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Sauve K, Watson A, Oh JT, Swift S, Vila-Farres X, Abdelhady W, Xiong YQ, LeHoux D, Woodnutt G, Bayer AS, Schuch R. The Engineered Lysin CF-370 Is Active Against Antibiotic-Resistant Gram-Negative Pathogens In Vitro and Synergizes With Meropenem in Experimental Pseudomonas aeruginosa Pneumonia. J Infect Dis 2024; 230:309-318. [PMID: 38366561 PMCID: PMC11326841 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiae027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lysins (cell wall hydrolases) targeting gram-negative organisms require engineering to permeabilize the outer membrane and access subjacent peptidoglycan to facilitate killing. In the current study, the potential clinical utility for the engineered lysin CF-370 was examined in vitro and in vivo against gram-negative pathogens important in human infections. METHODS Minimum inhibitory concentration (MICs) and bactericidal activity were determined using standard methods. An in vivo proof-of-concept efficacy study was conducted using a rabbit acute pneumonia model caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. RESULTS CF-370 exhibited potent antimicrobial activity, with MIC50/90 values (in µg/mL) for: P aeruginosa, 1/2; Acinetobacter baumannii, 1/1; Escherichia coli, 0.25/1; Klebsiella pneumoniae, 2/4; Enterobacter cloacae 1/4; and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia 2/8. CF-370 furthermore demonstrated bactericidal activity, activity in serum, a low propensity for resistance, anti-biofilm activity, and synergy with antibiotics. In the pneumonia model, CF-370 alone decreased bacterial densities in lungs, kidneys, and spleen versus vehicle control, and demonstrated significantly increased efficacy when combined with meropenem (vs either agent alone). CONCLUSIONS CF-370 is the first engineered lysin described with potent broad-spectrum in vitro activity against multiple clinically relevant gram-negative pathogens, as well as potent in vivo efficacy in an animal model of severe invasive multisystem infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jun T Oh
- ContraFect Corporation, Yonkers, New York
| | | | | | - Wessam Abdelhady
- The Lundquist Institute, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California
| | - Yan Q Xiong
- The Lundquist Institute, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California
- Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles
| | | | | | - Arnold S Bayer
- The Lundquist Institute, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California
- Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles
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Eghbalpoor F, Gorji M, Alavigeh MZ, Moghadam MT. Genetically engineered phages and engineered phage-derived enzymes to destroy biofilms of antibiotics resistance bacteria. Heliyon 2024; 10:e35666. [PMID: 39170521 PMCID: PMC11336853 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e35666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 07/27/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024] Open
Abstract
"An impregnable stronghold where one or more warrior clans can evade enemy attacks" may serve as a description of bacterial biofilm on a smaller level than human conflicts. Consider this hypothetical conflict: who would emerge victorious? The occupants of secure trenches or those carrying out relentless assault? Either faction has the potential for triumph; the defenders will prevail if they can fortify the trench with unwavering resolve, while the assailants will succeed if they can devise innovative means to breach the trench. Hence, bacterial biofilms pose a significant challenge and are formidable adversaries for medical professionals, often leading to the failure of antibiotic treatments in numerous hospital infections. Phage engineering has become the foundation for the targeted enhancement of various phage properties, facilitating the eradication of biofilms. Researchers across the globe have studied the impact of engineered phages and phage-derived enzymes on biofilms formed by difficult-to-treat bacteria. These novel biological agents have shown promising results in addressing biofilm-related challenges. The compilation of research findings highlights the impressive capabilities of engineered phages in combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria, superbugs, and challenging infections. Specifically, these engineered phages exhibit enhanced biofilm destruction, penetration, and prevention capabilities compared to their natural counterparts. Additionally, the engineered enzymes derived from phages demonstrate improved effectiveness in addressing bacterial biofilms. As a result, these novel solutions, which demonstrate high penetration, destruction, and inhibition of biofilms, can be regarded as a viable option for addressing infectious biofilms in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Eghbalpoor
- Department of Molecular Biology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahdieh Gorji
- Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Zamani Alavigeh
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Vasina DV, Antonova NP, Gushchin VA, Aleshkin AV, Fursov MV, Fursova AD, Gancheva PG, Grigoriev IV, Grinkevich P, Kondratev AV, Kostarnoy AV, Lendel AM, Makarov VV, Nikiforova MA, Pochtovyi AA, Prudnikova T, Remizov TA, Shevlyagina NV, Siniavin AE, Smirnova NS, Terechov AA, Tkachuk AP, Usachev EV, Vorobev AM, Yakimakha VS, Yudin SM, Zackharova AA, Zhukhovitsky VG, Logunov DY, Gintsburg AL. Development of novel antimicrobials with engineered endolysin LysECD7-SMAP to combat Gram-negative bacterial infections. J Biomed Sci 2024; 31:75. [PMID: 39044206 PMCID: PMC11267749 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-024-01065-y] [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: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Among the non-traditional antibacterial agents in development, only a few targets critical Gram-negative bacteria such as carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii or cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. Endolysins and their genetically modified versions meet the World Health Organization criteria for innovation, have a novel mode of antibacterial action, no known bacterial cross-resistance, and are being intensively studied for application against Gram-negative pathogens. METHODS The study presents a multidisciplinary approach, including genetic engineering of LysECD7-SMAP and production of recombinant endolysin, its analysis by crystal structure solution following molecular dynamics simulations and evaluation of antibacterial properties. Two types of antimicrobial dosage forms were formulated, resulting in lyophilized powder for injection and hydroxyethylcellulose gel for topical administration. Their efficacy was estimated in the treatment of sepsis, and pneumonia models in BALB/c mice, diabetes-associated wound infection in the leptin receptor-deficient db/db mice and infected burn wounds in rats. RESULTS In this work, we investigate the application strategies of the engineered endolysin LysECD7-SMAP and its dosage forms evaluated in preclinical studies. The catalytic domain of the enzyme shares the conserved structure of endopeptidases containing a putative antimicrobial peptide at the C-terminus of polypeptide chain. The activity of endolysins has been demonstrated against a range of pathogens, such as Klebsiella pneumoniae, A. baumannii, P. aeruginosa, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Achromobacter spp, Burkholderia cepacia complex and Haemophylus influenzae, including those with multidrug resistance. The efficacy of candidate dosage forms has been confirmed in in vivo studies. Some aspects of the interaction of LysECD7-SMAP with cell wall molecular targets are also discussed. CONCLUSIONS Our studies demonstrate the potential of LysECD7-SMAP therapeutics for the systemic or topical treatment of infectious diseases caused by susceptible Gram-negative bacterial species and are critical to proceed LysECD7-SMAP-based antimicrobials trials to advanced stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daria V Vasina
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Nataliia P Antonova
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladimir A Gushchin
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
- Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Andrey V Aleshkin
- G.N. Gabrichevsky Moscow Research Institute for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Mikhail V Fursov
- State Research Center for Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, Obolensk, Russia
| | - Anastasiia D Fursova
- State Research Center for Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, Obolensk, Russia
| | - Petya G Gancheva
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Igor V Grigoriev
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Pavel Grinkevich
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Alexey V Kondratev
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexey V Kostarnoy
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Anastasiya M Lendel
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
- Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Valentine V Makarov
- Centre for Strategic Planning and Management of Biomedical Health Risks of the Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russia
| | - Maria A Nikiforova
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Andrei A Pochtovyi
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
- Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Tatiana Prudnikova
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Timofey A Remizov
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Natalia V Shevlyagina
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Andrei E Siniavin
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Nina S Smirnova
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander A Terechov
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Artem P Tkachuk
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Evgeny V Usachev
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Aleksei M Vorobev
- G.N. Gabrichevsky Moscow Research Institute for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Victoria S Yakimakha
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Sergey M Yudin
- Centre for Strategic Planning and Management of Biomedical Health Risks of the Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russia
| | - Anastasia A Zackharova
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladimir G Zhukhovitsky
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Centre 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
| | - Denis Y Logunov
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander L Gintsburg
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
- Department of Infectiology and Virology, Federal State Autonomous Educational Institution of Higher Education I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia
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Pal N, Sharma P, Kumawat M, Singh S, Verma V, Tiwari RR, Sarma DK, Nagpal R, Kumar M. Phage therapy: an alternative treatment modality for MDR bacterial infections. Infect Dis (Lond) 2024:1-33. [PMID: 39017931 DOI: 10.1080/23744235.2024.2379492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024] Open
Abstract
The increasing global incidence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections threatens public health and compromises various aspects of modern medicine. Recognising the urgency of this issue, the World Health Organisation has prioritised the development of novel antimicrobials to combat ESKAPEE pathogens. Comprising Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter spp. and Escherichia coli, such pathogens represent a spectrum of high to critical drug resistance, accounting for a significant proportion of hospital-acquired infections worldwide. In response to the waning efficacy of antibiotics against these resilient pathogens, phage therapy (PT) has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy. This review provides a comprehensive summary of clinical research on PT and explores the translational journey of phages from laboratory settings to clinical applications. It examines recent advancements in pre-clinical and clinical developments, highlighting the potential of phages and their proteins, alone or in combination with antibiotics. Furthermore, this review underlines the importance of establishing safe and approved routes of phage administration to patients. In conclusion, the evolving landscape of phage therapy offers a beacon of hope in the fight against MDR bacterial infections, emphasising the imperative for continued research, innovation and regulatory diligence to realise its full potential in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Namrata Pal
- Department of Microbiology, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Environmental Health, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
- Department of Microbiology, Barkatullah University, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Poonam Sharma
- Department of Microbiology, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Environmental Health, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Manoj Kumawat
- Department of Microbiology, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Environmental Health, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Samradhi Singh
- Department of Microbiology, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Environmental Health, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Vinod Verma
- Stem Cell Research Centre, Department of Hematology, Sanjay Gandhi Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Rajnarayan R Tiwari
- Department of Microbiology, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Environmental Health, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Devojit Kumar Sarma
- Department of Microbiology, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Environmental Health, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Ravinder Nagpal
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, College of Health and Human Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
| | - Manoj Kumar
- Department of Microbiology, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Environmental Health, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
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5
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Pedersen EC, Lerche CJ, Schwartz FA, Ciofu O, Azeredo J, Thomsen K, Moser C. Bacteriophage therapy and infective endocarditis - is it realistic? APMIS 2024. [PMID: 39007242 DOI: 10.1111/apm.13455] [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: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Infective endocarditis (IE) is a severe infection of the inner heart. Even with current standard treatment, the mean in-hospital mortality is as high as 15-20%, and 1-year mortality is up to 40% for left-sided IE. Importantly, IE mortality rates have not changed substantially over the past 30 years, and the incidence of IE is rising. The treatment is challenging due to the bacterial biofilm mode of growth inside the heart valve vegetations, resulting in antibiotic tolerance. Achieving sufficient antibiotic anti-biofilm concentrations in the biofilms of the heart valve vegetations is problematic, even with high-dose and long-term antibiotic therapy. The increasing prevalence of IE caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria adds to the challenge. Therefore, adjunctive antibiotic-potentiating drug candidates and strategies are increasingly being investigated. Bacteriophage therapy is a reemerging antibacterial treatment strategy for difficult-to-treat infections, mainly biofilm-associated and caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria. However, significant knowledge gaps regarding the safety and efficacy of phage therapy impede more widespread implementation in clinical practice. Hopefully, future preclinical and clinical testing will reveal whether it is a viable treatment. The objective of the present review is to assess whether bacteriophage therapy is a realistic treatment for IE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie C Pedersen
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christian Johann Lerche
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department for Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Oana Ciofu
- Department for Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- European Society for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Study Group for Biofilms (ESGB), Basel, Switzerland
| | - Joana Azeredo
- European Society for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Study Group for Biofilms (ESGB), Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Kim Thomsen
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Zealand University Hospital, Slagelse, Denmark
| | - Claus Moser
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department for Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- European Society for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Study Group for Biofilms (ESGB), Basel, Switzerland
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6
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Rajangam SL, Narasimhan MK. Current treatment strategies for targeting virulence factors and biofilm formation in Acinetobacter baumannii. Future Microbiol 2024; 19:941-961. [PMID: 38683166 PMCID: PMC11290764 DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2023-0263] [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: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
A higher prevalence of Acinetobacter baumannii infections and mortality rate has been reported recently in hospital-acquired infections (HAI). The biofilm-forming capability of A. baumannii makes it an extremely dangerous pathogen, especially in device-associated hospital-acquired infections (DA-HAI), thereby it resists the penetration of antibiotics. Further, the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus was exacerbated in DA-HAI during the epidemic. This review specifically examines the complex interconnections between several components and genes that play a role in the biofilm formation and the development of infections. The current review provides insights into innovative treatments and therapeutic approaches to combat A. baumannii biofilm-related infections, thereby ultimately improving patient outcomes and reducing the burden of HAI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seetha Lakshmi Rajangam
- Department of Genetic Engineering, School of Bioengineering, College of Engineering & Technology, SRM Institute of Science & Technology, Kattankulathur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 603203, India
| | - Manoj Kumar Narasimhan
- Department of Genetic Engineering, School of Bioengineering, College of Engineering & Technology, SRM Institute of Science & Technology, Kattankulathur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 603203, India
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7
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Choi SJ, Kim ES. Optimizing Treatment for Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Complex Infections: A Review of Current Evidence. Infect Chemother 2024; 56:171-187. [PMID: 38960737 PMCID: PMC11224036 DOI: 10.3947/ic.2024.0055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii complex (CRAB) poses a significant global health challenge owing to its resistance to multiple antibiotics and limited treatment options. Polymyxin-based therapies have been widely used to treat CRAB infections; however, they are associated with high mortality rates and common adverse events such as nephrotoxicity. Recent developments include numerous observational studies and randomized clinical trials investigating antibiotic combinations, repurposing existing antibiotics, and the development of novel agents. Consequently, recommendations for treating CRAB are undergoing significant changes. The importance of colistin is decreasing, and the role of sulbactam, which exhibits direct antibacterial activity against A. baumannii complex, is being reassessed. High-dose ampicillin-sulbactam-based combination therapies, as well as combinations of sulbactam and durlobactam, which prevent the hydrolysis of sulbactam and binds to penicillin-binding protein 2, have shown promising results. This review introduces recent advancements in CRAB infection treatment based on clinical trial data, highlighting the need for optimized treatment protocols and comprehensive clinical trials to combat the evolving threat of CRAB effectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seong Jin Choi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Eu Suk Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea.
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8
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Khan FM, Rasheed F, Yang Y, Liu B, Zhang R. Endolysins: a new antimicrobial agent against antimicrobial resistance. Strategies and opportunities in overcoming the challenges of endolysins against Gram-negative bacteria. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1385261. [PMID: 38831886 PMCID: PMC11144922 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1385261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are rapidly emerging, and the increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii poses a severe threat to humans and healthcare organizations, due to the lack of innovative antibacterial drugs. Endolysins, which are peptidoglycan hydrolases encoded by a bacteriophage, are a promising new family of antimicrobials. Endolysins have been demonstrated as an effective therapeutic agent against bacterial infections of A. baumannii and many other Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Endolysin research has progressed from basic in vitro characterization to sophisticated protein engineering methodologies, including advanced preclinical and clinical testing. Endolysin are therapeutic agent that shows antimicrobial properties against bacterial infections caused by drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, there are still barriers to their implementation in clinical settings, such as safety concerns with outer membrane permeabilizers (OMP) use, low efficiency against stationary phase bacteria, and stability issues. The application of protein engineering and formulation techniques to improve enzyme stability, as well as combination therapy with other types of antibacterial drugs to optimize their medicinal value, have been reviewed as well. In this review, we summarize the clinical development of endolysin and its challenges and approaches for bringing endolysin therapies to the clinic. This review also discusses the different applications of endolysins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fazal Mehmood Khan
- College of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Fazal Rasheed
- Institute of Microscale Optoelectronics, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yunlan Yang
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Bin Liu
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Rui Zhang
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Zhuhai, China
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9
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Lu H, Ni SQ. Review on sterilization techniques, and the application potential of phage lyase and lyase immobilization in fighting drug-resistant bacteria. J Mater Chem B 2024; 12:3317-3335. [PMID: 38380677 DOI: 10.1039/d3tb02366d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Many human health problems and property losses caused by pathogenic contamination cannot be underestimated. Bactericidal techniques have been extensively studied to address this issue of public health and economy. Bacterial resistance develops as a result of the extensive use of single or multiple but persistent usage of sterilizing drugs, and the emergence of super-resistant bacteria brings new challenges. Therefore, it is crucial to control pathogen contamination by applying innovative and effective sterilization techniques. As organisms that exist in nature and can specifically kill bacteria, phages have become the focus as an alternative to antibacterial agents. Furthermore, phage-encoded lyases are proteins that play important roles in phage sterilization. The in vitro sterilization of phage lyase has been developed as a novel biosterilization technique to reduce bacterial resistance and is more environmentally friendly than conventional sterilization treatments. For the shortcomings of enzyme applications, this review discusses the enzyme immobilization methods and the application potential of immobilized lyases for sterilization. Although some techniques provide effective solutions, immobilized lyase sterilization technology has been proven to be a more effective innovation for efficient pathogen killing and reducing bacterial resistance. We hope that this review can provide new insights for the development of sterilization techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Lu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China.
| | - Shou-Qing Ni
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China.
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10
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Zheng T, Zhang C. Engineering strategies and challenges of endolysin as an antibacterial agent against Gram-negative bacteria. Microb Biotechnol 2024; 17:e14465. [PMID: 38593316 PMCID: PMC11003714 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.14465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 03/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophage endolysin is a novel antibacterial agent that has attracted much attention in the prevention and control of drug-resistant bacteria due to its unique mechanism of hydrolysing peptidoglycans. Although endolysin exhibits excellent bactericidal effects on Gram-positive bacteria, the presence of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria makes it difficult to lyse them extracellularly, thus limiting their application field. To enhance the extracellular activity of endolysin and facilitate its crossing through the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, researchers have adopted physical, chemical, and molecular methods. This review summarizes the characterization of endolysin targeting Gram-negative bacteria, strategies for endolysin modification, and the challenges and future of engineering endolysin against Gram-negative bacteria in clinical applications, to promote the application of endolysin in the prevention and control of Gram-negative bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyu Zheng
- Bathurst Future Agri‐Tech InstituteQingdao Agricultural UniversityQingdaoChina
| | - Can Zhang
- College of Veterinary MedicineQingdao Agricultural UniversityQingdaoChina
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11
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Dicks LMT, Vermeulen W. Bacteriophage-Host Interactions and the Therapeutic Potential of Bacteriophages. Viruses 2024; 16:478. [PMID: 38543843 PMCID: PMC10975011 DOI: 10.3390/v16030478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Healthcare faces a major problem with the increased emergence of antimicrobial resistance due to over-prescribing antibiotics. Bacteriophages may provide a solution to the treatment of bacterial infections given their specificity. Enzymes such as endolysins, exolysins, endopeptidases, endosialidases, and depolymerases produced by phages interact with bacterial surfaces, cell wall components, and exopolysaccharides, and may even destroy biofilms. Enzymatic cleavage of the host cell envelope components exposes specific receptors required for phage adhesion. Gram-positive bacteria are susceptible to phage infiltration through their peptidoglycan, cell wall teichoic acid (WTA), lipoteichoic acids (LTAs), and flagella. In Gram-negative bacteria, lipopolysaccharides (LPSs), pili, and capsules serve as targets. Defense mechanisms used by bacteria differ and include physical barriers (e.g., capsules) or endogenous mechanisms such as clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-associated protein (Cas) systems. Phage proteins stimulate immune responses against specific pathogens and improve antibiotic susceptibility. This review discusses the attachment of phages to bacterial cells, the penetration of bacterial cells, the use of phages in the treatment of bacterial infections, and the limitations of phage therapy. The therapeutic potential of phage-derived proteins and the impact that genomically engineered phages may have in the treatment of infections are summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leon M. T. Dicks
- Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa;
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Li P, Shen M, Ma W, Zhou X, Shen J. LysZX4-NCA, a new endolysin with broad-spectrum antibacterial activity for topical treatment. Virus Res 2024; 340:199296. [PMID: 38065302 PMCID: PMC10755502 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2023.199296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/01/2024]
Abstract
The prevalence of multidrug-resistant highly virulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (MDR-hvKP) requires the development of new therapeutic agents. Herein, a novel lytic phage vB_KpnS_ZX4 against MDR-hvKP was discovered in hospital sewage. Phage vB_KpnS_ZX4 had a short latent period (5 min) and a large burst size (230 PFU/cell). It can rapidly reduce the number of bacteria in vitro and improve survival rates of bacteremic mice in vivo from 0 to 80 % with a single injection of 108 PFU. LysZX4, an endolysin derived from vB_KpnS_ZX4, exhibits potent antimicrobial activity in vitro in combination with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). The antimicrobial activity of LysZX4 was further enhanced by the fusion of KWKLFKI residues from cecropin A (LysZX4-NCA). In vitro antibacterial experiments showed that LysZX4-NCA exerts broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against clinical Gram-negative bacteria, including MDR-hvKP. Moreover, in the mouse model of MDR-hvKP skin infection, treatment with LysZX4-NCA resulted in a three-log reduction in bacterial burden on the skin compared to the control group. Therefore, the novel phages vB_KpnS_ZX4 and LysZX4-NCA are effective reagents for the treatment of systemic and local MDR-hvKP infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Comparative Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, PR China
| | - Mangmang Shen
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Comparative Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, PR China
| | - Wenjie Ma
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Comparative Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, PR China
| | - Xin Zhou
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Comparative Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, PR China; Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, PR China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, the Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, PR China.
| | - Jiayin Shen
- The Third People's Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518112, PR China.
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Szadkowska M, Kocot AM, Sowik D, Wyrzykowski D, Jankowska E, Kozlowski LP, Makowska J, Plotka M. Molecular characterization of the PhiKo endolysin from Thermus thermophilus HB27 bacteriophage phiKo and its cryptic lytic peptide RAP-29. Front Microbiol 2024; 14:1303794. [PMID: 38312500 PMCID: PMC10836841 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1303794] [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: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction In the era of increasing bacterial resistance to antibiotics, new bactericidal substances are sought, and lysins derived from extremophilic organisms have the undoubted advantage of being stable under harsh environmental conditions. The PhiKo endolysin is derived from the phiKo bacteriophage infecting Gram-negative extremophilic bacterium Thermus thermophilus HB27. This enzyme shows similarity to two previously investigated thermostable type-2 amidases, the Ts2631 and Ph2119 from Thermus scotoductus bacteriophages, that revealed high lytic activity not only against thermophiles but also against Gram-negative mesophilic bacteria. Therefore, antibacterial potential of the PhiKo endolysin was investigated in the study presented here. Methods Enzyme activity was assessed using turbidity reduction assays (TRAs) and antibacterial tests. Differential scanning calorimetry was applied to evaluate protein stability. The Collection of Anti-Microbial Peptides (CAMP) and Antimicrobial Peptide Calculator and Predictor (APD3) were used to predict regions with antimicrobial potential in the PhiKo primary sequence. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the RAP-29 synthetic peptide was determined against Gram-positive and Gram-negative selected strains, and mechanism of action was investigated with use of membrane potential sensitive fluorescent dye 3,3'-Dipropylthiacarbocyanine iodide (DiSC3(5)). Results and discussion The PhiKo endolysin is highly thermostable with melting temperature of 91.70°C. However, despite its lytic effect against such extremophiles as: T. thermophilus, Thermus flavus, Thermus parvatiensis, Thermus scotoductus, and Deinococcus radiodurans, PhiKo showed moderate antibacterial activity against mesophiles. Consequently, its protein sequence was searched for regions with potential antibacterial activity. A highly positively charged region was identified and synthetized (PhiKo105-133). The novel RAP-29 peptide lysed mesophilic strains of staphylococci and Gram-negative bacteria, reducing the number of cells by 3.7-7.1 log units and reaching the minimum inhibitory concentration values in the range of 2-31 μM. This peptide is unstructured in an aqueous solution but forms an α-helix in the presence of detergents. Moreover, it binds lipoteichoic acid and lipopolysaccharide, and causes depolarization of bacterial membranes. The RAP-29 peptide is a promising candidate for combating bacterial pathogens. The existence of this cryptic peptide testifies to a much wider panel of antimicrobial peptides than thought previously.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Szadkowska
- Laboratory of Extremophiles Biology, Department of Microbiology, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Maria Kocot
- Laboratory of Extremophiles Biology, Department of Microbiology, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Daria Sowik
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Dariusz Wyrzykowski
- Department of General and Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Elzbieta Jankowska
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Lukasz Pawel Kozlowski
- Institute of Informatics, Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Mechanics, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Joanna Makowska
- Department of General and Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Magdalena Plotka
- Laboratory of Extremophiles Biology, Department of Microbiology, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
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Samson R, Dharne M, Khairnar K. Bacteriophages: Status quo and emerging trends toward one health approach. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 908:168461. [PMID: 37967634 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
The alarming rise in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among the drug-resistant pathogens has been attributed to the ESKAPEE group (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumanii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter sp., and Escherichia coli). Recently, these AMR microbes have become difficult to treat, as they have rendered the existing therapeutics ineffective. Thus, there is an urgent need for effective alternatives to lessen or eliminate the current infections and limit the spread of emerging diseases under the "One Health" framework. Bacteriophages (phages) are naturally occurring biological resources with extraordinary potential for biomedical, agriculture/food safety, environmental protection, and energy production. Specific unique properties of phages, such as their bactericidal activity, host specificity, potency, and biocompatibility, make them desirable candidates in therapeutics. The recent biotechnological advancement has broadened the repertoire of phage applications in nanoscience, material science, physical chemistry, and soft-matter research. Herein, we present a comprehensive review, coupling the substantial aspects of phages with their applicability status and emerging opportunities in several interdependent areas under one health concept. Consolidating the recent state-of-the-art studies that integrate human, animal, plant, and environment health, the following points have been highlighted: (i) The biomedical and pharmacological advantages of phages and their antimicrobial derivatives with particular emphasis on in-vivo and clinical studies. (ii) The remarkable potential of phages to be altered, improved, and applied for drug delivery, biosensors, biomedical imaging, tissue engineering, energy, and catalysis. (iii) Resurgence of phages in biocontrol of plant, food, and animal-borne pathogens. (iv) Commercialization of phage-based products, current challenges, and perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Samson
- National Collection of Industrial Microorganisms (NCIM), Biochemical Sciences Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory (NCL), Pune 411008, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201002, India
| | - Mahesh Dharne
- National Collection of Industrial Microorganisms (NCIM), Biochemical Sciences Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory (NCL), Pune 411008, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201002, India.
| | - Krishna Khairnar
- National Collection of Industrial Microorganisms (NCIM), Biochemical Sciences Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory (NCL), Pune 411008, India; Environmental Virology Cell (EVC), CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nehru Marg, Nagpur 440020, India.
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Pourali G, Kazemi D, Chadeganipour AS, Arastonejad M, Kashani SN, Pourali R, Maftooh M, Akbarzade H, Fiuji H, Hassanian SM, Ghayour-Mobarhan M, Ferns GA, Khazaei M, Avan A. Microbiome as a biomarker and therapeutic target in pancreatic cancer. BMC Microbiol 2024; 24:16. [PMID: 38183010 PMCID: PMC10768369 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-023-03166-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Studying the effects of the microbiome on the development of different types of cancer has recently received increasing research attention. In this context, the microbial content of organs of the gastrointestinal tract has been proposed to play a potential role in the development of pancreatic cancer (PC). Proposed mechanisms for the pathogenesis of PC include persistent inflammation caused by microbiota leading to an impairment of antitumor immune surveillance and altered cellular processes in the tumor microenvironment. The limited available diagnostic markers that can currently be used for screening suggest the importance of microbial composition as a non-invasive biomarker that can be used in clinical settings. Samples including saliva, stool, and blood can be analyzed by 16 s rRNA sequencing to determine the relative abundance of specific bacteria. Studies have shown the potentially beneficial effects of prebiotics, probiotics, antibiotics, fecal microbial transplantation, and bacteriophage therapy in altering microbial diversity, and subsequently improving treatment outcomes. In this review, we summarize the potential impact of the microbiome in the pathogenesis of PC, and the role these microorganisms might play as biomarkers in the diagnosis and determining the prognosis of patients. We also discuss novel treatment methods being used to minimize or prevent the progression of dysbiosis by modulating the microbial composition. Emerging evidence is supportive of applying these findings to improve current therapeutic strategies employed in the treatment of PC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghazaleh Pourali
- Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Danial Kazemi
- Student Research Committee, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Hezar Jerib Street, Isfahan, Iran
| | | | - Mahshid Arastonejad
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | | | - Roozbeh Pourali
- Student Research Committee, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Mina Maftooh
- Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Hamed Akbarzade
- Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Hamid Fiuji
- Basic Sciences Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Seyed Mahdi Hassanian
- Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Basic Sciences Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Majid Ghayour-Mobarhan
- Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Gordon A Ferns
- Brighton & Sussex Medical School, Department of Medical Education, Falmer, Brighton, Sussex, BN1 9PH, UK
| | - Majid Khazaei
- Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Basic Sciences Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Amir Avan
- Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
- College of Medicine, University of Warith Al-Anbiyaa, Karbala, Iraq.
- School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, Science and Engineering Faculty, Queensland University of Technology, 2 George St, Brisbane City, QLD, 4000, Australia.
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Soontarach R, Srimanote P, Arechanajan B, Nakkaew A, Voravuthikunchai SP, Chusri S. Characterization of a novel bacteriophage endolysin (LysAB1245) with extended lytic activity against distinct capsular types associated with Acinetobacter baumannii resistance. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0296453. [PMID: 38165983 PMCID: PMC10760713 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Capsular polysaccharides are considered as major virulence factors associated with the ability of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii to cause severe infections. In this study, LysAB1245, a novel bacteriophage-encoded endolysin consisting of a lysozyme-like domain from phage T1245 was successfully expressed, purified, and evaluated for its antibacterial activity against distinct capsular types associated with A. baumannii resistance. The results revealed a broad spectrum activity of LysAB1245 against all clinical MDR A. baumannii isolates belonging to capsular type (KL) 2, 3, 6, 10, 47, 49, and 52 and A. baumannii ATCC 19606. At 2 h following the treatment with 1.7 unit/reaction of LysAB1245, more than 3 log reduction in the numbers of bacterial survival was observed. In addition, LysAB1245 displayed rapid bactericidal activity within 30 min (nearly 3 log CFU/mL of bacterial reduction). Thermostability assay indicated that LysAB1245 was stable over a broad range of temperature from 4 to 70°C, while pH sensitivity assay demonstrated a wide range of pH from 4.5 to 10.5. Furthermore, both minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) of LysAB1245 against all MDR A. baumannii isolates and A. baumannii ATCC 19606 were 4.21 μg/mL (0.1 unit/reaction). Conclusively, these results suggest that LysAB1245 possesses potential application for the treatment of nosocomial MDR A. baumannii infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosesathorn Soontarach
- Faculty of Science, Center of Antimicrobial Biomaterial Innovation-Southeast Asia, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand
| | - Potjanee Srimanote
- Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Graduate in Biomedical Sciences, Thammasat University, Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Buppa Arechanajan
- Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Graduate in Biomedical Sciences, Thammasat University, Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Alisa Nakkaew
- Faculty of Science, Division of Biological Science, Program in Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand
| | | | - Sarunyou Chusri
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand
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Boroujeni MB, Mohebi S, Malekian A, Shahraeini SS, Gharagheizi Z, Shahkolahi S, Sadeghi RV, Naderifar M, Akbarizadeh MR, Soltaninejad S, Moghadam ZT, Moghadam MT, Mirzadeh F. The therapeutic effect of engineered phage, derived protein and enzymes against superbug bacteria. Biotechnol Bioeng 2024; 121:82-99. [PMID: 37881139 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
Defending against antibiotic-resistant infections is similar to fighting a war with limited ammunition. As the new century unfolded, antibiotic resistance became a significant concern. In spite of the fact that phage treatment has been used as an effective means of fighting infections for more than a century, researchers have had to overcome many challenges of superbug bacteria by manipulating phages and producing engineered enzymes. New enzymes and phages with enhanced properties have a significant impact on the ability to fight antibiotic-resistant infections, which is considered a window of hope for the future. This review, therefore, illustrates not only the challenges caused by antibiotic resistance and superbug bacteria but also the engineered enzymes and phages that are being developed to solve these issues. Our study found that engineered phages, phage proteins, and enzymes can be effective in treating superbug bacteria and destroying the biofilm caused by them. Combining these engineered compounds with other antimicrobial substances can increase their effectiveness against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Therefore, engineered phages, proteins, and enzymes can be used as a substitute for antibiotics or in combination with antibiotics to treat patients with superbug infections in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Samane Mohebi
- Department of Bacteriology and Virology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Azam Malekian
- Department of Parasitology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed Sadegh Shahraeini
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Drug Design and Bioinformatics Unit, Biotechnology Research Centre, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Gharagheizi
- Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shaghayegh Shahkolahi
- Department of Microbiology, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Rezvaneh Vahedian Sadeghi
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahin Naderifar
- School of Nursing & Midwifery, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran
| | | | | | - Zahra Taati Moghadam
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
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18
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Bouza E, Muñoz P, Burillo A. How to treat severe Acinetobacter baumannii infections. Curr Opin Infect Dis 2023; 36:596-608. [PMID: 37930071 DOI: 10.1097/qco.0000000000000974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW To update the management of severe Acinetobacter baumannii infections (ABI), particularly those caused by multi-resistant isolates. RECENT FINDINGS The in vitro activity of the various antimicrobial agents potentially helpful in treating ABI is highly variable and has progressively decreased for many of them, limiting current therapeutic options. The combination of more than one drug is still advisable in most circumstances. Ideally, two active first-line drugs should be used. Alternatively, a first-line and a second-line drug and, if this is not possible, two or more second-line drugs in combination. The emergence of new agents such as Cefiderocol, the combination of Sulbactam and Durlobactam, and the new Tetracyclines offer therapeutic options that need to be supported by clinical evidence. SUMMARY The apparent limitations in treating infections caused by this bacterium, the rapid development of resistance, and the serious underlying situation in most cases invite the search for alternatives to antibiotic treatment, the most promising of which seems to be bacteriophage therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilio Bouza
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón
- Medicine Department, School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid
- Gregorio Marañón Health Research Institute
- CIBER of Respiratory Diseases (CIBERES CB06/06/0058), Madrid, Spain
| | - Patricia Muñoz
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón
- Medicine Department, School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid
- Gregorio Marañón Health Research Institute
- CIBER of Respiratory Diseases (CIBERES CB06/06/0058), Madrid, Spain
| | - Almudena Burillo
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón
- Medicine Department, School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid
- Gregorio Marañón Health Research Institute
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Son SM, Kim J, Ryu S. Development of sensitizer peptide-fused endolysin Lys1S-L9P acting against multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1296796. [PMID: 38075915 PMCID: PMC10701683 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1296796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The advent of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria poses a major threat to public health, garnering attention to novel antibiotic replacements. Endolysin, a bacteriophage-derived cell wall-degrading enzyme, is a promising alternative to conventional antibiotics. However, it is challenging to control Gram-negative bacteria due to the presence of the outer membrane that shields the peptidoglycan layer from enzymatic degradation. To overcome this threshold, we constructed the fusion endolysin Lys1S-L9P by combining endolysin LysSPN1S with KL-L9P, a sensitizer peptide known to extend efficacy of antibiotics by perturbing the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. In addition, we established a new endolysin purification procedure that increases solubility allowing a 4-fold increase in production yield of Lys1S-L9P. The sensitizer peptide-fused endolysin Lys1S-L9P exhibited high bactericidal effects against many MDR Gram-negative pathogens and was more effective in eradicating biofilms compared to LysSPN1S. Moreover, Lys1S-L9P showed potential for clinical use, maintaining stability at various storage temperatures without cytotoxicity against human cells. In the in vivo Galleria mellonella model, Lys1S-L9P demonstrated potent antibacterial activity against MDR Gram-negative bacteria without inducing any toxic activity. This study suggest that Lys1S-L9P could be a potential biocontrol agent to combat MDR Gram-negative bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su Min Son
- Department of Food and Animal Biotechnology, Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Center for Food and Bioconvergence, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Joonbeom Kim
- Department of Food and Animal Biotechnology, Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sangryeol Ryu
- Department of Food and Animal Biotechnology, Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Center for Food and Bioconvergence, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Adamczyk-Popławska M, Golec P, Piekarowicz A, Kwiatek A. The potential for bacteriophages and prophage elements in fighting and preventing the gonorrhea. Crit Rev Microbiol 2023:1-16. [PMID: 37897236 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2023.2274849] [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: 04/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023]
Abstract
Bacteriophages are the most numerous entities on earth and are found everywhere their bacterial hosts live. As natural bacteria killers, phages are extensively investigated as a potential cure for bacterial infections. Neisseria gonorrhoeae (the gonococcus) is the etiologic agent of a sexually transmitted disease: gonorrhea. The rapid increase of resistance of N. gonorrhoeae to antibiotics urges scientists to look for alternative treatments to combat gonococcal infections. Phage therapy has not been tested as an anti-gonococcal therapy so far. To date, no lytic phage has been discovered against N. gonorrhoeae. Nevertheless, gonococcal genomes contain both dsDNA and ssDNA prophages, and viral particle induction has been documented. In this review, we consider literature data about the attempts of hunting for a bacteriophage specific for gonococci - the gonophage. We also discuss the potential application of prophage elements in the fight against N. gonorrhoeae. Temperate phages may be useful in preventing and treating gonorrhea as a scaffold for anti-gonococcal vaccine development and as a source of lytic enzymes with anti-gonococcal activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Adamczyk-Popławska
- Department of Molecular Virology, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Microbiology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Piotr Golec
- Department of Molecular Virology, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Microbiology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Andrzej Piekarowicz
- Department of Molecular Virology, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Microbiology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Kwiatek
- Department of Molecular Virology, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Microbiology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
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Hetta HF, Rashed ZI, Ramadan YN, Al-Kadmy IMS, Kassem SM, Ata HS, Nageeb WM. Phage Therapy, a Salvage Treatment for Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria Causing Infective Endocarditis. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2860. [PMID: 37893232 PMCID: PMC10604041 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11102860] [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: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Infective endocarditis (IE) is defined as an infection of the endocardium, or inner surface of the heart, most frequently affecting the heart valves or implanted cardiac devices. Despite its rarity, it has a high rate of morbidity and mortality. IE generally occurs when bacteria, fungi, or other germs from another part of the body, such as the mouth, spread through the bloodstream and attach to damaged areas in the heart. The epidemiology of IE has changed as a consequence of aging and the usage of implantable cardiac devices and heart valves. The right therapeutic routes must be assessed to lower complication and fatality rates, so this requires early clinical suspicion and a fast diagnosis. It is urgently necessary to create new and efficient medicines to combat multidrug-resistant bacterial (MDR) infections because of the increasing threat of antibiotic resistance on a worldwide scale. MDR bacteria that cause IE can be treated using phages rather than antibiotics to combat MDR bacterial strains. This review will illustrate how phage therapy began and how it is considered a powerful potential candidate for the treatment of MDR bacteria that cause IE. Furthermore, it gives a brief about all reported clinical trials that demonstrated the promising effect of phage therapy in combating resistant bacterial strains that cause IE and how it will become a hope in future medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helal F. Hetta
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut 71515, Egypt;
| | - Zainab I. Rashed
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Assiut University, Assiut 71515, Egypt; (Z.I.R.); (Y.N.R.)
| | - Yasmin N. Ramadan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Assiut University, Assiut 71515, Egypt; (Z.I.R.); (Y.N.R.)
| | - Israa M. S. Al-Kadmy
- Branch of Biotechnology, Department of Biology, College of Science, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad P.O. Box 10244, Iraq
| | - Soheir M. Kassem
- Department of Internal Medicine and Critical Care, Faculty of Medicine, Assuit University, Assiut 71515, Egypt;
| | - Hesham S. Ata
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Qassim, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Wedad M. Nageeb
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt;
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22
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Liu B, Guo Q, Li Z, Guo X, Liu X. Bacteriophage Endolysin: A Powerful Weapon to Control Bacterial Biofilms. Protein J 2023; 42:463-476. [PMID: 37490161 DOI: 10.1007/s10930-023-10139-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial biofilms are widespread in the environment, and bacteria in the biofilm are highly resistant to antibiotics and possess host immune defense mechanisms, which can lead to serious clinical and environmental health problems. The increasing problem of bacterial resistance caused by the irrational use of traditional antimicrobial drugs has prompted the search for better and novel antimicrobial substances. In this paper, we review the effects of phage endolysins, modified phage endolysins, and their combination with other substances on bacterial biofilms and provide an outlook on their practical applications. Phage endolysins can specifically and efficiently hydrolyze the cell walls of bacteria, causing bacterial lysis and death. Phage endolysins have shown superior bactericidal effects in vitro and in vivo, and no direct toxicity in humans has been reported to date. The properties of phage endolysins make them promising for the prevention and treatment of bacterial infections. Meanwhile, endolysins have been genetically engineered to exert a stronger scavenging effect on biological membranes when used in combination with antibiotics and drugs. Phage endolysins are powerful weapons for controlling bacterial biofilms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingxin Liu
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qiucui Guo
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zong Li
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Guo
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xinchun Liu
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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23
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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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24
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Son B, Kim Y, Yu B, Kong M. Isolation and Characterization of a Weizmannia coagulans Bacteriophage Youna2 and Its Endolysin PlyYouna2. J Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 33:1050-1056. [PMID: 37218442 PMCID: PMC10468668 DOI: 10.4014/jmb.2303.03021] [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: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Weizmannia coagulans (formerly Bacillus coagulans) is Gram-positive, and spore-forming bacteria causing food spoilage, especially in acidic canned food products. To control W. coagulans, we isolated a bacteriophage Youna2 from a sewage sludge sample. Morphological analysis revealed that phage Youna2 belongs to the Siphoviridae family with a non-contractile and flexible tail. Youna2 has 52,903 bp double-stranded DNA containing 61 open reading frames. There are no lysogeny-related genes, suggesting that Youna2 is a virulent phage. plyYouna2, a putative endolysin gene was identified in the genome of Youna2 and predicted to be composed of a N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine amidase domain (PF01520) at the N-terminus and unknown function DUF5776 domain (PF19087) at the C-terminus. While phage Youna2 has a narrow host range, infecting only certain strains of W. coagulans, PlyYouna2 exhibited a broad antimicrobial spectrum beyond the Bacillus genus. Interestingly, PlyYouna2 can lyse Gram-negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Yersinia enterocolitica, Pseudomonas putida and Cronobacter sakazakii without other additives to destabilize bacterial outer membrane. To the best of our knowledge, Youna2 is the first W. coagulans-infecting phage and we speculate its endolysin PlyYouna2 can provide the basis for the development of a novel biocontrol agent against various foodborne pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bokyung Son
- Department of Food Biotechnology, Dong-A University, Busan 49315, Republic of Korea
| | - Youna Kim
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Seoul 01811, Republic of Korea
| | - Booyoung Yu
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Seoul 01811, Republic of Korea
| | - Minsuk Kong
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Seoul 01811, Republic of Korea
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25
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Sui B, Wang X, Zhao T, Zhen J, Ren H, Liu W, Zhang X, Zhang C. Design, Screening, and Characterization of Engineered Phage Endolysins with Extracellular Antibacterial Activity against Gram-Negative Bacteria. Appl Environ Microbiol 2023; 89:e0058123. [PMID: 37338346 PMCID: PMC10370328 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00581-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Phage-encoded endolysins are emerging antibacterial agents based on their ability to efficiently degrade peptidoglycan on Gram-positive bacteria, but the envelope characteristics of Gram-negative bacteria limit their application. Engineering modifications of endolysins can improve the optimization of their penetrative and antibacterial properties. This study constructed a screening platform to screen for engineered Artificial-Bp7e (Art-Bp7e) endolysins with extracellular antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli. An oligonucleotide of 20 repeated NNK codons was inserted upstream of the endolysin gene Bp7e to construct a chimeric endolysin library in the pColdTF vector. The chimeric Art-Bp7e proteins were expressed by transforming the plasmid library into E. coli BL21 and released by chloroform fumigation, and the protein activities were evaluated by the spotting method and the colony-counting method to screen for promising proteins. Sequence analysis showed that all screened proteins with extracellular activities had a chimeric peptide with a positive charge and an α-helical structure. Also, a representative protein, Art-Bp7e6, was further characterized. It exhibited broad antibacterial activity against E. coli (7/21), Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (4/10), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (3/10), and even Staphylococcus aureus (1/10). In the transmembrane process, the chimeric peptide of Art-Bp7e6 depolarized the host cell envelope, increased the permeability of the cell, and facilitated the movement of Art-Bp7e6 across the envelope to hydrolyze the peptidoglycan. In conclusion, the screening platform successfully screened for chimeric endolysins with extracellular antibacterial activities against Gram-negative bacteria, which provides methodological support for the further screening of engineered endolysins with high extracellular activities against Gram-negative bacteria. Also, the established platform showed broad application prospects and can be used to screen various proteins. IMPORTANCE The presence of the envelope in Gram-negative bacteria limits the use of phage endolysins, and engineering endolysins is an efficient way to optimize their penetrative and antibacterial properties. We built a platform for endolysin engineering and screening. A random peptide was fused with the phage endolysin Bp7e to construct a chimeric endolysin library, and engineered Artificial-Bp7e (Art-Bp7e) endolysins with extracellular activity against Gram-negative bacteria were successfully screened from the library. The purposeful Art-Bp7e had a chimeric peptide with an abundant positive charge and an α-helical structure, which led Bp7e to acquire the ability for the extracellular lysis of Gram-negative bacteria and showed a broad lysis spectrum. The platform provides a huge library capacity without the limitations of reported proteins or peptides. It can be utilized for the further screening of optimal endolysins against Gram-negative bacteria as well as for the screening of additional proteins with specific modifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingrui Sui
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
- School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
| | - Xinrui Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Tianyi Zhao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Jianyu Zhen
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Huiying Ren
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Wenhua Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Xiaoxuan Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Can Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
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26
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Premetis GE, Georgakis ND, Stathi A, Labrou NE. Metaviromics analysis of marine biofilm reveals a glycoside hydrolase endolysin with high specificity towards Acinetobacter baumannii. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2023; 1871:140918. [PMID: 37150474 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2023.140918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria are a growing threat to the public health. Among them, the Gram-negative Acinetobacter baumannii is considered today as the most dangerous MDR pathogen. Phage-derived endolysins are peptidoglycan (PG) hydrolytic enzymes that can function as effective tools in the fight against MDR bacteria. In the present work, the viral diversity of a marine environmental sample (biofilm), formed near an industrial zone, was mined for the identification of a putative endolysin (AbLys2) that belongs to the glycoside hydrolase family 24 (GH24, EC 3.2.1.17). The coding sequence of AbLys2 was cloned and expressed in E. coli. The lytic activity and specificity of the recombinant enzyme were evaluated against suspensions of a range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative human pathogens using turbidity assays. AbLys2 displayed enhanced selectivity towards A. baumannii cells, compared to other bacteria. Kinetics analysis was carried out to characterize the dependence of its lytic activity on pH and showed that the enzyme exhibits its maximal activity at pH 5.5. Thermostability analysis showed that AbLys2 displays melting temperature Tm 47.1 °C. Florescence microscopy and cell viability assays established that AbLys2 is active towards live cultures of A. baumannii cells with an inhibitory concentration IC50 3.41 ± 0.09 μM. Molecular modeling allowed the prediction of important amino acid residues involved in catalysis. The results of the present study suggest that AbLys2 provides efficient lytic and antimicrobial activity towards A. baumannii cells and therefore is a promising new antimicrobial against this pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgios E Premetis
- Laboratory of Enzyme Technology, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos Street, GR-11855 -Athens, Greece
| | - Nikolaos D Georgakis
- Laboratory of Enzyme Technology, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos Street, GR-11855 -Athens, Greece
| | - Angeliki Stathi
- Department of Microbiology, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Nikolaos E Labrou
- Laboratory of Enzyme Technology, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos Street, GR-11855 -Athens, Greece.
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27
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Arredondo-Alonso S, Blundell-Hunter G, Fu Z, Gladstone RA, Fillol-Salom A, Loraine J, Cloutman-Green E, Johnsen PJ, Samuelsen Ø, Pöntinen AK, Cléon F, Chavez-Bueno S, De la Cruz MA, Ares MA, Vongsouvath M, Chmielarczyk A, Horner C, Klein N, McNally A, Reis JN, Penadés JR, Thomson NR, Corander J, Taylor PW, McCarthy AJ. Evolutionary and functional history of the Escherichia coli K1 capsule. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3294. [PMID: 37322051 PMCID: PMC10272209 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39052-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Escherichia coli is a leading cause of invasive bacterial infections in humans. Capsule polysaccharide has an important role in bacterial pathogenesis, and the K1 capsule has been firmly established as one of the most potent capsule types in E. coli through its association with severe infections. However, little is known about its distribution, evolution and functions across the E. coli phylogeny, which is fundamental to elucidating its role in the expansion of successful lineages. Using systematic surveys of invasive E. coli isolates, we show that the K1-cps locus is present in a quarter of bloodstream infection isolates and has emerged in at least four different extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) phylogroups independently in the last 500 years. Phenotypic assessment demonstrates that K1 capsule synthesis enhances E. coli survival in human serum independent of genetic background, and that therapeutic targeting of the K1 capsule re-sensitizes E. coli from distinct genetic backgrounds to human serum. Our study highlights that assessing the evolutionary and functional properties of bacterial virulence factors at population levels is important to better monitor and predict the emergence of virulent clones, and to also inform therapies and preventive medicine to effectively control bacterial infections whilst significantly lowering antibiotic usage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Arredondo-Alonso
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Oslo, 0317, Oslo, Norway
- Parasites and Microbes, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Zuyi Fu
- Department of Infectious Disease, Centre for Bacterial Resistance Biology, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Rebecca A Gladstone
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Oslo, 0317, Oslo, Norway
- Parasites and Microbes, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Alfred Fillol-Salom
- Department of Infectious Disease, Centre for Bacterial Resistance Biology, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | | - Elaine Cloutman-Green
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Pål J Johnsen
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Ørjan Samuelsen
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
- Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Detection of Antimicrobial Resistance, Department of Microbiology and Infection Control, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Anna K Pöntinen
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Oslo, 0317, Oslo, Norway
- Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Detection of Antimicrobial Resistance, Department of Microbiology and Infection Control, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - François Cléon
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Susana Chavez-Bueno
- University of Missouri Kansas City, Kansas City, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Children's Mercy Hospital Kansas City, UMKC School of Medicine, Kansas City, USA
| | - Miguel A De la Cruz
- Unidad de Investigación Médica en Enfermedades Infecciosas y Parasitarias, Hospital de Pediatría, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico City, Mexico
- Facultad de Medicina, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
| | - Miguel A Ares
- Unidad de Investigación Médica en Enfermedades Infecciosas y Parasitarias, Hospital de Pediatría, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Manivanh Vongsouvath
- Lao-Oxford-Mahosot Hospital-Wellcome Trust Research Unit (LOMWRU), Microbiology Laboratory, Mahosot Hospital, Vientiane, Lao PDR
| | - Agnieszka Chmielarczyk
- Faculty of Medicine, Chair of Microbiology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Czysta str. 18, 31-121, Kraków, Poland
| | - Carolyne Horner
- British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, Birmingham, UK
| | - Nigel Klein
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Alan McNally
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Joice N Reis
- Laboratory of Pathology and Molecular Biology (LPBM), Gonçalo Moniz Research Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Salvador, Brazil
- Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | - José R Penadés
- Department of Infectious Disease, Centre for Bacterial Resistance Biology, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Nicholas R Thomson
- Parasites and Microbes, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Jukka Corander
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Oslo, 0317, Oslo, Norway.
- Parasites and Microbes, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK.
- Helsinki Institute of Information Technology, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Peter W Taylor
- School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, UK.
| | - Alex J McCarthy
- Department of Infectious Disease, Centre for Bacterial Resistance Biology, Imperial College London, London, UK.
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28
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Euler CW, Raz A, Hernandez A, Serrano A, Xu S, Andersson M, Zou G, Zhang Y, Fischetti VA, Li J. PlyKp104, a Novel Phage Lysin for the Treatment of Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Other Gram-Negative ESKAPE Pathogens. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2023; 67:e0151922. [PMID: 37098944 PMCID: PMC10190635 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01519-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are two leading causes of burn and wound infections, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and more severe invasive diseases, which are often multidrug resistant (MDR) or extensively drug resistant. Due to this, it is critical to discover alternative antimicrobials, such as bacteriophage lysins, against these pathogens. Unfortunately, most lysins that target Gram-negative bacteria require additional modifications or outer membrane permeabilizing agents to be bactericidal. We identified four putative lysins through bioinformatic analysis of Pseudomonas and Klebsiella phage genomes in the NCBI database and then expressed and tested their intrinsic lytic activity in vitro. The most active lysin, PlyKp104, exhibited >5-log killing against K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, and other Gram-negative representatives of the multidrug-resistant ESKAPE pathogens (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, K. pneumonia, Acinetobacter baumannii, P. aeruginosa, and Enterobacter species) without further modification. PlyKp104 displayed rapid killing and high activity over a wide pH range and in high concentrations of salt and urea. Additionally, pulmonary surfactants and low concentrations of human serum did not inhibit PlyKp104 activity in vitro. PlyKp104 also significantly reduced drug-resistant K. pneumoniae >2 logs in a murine skin infection model after one treatment of the wound, suggesting that this lysin could be used as a topical antimicrobial against K. pneumoniae and other MDR Gram-negative infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chad W. Euler
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Biomedicine and Health, College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Laboratory of Bacterial Pathogenesis and Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Hunter College, CUNY, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Assaf Raz
- Laboratory of Bacterial Pathogenesis and Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Hunter College, CUNY, New York, New York, USA
| | - Anaise Hernandez
- Laboratory of Bacterial Pathogenesis and Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Hunter College, CUNY, New York, New York, USA
| | - Anna Serrano
- Laboratory of Bacterial Pathogenesis and Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Siyue Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Biomedicine and Health, College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Laboratory of Bacterial Pathogenesis and Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA
- Institute of Food Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Martin Andersson
- Laboratory of Bacterial Pathogenesis and Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Geng Zou
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Biomedicine and Health, College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Biomedicine and Health, College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Vincent A. Fischetti
- Laboratory of Bacterial Pathogenesis and Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Jinquan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Biomedicine and Health, College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Laboratory of Bacterial Pathogenesis and Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA
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29
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Sitthisak S, Manrueang S, Khongfak S, Leungtongkam U, Thummeepak R, Thanwisai A, Burton N, Dhanoa GK, Tsapras P, Sagona AP. Antibacterial activity of vB_AbaM_PhT2 phage hydrophobic amino acid fusion endolysin, combined with colistin against Acinetobacter baumannii. Sci Rep 2023; 13:7470. [PMID: 37156803 PMCID: PMC10167329 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-33822-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Phage lytic enzymes are promising antimicrobial agents. In this study, an endolysin derived from vB_AbaM_PhT2 (vPhT2), was identified. This endolysin represented the conserved lysozyme domain. Recombinant endolysin (lysAB- vT2) and hydrophobic fusion endolysin (lysAB-vT2-fusion) were expressed and purified. Both endolysins showed lytic activity against bacterial crude cell wall of Gram-negative bacteria. The MIC of lysAB-vT2-fusion was 2 mg/ml corresponding to 100 µM, while the MIC of lysAB-vT2 was more than 10 mg/ml (400 µM). Combination of lysAB-vT2-fusion with colistin, polymyxin B or copper was synergistic against A. baumannii (FICI value as 0.25). Antibacterial activity of lysAB-vT2-fusion plus colistin at the fractional inhibitory concentrations (FICs) revealed that it can inhibit Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and various strains of extremely drug-resistant A. baumannii (XDRAB) and phage resistant A. baumannii. The lysAB- vT2-fusion still retained its antibacterial activity after incubating the enzyme at 4, 20, 40 and 60 °C for 30 min. The lysAB-vT2-fusion could inhibit the mature biofilm, and incubation of lysAB-vT2-fusion with T24 human cells infected with A. baumannii led to a partial reduction of LDH release from T24 cells. In summary, our study highlights the antimicrobial ability of engineered lysAB-vT2-fusion endolysin, which can be applied for the control of A. baumannii infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sutthirat Sitthisak
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Science, Naresuan University, Muang, Phitsanulok, 65000, Thailand.
- Centre of Excellence in Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medical Science, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, 65000, Thailand.
| | - Suphattra Manrueang
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Science, Naresuan University, Muang, Phitsanulok, 65000, Thailand
| | - Supat Khongfak
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Science, Naresuan University, Muang, Phitsanulok, 65000, Thailand
| | - Udomluk Leungtongkam
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Science, Naresuan University, Muang, Phitsanulok, 65000, Thailand
| | - Rapee Thummeepak
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Science, Naresuan University, Muang, Phitsanulok, 65000, Thailand
| | - Aunchalee Thanwisai
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Science, Naresuan University, Muang, Phitsanulok, 65000, Thailand
| | - Nathan Burton
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Gurneet K Dhanoa
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | | | - Antonia P Sagona
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK.
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30
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Barkova IA, Izhberdeeva MP, Sautkina AA. Endolysins of bacteriophages. JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY, EPIDEMIOLOGY AND IMMUNOBIOLOGY 2023. [DOI: 10.36233/0372-9311-250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/05/2023]
Abstract
Bacteriophage endolysins are a biologically active substances that 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 considered as alternative therapeutic agents because of their exceptional ability to target bacterial cells.
Aim summarization of the data on the biology, structure, mechanisms of action of bacteriophage endolysins, as well as on preparations based on them, which are at different stages of research.
The results of studies of bacterial endolysins over the past 20 years were searched using the Internet resources PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus in English for the keywords: lysin, bacteriophages, holin, antibiotic resistance.
The analysis of literature data showed that the structure of phage endolysins of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria differs from each other and reflects differences in their architecture due to variation in the cell wall composition of these two major bacterial groups. Depending on the cleavable bond in peptidoglycan, endolysins can be divided into at least five different groups: glycosidases (two groups aminidases and muramidases), endopeptidases, specific amidogyrolases, and lytic transglycosylases. To date, endolysins effective against a number of pathogens have been studied, including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus agalactiae, Staphylococcus aureus, Mycobacterium spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, etc. A number of studies have shown the therapeutic potential of endolysins in combating antibiotic-resistant infections.
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Cui J, Shi X, Wang X, Sun H, Yan Y, Zhao F, Zhang C, Liu W, Zou L, Han L, Pan Q, Ren H. Characterization of a lytic Pseudomonas aeruginosa phage vB_PaeP_ASP23 and functional analysis of its lysin LysASP and holin HolASP. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1093668. [PMID: 36998407 PMCID: PMC10045481 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1093668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, we isolated a lytic Pseudomonas aeruginosa phage (vB_PaeP_ASP23) from the sewage of a mink farm, characterized its complete genome and analyzed the function of its putative lysin and holin. Morphological characterization and genome annotation showed that phage ASP23 belonged to the Krylovirinae family genus Phikmvvirus, and it had a latent period of 10 min and a burst size of 140 pfu/infected cell. In minks challenged with P. aeruginosa, phage ASP23 significantly reduced bacterial counts in the liver, lung, and blood. The whole-genome sequencing showed that its genome was a 42,735-bp linear and double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), with a G + C content of 62.15%. Its genome contained 54 predicted open reading frames (ORFs), 25 of which had known functions. The lysin of phage ASP23 (LysASP), in combination with EDTA, showed high lytic activity against P. aeruginosa L64. The holin of phage ASP23 was synthesized by M13 phage display technology, to produce recombinant phages (HolASP). Though HolASP exhibited a narrow lytic spectrum, it was effective against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis. However, these two bacteria were insensitive to LysASP. The findings highlight the potential of phage ASP23 to be used in the development of new antibacterial agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqi Cui
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Xiaojie Shi
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Xinwei Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Huzhi Sun
- Qingdao Phagepharm Bio-Tech Co., Ltd., Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Yanxin Yan
- Qingdao Phagepharm Bio-Tech Co., Ltd., Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Feiyang Zhao
- Qingdao Phagepharm Bio-Tech Co., Ltd., Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Can Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Wenhua Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Ling Zou
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Lei Han
- College of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Qiang Pan
- Qingdao Phagepharm Bio-Tech Co., Ltd., Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Huiying Ren
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
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Tu Q, Pu M, Li Y, Wang Y, Li M, Song L, Li M, An X, Fan H, Tong Y. Acinetobacter Baumannii Phages: Past, Present and Future. Viruses 2023; 15:v15030673. [PMID: 36992382 PMCID: PMC10057898 DOI: 10.3390/v15030673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) is one of the most common clinical pathogens and a typical multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacterium. With the increase of drug-resistant A. baumannii infections, it is urgent to find some new treatment strategies, such as phage therapy. In this paper, we described the different drug resistances of A. baumannii and some basic properties of A. baumannii phages, analyzed the interaction between phages and their hosts, and focused on A. baumannii phage therapies. Finally, we discussed the chance and challenge of phage therapy. This paper aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding of A. baumannii phages and theoretical support for the clinical application of A. baumannii phages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qihang Tu
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Mingfang Pu
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Yahao Li
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering (BAIC-SM), Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Yuer Wang
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Maochen Li
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Lihua Song
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Mengzhe Li
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Xiaoping An
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Huahao Fan
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
- Correspondence: (H.F.); (Y.T.)
| | - Yigang Tong
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering (BAIC-SM), Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
- Correspondence: (H.F.); (Y.T.)
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Zagaliotis P, Michalik-Provasek J, Gill JJ, Walsh TJ. Therapeutic Bacteriophages for Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections in Animals and Humans. Pathog Immun 2022; 7:1-45. [PMID: 36320594 PMCID: PMC9596135 DOI: 10.20411/pai.v7i2.516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial pathogens are an increasingly serious health threat causing worldwide nosocomial infections with high morbidity and mortality. Of these, the most prevalent and severe are Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Salmonella typhimurium. The extended use of antibiotics has led to the emergence of multidrug resistance in these bacteria. Drug-inactivating enzymes produced by these bacteria, as well as other resistance mechanisms, render drugs ineffective and make treatment of such infections more difficult and complicated. This makes the development of novel antimicrobial agents an urgent necessity. Bacteriophages, which are bacteria-killing viruses first discovered in 1915, have been used as therapeutic antimicrobials in the past, but their use was abandoned due to the widespread availability of antibiotics in the 20th century. The emergence, however, of drug-resistant pathogens has re-affirmed the need for bacteriophages as therapeutic strategies. This review describes the use of bacteriophages as novel agents to combat this rapidly emerging public health crisis by comprehensively enumerating and discussing the innovative use of bacteriophages in both animal models and in patients infected by Gram-negative bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panagiotis Zagaliotis
- Transplantation-Oncology Infectious Diseases Program, Weill Cornell Medicine New York, NY
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
- CORRESPONDING AUTHOR: Panagiotis Zagaliotis, MS
| | | | - Jason J. Gill
- Center for Phage Technology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
| | - Thomas J. Walsh
- Transplantation-Oncology Infectious Diseases Program, Weill Cornell Medicine New York, NY
- Departments of Pediatrics and Microbiology & Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine New York, NY
- Center for Innovative Therapeutics and Diagnostics, Richmond, VA
- CORRESPONDING AUTHOR: Thomas J. Walsh, MD, PhD (Hon), FIDSA, FAAM, FECMM
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Cecropin a Improves the Antibacterial Activity of Hen Egg White Lysozyme against Challenging Salmonella enterica Serovars. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14102201. [PMID: 36297635 PMCID: PMC9610619 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14102201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The prevalence of multidrug-resistant Salmonella enterica among animal- and plant-derived food products threatens global healthcare and economic sectors. Hen egg white lysozyme is widely exploited as a food preservative against Gram-positive pathogens. Nevertheless, its limited penetration of the outer membrane renders it ineffective against Gram-negative bacteria. Herein, we present a safe and effective approach to facilitate HEWL access to peptidoglycan layers using cecropin A. In silico analysis of cecropin A peptide revealed an amphipathic α-helical peptide with potential outer membrane permeabilizing activity through its interaction with both hydrophobic and ionic stabilizing forces. Evaluation of HEWL/cecropin A combination showed a cecropin A dose-dependent bacterial count reduction up to 4.16 and 3.18 ± 0.26 log units against Salmonella enterica ATCC 35664 at the logarithmic and stationary growth phases, respectively. Moreover, the combination displayed antibacterial activity of 2.1 ± 0.31 and ~1 log-unit reductions against Salmonella enterica serovars Kentucky, Typhimurium, and Enteritidis, respectively, whereas Hato and Shangani were found irresponsive. The cytotoxicity assay revealed compatibility of cecropin A with oral epithelial cells. These observations suggest HEWL/cecropin A combination as an effective and safe alternative to lysozyme against Salmonella enterica.
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Islam MM, Kim D, Kim K, Park SJ, Akter S, Kim J, Bang S, Kim S, Kim J, Lee JC, Hong CW, Shin M. Engineering of lysin by fusion of antimicrobial peptide (cecropin A) enhances its antibacterial properties against multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:988522. [PMID: 36225352 PMCID: PMC9549208 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.988522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Most clinical isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii, a nosocomial pathogen, are multidrug-resistant (MDR), fueling the search for alternative therapies. Bacteriophage-derived endolysins have potent antibacterial activities and are considered as alternatives to antibiotics against A. baumannii infection. Gram-negative bacteria possess outer lipid membrane that prevents direct contact between the endolysins and the cell wall. We hypothesized that the fusion of antimicrobial peptide (AMP) with endolysin could help to reduce bacterial endolysin resistance and increase antimicrobial activity by membrane permeability action. Accordingly, we fused cecropin A, a commonly used AMP, with the N-terminus of AbEndolysin, which enhances the bactericidal activity of the chimeric endolysin. The bactericidal activity of cecropin A-fused AbEndolysin increased by at least 2–8 fold for various MDR A. baumannii clinical isolates. The in vitro bactericidal activity results also showed higher bacterial lysis by the chimeric endolysin than that by the parental lysin. The engineered AbEndolysin (eAbEndolysin) showed synergistic effects with the beta-lactam antibiotics cefotaxime, ceftazidime, and aztreonam, and an additive effect with meropenem and imipenem. eAbEndolysin had no cytotoxic effect on A549 cell line and rescued mice (40% survival rate) from systemic A. baumannii infection. Together, these findings suggest the potential of lysin therapy and may prompt its use as an alternative to antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Maidul Islam
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Dooyoung Kim
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Kyeongmin Kim
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Su-Jin Park
- Functional Bio-material Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Jeongeup, South Korea
| | - Samia Akter
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Jeongah Kim
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Seunghyeok Bang
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Shukho Kim
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Jungmin Kim
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Je Chul Lee
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Chang-Won Hong
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Minsang Shin
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
- *Correspondence: Minsang Shin,
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36
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Targeted suppression of human IBD-associated gut microbiota commensals by phage consortia for treatment of intestinal inflammation. Cell 2022; 185:2879-2898.e24. [PMID: 35931020 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2022.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 188] [Impact Index Per Article: 94.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Human gut commensals are increasingly suggested to impact non-communicable diseases, such as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), yet their targeted suppression remains a daunting unmet challenge. In four geographically distinct IBD cohorts (n = 537), we identify a clade of Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kp) strains, featuring a unique antibiotics resistance and mobilome signature, to be strongly associated with disease exacerbation and severity. Transfer of clinical IBD-associated Kp strains into colitis-prone, germ-free, and colonized mice enhances intestinal inflammation. Stepwise generation of a lytic five-phage combination, targeting sensitive and resistant IBD-associated Kp clade members through distinct mechanisms, enables effective Kp suppression in colitis-prone mice, driving an attenuated inflammation and disease severity. Proof-of-concept assessment of Kp-targeting phages in an artificial human gut and in healthy volunteers demonstrates gastric acid-dependent phage resilience, safety, and viability in the lower gut. Collectively, we demonstrate the feasibility of orally administered combination phage therapy in avoiding resistance, while effectively inhibiting non-communicable disease-contributing pathobionts.
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Yuan Y, Li Q, Zhang S, Gu J, Huang G, Qi Q, Lu X. Enhancing thermal stability and lytic activity of phage lysin PlyAB1 from Acinetobacter baumannii. Biotechnol Bioeng 2022; 119:2731-2742. [PMID: 35859248 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28187] [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: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
With the increasingly serious drug resistance of Acinetobacter baumannii, it is urgent to find new antibacterial drugs. Phage lysin PlyAB1 has a bactericidal effect on drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, which has the potential to replace antibiotics to fight infection caused by Acinetobacter baumannii. However, its application is limited by its thermal stability and lytic activity. To solve these problems, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations combined with Hotspot wizard 3.0 were used to identify key residue sites affecting thermal stability, and evolutionary analysis combined with multiple sequence alignment was used to identify key residue sites affecting lytic activity. Four single-point variants with significantly increased thermal stability and four single-point variants with significantly lytic activity were obtained, respectively. Furthermore, by superimposing mutations, we obtained three double-point variants G100Q/K69R, G100R/K69R, and G100K/K69R with significantly improved thermal stability and improved lytic activity. At 45℃, the lytic activity and half-life of the optimal variant G100Q/K69R were 1.51 folds and 24 folds higher than those of the wild PlyAB1, respectively. These results deepen our understanding of the structure and function of phage lysin and contribute to the application of phage lysin in antibiotic substitution. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingbo Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Qingbin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Shuhang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Jinhong Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Guangtao Huang
- Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Shenzhen Institute of Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, 518035, China
| | - Qingsheng Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Xuemei Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
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Chang RYK, Nang SC, Chan HK, Li J. Novel antimicrobial agents for combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2022; 187:114378. [PMID: 35671882 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2022.114378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Antibiotic therapy has become increasingly ineffective against bacterial infections due to the rise of resistance. In particular, ESKAPE pathogens (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter species) have caused life-threatening infections in humans and represent a major global health threat due to a high degree of antibiotic resistance. To respond to this urgent call, novel strategies are urgently needed, such as bacteriophages (or phages), phage-encoded enzymes, immunomodulators and monoclonal antibodies. This review critically analyses these promising antimicrobial therapies for the treatment of multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. Recent advances in these novel therapeutic strategies are discussed, focusing on preclinical and clinical investigations, as well as combinatorial approaches. In this 'Bad Bugs, No Drugs' era, novel therapeutic strategies can play a key role in treating deadly infections and help extend the lifetime of antibiotics.
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A Single Catalytic Endolysin Domain Plychap001: Characterization and Application to Control Vibrio Parahaemolyticus and Its Biofilm Directly. Foods 2022; 11:foods11111578. [PMID: 35681328 PMCID: PMC9180635 DOI: 10.3390/foods11111578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2022] [Revised: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Endolysins are enzymes used by bacteriophages to cleave the host cell wall in the final stages of the lytic cycle. As such, they are considered promising antibacterial agents for controlling and combating multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. However, the application of endolysins targeting Gram-negative bacteria is greatly hindered by the outer membrane on these bacteria. Lysqdvp001, an endolysin with modular structure, has been reported as one of the most efficient endolysins against the Gram-negative bacterium Vibrio parahaemolyticus. In this study, Plychap001, the truncated recombinant catalytic domain of Lysqdvp001, was demonstrated to exhibit a direct and efficient bactericidal activity against broad spectrum of V. parahaemolyticus strains. Plychap001 was shown to be highly stable and retain high bactericidal activity at high temperatures, over a wide pH range, and at high NaCl concentrations. Plychap001 also exhibited a synergistic lytic effect with EDTA. Additionally, Plychap001 was found to efficiently degrade and eliminate V. parahaemolyticus biofilms on polystyrene surfaces. Our study establishes Plychap001 as a promising method for controlling V. parahaemolyticus in the food industry.
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Lopes BS, Hanafiah A, Nachimuthu R, Muthupandian S, Md Nesran ZN, Patil S. The Role of Antimicrobial Peptides as Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Agents in Tackling the Silent Pandemic of Antimicrobial Resistance. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27092995. [PMID: 35566343 PMCID: PMC9105241 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27092995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Just over a million people died globally in 2019 due to antibiotic resistance caused by ESKAPE pathogens (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter species). The World Health Organization (WHO) also lists antibiotic-resistant Campylobacter and Helicobacter as bacteria that pose the greatest threat to human health. As it is becoming increasingly difficult to discover new antibiotics, new alternatives are needed to solve the crisis of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Bacteria commonly found in complex communities enclosed within self-produced matrices called biofilms are difficult to eradicate and develop increased stress and antimicrobial tolerance. This review summarises the role of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in combating the silent pandemic of AMR and their application in clinical medicine, focusing on both the advantages and disadvantages of AMPs as antibiofilm agents. It is known that many AMPs display broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities, but in a variety of organisms AMPs are not stable (short half-life) or have some toxic side effects. Hence, it is also important to develop new AMP analogues for their potential use as drug candidates. The use of one health approach along with developing novel therapies using phages and breakthroughs in novel antimicrobial peptide synthesis can help us in tackling the problem of AMR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno S. Lopes
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK
- Correspondence: (B.S.L.); (A.H.)
| | - Alfizah Hanafiah
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia;
- Correspondence: (B.S.L.); (A.H.)
| | - Ramesh Nachimuthu
- Antibiotic Resistance and Phage Therapy Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Vellore Institute of Technology, School of Bioscience and Technology, Vellore 632014, India;
| | - Saravanan Muthupandian
- AMR and Nanotherapeutics Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha Dental College, Chennai 600077, India;
| | - Zarith Nameyrra Md Nesran
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia;
| | - Sandip Patil
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Shenzhen Children’s Hospital, Shenzhen 518038, China;
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Assefa M. Multi-drug resistant gram-negative bacterial pneumonia: etiology, risk factors, and drug resistance patterns. Pneumonia (Nathan) 2022; 14:4. [PMID: 35509063 PMCID: PMC9069761 DOI: 10.1186/s41479-022-00096-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial pneumonia is one of the most serious public health issues owing to its medical and economic costs, which result in increased morbidity and mortality in people of all ages around the world. Furthermore, antimicrobial resistance has risen over time, and the advent of multi-drug resistance in GNB complicates therapy and has a detrimental impact on patient outcomes. The current review aimed to summarize bacterial pneumonia with an emphasis on gram-negative etiology, pathogenesis, risk factors, resistance mechanisms, treatment updates, and vaccine concerns to tackle the problem before it causes a serious consequence. In conclusion, the global prevalence of GNB in CAP was reported 49.7% to 83.1%, whereas in VAP patients ranged between 76.13% to 95.3%. The most commonly reported MDR-GNB causes of pneumonia were A. baumannii, K. pneumoniae, and P. aeruginosa, with A. baumannii isolated particularly in VAP patients and the elderly. In most studies, ampicillin, tetracyclines, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, cephalosporins, and carbapenems were shown to be highly resistant. Prior MDR-GNB infection, older age, previous use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, high frequency of local antibiotic resistance, prolonged hospital stays, ICU admission, mechanical ventilation, and immunosuppression are associated with the MDR-GNB colonization. S. maltophilia was reported as a severe cause of HAP/VAP in patients with mechanically ventilated and having hematologic malignancy due to its ability of biofilm formation, site adhesion in respiratory devices, and its intrinsic and acquired drug resistance mechanisms. Effective combination therapies targeting PDR strains and drug-resistant genes, antibiofilm agents, gene-based vaccinations, and pathogen-specific lymphocytes should be developed in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muluneh Assefa
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, P.O. Box 196, Gondar, Ethiopia.
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Role of Antimicrobial Drug in the Development of Potential Therapeutics. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2022; 2022:2500613. [PMID: 35571735 PMCID: PMC9098294 DOI: 10.1155/2022/2500613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Population of the world run into several health-related emergencies among mankind and humans as it creates a challenge for the evolution of novel drug discoveries. One such can be the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains in both hospital and community settings, which have been due to an inappropriate use and inadequate control of antibiotics that has led to the foremost human health concerns with a high impact on the global economy. So far, there has been application of two strategies for the development of anti-infective agents either by classical antibiotics that have been derived for their synthetic analogs with increased efficacy or screening natural compounds along with the synthetic compound libraries for the antimicrobial activities. However, need for newer treatment options for infectious diseases has led research to develop new generation of antimicrobial activity to further lessen the spread of antibiotic resistance. Currently, the principles aim to find novel mode of actions or products to target the specific sites and virulence factors in pathogens by a series of better understanding of physiology and molecular aspects of the microbial resistance, mechanism of infection process, and gene-pathogenicity relationship. The design various novel strategies tends to provide us a path for the development of various antimicrobial therapies that intends to have a broader and wider antimicrobial spectrum that helps to combat MDR strains worldwide. The development of antimicrobial peptides, metabolites derived from plants, microbes, phage-based antimicrobial agents, use of metal nanoparticles, and role of CRISPR have led to an exceptional strategies in designing and developing the next-generation antimicrobials. These novel strategies might help to combat the seriousness of the infection rates and control the health crisis system.
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Chang C, Yu X, Guo W, Guo C, Guo X, Li Q, Zhu Y. Bacteriophage-Mediated Control of Biofilm: A Promising New Dawn for the Future. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:825828. [PMID: 35495689 PMCID: PMC9048899 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.825828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Biofilms are complex microbial microcolonies consisting of planktonic and dormant bacteria bound to a surface. The bacterial cells within the biofilm are embedded within the extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) consisting mainly of exopolysaccharides, secreted proteins, lipids, and extracellular DNA. This structural matrix poses a major challenge against common treatment options due to its extensive antibiotic-resistant properties. Because biofilms are so recalcitrant to antibiotics, they pose a unique challenge to patients in a nosocomial setting, mainly linked to lower respiratory, urinary tract, and surgical wound infections as well as the medical devices used during treatment. Another unique property of biofilm is its ability to adhere to both biological and man-made surfaces, allowing growth on human tissues and organs, hospital tools, and medical devices, etc. Based on prior understanding of bacteriophage structure, mechanisms, and its effects on bacteria eradication, leading research has been conducted on the effects of phages and its individual proteins on biofilm and its role in overall biofilm removal while also revealing the obstacles this form of treatment currently have. The expansion in the phage host-species range is one that urges for improvement and is the focus for future studies. This review aims to demonstrate the advantages and challenges of bacteriophage and its components on biofilm removal, as well as potential usage of phage cocktail, combination therapy, and genetically modified phages in a clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Chang
- School of Global Health, Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, One Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University-The University of Edinburgh, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinbo Yu
- School of Global Health, Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, One Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University-The University of Edinburgh, Shanghai, China.,College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wennan Guo
- School of Global Health, Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, One Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University-The University of Edinburgh, Shanghai, China
| | - Chaoyi Guo
- School of Global Health, Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, One Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University-The University of Edinburgh, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaokui Guo
- School of Global Health, Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, One Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University-The University of Edinburgh, Shanghai, China
| | - Qingtian Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yongzhang Zhu
- School of Global Health, Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, One Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University-The University of Edinburgh, Shanghai, China
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ILOMUANYA MO, ENWURU NV, ADENOKUN E, FATUNMBI ABIGAIL, ADELUOLA A, IGWILO CI. Chitosan-Based Microparticle Encapsulated <i>cinetobacter baumannii</i> Phage Cocktail in Hydrogel Matrix for the Management of Multidrug Resistant Chronic Wound Infection. Turk J Pharm Sci 2022; 19:187-195. [DOI: 10.4274/tjps.galenos.2021.72547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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Roy S, Chowdhury G, Mukhopadhyay AK, Dutta S, Basu S. Convergence of Biofilm Formation and Antibiotic Resistance in Acinetobacter baumannii Infection. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:793615. [PMID: 35402433 PMCID: PMC8987773 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.793615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) is a leading cause of nosocomial infections as this pathogen has certain attributes that facilitate the subversion of natural defenses of the human body. A. baumannii acquires antibiotic resistance determinants easily and can thrive on both biotic and abiotic surfaces. Different resistance mechanisms or determinants, both transmissible and non-transmissible, have aided in this victory over antibiotics. In addition, the propensity to form biofilms (communities of organism attached to a surface) allows the organism to persist in hospitals on various medical surfaces (cardiac valves, artificial joints, catheters, endotracheal tubes, and ventilators) and also evade antibiotics simply by shielding the bacteria and increasing its ability to acquire foreign genetic material through lateral gene transfer. The biofilm formation rate in A. baumannii is higher than in other species. Recent research has shown how A. baumannii biofilm-forming capacity exerts its effect on resistance phenotypes, development of resistome, and dissemination of resistance genes within biofilms by conjugation or transformation, thereby making biofilm a hotspot for genetic exchange. Various genes control the formation of A. baumannii biofilms and a beneficial relationship between biofilm formation and "antimicrobial resistance" (AMR) exists in the organism. This review discusses these various attributes of the organism that act independently or synergistically to cause hospital infections. Evolution of AMR in A. baumannii, resistance mechanisms including both transmissible (hydrolyzing enzymes) and non-transmissible (efflux pumps and chromosomal mutations) are presented. Intrinsic factors [biofilm-associated protein, outer membrane protein A, chaperon-usher pilus, iron uptake mechanism, poly-β-(1, 6)-N-acetyl glucosamine, BfmS/BfmR two-component system, PER-1, quorum sensing] involved in biofilm production, extrinsic factors (surface property, growth temperature, growth medium) associated with the process, the impact of biofilms on high antimicrobial tolerance and regulation of the process, gene transfer within the biofilm, are elaborated. The infections associated with colonization of A. baumannii on medical devices are discussed. Each important device-related infection is dealt with and both adult and pediatric studies are separately mentioned. Furthermore, the strategies of preventing A. baumannii biofilms with antibiotic combinations, quorum sensing quenchers, natural products, efflux pump inhibitors, antimicrobial peptides, nanoparticles, and phage therapy are enumerated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subhasree Roy
- Division of Bacteriology, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Kolkata, India
| | - Goutam Chowdhury
- Division of Molecular Microbiology, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Kolkata, India
| | - Asish K. Mukhopadhyay
- Division of Molecular Microbiology, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Kolkata, India
| | - Shanta Dutta
- Division of Bacteriology, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Kolkata, India
| | - Sulagna Basu
- Division of Bacteriology, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Kolkata, India
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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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Heselpoth RD, Euler CW, Fischetti VA. PaP1, a Broad-Spectrum Lysin-Derived Cationic Peptide to Treat Polymicrobial Skin Infections. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:817228. [PMID: 35369520 PMCID: PMC8965563 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.817228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Most skin infections, including those complicating burns, are polymicrobial involving multiple causative bacteria. Add to this the fact that many of these organisms may be antibiotic-resistant, and a simple skin lesion or burn could soon become life-threatening. Membrane-acting cationic peptides from Gram-negative bacteriophage lysins can potentially aid in addressing the urgent need for alternative therapeutics. Such peptides natively constitute an amphipathic region within the structural composition of these lysins and function to permit outer membrane permeabilization in Gram-negative bacteria when added externally. This consequently allows the lysin to access and degrade the peptidoglycan substrate, resulting in rapid hypotonic lysis and bacterial death. When separated from the lysin, some of these cationic peptides kill sensitive bacteria more effectively than the native molecule via both outer and cytoplasmic membrane disruption. In this study, we evaluated the antibacterial properties of a modified cationic peptide from the broad-acting lysin PlyPa01. The peptide, termed PaP1, exhibited potent in vitro bactericidal activity toward numerous high priority Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens, including all the antibiotic-resistant ESKAPE pathogens. Both planktonic and biofilm-state bacteria were sensitive to the peptide, and results from time-kill assays revealed PaP1 kills bacteria on contact. The peptide was bactericidal over a wide temperature and pH range and could withstand autoclaving without loss of activity. However, high salt concentrations and complex matrices were found to be largely inhibitory, limiting its use to topical applications. Importantly, unlike other membrane-acting antimicrobials, PaP1 lacked cytotoxicity toward human cells. Results from a murine burn wound infection model using methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa validated the in vivo antibacterial efficacy of PaP1. In these studies, the peptide enhanced the potency of topical antibiotics used clinically for treating chronic wound infections. Despite the necessity for additional preclinical drug development, the collective data from our study support PaP1 as a potential broad-spectrum monotherapy or adjunctive therapy for the topical treatment of polymicrobial infections and provide a foundation for engineering future lysin-derived peptides with improved antibacterial properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan D. Heselpoth
- Laboratory of Bacterial Pathogenesis and Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, United States
- *Correspondence: Ryan D. Heselpoth,
| | - Chad W. Euler
- Laboratory of Bacterial Pathogenesis and Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Hunter College, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Vincent A. Fischetti
- Laboratory of Bacterial Pathogenesis and Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, United States
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Schuch R, Cassino C, Vila-Farres X. Direct Lytic Agents: Novel, Rapidly Acting Potential Antimicrobial Treatment Modalities for Systemic Use in the Era of Rising Antibiotic Resistance. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:841905. [PMID: 35308352 PMCID: PMC8928733 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.841905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Direct lytic agents (DLAs) are novel antimicrobial compounds with unique mechanisms of action based on rapid cell wall destabilization and bacteriolysis. DLAs include two classes of purified polypeptides—lysins (peptidoglycan hydrolase enzymes) and amurins (outer membrane targeting peptides). Their intended use is to kill bacteria in a manner that is complimentary to and synergistic with traditional antibiotics without selection for DLA resistance. Lysins were originally described as having activity against Gram-positive pathogens and of those, exebacase, is the first to have advanced into Phase 3 of clinical development. Recently, both engineered and native DLAs have now been described with potent bactericidal activity against a range of Gram-negative pathogens, including multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Acinetobacter baumannii. Importantly, novel DLAs targeting Gram-negatives, including the lysin CF-370 and the amurin peptides, are active in biological matrices (blood/serum) and, as such, offer promise for therapeutic use as systemically administered agents for the treatment of life-threatening invasive infections. In this review, DLAs are discussed as potential new classes of antimicrobial biologics that can be used to treat serious systemic infections.
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Singh A, Padmesh S, Dwivedi M, Kostova I. How Good are Bacteriophages as an Alternative Therapy to Mitigate Biofilms of Nosocomial Infections. Infect Drug Resist 2022; 15:503-532. [PMID: 35210792 PMCID: PMC8860455 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s348700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteria survive on any surface through the generation of biofilms that provide a protective environment to grow as well as making them drug resistant. Extracellular polymeric matrix is a crucial component in biofilm formation. The presence of biofilms consisting of common opportunistic and nosocomial, drug-resistant pathogens has been reported on medical devices like catheters and prosthetics, leading to many complications. Several approaches are under investigation to combat drug-resistant bacteria. Deployment of bacteriophages is one of the promising approaches to invade biofilm that may expose bacteria to the conditions adverse for their growth. Penetration into these biofilms and their destruction by bacteriophages is brought about due to their small size and ability of their progeny to diffuse through the bacterial cell wall. The other mechanisms employed by phages to infect biofilms may include their relocation through water channels to embedded host cells, replication at local sites followed by infection to the neighboring cells and production of depolymerizing enzymes to decompose viscous biofilm matrix, etc. Various research groups are investigating intricacies involved in phage therapy to mitigate the bacterial infection and biofilm formation. Thus, bacteriophages represent a good control over different biofilms and further understanding of phage-biofilm interaction at molecular level may overcome the clinical challenges in phage therapy. The present review summarizes the comprehensive details on dynamic interaction of phages with bacterial biofilms and the role of phage-derived enzymes - endolysin and depolymerases in extenuating biofilms of clinical and medical concern. The methodology employed was an extensive literature search, using several keywords in important scientific databases, such as Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, ScienceDirect, etc. The keywords were also used with Boolean operator "And". More than 250 relevant and recent articles were selected and reviewed to discuss the evidence-based data on the application of phage therapy with recent updates, and related potential challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditi Singh
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow Campus, Lucknow, 226028, India
| | - Sudhakar Padmesh
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow Campus, Lucknow, 226028, India
| | - Manish Dwivedi
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow Campus, Lucknow, 226028, India
| | - Irena Kostova
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University, Sofia, 1000, Bulgaria
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Novel Phage Lysin Abp013 against Acinetobacter baumannii. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:antibiotics11020169. [PMID: 35203772 PMCID: PMC8868305 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11020169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
As antimicrobial resistance (AMR) continues to pose an ever-growing global health threat, propelling us into a post-antibiotic era, novel alternative therapeutic agents are urgently required. Lysins are bacteriophage-encoded peptidoglycan hydrolases that display great potential as a novel class of antimicrobials for therapeutics. While lysins against Gram-positive bacteria are highly effective when applied exogenously, it is challenging for lysins to access and cleave the peptidoglycan of Gram-negative bacteria due to their outer membrane. In this study, we identify a novel phage lysin Abp013 against Acinetobacter baumannii. Abp013 exhibited significant lytic activity against multidrug-resistant strains of A. baumannii. Notably, we found that Abp013 was able to tolerate the presence of human serum by up to 10%. Using confocal microscopy and LIVE/DEAD staining, we show that Abp013 can access and kill the bacterial cells residing in the biofilm. These results highlight the intrinsic bacteriolytic property of Abp013, suggesting the promising use of Abp013 as a novel therapeutic agent.
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