1
|
Vázquez R, Gutiérrez D, Dezutter Z, Criel B, de Groote P, Briers Y. You get what you test for: The killing effect of phage lysins is highly dependent on buffer tonicity and ionic strength. Microb Biotechnol 2024; 17:e14513. [PMID: 38962879 PMCID: PMC11222872 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.14513] [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: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The phage lysin field has done nothing but grow in the last decades. As a result, many different research groups around the world are contributing to the field, often with certain methodological differences that pose a challenge to the interpretation and comparison of results. In this work, we present the case study of three Acinetobacter baumannii-targeting phage lysins (wild-type endolysin LysMK34 plus engineered lysins eLysMK34 and 1D10) plus one lysin with broad activity against Gram-positive bacteria (PlySs2) to provide exemplary evidence on the risks of generalization when using one of the most common lysin evaluation assays: the killing assay with resting cells. To that end, we performed killing assays with the aforementioned lysins using hypo-, iso- and hypertonic buffers plus human serum either as the reaction or the dilution medium in a systematic manner. Our findings stress the perils of creating hypotonic conditions or a hypotonic shock during a killing assay, suggesting that hypotonic buffers should be avoided as a test environment or as diluents before plating to avoid overestimation of the killing effect in the assayed conditions. As a conclusion, we suggest that the nature of both the incubation and the dilution buffers should be always clearly identified when reporting killing activity data, and that for experimental consistency the same incubation buffer should be used as a diluent for posterior serial dilution and plating unless explicitly required by the experimental design. In addition, the most appropriate buffer mimicking the final application must be chosen to obtain relevant results.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Vázquez
- Department of BiotechnologyGhent UniversityGhentBelgium
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES)MadridSpain
| | | | - Zoë Dezutter
- Department of BiotechnologyGhent UniversityGhentBelgium
| | - Bjorn Criel
- Department of BiotechnologyGhent UniversityGhentBelgium
| | | | - Yves Briers
- Department of BiotechnologyGhent UniversityGhentBelgium
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Evseev PV, Sukhova AS, Tkachenko NA, Skryabin YP, Popova AV. Lytic Capsule-Specific Acinetobacter Bacteriophages Encoding Polysaccharide-Degrading Enzymes. Viruses 2024; 16:771. [PMID: 38793652 PMCID: PMC11126041 DOI: 10.3390/v16050771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The genus Acinetobacter comprises both environmental and clinically relevant species associated with hospital-acquired infections. Among them, Acinetobacter baumannii is a critical priority bacterial pathogen, for which the research and development of new strategies for antimicrobial treatment are urgently needed. Acinetobacter spp. produce a variety of structurally diverse capsular polysaccharides (CPSs), which surround the bacterial cells with a thick protective layer. These surface structures are primary receptors for capsule-specific bacteriophages, that is, phages carrying tailspikes with CPS-depolymerizing/modifying activities. Phage tailspike proteins (TSPs) exhibit hydrolase, lyase, or esterase activities toward the corresponding CPSs of a certain structure. In this study, the data on all lytic capsule-specific phages infecting Acinetobacter spp. with genomes deposited in the NCBI GenBank database by January 2024 were summarized. Among the 149 identified TSPs encoded in the genomes of 143 phages, the capsular specificity (K specificity) of 46 proteins has been experimentally determined or predicted previously. The specificity of 63 TSPs toward CPSs, produced by various Acinetobacter K types, was predicted in this study using a bioinformatic analysis. A comprehensive phylogenetic analysis confirmed the prediction and revealed the possibility of the genetic exchange of gene regions corresponding to the CPS-recognizing/degrading parts of different TSPs between morphologically and taxonomically distant groups of capsule-specific Acinetobacter phages.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peter V. Evseev
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia;
- State Research Center for Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, City District Serpukhov, Moscow Region, 142279 Obolensk, Russia; (A.S.S.); (Y.P.S.)
- Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Anastasia S. Sukhova
- State Research Center for Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, City District Serpukhov, Moscow Region, 142279 Obolensk, Russia; (A.S.S.); (Y.P.S.)
| | - Nikolay A. Tkachenko
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Yuriy P. Skryabin
- State Research Center for Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, City District Serpukhov, Moscow Region, 142279 Obolensk, Russia; (A.S.S.); (Y.P.S.)
| | - Anastasia V. Popova
- State Research Center for Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, City District Serpukhov, Moscow Region, 142279 Obolensk, Russia; (A.S.S.); (Y.P.S.)
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Peters DL, Gaudreault F, Chen W. Functional domains of Acinetobacter bacteriophage tail fibers. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1230997. [PMID: 38690360 PMCID: PMC11058221 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1230997] [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: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
A rapid increase in antimicrobial resistant bacterial infections around the world is causing a global health crisis. The Gram-negative bacterium Acinetobacter baumannii is categorized as a Priority 1 pathogen for research and development of new antimicrobials by the World Health Organization due to its numerous intrinsic antibiotic resistance mechanisms and ability to quickly acquire new resistance determinants. Specialized phage enzymes, called depolymerases, degrade the bacterial capsule polysaccharide layer and show therapeutic potential by sensitizing the bacterium to phages, select antibiotics, and serum killing. The functional domains responsible for the capsule degradation activity are often found in the tail fibers of select A. baumannii phages. To further explore the functional domains associated with depolymerase activity, tail-associated proteins of 71 sequenced and fully characterized phages were identified from published literature and analyzed for functional domains using InterProScan. Multisequence alignments and phylogenetic analyses were conducted on the domain groups and assessed in the context of noted halo formation or depolymerase characterization. Proteins derived from phages noted to have halo formation or a functional depolymerase, but no functional domain hits, were modeled with AlphaFold2 Multimer, and compared to other protein models using the DALI server. The domains associated with depolymerase function were pectin lyase-like (SSF51126), tailspike binding (cd20481), (Trans)glycosidases (SSF51445), and potentially SGNH hydrolases. These findings expand our knowledge on phage depolymerases, enabling researchers to better exploit these enzymes for therapeutic use in combating the antimicrobial resistance crisis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Danielle L. Peters
- Human Health Therapeutics (HHT) Research Center, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | | | - Wangxue Chen
- Human Health Therapeutics (HHT) Research Center, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Biology, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Sisson HM, Jackson SA, Fagerlund RD, Warring SL, Fineran PC. Gram-negative endolysins: overcoming the outer membrane obstacle. Curr Opin Microbiol 2024; 78:102433. [PMID: 38350268 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2024.102433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
Our ability to control the growth of Gram-negative bacterial pathogens is challenged by rising antimicrobial resistance and requires new approaches. Endolysins are phage-derived enzymes that degrade peptidoglycan and therefore offer potential as antimicrobial agents. However, the outer membrane (OM) of Gram-negative bacteria impedes the access of externally applied endolysins to peptidoglycan. This review highlights recent advances in the discovery and characterization of natural endolysins that can breach the OM, as well as chemical and engineering approaches that increase antimicrobial efficacy of endolysins against Gram-negative pathogens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hazel M Sisson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Genetics Otago, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Bioprotection Aotearoa, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Simon A Jackson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Genetics Otago, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Bioprotection Aotearoa, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Robert D Fagerlund
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Genetics Otago, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Bioprotection Aotearoa, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Suzanne L Warring
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Genetics Otago, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Peter C Fineran
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Genetics Otago, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Bioprotection Aotearoa, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Wang M, Ning Y, Jiao X, Liu J, Qiao J. Bacteriophages and their derived enzymes as promising alternatives for the treatment of Acinetobacter baumannii infections. Arch Virol 2023; 168:288. [PMID: 37947926 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-023-05910-7] [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: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Nosocomial infections with the opportunistic bacterium Acinetobacter baumannii pose a severe challenge to clinical treatment, which is aggravated by the increasing occurrence of multi-drug resistance, especially resistance to carbapenems. The use of phage therapy as an alternative and supplement to the current antibiotics has become an important research topic in the post-antibiotic era. This review summarizes in vivo and in vitro studies on phage therapy against multi-drug-resistant A. baumannii infection that have used different approaches, including treatment with a single phage, combination with other phages or non-phage agents, and administration of phage-derived enzymes. We also briefly discuss the current challenges of phage-based therapy as well as promising approaches for the treatment of A. baumannii infection in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Menglu Wang
- Department of Medical Laboratory, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, 261053, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Ning
- Department of Medical Laboratory, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, 261053, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Jiao
- Department of Medical Laboratory, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, 261053, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiayi Liu
- Department of Medical Laboratory, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, 261053, Shandong, People's Republic of China
- Department of Basic Medicine, Weifang Nursing Vocational College, Weifang, 262500, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinjuan Qiao
- Department of Medical Laboratory, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, 261053, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
- Institutional Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, 12th 5-Year Project of Shandong Province, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, 261053, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Bustamante V, Palavecino CE. Effect of photodynamic therapy on multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii: A scoping review. Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther 2023; 43:103709. [PMID: 37459942 DOI: 10.1016/j.pdpdt.2023.103709] [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: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acinetobacter baumannii is a Gram-negative, non-fermenting coccobacillus of the Moraxellaceae family. It is an opportunistic pathogen responsible for several hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) associated with skin and tissue infections at surgical sites, catheter-associated urinary tract infections, and central line catheters. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) A. baumannii has caused hospital outbreaks that are difficult to eradicate and represent one of the leading producers of HAIs. MDR-A. baumannii presents a broad range of resistance to different antimicrobials, including carbapenems. Due to the low sensitivity to conventional antibiotic therapies, it is necessary to identify other therapeutic options. Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) is a promising alternative and complementary approach to address the shortage of antimicrobials in MDR-A. baumannii. APDT combines a photosensitizer agent, light, and oxygen to achieve a bactericidal/bacteriostatic effect. The effect is given by producing reactive oxygen species (ROS) that produce photooxidative stress over bacterial structures, such as the envelope and the DNA. METHODS This study aims to systematically collect bibliographic information from databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and google scholar to analyze the relevant articles critically. RESULTS An increasing body of evidence demonstrates the efficacy of photodynamic inactivation in eliminating A. baumannii strains, both in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSIONS The evidence supports that photodynamic inactivation is an alternative capable of eliminating strains of Acinetobacter baumannii and may considerably improve the treatment of MDR strains. Although they do exist, aPDT studies on MDR strains of A. baumannii are scarce and should increase since it is on these strains that photodynamic therapy becomes attractive.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Bustamante
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Celular, Instituto de Investigación e Innovación en Salud, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Central de Chile, Lord Cochrane 418, 8330546 Santiago. Chile
| | - Christian Erick Palavecino
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Celular, Instituto de Investigación e Innovación en Salud, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Central de Chile, Lord Cochrane 418, 8330546 Santiago. Chile.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Kolsi A, Haukka K, Dougnon V, Agbankpè AJ, Fabiyi K, Virta M, Skurnik M, Kantele A, Kiljunen S. Isolation and characterization of three novel Acinetobacter baumannii phages from Beninese hospital wastewater. Arch Virol 2023; 168:228. [PMID: 37574509 PMCID: PMC10423700 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-023-05845-z] [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: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
Acinetobacter baumannii is an opportunistic pathogen that is mostly associated with hospital-acquired infections. The rapid emergence of multi- and pan-drug-resistant Acinetobacter strains poses an increasing challenge in hospitals. Phage therapy offers one treatment option for infections caused by A. baumannii. We isolated three phages from Beninese hospital wastewater - fBenAci001, fBenAci002, and fBenAci003 - that infected clinical A. baumannii strains from Finnish patients. Phylogenetic analysis showed that these phages resemble phages of the genus Friunavirus, family Autographiviridae. The isolated phages meet the requirements set for phages used for phage therapy. However, they were found to have a narrow host range, which may limit their therapeutic use.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kolsi
- Human Microbiome Research Program, Research Programs Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Microbiology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kaisa Haukka
- Human Microbiome Research Program, Research Programs Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Microbiology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Victorien Dougnon
- Research Unit in Applied Microbiology and Pharmacology of natural substances, Polytechnic School of Abomey-Calavi, University of Abomey-Calavi, Abomey Calavi, Benin
| | - Alidehou Jerrold Agbankpè
- Research Unit in Applied Microbiology and Pharmacology of natural substances, Polytechnic School of Abomey-Calavi, University of Abomey-Calavi, Abomey Calavi, Benin
| | - Kafayath Fabiyi
- Research Unit in Applied Microbiology and Pharmacology of natural substances, Polytechnic School of Abomey-Calavi, University of Abomey-Calavi, Abomey Calavi, Benin
| | - Marko Virta
- Department of Microbiology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mikael Skurnik
- Human Microbiome Research Program, Research Programs Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, HUS Diagnostic Center, Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anu Kantele
- Human Microbiome Research Program, Research Programs Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Meilahti Vaccine Research Center MeVac, Infectious Diseases, Helsinki University, Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Saija Kiljunen
- Human Microbiome Research Program, Research Programs Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, HUS Diagnostic Center, Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa, Helsinki, Finland.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
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: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Al-Madboly LA, Abdelaziz AA, Abo-Kamer AM, Nosair AM, Abdelkader K. Characterization and genomic analysis of novel bacteriophage NK20 to revert colistin resistance and combat pandrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in a rat respiratory infection model. Life Sci 2023; 322:121639. [PMID: 37001805 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.121639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023]
Abstract
AIM We investigated the therapeutic capacity of the isolated Klebsiella bacteriophage NK20 against pandrug-resistant strains. Moreover, we assessed the impact of resistance development on the overall therapeutic outcome both in vitro and in vivo. MAIN METHODS The pandrug-resistant K. pneumoniae Kp20 is used as a host strain for the isolation of bacteriophages using sewage samples. Spot assay was then used to compare the spectra of the isolated phages, while kinetic and genomic analysis of the phage with the broadest spectrum was assessed. Antibacterial potential of the phage was assessed using turbidimetric assay and MIC with and without colistin. Finally, the therapeutic efficacy was evaluated in vivo using a rat respiratory infection model. KEY FINDINGS The isolated lytic bacteriophage (NK20) showed a relatively broad spectrum and an acceptable genomic profile. In vitro antibacterial assay revealed bacterial resistance development after 12 h. Colistin inhibited bacterial regrowth and reduced pandrug-resistant strains' colistin MICs. Despite the isolation of resistant clones, intranasal administration of NK20 significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the bacterial load in both the pulmonary and blood compartments and rescued 100 % of challenged rats. Histological and immunological analysis of treated animals' lung tissue revealed less inflammation and lower TNF-α and caspase-3 expression. SIGNIFICANCE NK20 is a promising candidate that rescued rats from untreatable, pan-drug-resistant K. pneumoniae Kp20. Moreover, it steers the evolution of resistant mutants with higher sensitivity to colistin and less virulence, opening the door for using phages as sensitizing and anti-virulence entities rather than direct killer.
Collapse
|
11
|
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: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
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: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 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.
Collapse
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.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Abdelaziz AA, Abo Kamer AM, Nosair AM, Al-Madboly LA. Exploring the potential efficacy of phage therapy for biocontrol of foodborne pathogenic extensively drug-resistant Escherichia coli in gastrointestinal tract of rat model. Life Sci 2023; 315:121362. [PMID: 36610637 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2022.121362] [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: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 12/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
AIM The emergence of extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Escherichia coli leaves little or no therapeutic options for the control of these foodborne pathogens. The goal is to isolate, characterize, and assess the potential efficacy of a bacteriophage in the treatment of an induced gastrointestinal tract infection. MAIN METHODS Sewage water was used to isolate phage phPE42. Transmission electron microscope was used for the visualization of phage morphology. Lysis profile, growth kinetics, and stability studies were determined. The ability of phage to eradicate biofilms was assessed by crystal violet staining, resazurin assay, compound bright field microscope, and confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM). Moreover, the efficacy of phage phPE42 as a potential therapy was evaluated in a rat model. KEY FINDINGS A newly lytic Myoviridae phage phPE42 was isolated and exhibited broad coverage activity (48.6 %) against E. coli clinical isolates. It demonstrated favorable growth kinetics and relative stability under a variety of challenging conditions. The resazurin colorimetric assay and CLSM provided evidence of phage potential's ability to significantly (P < 0.05) decrease the viability of biofilm-embedded cells. The bacterial burden in animal faeces was effectively eradicated (P < 0.05) by oral administration of phage phPE42. Phage-treated rats exhibited a significant decrease in tissue damage with no signs of inflammation, necrosis, or erosion. Furthermore, phage therapy significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the expression level of the apoptotic marker caspase-3 and the inflammatory cytokine TNF-α. SIGNIFICANCE Treatment with phage phPE42 is considered a promising alternative therapy for the control of severe foodborne infections spurred by pathogenic XDR E. coli.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed A Abdelaziz
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt.
| | - Amal M Abo Kamer
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt.
| | - Ahmed M Nosair
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt.
| | - Lamiaa A Al-Madboly
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Characterization of newly isolated bacteriophage to control multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonizing incision wounds in a rat model: in vitro and in vivo approach. Life Sci 2022; 310:121085. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2022.121085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
|
15
|
Arshinov IR, Antonova NP, Grigoriev IV, Pochtovyi AA, Tkachuk AP, Gushchin VA, Vasina DV. Engineered Endolysin LysECD7-SMAP Reveals Antimicrobial Synergy with Antibiotics and Restores Sensitivity in Gram-negative Pathogens. APPL BIOCHEM MICRO+ 2022. [DOI: 10.1134/s0003683822100027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
|
16
|
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.
Collapse
|
17
|
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: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [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.
Collapse
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,
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Rai S, Kumar A. Bacteriophage therapeutics to confront multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii - a global health menace. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2022; 14:347-364. [PMID: 34196126 DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.12988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
We have already entered the post-antibiotic era as the outbreaks of numerous multidrug-resistant strains in the community as well as hospital-acquired infections are ringing alarm bells in the health sector. Acinetobacter baumannii is one such pathogen that has been considered a worldwide threat as it acquires multidrug resistance. It is one of the most challenging hospital-acquired pathogens as World Health Organization has listed carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii as a critical priority pathogen with limited therapeutic options. There is an urgent need to develop novel strategies against such pathogens to tackle the global crisis. Bacteriophages (phages), especially the lytic ones have re-emerged as a potential therapeutic approach. This review encompasses vast majority of phages against A. baumannii strains with special references related to single phage or monophage therapy, use of phage cocktails, combination therapy with antibiotics, use of phage-derived enzymes like endolysins and depolymerases to combat the pathogen and explore their therapeutic aspects. The concurrent ecological as well as evolutionary interplay between the phages and host bacteria demands in depth-research and knowledge, so as to utilize the maximum potential of the bacteriophage therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sandhya Rai
- Department of Zoology, Deshbandhu College, University of Delhi, New Delhi, 110019, India
| | - Amod Kumar
- Department of Zoology, Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi, New Delhi, 110007, India
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Abdelkader K, Gutiérrez D, Latka A, Boeckaerts D, Drulis-Kawa Z, Criel B, Gerstmans H, Safaan A, Khairalla AS, Gaber Y, Dishisha T, Briers Y. The Specific Capsule Depolymerase of Phage PMK34 Sensitizes Acinetobacter baumannii to Serum Killing. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:antibiotics11050677. [PMID: 35625321 PMCID: PMC9137491 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11050677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The rising antimicrobial resistance is particularly alarming for Acinetobacter baumannii, calling for the discovery and evaluation of alternatives to treat A. baumannii infections. Some bacteriophages produce a structural protein that depolymerizes capsular exopolysaccharide. Such purified depolymerases are considered as novel antivirulence compounds. We identified and characterized a depolymerase (DpoMK34) from Acinetobacter phage vB_AbaP_PMK34 active against the clinical isolate A. baumannii MK34. In silico analysis reveals a modular protein displaying a conserved N-terminal domain for anchoring to the phage tail, and variable central and C-terminal domains for enzymatic activity and specificity. AlphaFold-Multimer predicts a trimeric protein adopting an elongated structure due to a long α-helix, an enzymatic β-helix domain and a hypervariable 4 amino acid hotspot in the most ultimate loop of the C-terminal domain. In contrast to the tail fiber of phage T3, this hypervariable hotspot appears unrelated with the primary receptor. The functional characterization of DpoMK34 revealed a mesophilic enzyme active up to 50 °C across a wide pH range (4 to 11) and specific for the capsule of A. baumannii MK34. Enzymatic degradation of the A. baumannii MK34 capsule causes a significant drop in phage adsorption from 95% to 9% after 5 min. Although lacking intrinsic antibacterial activity, DpoMK34 renders A. baumannii MK34 fully susceptible to serum killing in a serum concentration dependent manner. Unlike phage PMK34, DpoMK34 does not easily select for resistant mutants either against PMK34 or itself. In sum, DpoMK34 is a potential antivirulence compound that can be included in a depolymerase cocktail to control difficult to treat A. baumannii infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karim Abdelkader
- Department of Biotechnology, Ghent University, Valentin Vaerwyckweg 1, 9000 Gent, Belgium; (K.A.); (D.G.); (A.L.); (D.B.); (B.C.); (H.G.)
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef 62511, Egypt; (A.S.K.); (Y.G.); (T.D.)
| | - Diana Gutiérrez
- Department of Biotechnology, Ghent University, Valentin Vaerwyckweg 1, 9000 Gent, Belgium; (K.A.); (D.G.); (A.L.); (D.B.); (B.C.); (H.G.)
| | - Agnieszka Latka
- Department of Biotechnology, Ghent University, Valentin Vaerwyckweg 1, 9000 Gent, Belgium; (K.A.); (D.G.); (A.L.); (D.B.); (B.C.); (H.G.)
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Institute of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Wroclaw, Przybyszewskiego 63, 51-148 Wrocław, Poland;
| | - Dimitri Boeckaerts
- Department of Biotechnology, Ghent University, Valentin Vaerwyckweg 1, 9000 Gent, Belgium; (K.A.); (D.G.); (A.L.); (D.B.); (B.C.); (H.G.)
- Department of Data Analysis and Mathematical Modelling, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Zuzanna Drulis-Kawa
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Institute of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Wroclaw, Przybyszewskiego 63, 51-148 Wrocław, Poland;
| | - Bjorn Criel
- Department of Biotechnology, Ghent University, Valentin Vaerwyckweg 1, 9000 Gent, Belgium; (K.A.); (D.G.); (A.L.); (D.B.); (B.C.); (H.G.)
- Department of Data Analysis and Mathematical Modelling, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Hans Gerstmans
- Department of Biotechnology, Ghent University, Valentin Vaerwyckweg 1, 9000 Gent, Belgium; (K.A.); (D.G.); (A.L.); (D.B.); (B.C.); (H.G.)
- Laboratory of Gene Technology, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 21, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Willem de Croylaan 42, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Amal Safaan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Menoufia University, Shebin El-Koum 51132, Egypt;
| | - Ahmed S. Khairalla
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef 62511, Egypt; (A.S.K.); (Y.G.); (T.D.)
- Department of Biology, University of Regina, Regina, SK S4S 0A2, Canada
| | - Yasser Gaber
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef 62511, Egypt; (A.S.K.); (Y.G.); (T.D.)
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mutah University, Karak 61710, Jordan
| | - Tarek Dishisha
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef 62511, Egypt; (A.S.K.); (Y.G.); (T.D.)
| | - Yves Briers
- Department of Biotechnology, Ghent University, Valentin Vaerwyckweg 1, 9000 Gent, Belgium; (K.A.); (D.G.); (A.L.); (D.B.); (B.C.); (H.G.)
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Hong HW, Kim YD, Jang J, Kim MS, Song M, Myung H. Combination Effect of Engineered Endolysin EC340 With Antibiotics. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:821936. [PMID: 35242119 PMCID: PMC8886149 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.821936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophage lysins, also known as endolysins or murein hydrolases, are hydrolytic enzymes produced by bacteriophages during the final stage of the lytic cycle to enable cleavage through the host's cell wall, thus allowing the phages to burst out of their host bacteria after multiplication inside them. When applied externally to Gram-negative bacteria as recombinant proteins, lysins cannot easily reach the cell wall due to the presence of an outer membrane (OM). In this study, endolysin EC340 obtained from phage PBEC131 infecting Escherichia coli was engineered for improved OM permeability and increased activity against Gram-negative bacteria. The engineered endolysin, LNT113, was tested for potential synergistic effects with standard-of-care antibiotics. A synergistic effect was demonstrated with colistin, while an additive effect was seen with meropenem, tigecycline, chloramphenicol, azithromycin, and ciprofloxacin. Neither ceftazidime nor kanamycin showed any synergy or additive effects with the LNT113 endolysin. Moreover, synergy and additive effects could not be generalized by antibiotic class, OM traverse mechanism, molecular weight, or the bactericidal nature of each antibiotic tested.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hye-Won Hong
- LyseNTech Co., Ltd., Seongnam-si, South Korea
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Yongin-si, South Korea
| | | | | | - Min Soo Kim
- LyseNTech Co., Ltd., Seongnam-si, South Korea
| | - Miryoung Song
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Yongin-si, South Korea
| | - Heejoon Myung
- LyseNTech Co., Ltd., Seongnam-si, South Korea
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Yongin-si, South Korea
- The Bacteriophage Bank of Korea, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Yongin-si, South Korea
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Vasina DV, Antonova NP, Grigoriev IV, Yakimakha VS, Lendel AM, Nikiforova MA, Pochtovyi AA, Remizov TA, Usachev EV, Shevlyagina NV, Zhukhovitsky VG, Fursov MV, Potapov VD, Vorobev AM, Aleshkin AV, Laishevtsev AI, Makarov VV, Yudin SM, Tkachuk AP, Gushchin VA. Discovering the Potentials of Four Phage Endolysins to Combat Gram-Negative Infections. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:748718. [PMID: 34721353 PMCID: PMC8548769 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.748718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Endolysin-based therapeutics are promising antibacterial agents and can successfully supplement the existing antibacterial drugs array. It is specifically important in the case of Gram-negative pathogens, e.g., ESKAPE group bacteria, which includes Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter species, and are highly inclined to gain multiple antibiotic resistance. Despite numerous works devoted to the screening of new lytic enzymes and investigations of their biochemical properties, there are significant breaches in some aspects of their operating characteristics, including safety issues of endolysin use. Here, we provide a comprehensive study of the antimicrobial efficacy aspects of four Gram-negative bacteria-targeting endolysins LysAm24, LysAp22, LysECD7, and LysSi3, their in vitro and in vivo activity, and their biological safety. These endolysins possess a wide spectrum of action, are active against planktonic bacteria and bacterial biofilms, and are effective in wound and burn skin infection animal models. In terms of safety, these enzymes do not contribute to the development of short-term resistance, are not cytotoxic, and do not significantly affect the normal intestinal microflora in vivo. Our results provide a confident base for the development of effective and safe candidate dosage forms for the treatment of local and systemic infections caused by Gram-negative bacterial species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daria V Vasina
- Laboratory of Pathogen Population Variability Mechanisms, N. F. Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Nataliia P Antonova
- Laboratory of Pathogen Population Variability Mechanisms, N. F. Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Igor V Grigoriev
- Translational Biomedicine Laboratory, N. F. Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | | | - Anastasiya M Lendel
- Laboratory of Pathogen Population Variability Mechanisms, N. F. Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia.,Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Maria A Nikiforova
- Laboratory of Pathogen Population Variability Mechanisms, N. F. Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Andrei A Pochtovyi
- Laboratory of Pathogen Population Variability Mechanisms, N. F. Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia.,Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Timofey A Remizov
- Translational Biomedicine Laboratory, N. F. Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Evgeny V Usachev
- Laboratory of Pathogen Population Variability Mechanisms, N. F. Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Natalia V Shevlyagina
- Laboratory of Indication and Ultrastructural Analysis of Microorganisms, N. F. Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladimir G Zhukhovitsky
- Laboratory of Indication and Ultrastructural Analysis of Microorganisms, N. F. Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia.,Russian Medical Academy of Continuing Professional Education (RMANPO), Ministry of Public Health, Moscow, Russia
| | - Mikhail V Fursov
- Aerobiological Laboratory, State Research Center for Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, Obolensk, Russia
| | - Vasiliy D Potapov
- Aerobiological Laboratory, State Research Center for Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, Obolensk, Russia
| | - Aleksei M Vorobev
- Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology and Biotechnology of Bacteriophages, G. N. Gabrichevsky Moscow Research Institute for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Andrey V Aleshkin
- Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology and Biotechnology of Bacteriophages, G. N. Gabrichevsky Moscow Research Institute for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Aleksei I Laishevtsev
- Laboratory for Diagnostics and Control of Antibiotic Resistance of the Most Clinically Significant Pathogens of Animals, Federal State Budget Scientific Institution "Federal Scientific Centre VIEV" (FSC VIEV), Moscow, Russia
| | - Valentine V Makarov
- Center for Strategic Planning of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Sergey M Yudin
- Center for Strategic Planning of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Artem P Tkachuk
- Translational Biomedicine Laboratory, N. F. Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladimir A Gushchin
- Laboratory of Pathogen Population Variability Mechanisms, N. F. Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia.,Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Engineering a lysin with intrinsic antibacterial activity (LysMK34) with cecropin A enhances its antibacterial properties against Acinetobacter baumannii. Appl Environ Microbiol 2021; 88:e0151521. [PMID: 34669452 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01515-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophage-encoded lysins are increasingly reported as alternatives to combat Acinetobacter baumannii infections for which limited therapeutic options are available. Some lysins such as LysMK34 have a C-terminal amphipathic helix allowing them to penetrate the otherwise impermeable outer membrane barrier. Another approach to kill Gram-negative pathogens with lysins relies on fusion of a peptide with outer membrane permeabilizing properties to the lysin. In this work, we aimed to leverage the intrinsic antibacterial activity of LysMK34 by fusing the peptide cecropin A to its N-terminus via a linker of three Ala-Gly repeats, resulting in eLysMK34. The engineered lysin has an improved antibacterial activity compared to the parental lysin LysMK34 in terms of minimum inhibitory concentration (0.45 - 1.2 μM), killing rate and killing extent. eLysMK34 has an at least two-fold increased activity against stationary-phase cells and the bactericidal effect becomes less dependent on the intracellular osmotic pressure. Particularly colistin-resistant strains become highly susceptible to eLysMK34 and enhanced antibacterial activity is observed in complement-deactivated human serum. These observations demonstrate that fusion of a lysin with intrinsic antibacterial activity with a selected outer membrane permeabilizing peptide is a useful strategy to further improve the in vitro antibacterial properties of such lysins. Importance Phage lysins are a new class of enzyme-based antibiotics that increasingly gain interest. Lysins kill cells through rapid degradation of the peptidoglycan layer, resulting in sudden osmotic lysis. Whereas Gram-positive bacteria are readily susceptible to the action of lysins, Gram-negative bacteria are naturally resistant as the outer membrane protects their peptidoglycan layer. This work reveals that fusing an outer membrane permeabilizing peptide to a lysin with intrinsic antibacterial activity results in a superior lysin that shows improved robustness in its antibacterial activity, including against the most worrisome colistin-resistant strains A. baumannii.
Collapse
|
23
|
Mousavi SM, Babakhani S, Moradi L, Karami S, Shahbandeh M, Mirshekar M, Mohebi S, Moghadam MT. Bacteriophage as a Novel Therapeutic Weapon for Killing Colistin-Resistant Multi-Drug-Resistant and Extensively Drug-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria. Curr Microbiol 2021; 78:4023-4036. [PMID: 34633487 PMCID: PMC8503728 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-021-02662-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Colistin-resistant multidrug-resistant (MDR), extensively drug-resistant (XDR), and pan-drug-resistant (PDR) bacteria are highly lethal and many researchers have tried hard to combat these microorganisms around the world. Infections caused by these bacteria are resistant to the last resort of antibiotic therapy and have posed a major challenge in clinical and public health. Since the production of new antibiotics is very expensive and also very slow compared to the increasing rate of antibiotic resistance, researchers are suggesting the use of natural substances with high antibacterial potential. Bacteriophages are one of the most effective therapeutic measures that are known to exist for use for incurable and highly resistant infections. Phages are highly taken into consideration due to the lack of side effects, potential spread to various body organs, distinct modes of action from antibiotics, and proliferation at the site of infection. Although the effects of phages on MDR and XDR bacteria have been demonstrated in various studies, only a few have investigated the effect of phage therapy on colistin-resistant isolates. Therefore, in this review, we discuss the problems caused by colistin-resistant MDR and XDR bacteria in the clinics, explain the different mechanisms associated with colistin resistance, introduce bacteriophage therapy as a powerful remedy, and finally present new studies that have used bacteriophages against colistin-resistant isolates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Sajad Babakhani
- Department of Microbiology, Tehran North Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Leila Moradi
- Department of Microbiology, Zanjan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Saina Karami
- Student Research Committee, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Mahsa Shahbandeh
- Young Researchers and Elite Club, Saveh Branch, Islamic Azad University, Saveh, Iran
| | - Maryam Mirshekar
- Department of Microbiology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Samane Mohebi
- Department of Bacteriology and Virology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Majid Taati Moghadam
- Department of Microbiology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
- Student Research Committee, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
The resident TP712 prophage of Lactococcus lactis MG1363 provides extra holin functions to the new P335 phage CAP for effective host lysis. Appl Environ Microbiol 2021; 87:e0109221. [PMID: 34260308 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01092-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Prophages are widely present in Lactococcus lactis, a lactic acid bacterium (LAB) that plays a key role in dairy fermentations. L. lactis MG1363 is a laboratory strain used worldwide as a model LAB. Initially regarded as plasmid- and prophage-free, MG1363 carries two complete prophages TP712 and MG-3. Only TP712 seems to be inducible but unable to lyse the host. Several so-called TP712 lysogens able to lyse upon prophage induction were reported in the past, but the reason for their lytic phenotype remained unknown. In this work, we describe CAP, a new P335 prophage detected in the "lytic TP712 lysogens", which had remained unnoticed. CAP is able to excise after mitomycin C treatment, along with TP712, and able to infect L. lactis MG1363-like strains but not the lytic TP712 lysogens. Both phages cooperate for efficient host lysis. While the expression in trans of the CAP lytic genes was sufficient to trigger cell lysis, this process was boosted when the resident TP712 prophage was concomitantly induced. Introduction of mutations into the TP712 lytic genes revealed that its holin but not its endolysin plays a major role. Accordingly, it is shown that the lytic activity of the recombinant CAP endolysin relies on membrane depolarization. Revisiting the seminal work to generate the extensively used L. lactis MG1363 strain led us to conclude that the CAP phage was originally present in its ancestor L. lactis NCDO712 and our results solved long-standing mysteries around the MG1363 resident prophage TP712 reported in the "pre-sequencing" era. Importance Prophages are bacterial viruses that integrate in the chromosome of bacteria until an environmental trigger induces their lytic cycle ending with lysis of the host. Prophages present in dairy starters can compromise milk fermentation and represent a serious threat in dairy plants. In this work, we have discovered that two temperate phages TP712 and CAP infecting the laboratory strain Lactococcus lactis MG1363 join forces to lyse the host. Based on the in vitro lytic activity of the LysCAP endolysin, in combination with mutated versions of TP712 lacking either its holin or endolysin, we conclude that this cooperation relies on the combined activity of the holins of both phages that boost the activity of LysCAP. The presence of an additional prophage explains the lytic phenotype of the formerly thought to be single TP712 lysogens that had remained a mystery for many years.
Collapse
|
25
|
Hassan AY, Lin JT, Ricker N, Anany H. The Age of Phage: Friend or Foe in the New Dawn of Therapeutic and Biocontrol Applications? Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:199. [PMID: 33670836 PMCID: PMC7997343 DOI: 10.3390/ph14030199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Extended overuse and misuse of antibiotics and other antibacterial agents has resulted in an antimicrobial resistance crisis. Bacteriophages, viruses that infect bacteria, have emerged as a legitimate alternative antibacterial agent with a wide scope of applications which continue to be discovered and refined. However, the potential of some bacteriophages to aid in the acquisition, maintenance, and dissemination of negatively associated bacterial genes, including resistance and virulence genes, through transduction is of concern and requires deeper understanding in order to be properly addressed. In particular, their ability to interact with mobile genetic elements such as plasmids, genomic islands, and integrative conjugative elements (ICEs) enables bacteriophages to contribute greatly to bacterial evolution. Nonetheless, bacteriophages have the potential to be used as therapeutic and biocontrol agents within medical, agricultural, and food processing settings, against bacteria in both planktonic and biofilm environments. Additionally, bacteriophages have been deployed in developing rapid, sensitive, and specific biosensors for various bacterial targets. Intriguingly, their bioengineering capabilities show great promise in improving their adaptability and effectiveness as biocontrol and detection tools. This review aims to provide a balanced perspective on bacteriophages by outlining advantages, challenges, and future steps needed in order to boost their therapeutic and biocontrol potential, while also providing insight on their potential role in contributing to bacterial evolution and survival.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Y. Hassan
- Guelph Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Guelph, ON N1G 5C9, Canada;
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Biological Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada;
| | - Janet T. Lin
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Biological Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada;
| | - Nicole Ricker
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada;
| | - Hany Anany
- Guelph Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Guelph, ON N1G 5C9, Canada;
- Department of Food Science, Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
LysSAP26, a New Recombinant Phage Endolysin with a Broad Spectrum Antibacterial Activity. Viruses 2020; 12:v12111340. [PMID: 33238548 PMCID: PMC7700246 DOI: 10.3390/v12111340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria are a major threat to public health. Bacteriophage endolysins (lysins) are a promising alternative treatment to traditional antibiotics. However, the lysins currently under development are still underestimated. Herein, we cloned the lysin from the SAP-26 bacteriophage genome. The recombinant LysSAP26 protein inhibited the growth of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium with minimum inhibitory concentrations of 5~80 µg/mL. In animal experiments, mice infected with A. baumannii were protected by LysSAP26, with a 40% survival rate. Transmission electron microscopy analysis confirmed that LysSAP26 treatment resulted in the destruction of bacterial cell walls. LysSAP26 is a new endolysin that can be applied to treat MDR A. baumannii, E. faecium, S. aureus, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, and E. coli infections, targeting both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.
Collapse
|