified in prophage KMB-572-E of the human isolate Streptococcus agalactiae KMB-572. The entire EN572-5 gene was cloned into an expression vector and the corresponding recombinant protein EN572-5 was expressed in Escherichia coli in a soluble form, isolated by affinity chromatography, and characterized. The isolated protein was highly active after 30 min incubation in a temperature range of - 20 °C to 37 °C and in a pH range of 5.5-8.0. The endolysin EN572-5 lytic activity was tested on different Streptococcus spp. and Lactobacillus spp. The enzyme lysed clinical GBS (n = 31/31) and different streptococci (n = 6/8), and also exhibited moderate lytic activity against UPEC (n = 4/4), but no lysis of beneficial vaginal lactobacilli (n = 4) was observed. The ability of EN572-5 to eliminate GBS during UTI was investigated using an in vitro model of UPSA. After the administration of 3 μM EN572-5, a nearly 3-log decrease of urine bacterial burden was detected within 3 h. To date, no studies have been published on the use of endolysins against S. agalactiae during UTI. KEY POINTS: • A lytic protein, EN572-5, from a prophage of a human GBS isolate has been identified. • This protein is easily produced, simple to prepare, and stable after lyophilization. • The bacteriolytic activity of EN572-5 was demonstrated for the first time in human urine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Kajsikova
- Department of Genomics and Biotechnology, Institute of Molecular Biology SAS, Dubravska cesta 21, 845 51, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Michal Kajsik
- Comenius University Science Park, Ilkovicova 8, 841 04, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Lucia Bocanova
- Department of Genomics and Biotechnology, Institute of Molecular Biology SAS, Dubravska cesta 21, 845 51, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Kristina Papayova
- Department of Genomics and Biotechnology, Institute of Molecular Biology SAS, Dubravska cesta 21, 845 51, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Hana Drahovska
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Ilkovicova 6, 841 15, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Gabriela Bukovska
- Department of Genomics and Biotechnology, Institute of Molecular Biology SAS, Dubravska cesta 21, 845 51, Bratislava, Slovakia.
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2
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Khan FM, Chen JH, Zhang R, Liu B. A comprehensive review of the applications of bacteriophage-derived endolysins for foodborne bacterial pathogens and food safety: recent advances, challenges, and future perspective. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1259210. [PMID: 37869651 PMCID: PMC10588457 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1259210] [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: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Foodborne diseases are caused by food contaminated by pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Campylobacter, and Clostridium, a critical threat to human health. As a novel antibacterial agent against foodborne pathogens, endolysins are peptidoglycan hydrolases encoded by bacteriophages that lyse bacterial cells by targeting their cell wall, notably in Gram-positive bacteria due to their naturally exposed peptidoglycan layer. These lytic enzymes have gained scientists' interest in recent years due to their selectivity, mode of action, engineering potential, and lack of resistance mechanisms. The use of endolysins for food safety has undergone significant improvements, which are summarized and discussed in this review. Endolysins can remove bacterial biofilms of foodborne pathogens and their cell wall-binding domain can be employed as a tool for quick detection of foodborne pathogens. We explained the applications of endolysin for eliminating pathogenic bacteria in livestock and various food matrices, as well as the limitations and challenges in use as a dietary supplement. We also highlight the novel techniques of the development of engineering endolysin for targeting Gram-negative bacterial pathogens. In conclusion, endolysin is safe and effective against foodborne pathogens and has no adverse effect on human cells and beneficial microbiota. As a result, endolysin could be employed as a functional bio-preservative agent to improve food stability and safety and maintain the natural taste of food quality.
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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
- Institute for Innovative Development of Food Industry, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jie-Hua Chen
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- Institute for Innovative Development of Food Industry, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Rui Zhang
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Bin Liu
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- Institute for Innovative Development of Food Industry, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
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3
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Shah S, Das R, Chavan B, Bajpai U, Hanif S, Ahmed S. Beyond antibiotics: phage-encoded lysins against Gram-negative pathogens. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1170418. [PMID: 37789862 PMCID: PMC10542408 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1170418] [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: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Antibiotics remain the frontline agents for treating deadly bacterial pathogens. However, the indiscriminate use of these valuable agents has led to an alarming rise in AMR. The antibiotic pipeline is insufficient to tackle the AMR threat, especially with respect to the WHO critical category of priority Gram-negative pathogens, which have become a serious problem as nosocomial and community infections and pose a threat globally. The AMR pandemic requires solutions that provide novel antibacterial agents that are not only effective but against which bacteria are less likely to gain resistance. In this regard, natural or engineered phage-encoded lysins (enzybiotics) armed with numerous features represent an attractive alternative to the currently available antibiotics. Several lysins have exhibited promising efficacy and safety against Gram-positive pathogens, with some in late stages of clinical development and some commercially available. However, in the case of Gram-negative bacteria, the outer membrane acts as a formidable barrier; hence, lysins are often used in combination with OMPs or engineered to overcome the outer membrane barrier. In this review, we have briefly explained AMR and the initiatives taken by different organizations globally to tackle the AMR threat at different levels. We bring forth the promising potential and challenges of lysins, focusing on the WHO critical category of priority Gram-negative bacteria and lysins under investigation for these pathogens, along with the challenges associated with developing them as therapeutics within the existing regulatory framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanket Shah
- Techinvention Lifecare Private Limited, Mumbai, India
| | - Ritam Das
- Techinvention Lifecare Private Limited, Mumbai, India
| | - Bhakti Chavan
- Techinvention Lifecare Private Limited, Mumbai, India
| | - Urmi Bajpai
- Department of Biomedical Science, Acharya Narendra Dev College, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India
| | - Sarmad Hanif
- Techinvention Lifecare Private Limited, Mumbai, India
| | - Syed Ahmed
- Techinvention Lifecare Private Limited, Mumbai, India
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4
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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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6
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Wong KY, Megat Mazhar Khair MH, Song AAL, Masarudin MJ, Chong CM, In LLA, Teo MYM. Endolysins against Streptococci as an antibiotic alternative. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:935145. [PMID: 35983327 PMCID: PMC9378833 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.935145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Multi-drug resistance has called for a race to uncover alternatives to existing antibiotics. Phage therapy is one of the explored alternatives, including the use of endolysins, which are phage-encoded peptidoglycan hydrolases responsible for bacterial lysis. Endolysins have been extensively researched in different fields, including medicine, food, and agricultural applications. While the target specificity of various endolysins varies greatly between species, this current review focuses specifically on streptococcal endolysins. Streptococcus spp. causes numerous infections, from the common strep throat to much more serious life-threatening infections such as pneumonia and meningitis. It is reported as a major crisis in various industries, causing systemic infections associated with high mortality and morbidity, as well as economic losses, especially in the agricultural industry. This review highlights the types of catalytic and cell wall-binding domains found in streptococcal endolysins and gives a comprehensive account of the lytic ability of both native and engineered streptococcal endolysins studied thus far, as well as its potential application across different industries. Finally, it gives an overview of the advantages and limitations of these enzyme-based antibiotics, which has caused the term enzybiotics to be conferred to it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuan Yee Wong
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Megat Hamzah Megat Mazhar Khair
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Adelene Ai-Lian Song
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Mas Jaffri Masarudin
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Chou Min Chong
- Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Lionel Lian Aun In
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Lionel Lian Aun In,
| | - Michelle Yee Mun Teo
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- *Correspondence: Michelle Yee Mun Teo,
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7
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Wang Z, Liu X, Shi Z, Zhao R, Ji Y, Tang F, Guan Y, Feng X, Sun C, Lei L, Han W, Du XD, Gu J. A novel lysin Ply1228 provides efficient protection against Streptococcus suis type 2 infection in a murine bacteremia model. Vet Microbiol 2022; 268:109425. [PMID: 35397385 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2022.109425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Streptococcus suis is an important zoonotic pathogen that is difficult to control with antibiotics due to the widespread development of multidrug-resistant strains. Phage lysin is considered a potential therapeutic agent to combat S. suis. In this study, the novel lysin Ply1228 derived from the prophage of S. suis type 12 was identified. Bioinformatics analysis showed that Ply1228 contains a CHAP catalytic domain, which is a binding domain composed of a CW-7 binding motif and an amidase-2 catalytic domain. The CHAP catalytic domain is essential for the bactericidal function of lysin Ply1228 and does not depend on the presence of Ca2+. C34 and H99 of the CHAP domain were identified as the key active sites. The CW-7 binding motif plays a key binding role in Ply1228. Ply1228 can specifically lyse S. suis, including types 2, 3, 7, 9, 10, 12, 14, and 27. Within 10 min, Ply1228 killed 4 log of the S. suis population, which had a starting concentration of approximately 107 CFU/mL. In addition, Ply1228 showed favourable thermal and pH stability. The therapeutic effect of Ply1228 was further investigated in a mouse model of S. suis bacteremia. The administration of the lysin Ply1228 (200 μg/mouse) 1 h after the intraperitoneal injection of 2 × MLD of SS2 strain SC225 was sufficient to protect the mice (P < 0.0001) and significantly reduced the bacterial loads in the blood and organs (livers, spleens, lungs and kidneys). The levels of inflammation and histopathological damage in infected mice were effectively relieved after the Ply1228 treatment. These results indicate that Ply1228 might represent a new enzybiotic candidate for S. suis infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zijing Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, PR China
| | - Xiao Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, PR China
| | - Zhaoxin Shi
- State Key Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, PR China
| | - Rihong Zhao
- State Key Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, PR China
| | - Yalu Ji
- State Key Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, PR China
| | - Fang Tang
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, Key Laboratory of Animal Bacteriology, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, PR China
| | - Yuan Guan
- State Key Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, PR China
| | - Xin Feng
- State Key Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, PR China
| | - Changjiang Sun
- State Key Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, PR China
| | - Liancheng Lei
- State Key Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, PR China
| | - Wenyu Han
- State Key Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, PR China; Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Disease and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, PR China
| | - Xiang-Dang Du
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, PR China.
| | - Jingmin Gu
- State Key Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, PR China; Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Disease and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, PR China.
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8
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Biofunctionalization of Endolysins with Oligosacharides: Formulation of Therapeutic Agents to Combat Multi-Resistant Bacteria and Potential Strategies for Their Application. POLYSACCHARIDES 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/polysaccharides3020018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In the aquaculture sector, the biofunctionalization of biomaterials is discussed using materials from algae and analyzed as a possible potential strategy to overcome the challenges that hinder the future development of the application of endolysins in this field. Derived from years of analysis, endolysins have recently been considered as potential alternative therapeutic antibacterial agents, due to their attributes and ability to combat multi-resistant bacterial cells when applied externally. On the other hand, although the aquaculture sector has been characterized by its high production rates, serious infectious diseases have led to significant economic losses that persist to this day. Although there are currently interesting data from studies under in vitro conditions on the application of endolysins in this sector, there is little or no information on in vivo studies. This lack of analysis can be attributed to the relatively low stability of endolysins in marine conditions and to the complex gastrointestinal conditions of the organisms. This review provides updated information regarding the application of endolysins against multi-resistant bacteria of clinical and nutritional interest, previously addressing their important characteristics (structure, properties and stability). In addition, regarding the aquaculture sector, the biofunctionalization of biomaterials is discussed using materials from algae and analyzed as a possible potential strategy to overcome the challenges that hinder the future development of the application of endolysins in this field.
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9
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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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10
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Gutiérrez D, Rodríguez-Rubio L, Ruas-Madiedo P, Fernández L, Campelo AB, Briers Y, Nielsen MW, Pedersen K, Lavigne R, García P, Rodríguez A. Design and Selection of Engineered Lytic Proteins With Staphylococcus aureus Decolonizing Activity. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:723834. [PMID: 34594314 PMCID: PMC8477017 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.723834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus causes various infections in humans and animals, the skin being the principal reservoir of this pathogen. The widespread occurrence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) limits the elimination and treatment of this pathogen. Phage lytic proteins have been proven as efficient antimicrobials against S. aureus. Here, a set of 12 engineered proteins based on endolysins were conceptualized to select the most optimal following a stepwise funnel approach assessing parameters including turbidity reduction, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), time-kill curves, and antibiofilm assays, as well as testing their stability in a broad range of storage conditions (pH, temperature, and ionic strength). The engineered phage lysins LysRODIΔAmi and ClyRODI-H5 showed the highest specific lytic activity (5 to 50 times higher than the rest), exhibited a shelf-life up to 6 months and remained stable at temperatures up to 50°C and in a pH range from 3 to 9. LysRODIΔAmi showed the lower MIC values against all staphylococcal strains tested. Both proteins were able to kill 6 log units of the strain S. aureus Sa9 within 5 min and could remove preformed biofilms (76 and 65%, respectively). Moreover, LysRODIΔAmi could prevent biofilm formation at low protein concentrations (0.15–0.6 μM). Due to its enhanced antibiofilm properties, LysRODIΔAmi was selected to effectively remove S. aureus contamination in both intact and disrupted keratinocyte monolayers. Notably, this protein did not demonstrate any toxicity toward human keratinocytes, even at high concentrations (22.1 μM). Finally, a pig skin ex vivo model was used to evaluate treatment of artificially contaminated pig skin using LysRODIΔAmi (16.5 μg/cm2). Following an early reduction of S. aureus, a second dose of protein completely eradicated S. aureus. Overall, our results suggest that LysRODIΔAmi is a suitable candidate as antimicrobial agent to prevent and treat staphylococcal skin infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Gutiérrez
- Instituto de Productos Lácteos de Asturias (IPLA-CSIC), Asturias, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain.,Laboratory of Applied Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Lorena Rodríguez-Rubio
- Laboratory of Gene Technology, Department of Biosystems, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Patricia Ruas-Madiedo
- Instituto de Productos Lácteos de Asturias (IPLA-CSIC), Asturias, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Lucía Fernández
- Instituto de Productos Lácteos de Asturias (IPLA-CSIC), Asturias, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Ana Belén Campelo
- Instituto de Productos Lácteos de Asturias (IPLA-CSIC), Asturias, Spain
| | - Yves Briers
- Laboratory of Applied Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Martin Weiss Nielsen
- Department of Microbiology and Production, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Karl Pedersen
- Department of Microbiology and Production, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Rob Lavigne
- Laboratory of Gene Technology, Department of Biosystems, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Pilar García
- Instituto de Productos Lácteos de Asturias (IPLA-CSIC), Asturias, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Ana Rodríguez
- Instituto de Productos Lácteos de Asturias (IPLA-CSIC), Asturias, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain
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11
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Ho MKY, Zhang P, Chen X, Xia J, Leung SSY. Bacteriophage endolysins against gram-positive bacteria, an overview on the clinical development and recent advances on the delivery and formulation strategies. Crit Rev Microbiol 2021; 48:303-326. [PMID: 34478359 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2021.1962803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Facing the increasing threat of multi-drug antimicrobial resistance (AMR), humans strive to search for antibiotic drug candidates and antibacterial alternatives from all possible places, from soils in remote areas to deep in the sea. In this "gold rush for antibacterials," researchers turn to the natural enemy of bacterial cells, bacteriophage (phages), and find them a rich source of weapons for AMR bacteria. Endolysins (lysins), the enzymes phages use to break the bacterial cells from within, have been shown to be highly selective and efficient in killing their target bacteria from outside while maintaining a low occurrence of bacterial resistance. In this review, we start with the structures and mechanisms of action of lysins against Gram-positive (GM+) bacteria. The developmental history of lysins is also outlined. Then, we detail the latest preclinical and clinical research on their safety and efficacy against GM+ bacteria, focusing on the formulation strategies of these enzymes. Finally, the challenges and potential hurdles are discussed. Notwithstanding these limitations, the trends in development indicate that the first, approved lysin drugs will be available soon in the near future. Overall, this review presents a timely summary of the current progress on lysins as antibacterial enzymes for AMR GM+ bacteria, and provides a guidebook for biomaterial researchers who are dedicating themselves to the battle against bacterial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Kai Yuen Ho
- School of Pharmacy, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Pengfei Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xi Chen
- Department of Chemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jiang Xia
- Department of Chemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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12
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Yan J, Yang R, Yu S, Zhao W. The strategy of biopreservation of meat product against MRSA using lytic domain of lysin from Staphylococcus aureus bacteriophage. FOOD BIOSCI 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fbio.2021.100967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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13
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Grabowski Ł, Łepek K, Stasiłojć M, Kosznik-Kwaśnicka K, Zdrojewska K, Maciąg-Dorszyńska M, Węgrzyn G, Węgrzyn A. Bacteriophage-encoded enzymes destroying bacterial cell membranes and walls, and their potential use as antimicrobial agents. Microbiol Res 2021; 248:126746. [PMID: 33773329 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2021.126746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Revised: 03/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Appearance of pathogenic bacteria resistant to most, if not all, known antibiotics is currently one of the most significant medical problems. Therefore, development of novel antibacterial therapies is crucial for efficient treatment of bacterial infections in the near future. One possible option is to employ enzymes, encoded by bacteriophages, which cause destruction of bacterial cell membranes and walls. Bacteriophages use such enzymes to destroy bacterial host cells at the final stage of their lytic development, in order to ensure effective liberation of progeny virions. Nevertheless, to use such bacteriophage-encoded proteins in medicine and/or biotechnology, it is crucial to understand details of their biological functions and biochemical properties. Therefore, in this review article, we will present and discuss our current knowledge on the processes of bacteriophage-mediated bacterial cell lysis, with special emphasis on enzymes involved in them. Regulation of timing of the lysis is also discussed. Finally, possibilities of the practical use of these enzymes as antibacterial agents will be underlined and perspectives of this aspect will be presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Łukasz Grabowski
- Laboratory of Phage Therapy, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kładki 24, 80-822, Gdansk, Poland.
| | - Krzysztof Łepek
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308, Gdansk, Poland.
| | - Małgorzata Stasiłojć
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308, Gdansk, Poland.
| | - Katarzyna Kosznik-Kwaśnicka
- Laboratory of Phage Therapy, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kładki 24, 80-822, Gdansk, Poland.
| | - Karolina Zdrojewska
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308, Gdansk, Poland.
| | - Monika Maciąg-Dorszyńska
- Laboratory of Phage Therapy, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kładki 24, 80-822, Gdansk, Poland.
| | - Grzegorz Węgrzyn
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308, Gdansk, Poland.
| | - Alicja Węgrzyn
- Laboratory of Phage Therapy, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kładki 24, 80-822, Gdansk, Poland.
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14
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Bhagwat A, Zhang F, Collins CH, Dordick JS. Influence of bacterial culture medium on peptidoglycan binding of cell wall lytic enzymes. J Biotechnol 2021; 330:27-34. [PMID: 33652073 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2021.02.010] [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: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The bacteriolysin lysostaphin (Lst) and endolysin PlyPH are potent modular lytic enzymes with activity against clinically-relevant Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus, respectively. Both enzymes possess an N-terminal catalytic domain and C-terminal binding domain, with the latter conferring significant enzyme specificity. Lst and PlyPH show reduced activity in the presence of bacterial growth-supporting conditions, such as complex media. Here, we hypothesize that Lst and PlyPH bind poorly to their targets in growth media, which may influence their use in antimicrobial applications in the food industry, as therapeutics, and for control of microbial communities. To this end, binding of isolated Lst and PlyPH binding domains to target bacteria was quantified in the presence of three increasingly complex media - phosphate buffered saline (PBS), defined growth medium (AAM) and undefined complex medium (TSB) by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and flow cytometry. Evaluation of binding kinetics by SPR demonstrated that PlyPH binding was particularly sensitive to medium composition, with 8-fold lower association and 3.4-fold lower dissociation rate constants to B. cereus in TSB compared to PBS. Flow cytometry studies indicated a decrease in the binding-dependent fluorescent populations of S. aureus and B. cereus, for lysostaphin binding domain and PlyPH binding domain, respectively, in TSB compared to PBS. Enzyme binding behavior was consistent with the enzymes' catalytic activity in the three media, thereby suggesting that compromised enzyme binding could be responsible for poor activity in more complex growth media.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amala Bhagwat
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Center for Biotechnology & Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, 12180, United States
| | - Fuming Zhang
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Center for Biotechnology & Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, 12180, United States
| | - Cynthia H Collins
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Center for Biotechnology & Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, 12180, United States.
| | - Jonathan S Dordick
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Center for Biotechnology & Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, 12180, United States.
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15
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Abdelrahman F, Easwaran M, Daramola OI, Ragab S, Lynch S, Oduselu TJ, Khan FM, Ayobami A, Adnan F, Torrents E, Sanmukh S, El-Shibiny A. Phage-Encoded Endolysins. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021; 10:124. [PMID: 33525684 PMCID: PMC7912344 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10020124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2020] [Revised: 01/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to the global emergence of antibiotic resistance, there has been an increase in research surrounding endolysins as an alternative therapeutic. Endolysins are phage-encoded enzymes, utilized by mature phage virions to hydrolyze the cell wall from within. There is significant evidence that proves the ability of endolysins to degrade the peptidoglycan externally without the assistance of phage. Thus, their incorporation in therapeutic strategies has opened new options for therapeutic application against bacterial infections in the human and veterinary sectors, as well as within the agricultural and biotechnology sectors. While endolysins show promising results within the laboratory, it is important to document their resistance, safety, and immunogenicity for in-vivo application. This review aims to provide new insights into the synergy between endolysins and antibiotics, as well as the formulation of endolysins. Thus, it provides crucial information for clinical trials involving endolysins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatma Abdelrahman
- Center for Microbiology and Phage Therapy, Biomedical Sciences, Zewail City of Science and Technology, Giza 12578, Egypt
| | - Maheswaran Easwaran
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Sethu Institute of Technology, Tamil Nadu 626115, India
| | - Oluwasegun I Daramola
- Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan 200284, Nigeria
| | - Samar Ragab
- Center for Microbiology and Phage Therapy, Biomedical Sciences, Zewail City of Science and Technology, Giza 12578, Egypt
| | - Stephanie Lynch
- School of Life Sciences, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia
| | - Tolulope J Oduselu
- Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan 200284, Nigeria
| | - Fazal Mehmood Khan
- Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
- International College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Akomolafe Ayobami
- Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan 200284, Nigeria
| | - Fazal Adnan
- Atta ur Rahman School of Applied Biosciences (ASAB), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad 24090, Pakistan
| | - Eduard Torrents
- Bacterial Infections: Antimicrobial Therapies Group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Microbiology Section, Department of Genetics, Microbiology, and Statistics, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Swapnil Sanmukh
- Bacterial Infections: Antimicrobial Therapies Group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ayman El-Shibiny
- Center for Microbiology and Phage Therapy, Biomedical Sciences, Zewail City of Science and Technology, Giza 12578, Egypt
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16
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De Maesschalck V, Gutiérrez D, Paeshuyse J, Lavigne R, Briers Y. Advanced engineering of third-generation lysins and formulation strategies for clinical applications. Crit Rev Microbiol 2020; 46:548-564. [PMID: 32886565 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2020.1809346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
One of the possible solutions for the current antibiotic resistance crisis may be found in (often bacteriophage-derived) peptidoglycan hydrolases. The first clinical trials of these natural enzymes, coined here as first-generation lysins, are currently ongoing. Moving beyond natural endolysins with protein engineering established the second generation of lysins. In second-generation lysins, the focus lies on improving antibacterial and biochemical properties such as antimicrobial activity and stability, as well as expanding their activities towards Gram-negative pathogens. However, solutions to particular key challenges regarding clinical applications are only beginning to emerge in the third generation of lysins, in which protein and biochemical engineering efforts focus on improving properties relevant under clinical conditions. In addition, increasingly advanced formulation strategies are developed to increase the bioavailability, antibacterial activity, and half-life, and to reduce pro-inflammatory responses. This review focuses on third-generation and advanced formulation strategies that are developed to treat infections, ranging from topical to systemic applications. Together, these efforts may fully unlock the potential of lysin therapy and will propel it as a true antibiotic alternative or supplement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent De Maesschalck
- Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Biotechnology, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
| | - Diana Gutiérrez
- Department of Biotechnology, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
| | - Jan Paeshuyse
- Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rob Lavigne
- Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Yves Briers
- Department of Biotechnology, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
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17
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Baryakova TH, Ritter SC, Tresnak DT, Hackel BJ. Computationally Aided Discovery of LysEFm5 Variants with Improved Catalytic Activity and Stability. Appl Environ Microbiol 2020; 86:e02051-19. [PMID: 31811034 PMCID: PMC6997734 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02051-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2019] [Accepted: 11/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophage-derived lysin proteins are potentially effective antimicrobials that would benefit from engineered improvements to their bioavailability and specific activity. Here, the catalytic domain of LysEFm5, a lysin with activity against vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE), was subjected to site-saturation mutagenesis at positions whose selection was guided by sequence and structural information from homologous proteins. A second-order Potts model with parameters inferred from large sets of homologous sequence information was used to predict the average change in the statistical fitness for mutant libraries with diversity at pairs of sites within the secondary catalytic shell. Guided by the statistical fitness, nine double mutant saturation libraries were created and plated on agar containing autoclaved VRE to quickly identify and segregate catalytically active (halo-forming) and inactive (non-halo-forming) variants. High-throughput DNA sequencing of 873 unique variants showed that the statistical fitness was predictive of the retention or loss of catalytic activity (area under the curve [AUC], 0.840 to 0.894), with the inclusion of more diverse sequences in the starting multiple-sequence alignment improving the classification accuracy when pairwise amino acid couplings (epistasis) were considered. Of eight random halo-forming variants selected for more sensitive testing, one showed a 1.8 (±0.4)-fold improvement in specific activity and an 11.5 ± 0.8°C increase in melting temperature compared to those of the wild type. Our results demonstrate that a computationally informed approach employing homologous protein information coupled with a mid-throughput screening assay allows for the expedited discovery of lysin variants with improved properties.IMPORTANCE Broad-spectrum antibiotics can indiscriminately kill most bacteria, including commensal species that are a part of the normal human flora. This can potentially lead to the proliferation of drug-resistant bacteria upon elimination of competing species and to unwanted autoimmune effects in patients. Bacteriophage-derived lysin proteins are an alternative to conventional antibiotics that have coevolved alongside specific bacterial hosts. Lysins are capable of targeting conserved substrates in the bacterial cell wall essential for its viability. To engineer these proteins to exhibit improved therapeutically relevant properties, homology-guided statistical approaches can be used to identify compelling sites for mutation and to quantify the functional constraints acting on these sites to direct mutagenic library creation. The platform described herein couples this informed approach with a visual plate assay that can be used to simultaneously screen hundreds of mutants for catalytic activity, allowing for the streamlined identification of improved lysin variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsvetelina H Baryakova
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Seth C Ritter
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Daniel T Tresnak
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Benjamin J Hackel
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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18
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Construction and characterization of a chimeric lysin ClyV with improved bactericidal activity against Streptococcus agalactiae in vitro and in vivo. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2020; 104:1609-1619. [PMID: 31900556 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-019-10325-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2019] [Revised: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 12/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The emergence of antibiotic-resistant beta-hemolytic Streptococcus agalactiae strains poses increasing threat to human beings globally. As an attempt to create a novel lysin with improved activity against S. agalactiae, a chimeric lysin, ClyV, was constructed by fusing the enzymatically active domain (EAD) from PlyGBS lysin (GBS180) and the cell wall binding domain (CBD) from PlyV12 lysin (V12CBD). Plate lysis assay combined with lytic kinetic analysis demonstrated that ClyV has improved activity than its parental enzymatic domain GBS180 against multiple streptococci. Biochemical characterization showed that ClyV is active from pH 7 to 10, with the optimum pH of 9, and is stable under NaCl concentration of < 500 mM. In a S. agalactiae infection model, a single intraperitoneally administration of 0.1 mg/mouse of ClyV protected 100% mice, while it was observed that ~ 29% survive in group that received a single dose of 0.1 mg/mouse of GBS180. Moreover, a high dose of 0.8 mg/mouse ClyV did not show any adverse effects to the health or survival rate of the mice. Considering the robust bactericidal activity and good safety profile of ClyV, it represents a potential candidate for the treatment of S. agalactiae infections.
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19
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Gondil VS, Harjai K, Chhibber S. Endolysins as emerging alternative therapeutic agents to counter drug-resistant infections. Int J Antimicrob Agents 2019; 55:105844. [PMID: 31715257 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2019.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Revised: 08/02/2019] [Accepted: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Endolysins are the lytic products of bacteriophages which play a specific role in the release of phage progeny by degrading the peptidoglycan of the host bacterium. In the light of antibiotic resistance, endolysins are being considered as alternative therapeutic agents because of their exceptional ability to target bacterial cells when applied externally. Endolysins have been studied against a number of drug-resistant pathogens to assess their therapeutic ability. This review focuses on the structure of endolysins in terms of cell binding and catalytic domains, lytic ability, resistance, safety, immunogenicity and future applications. It primarily reviews recent advancements made in evaluation of the therapeutic potential of endolysins, including their origin, host range, applications, and synergy with conventional and non-conventional antimicrobial agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vijay Singh Gondil
- Department of Microbiology, Basic Medical Sciences, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India
| | - Kusum Harjai
- Department of Microbiology, Basic Medical Sciences, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India
| | - Sanjay Chhibber
- Department of Microbiology, Basic Medical Sciences, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India.
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20
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Imanishi I, Uchiyama J, Tsukui T, Hisatsune J, Ide K, Matsuzaki S, Sugai M, Nishifuji K. Therapeutic Potential of an Endolysin Derived from Kayvirus S25-3 for Staphylococcal Impetigo. Viruses 2019; 11:v11090769. [PMID: 31443379 PMCID: PMC6784202 DOI: 10.3390/v11090769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2019] [Revised: 08/16/2019] [Accepted: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Impetigo is a contagious skin infection predominantly caused by Staphylococcus aureus. Decontamination of S. aureus from the skin is becoming more difficult because of the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains. Bacteriophage endolysins are less likely to invoke resistance and can eliminate the target bacteria without disturbance of the normal microflora. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic potential of a recombinant endolysin derived from kayvirus S25-3 against staphylococcal impetigo in an experimental setting. First, the recombinant S25-3 endolysin required an incubation period of over 15 minutes to exhibit efficient bactericidal effects against S. aureus. Second, topical application of the recombinant S25-3 endolysin decreased the number of intraepidermal staphylococci and the size of pustules in an experimental mouse model of impetigo. Third, treatment with the recombinant S25-3 endolysin increased the diversity of the skin microbiota in the same mice. Finally, we revealed the genus-specific bacteriolytic effect of recombinant S25-3 endolysin against staphylococci, particularly S. aureus, among human skin commensal bacteria. Therefore, topical treatment with recombinant S25-3 endolysin can be a promising disease management procedure for staphylococcal impetigo by efficient bacteriolysis of S. aureus while improving the cutaneous bacterial microflora.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ichiro Imanishi
- Laboratory of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Division of Animal Life Science, Institute of Agriculture, Graduate School, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
| | - Jumpei Uchiyama
- Laboratory of Veterinary Microbiology I, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, 1-17-71 Fuchinobe, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5201, Japan
| | - Toshihiro Tsukui
- Nippon Zenyaku Kogyo Co. Ltd., 1-1 Tairanoue, Sasagawa, Asaka-machi, Koriyama, Fukushima 963-0196, Japan
| | - Junzo Hisatsune
- Department of Bacteriology, Graduate school of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8553, Japan
| | - Kaori Ide
- Laboratory of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Division of Animal Life Science, Institute of Agriculture, Graduate School, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
| | - Shigenobu Matsuzaki
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, 185-1 Kohasu, Oko-cho, Nankoku, Kochi 783-8505, Japan
| | - Motoyuki Sugai
- Department of Bacteriology, Graduate school of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8553, Japan
| | - Koji Nishifuji
- Laboratory of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Division of Animal Life Science, Institute of Agriculture, Graduate School, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan.
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21
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Application of the Phage Lysin Ply5218 in the Treatment of Streptococcus suis Infection in Piglets. Viruses 2019; 11:v11080715. [PMID: 31387285 PMCID: PMC6723582 DOI: 10.3390/v11080715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2019] [Revised: 08/01/2019] [Accepted: 08/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus suis (S. suis) is a gram-positive bacterium and zoonotic pathogen. Currently it poses a serious problem in the swine industry due to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Thus, novel antimicrobials against S. suis infections are urgently needed. In the previous study, a cell wall hydrolase or lysin derived from Streptococcus prophage phi5218, termed Ply5218, was identified. This lysin showed strong bacteriolytic activity against S. suis. In the current study, the in vitro data showed that after incubation with pig serum, the bacteriolytic efficacy of Ply5218 declined in a time-dependent manner. The in vivo assays indicated that a Ply5218 triple treatment (6, 24, and 48 h post infection) was effective against various serotypes of S. suis in a murine infection model. This regimen also alleviated streptococcal-induced clinical symptoms in piglets and significantly reduced the bacterial burden and levels of interleukin 6, a proinflammatory cytokine. This study indicates that Ply5218 shows strong antibacterial activity in pigs and has the potential to be used as a treatment for infectious diseases caused by S. suis.
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Dakheel KH, Rahim RA, Neela VK, Al-Obaidi JR, Hun TG, Isa MNM, Yusoff K. Genomic analyses of two novel biofilm-degrading methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus phages. BMC Microbiol 2019; 19:114. [PMID: 31138130 PMCID: PMC6540549 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-019-1484-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2018] [Accepted: 05/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) biofilm producers represent an important etiological agent of many chronic human infections. Antibiotics and host immune responses are largely ineffective against bacteria within biofilms. Alternative actions and novel antimicrobials should be considered. In this context, the use of phages to destroy MRSA biofilms presents an innovative alternative mechanism. Results Twenty-five MRSA biofilm producers were used as substrates to isolate MRSA-specific phages. Despite the difficulties in obtaining an isolate of this phage, two phages (UPMK_1 and UPMK_2) were isolated. Both phages varied in their ability to produce halos around their plaques, host infectivity, one-step growth curves, and electron microscopy features. Furthermore, both phages demonstrated antagonistic infectivity on planktonic cultures. This was validated in an in vitro static biofilm assay (in microtiter-plates), followed by the visualization of the biofilm architecture in situ via confocal laser scanning microscopy before and after phage infection, and further supported by phages genome analysis. The UPMK_1 genome comprised 152,788 bp coding for 155 putative open reading frames (ORFs), and its genome characteristics were between the Myoviridae and Siphoviridae family, though the morphological features confined it more to the Siphoviridae family. The UPMK_2 has 40,955 bp with 62 putative ORFs; morphologically, it presented the features of the Podoviridae though its genome did not show similarity with any of the S. aureus in the Podoviridae family. Both phages possess lytic enzymes that were associated with a high ability to degrade biofilms as shown in the microtiter plate and CLSM analyses. Conclusions The present work addressed the possibility of using phages as potential biocontrol agents for biofilm-producing MRSA. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12866-019-1484-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khulood Hamid Dakheel
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.,Department of Biology, College of Science, Mustansiriyah University, Palestine Street, PO Box 14022, Baghdad, Iraq
| | - Raha Abdul Rahim
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.,Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
| | - Vasantha Kumari Neela
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
| | - Jameel R Al-Obaidi
- Agro-biotechnology Institute Malaysia (ABI), c/o MARDI Headquarters, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Tan Geok Hun
- Department of Agriculture Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Mohd Noor Mat Isa
- Malaysia Genome Institute (MGI), Jalan Bangi, 43000, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Khatijah Yusoff
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia. .,Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
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Isolation of a T7-Like Lytic Pasteurella Bacteriophage vB_PmuP_PHB01 and Its Potential Use in Therapy against Pasteurella multocida Infections. Viruses 2019; 11:v11010086. [PMID: 30669600 PMCID: PMC6356340 DOI: 10.3390/v11010086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2018] [Revised: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 01/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
A lytic bacteriophage PHB01 specific for Pasteurella multocida type D was isolated from the sewage water collected from a pig farm. This phage had the typical morphology of the family Podoviridae, order Caudovirales, presenting an isometric polyhedral head and a short noncontractile tail. PHB01 was able to infect most of the non-toxigenic P. multocida type D strains tested, but not toxigenic type D strains and those belonging to other capsular types. Phage PHB01, the first lytic phage specific for P. multocida type D sequenced thus far, presents a 37,287-bp double-stranded DNA genome with a 223-bp terminal redundancy. The PHB01 genome showed the highest homology with that of PHB02, a lytic phage specific for P. multocida type A. Phylogenetic analysis showed that PHB01 and PHB02 were composed of a genus that was close to the T7-virus genus. In vivo tests using mouse models showed that the administration of PHB01 was safe to the mice and had a good effect on treating the mice infected with different P. multocida type D strains including virulent strain HN05. These findings suggest that PHB01 has a potential use in therapy against infections caused by P. multocida type D.
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Dams D, Briers Y. Enzybiotics: Enzyme-Based Antibacterials as Therapeutics. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1148:233-253. [PMID: 31482502 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-13-7709-9_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Antibiotics have saved millions of lives. However, the overuse and misuse of antibiotics have contributed to a rapid emergence of antibiotic resistance worldwide. In addition, there is an unprecedented void in the development of new antibiotic classes by the pharmaceutical industry since the first introduction of antibiotics. This antibiotic crisis underscores the urgent and increasing necessity of new, innovative antibiotics. Enzybiotics are such a promising class of antibiotics. They are derived from endolysins, bacteriophage-encoded enzymes that degrade the bacterial cell wall of the infected cell at the end of the lytic replication cycle. Enzybiotics are featured by a rapid and unique mode-of-action, a high specificity to kill pathogens, a low probability for bacterial resistance development and a proteinaceous nature. (Engineered) endolysins have been demonstrated to be effective in a variety of animal models to combat both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and have entered different phases of preclinical and clinical trials. In addition, mycobacteriophage-encoded endolysins have been successfully used to inhibit mycobacteria in vitro. In this chapter we focus on the (pre)clinical progress of enzybiotics as potent therapeutic agent against human pathogenic bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorien Dams
- Laboratory of Applied Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Yves Briers
- Laboratory of Applied Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
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25
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Vázquez R, García E, García P. Phage Lysins for Fighting Bacterial Respiratory Infections: A New Generation of Antimicrobials. Front Immunol 2018; 9:2252. [PMID: 30459750 PMCID: PMC6232686 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.02252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2018] [Accepted: 09/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Lower respiratory tract infections and tuberculosis are responsible for the death of about 4.5 million people each year and are the main causes of mortality in children under 5 years of age. Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common bacterial pathogen associated with severe pneumonia, although other Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria are involved in respiratory infections as well. The ability of these pathogens to persist and produce infection under the appropriate conditions is also associated with their capacity to form biofilms in the respiratory mucous membranes. Adding to the difficulty of treating biofilm-forming bacteria with antibiotics, many of these strains are becoming multidrug resistant, and thus the alternative therapeutics available for combating this kind of infections are rapidly depleting. Given these concerns, it is urgent to consider other unconventional strategies and, in this regard, phage lysins represent an attractive resource to circumvent some of the current issues in infection treatment. When added exogenously, lysins break specific bonds of the peptidoglycan and have potent bactericidal effects against susceptible bacteria. These enzymes possess interesting features, including that they do not trigger an adverse immune response and raise of resistance is very unlikely. Although Gram-negative bacteria had been considered refractory to these compounds, strategies to overcome this drawback have been developed recently. In this review we describe the most relevant in vitro and in vivo results obtained to date with lysins against bacterial respiratory pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Vázquez
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ernesto García
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Madrid, Spain
| | - Pedro García
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Madrid, Spain
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Chen Y, Sun E, Yang L, Song J, Wu B. Therapeutic Application of Bacteriophage PHB02 and Its Putative Depolymerase Against Pasteurella multocida Capsular Type A in Mice. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:1678. [PMID: 30131774 PMCID: PMC6090149 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2018] [Accepted: 07/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Phage PHB02 specifically infects Pasteurella multocida capsular serogroup A strains. In this study, we found that capsule deletion mutants were not lysed by PHB02, suggesting that the capsule of P. multocida serogroup A strains might be the primary receptor. Based on sequence analysis, a gene encoding a phage-associated putative depolymerase was identified. The corresponding recombinant depolymerase demonstrated specific activity against capsular serogroup A strains but did not strip capsule deletion mutants. In vivo experiments showed that PHB02 was retained at detectable levels in the liver, spleen, kidneys, lung, and blood, at 24 h post-administration in mice. Depolymerase plus serum significantly reduced the number of viable wild-type P. multocida strain HB03 cells (3.5–4.5 log decrease in colony-forming units). Moreover, treatment with phage or purified depolymerase resulted in significantly increased survival of mice infected with P. multocida HB03, and an absence of increase of eosinophils and basophils or other pathological changes when compared with the control group. These results show that phage PHB02 and its putative depolymerase represent a novel strategy for controlling P. multocida serogroup A strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yibao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
| | - Erchao Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
| | - Lan Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiaoyang Song
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Bin Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
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27
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Antibacterial Effects of Phage Lysin LysGH15 on Planktonic Cells and Biofilms of Diverse Staphylococci. Appl Environ Microbiol 2018; 84:AEM.00886-18. [PMID: 29776929 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00886-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2018] [Accepted: 05/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Treatment of infections caused by staphylococci has become more difficult because of the emergence of multidrug-resistant strains as well as biofilm formation. In this study, we observed the ability of the phage lysin LysGH15 to eliminate staphylococcal planktonic cells and biofilms formed by Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, and Staphylococcus hominis All these strains were sensitive to LysGH15, showing reductions in bacterial counts of approximately 4 log units within 30 min after treatment with 20 μg/ml of LysGH15, and the MICs ranged from 8 μg/ml to 32 μg/ml. LysGH15 efficiently prevented biofilm formation by the four staphylococcal species at a dose of 50 μg/ml. At a higher dose (100 μg/ml), LysGH15 also showed notable disrupting activity against 24-h and 72-h biofilms formed by S. aureus and coagulase-negative species. In the in vivo experiments, a single intraperitoneal injection of LysGH15 (20 μg/mouse) administered 1 h after the injection of S. epidermidis at double the minimum lethal dose was sufficient to protect the mice. The S. epidermidis cell counts were 4 log units lower in the blood and 3 log units lower in the organs of mice 24 h after treatment with LysGH15 than in the untreated control mice. LysGH15 reduced cytokine levels in the blood and improved pathological changes in the organs. The broad antistaphylococcal activity exerted by LysGH15 on planktonic cells and biofilms makes LysGH15 a valuable treatment option for biofilm-related or non-biofilm-related staphylococcal infections.IMPORTANCE Most staphylococcal species are major causes of health care- and community-associated infections. In particular, Staphylococcus aureus is a common and dangerous pathogen, and Staphylococcus epidermidis is a ubiquitous skin commensal and opportunistic pathogen. Treatment of infections caused by staphylococci has become more difficult because of the emergence of multidrug-resistant strains as well as biofilm formation. In this study, we found that all tested S. aureus, S. epidermidis, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, and Staphylococcus hominis strains were sensitive to the phage lysin LysGH15 (MICs ranging from 8 to 32 μg/ml). More importantly, LysGH15 not only prevented biofilm formation by these staphylococci but also disrupted 24-h and 72-h biofilms. Furthermore, the in vivo efficacy of LysGH15 was demonstrated in a mouse model of S. epidermidis bacteremia. Thus, LysGH15 exhibits therapeutic potential for treating biofilm-related or non-biofilm-related infections caused by diverse staphylococci.
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28
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A Phage Lysin Fused to a Cell-Penetrating Peptide Kills Intracellular Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Keratinocytes and Has Potential as a Treatment for Skin Infections in Mice. Appl Environ Microbiol 2018; 84:AEM.00380-18. [PMID: 29625989 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00380-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2018] [Accepted: 04/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is the main pathogen that causes skin and skin structure infections and is able to survive and persist in keratinocytes of the epidermis. Since the evolution of multidrug-resistant bacteria, the use of phages and their lysins has presented a promising alternative approach to treatment. In this study, a cell wall hydrolase (also called lysin) derived from Staphylococcus phage JD007 (JDlys) was identified. JDlys showed strong lytic activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains from different sources and of different multilocus sequence typing (MLST) types. Furthermore, a fusion protein consisting of a cell-penetrating peptide derived from the trans-activating transcription (Tat) factor fused to JDlys (CPPTat-JDlys) was used to kill MRSA bacteria causing intracellular infections. CPPTat-JDlys, in which the fusion of CPPTat to JDlys had almost no effect on the bacteriolytic activity of JDlys, was able to effectively eliminate intracellular MRSA bacteria and alleviate the inflammatory response and cell damage caused by MRSA. Specifically, CPPTat-JDlys was able to combat MRSA-induced murine skin infections and, consequently, expedite the healing of cutaneous abscesses. These data suggest that the novel antimicrobial CPP-JDlys may be a worthwhile candidate as a treatment for skin and skin structure infections caused by MRSA.IMPORTANCES. aureus is the main cause of skin and skin structure infections due to its ability to invade and survive in the epithelial barrier. Due to the overuse of antibiotics in humans and animals, S. aureus has shown a high capacity for acquiring and accumulating mechanisms of resistance to antibiotics. Moreover, most antibiotics are usually limited in their ability to overcome the intracellular persistence of bacteria causing skin and skin structure infections. So, it is critical to seek a novel antimicrobial agent to eradicate intracellular S. aureus In this study, a cell-penetrating peptide fused to lysin (CPP-JDlys) was engineered. Our results show that CPP-JDlys can enter keratinocytes and effectively eliminate intracellular MRSA. Meanwhile, experiments with mice revealed that CPP-JDlys efficiently inhibits the proliferation of MRSA in murine skin and thus shortens the course of wound healing. Our results indicate that the CPP-fused lysin has potential for use for the treatment of skin infections caused by MRSA.
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Phage-Derived Peptidoglycan Degrading Enzymes: Challenges and Future Prospects for In Vivo Therapy. Viruses 2018; 10:v10060292. [PMID: 29844287 PMCID: PMC6024856 DOI: 10.3390/v10060292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2018] [Revised: 05/23/2018] [Accepted: 05/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Peptidoglycan degrading enzymes are of increasing interest as antibacterial agents, especially against multi-drug resistant pathogens. Herein we present a review about the biological features of virion-associated lysins and endolysins, phage-derived enzymes that have naturally evolved to compromise the bacterial peptidoglycan from without and from within, respectively. These natural features may determine the adaptability of the enzymes to kill bacteria in different environments. Endolysins are by far the most studied group of peptidoglycan-degrading enzymes, with several studies showing that they can exhibit potent antibacterial activity under specific conditions. However, the lytic activity of most endolysins seems to be significantly reduced when tested against actively growing bacteria, something that may be related to fact that these enzymes are naturally designed to degrade the peptidoglycan from within dead cells. This may negatively impact the efficacy of the endolysin in treating some infections in vivo. Here, we present a critical view of the methods commonly used to evaluate in vitro and in vivo the antibacterial performance of PG-degrading enzymes, focusing on the major hurdles concerning in vitro-to-in vivo translation.
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30
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An Ointment Consisting of the Phage Lysin LysGH15 and Apigenin for Decolonization of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus from Skin Wounds. Viruses 2018; 10:v10050244. [PMID: 29734776 PMCID: PMC5977237 DOI: 10.3390/v10050244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2018] [Revised: 05/03/2018] [Accepted: 05/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a common and dangerous pathogen that causes various infectious diseases. Skin damage, such as burn wounds, are at high risk of Staphylococcus aureus colonization and infection, which increases morbidity and mortality. The phage lysin LysGH15 exhibits highly efficient lytic activity against methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) strains. Apigenin (api) significantly decreases haemolysis of rabbit erythrocytes caused by S. aureus and shows anti-inflammatory function. LysGH15 and api were added to Aquaphor to form an LysGH15-api-Aquaphor (LAA) ointment. The LAA ointment simultaneously exhibited bactericidal activity against S. aureus and inhibited haemolysis. In an LAA-treated mouse model of an MRSA-infected skin wound, the mean bacterial colony count decreased to approximately 102 CFU/mg at 18 h after treatment (and the bacteria became undetectable at 96 h), whereas the mean count in untreated mice was approximately 105 CFU/mg of tissue. The LAA ointment also reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IFN-γ) and accelerated wound healing in the mouse model. These data demonstrate the potential efficacy of a combination of LysGH15 and api for use as a topical antimicrobial agent against S. aureus.
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31
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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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Casey E, van Sinderen D, Mahony J. In Vitro Characteristics of Phages to Guide 'Real Life' Phage Therapy Suitability. Viruses 2018; 10:v10040163. [PMID: 29601536 PMCID: PMC5923457 DOI: 10.3390/v10040163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2018] [Revised: 03/27/2018] [Accepted: 03/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The increasing problem of antibiotic-resistant pathogens has put enormous pressure on healthcare providers to reduce the application of antibiotics and to identify alternative therapies. Phages represent such an alternative with significant application potential, either on their own or in combination with antibiotics to enhance the effectiveness of traditional therapies. However, while phage therapy may offer exciting therapeutic opportunities, its evaluation for safe and appropriate use in humans needs to be guided initially by reliable and appropriate assessment techniques at the laboratory level. Here, we review the process of phage isolation and the application of individual pathogens or reference collections for the development of specific or "off-the-shelf" preparations. Furthermore, we evaluate current characterization approaches to assess the in vitro therapeutic potential of a phage including its spectrum of activity, genome characteristics, storage and administration requirements and effectiveness against biofilms. Lytic characteristics and the ability to overcome anti-phage systems are also covered. These attributes direct phage selection for their ultimate application as antimicrobial agents. We also discuss current pitfalls in this research area and propose that priority should be given to unify current phage characterization approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eoghan Casey
- School of Microbiology and APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, T12 YT20 Cork, Ireland.
| | - Douwe van Sinderen
- School of Microbiology and APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, T12 YT20 Cork, Ireland.
| | - Jennifer Mahony
- School of Microbiology and APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, T12 YT20 Cork, Ireland.
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Abstract
Treatment of Staphylococcus aureus infections remains very difficult due to its capacity to survive intracellularly and its multidrug resistance. In this study, the extracellular/intracellular activities of plectasin derivatives-MP1102/NZ2114 were investigated against three methicillin-susceptible/-resistant S. aureus (MSSA/MRSA) strains in RAW 264.7 macrophages and mice to overcome poor intracellular activity. Antibacterial activities decreased 4–16-fold under a mimic phagolysosomal environment. MP1102/NZ2114 were internalized into the cells via clathrin-mediated endocytosis and macropinocytosis and distributed in the cytoplasm; they regulated tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β and interleukin-10 levels. The extracellular maximal relative efficacy (Emax) values of MP1102/NZ2114 towards the three S. aureus strains were >5-log decrease in colony forming units (CFU). In the methicillin-resistant and virulent strains, MP1102/NZ2114 exhibited intracellular bacteriostatic efficacy with an Emax of 0.42–1.07-log CFU reduction. In the MSSA ATCC25923 mouse peritonitis model, 5 mg/kg MP1102/NZ2114 significantly reduced the bacterial load at 24 h, which was superior to vancomycin. In MRSA ATCC43300, their activity was similar to that of vancomycin. The high virulent CVCC546 strain displayed a relatively lower efficiency, with log CFU decreases of 2.88–2.91 (total), 3.41–3.50 (extracellular) and 2.11–2.51 (intracellular) compared with vancomycin (3.70). This suggests that MP1102/NZ2114 can be used as candidates for treating intracellular S. aureus.
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Maciejewska B, Olszak T, Drulis-Kawa Z. Applications of bacteriophages versus phage enzymes to combat and cure bacterial infections: an ambitious and also a realistic application? Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2018; 102:2563-2581. [PMID: 29442169 PMCID: PMC5847195 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-018-8811-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2017] [Revised: 01/22/2018] [Accepted: 01/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that infect bacteria. The "predator-prey" interactions are recognized as a potentially effective way to treat infections. Phages, as well as phage-derived proteins, especially enzymes, are intensively studied to become future alternative or supportive antibacterials used alone or in combination with standard antibiotic regimens treatment. There are many publications presenting phage therapy aspects, and some papers focused separately on the application of phage-derived enzymes. In this review, we discuss advantages and limitations of both agents concerning their specificity, mode of action, structural issues, resistance development, pharmacokinetics, product preparation, and interactions with the immune system. Finally, we describe the current regulations for phage-based product application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Maciejewska
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Institute of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Wroclaw, S. Przybyszewskiego 63/77, 51-148, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Tomasz Olszak
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Institute of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Wroclaw, S. Przybyszewskiego 63/77, 51-148, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Zuzanna Drulis-Kawa
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Institute of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Wroclaw, S. Przybyszewskiego 63/77, 51-148, Wroclaw, Poland.
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Fujiki J, Nakamura T, Furusawa T, Ohno H, Takahashi H, Kitana J, Usui M, Higuchi H, Tanji Y, Tamura Y, Iwano H. Characterization of the Lytic Capability of a LysK-Like Endolysin, Lys-phiSA012, Derived from a Polyvalent Staphylococcus aureus Bacteriophage. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2018; 11:ph11010025. [PMID: 29495305 PMCID: PMC5874721 DOI: 10.3390/ph11010025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2018] [Revised: 02/17/2018] [Accepted: 02/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) have spread widely and rapidly, with their increased occurrence corresponding with the increased use of antibiotics. Infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus have a considerable negative impact on human and livestock health. Bacteriophages and their peptidoglycan hydrolytic enzymes (endolysins) have received significant attention as novel approaches against ARB, including S. aureus. In the present study, we purified an endolysin, Lys-phiSA012, which harbors a cysteine/histidine-dependent amidohydrolase/peptidase (CHAP) domain, an amidase domain, and a SH3b cell wall binding domain, derived from a polyvalent S. aureus bacteriophage which we reported previously. We demonstrate that Lys-phiSA012 exhibits high lytic activity towards staphylococcal strains, including methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Analysis of deletion mutants showed that only mutants possessing the CHAP and SH3b domains could lyse S. aureus, indicating that lytic activity of the CHAP domain depended on the SH3b domain. The presence of at least 1 mM Ca2+ and 100 µM Zn2+ enhanced the lytic activity of Lys-phiSA012 in a turbidity reduction assay. Furthermore, a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assay showed that the addition of Lys-phiSA012 decreased the MIC of oxacillin. Our results suggest that endolysins are a promising approach for replacing current antimicrobial agents and may contribute to the proper use of antibiotics, leading to the reduction of ARB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jumpei Fujiki
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University, Ebetsu 069-8501, Japan; (J.F.); tomohiro-tobi-@hotmail.co.jp (T.N.); (T.F.); (H.O.); (H.T.); (J.K.)
| | - Tomohiro Nakamura
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University, Ebetsu 069-8501, Japan; (J.F.); tomohiro-tobi-@hotmail.co.jp (T.N.); (T.F.); (H.O.); (H.T.); (J.K.)
| | - Takaaki Furusawa
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University, Ebetsu 069-8501, Japan; (J.F.); tomohiro-tobi-@hotmail.co.jp (T.N.); (T.F.); (H.O.); (H.T.); (J.K.)
| | - Hazuki Ohno
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University, Ebetsu 069-8501, Japan; (J.F.); tomohiro-tobi-@hotmail.co.jp (T.N.); (T.F.); (H.O.); (H.T.); (J.K.)
| | - Hiromichi Takahashi
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University, Ebetsu 069-8501, Japan; (J.F.); tomohiro-tobi-@hotmail.co.jp (T.N.); (T.F.); (H.O.); (H.T.); (J.K.)
| | - Junya Kitana
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University, Ebetsu 069-8501, Japan; (J.F.); tomohiro-tobi-@hotmail.co.jp (T.N.); (T.F.); (H.O.); (H.T.); (J.K.)
| | - Masaru Usui
- Laboratory of Food Microbiology and Food Safety, School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University, Ebetsu 069-8501, Japan; (M.U.); (Y.T.)
| | - Hidetoshi Higuchi
- Laboratory of Veterinary Hygiene, School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University, Ebetsu 069-8501, Japan;
| | - Yasunori Tanji
- Department of Bioengineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama 226-8502, Japan;
| | - Yutaka Tamura
- Laboratory of Food Microbiology and Food Safety, School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University, Ebetsu 069-8501, Japan; (M.U.); (Y.T.)
- Center for Veterinary Drug Development, Rakuno Gakuen University, Ebetsu 069-8501, Japan
| | - Hidetomo Iwano
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University, Ebetsu 069-8501, Japan; (J.F.); tomohiro-tobi-@hotmail.co.jp (T.N.); (T.F.); (H.O.); (H.T.); (J.K.)
- Correspondence: ; Fax: +81-11-388-4885
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Gu J, Xi H, Cheng M, Han W. Phage-derived lysins as therapeutic agents against multidrug-resistant Enterococcus faecalis. Future Microbiol 2018; 13:275-278. [PMID: 29441802 DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2017-0235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jingmin Gu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, PR China
| | - Hengyu Xi
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, PR China
| | - Mengjun Cheng
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, PR China
| | - Wenyu Han
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, PR China.,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for the Prevention & Control of important Animal Infectious Disease & Zoonoses, Yangzhou 225009, PR China
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Sharma U, Vipra A, Channabasappa S. Phage-derived lysins as potential agents for eradicating biofilms and persisters. Drug Discov Today 2018; 23:848-856. [PMID: 29326076 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2018.01.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2017] [Revised: 11/17/2017] [Accepted: 01/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial biofilms are highly resistant to the action of antibiotics. Presence of persisters, phenotypically resistant populations of bacterial cells, is thought to contribute toward recalcitrance of biofilms. The phage-derived lysins, by virtue of their ability to cleave the peptidoglycan of bacterial cells in an enzymatic manner, have the unique ability to kill dormant cells. Several lysins have shown potent antibiofilm activity in vitro. The fact that lysins have shown better efficacy than conventional drugs in animal models of endocarditis and other infections involving biofilms suggests that the lysins can potentially be developed against difficult-to-treat bacterial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umender Sharma
- GangaGen Biotechnologies Pvt. Ltd., No 12, 5th cross, Raghavendra Layout, Tumkur Road, Yeshwantpur, Bangalore, 560022, India.
| | - Aradhana Vipra
- GangaGen Biotechnologies Pvt. Ltd., No 12, 5th cross, Raghavendra Layout, Tumkur Road, Yeshwantpur, Bangalore, 560022, India
| | - Shankaramurthy Channabasappa
- GangaGen Biotechnologies Pvt. Ltd., No 12, 5th cross, Raghavendra Layout, Tumkur Road, Yeshwantpur, Bangalore, 560022, India
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38
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Haddad Kashani H, Schmelcher M, Sabzalipoor H, Seyed Hosseini E, Moniri R. Recombinant Endolysins as Potential Therapeutics against Antibiotic-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus: Current Status of Research and Novel Delivery Strategies. Clin Microbiol Rev 2018; 31:e00071-17. [PMID: 29187396 PMCID: PMC5740972 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00071-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most common pathogens of humans and animals, where it frequently colonizes skin and mucosal membranes. It is of major clinical importance as a nosocomial pathogen and causative agent of a wide array of diseases. Multidrug-resistant strains have become increasingly prevalent and represent a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. For this reason, novel strategies to combat multidrug-resistant pathogens are urgently needed. Bacteriophage-derived enzymes, so-called endolysins, and other peptidoglycan hydrolases with the ability to disrupt cell walls represent possible alternatives to conventional antibiotics. These lytic enzymes confer a high degree of host specificity and could potentially replace or be utilized in combination with antibiotics, with the aim to specifically treat infections caused by Gram-positive drug-resistant bacterial pathogens such as methicillin-resistant S. aureus. LysK is one of the best-characterized endolysins with activity against multiple staphylococcal species. Various approaches to further enhance the antibacterial efficacy and applicability of endolysins have been demonstrated. These approaches include the construction of recombinant endolysin derivatives and the development of novel delivery strategies for various applications, such as the production of endolysins in lactic acid bacteria and their conjugation to nanoparticles. These novel strategies are a major focus of this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamed Haddad Kashani
- Anatomical Sciences Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Mathias Schmelcher
- Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Hamed Sabzalipoor
- Department of Nanobiotechnology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Elahe Seyed Hosseini
- Anatomical Sciences Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Rezvan Moniri
- Anatomical Sciences Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
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39
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Cheng M, Zhang Y, Li X, Liang J, Hu L, Gong P, Zhang L, Cai R, Zhang H, Ge J, Ji Y, Guo Z, Feng X, Sun C, Yang Y, Lei L, Han W, Gu J. Endolysin LysEF-P10 shows potential as an alternative treatment strategy for multidrug-resistant Enterococcus faecalis infections. Sci Rep 2017; 7:10164. [PMID: 28860505 PMCID: PMC5579260 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-10755-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2017] [Accepted: 08/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Phage-derived lysins can hydrolyse bacterial cell walls and show great potential for combating Gram-positive pathogens. In this study, the potential of LysEF-P10, a new lysin derived from a isolated Enterococcus faecalis phage EF-P10, as an alternative treatment for multidrug-resistant E. faecalis infections, was studied. LysEF-P10 shares only 61% amino acid identity with its closest homologues. Four proteins were expressed: LysEF-P10, the cysteine, histidine-dependent amidohydrolase/peptidase (CHAP) domain (LysEF-P10C), the putative binding domain (LysEF-P10B), and a fusion recombination protein (LysEF-P10B-green fluorescent protein). Only LysEF-P10 showed highly efficient, broad-spectrum bactericidal activity against E. faecalis. Several key functional residues, including the Cys-His-Asn triplet and the calcium-binding site, were confirmed using 3D structure prediction, BLAST and mutation analys. We also found that calcium can switch LysEF-P10 between its active and inactive states and that LysEF-P10B is responsible for binding E. faecalis cells. A single administration of LysEF-P10 (5 μg) was sufficient to protect mice against lethal vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis (VREF) infection, and LysEF-P10-specific antibody did not affect its bactericidal activity or treatment effect. Moreover, LysEF-P10 reduced the number of Enterococcus colonies and alleviated the gut microbiota imbalance caused by VREF. These results indicate that LysEF-P10 might be an alternative treatment for multidrug-resistant E. faecalis infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengjun Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, P.R. China
| | - Yufeng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, P.R. China
| | - Xinwei Li
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, P.R. China
| | - Jiaming Liang
- College of Clinical Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, P.R. China
| | - Liyuan Hu
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, P.R. China
| | - Pengjuan Gong
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, P.R. China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, P.R. China
| | - Ruopeng Cai
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, P.R. China
| | - Hao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, P.R. China
| | - Jinli Ge
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, P.R. China
| | - Yalu Ji
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, P.R. China
| | - Zhimin Guo
- First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, P.R. China
| | - Xin Feng
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, P.R. China
| | - Changjiang Sun
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, P.R. China
| | - Yongjun Yang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, P.R. China
| | - Liancheng Lei
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, P.R. China
| | - Wenyu Han
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, P.R. China. .,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of important Animal Infectious Disease and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, 225009, P.R. China.
| | - Jingmin Gu
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, P.R. China.
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40
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Sharma U, Paul VD. Bacteriophage lysins as antibacterials. CRITICAL CARE : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE CRITICAL CARE FORUM 2017; 21:99. [PMID: 28468638 PMCID: PMC5415796 DOI: 10.1186/s13054-017-1681-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Umender Sharma
- GangaGen Biotechnologies Pvt Ltd, Yeshwantpur, Bangalore, India.
| | - Vivek D Paul
- GangaGen Biotechnologies Pvt Ltd, Yeshwantpur, Bangalore, India
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41
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Bacteriophages and Their Immunological Applications against Infectious Threats. J Immunol Res 2017; 2017:3780697. [PMID: 28484722 PMCID: PMC5412166 DOI: 10.1155/2017/3780697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2016] [Accepted: 03/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophage therapy dates back almost a century, but the discovery of antibiotics led to a rapid decline in the interests and investments within this field of research. Recently, the novel threat of multidrug-resistant bacteria highlighted the alarming drop in research and development of new antibiotics: 16 molecules were discovered during 1983–87, 10 new therapeutics during the nineties, and only 5 between 2003 and 2007. Phages are therefore being reconsidered as alternative therapeutics. Phage display technique has proved to be extremely promising for the identification of effective antibodies directed against pathogens, as well as for vaccine development. At the same time, conventional phage therapy uses lytic bacteriophages for treatment of infections and recent clinical trials have shown great potential. Moreover, several other approaches have been developed in vitro and in vivo using phage-derived proteins as antibacterial agents. Finally, their use has also been widely considered for public health surveillance, as biosensor phages can be used to detect food and water contaminations and prevent bacterial epidemics. These novel approaches strongly promote the idea that phages and their proteins can be exploited as an effective weapon in the near future, especially in a world which is on the brink of a “postantibiotic era.”
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Nair S, Desai S, Poonacha N, Vipra A, Sharma U. Antibiofilm Activity and Synergistic Inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus Biofilms by Bactericidal Protein P128 in Combination with Antibiotics. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2016; 60:7280-7289. [PMID: 27671070 PMCID: PMC5119008 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01118-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2016] [Accepted: 09/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
P128 is an antistaphylococcal protein, comprising a cell wall-degrading enzymatic region and a Staphylococcus-specific binding region, which possesses specific and potent bactericidal activity against sensitive and drug-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus To explore P128's ability to kill S. aureus in a range of environments relevant to clinical infection, we investigated the anti-S. aureus activity of P128 alone and in combination with standard-of-care antibiotics on planktonic and biofilm-embedded cells. P128 was found to have potent antibiofilm activity on preformed S. aureus biofilms as detected by CFU reduction and a colorimetric minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration (MBIC) assay. Scanning electron microscopic images of biofilms formed on the surfaces of microtiter plates and on catheters showed that P128 at low concentrations could destroy the biofilm structure and lyse the cells. When it was tested in combination with antibiotics which are known to be poor inhibitors of S. aureus in biofilms, such as vancomycin, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, linezolid, and daptomycin, P128 showed highly synergistic antibiofilm activity that resulted in much reduced MBIC values for P128 and the individual antibiotics. The synergistic effect was seen for both sensitive and resistant isolates of S. aureus Additionally, in an in vitro mixed-biofilm model mimicking the wound infection environment, P128 was able to prevent biofilm formation by virtue of its anti-Staphylococcus activity. The potent S. aureus biofilm-inhibiting activity of P128 both alone and in combination with antibiotics is an encouraging sign for the development of P128 for treatment of complicated S. aureus infections involving biofilms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandhya Nair
- GangaGen Biotechnologies Pvt. Ltd., Yeshwantpur, Bangalore, India
| | - Srividya Desai
- GangaGen Biotechnologies Pvt. Ltd., Yeshwantpur, Bangalore, India
| | | | - Aradhana Vipra
- GangaGen Biotechnologies Pvt. Ltd., Yeshwantpur, Bangalore, India
| | - Umender Sharma
- GangaGen Biotechnologies Pvt. Ltd., Yeshwantpur, Bangalore, India
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