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Nakonieczna A, Abramowicz K, Kwiatek M, Kowalczyk E. Lysins as a powerful alternative to combat Bacillus anthracis. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 108:366. [PMID: 38850320 PMCID: PMC11162388 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-024-13194-3] [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: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
This review gathers all, to the best of our current knowledge, known lysins, mainly bacteriophage-derived, that have demonstrated activity against Bacillus anthracis strains. B. anthracis is a spore-forming, toxin-producing bacteria, naturally dwelling in soil. It is best known as a potential biowarfare threat, an etiological agent of anthrax, and a severe zoonotic disease. Anthrax can be treated with antibiotics (ciprofloxacin, penicillin, doxycycline); however, their administration may take up even to 60 days, and different factors can compromise their effectiveness. Bacterial viruses, bacteriophages (phages), are natural enemies of bacteria and use their lytic enzymes, endolysins (lysins), to specifically kill bacterial cells. Harnessing the potential of lysins to combat bacterial infections holds promise for diminishing antibiotic usage and, consequently, addressing the escalating antibiotic resistance in bacteria. In this context, we list the lysins with the activity against B. anthracis, providing a summary of their lytic properties in vitro and the outcomes observed in animal models. Bacillus cereus strain ATCC 4342/RSVF1, a surrogate for B. anthracis, was also included as a target bacteria. KEY POINTS: • More than a dozen different B. anthracis lysins have been identified and studied. • They fall into three blocks regarding their amino acid sequence similarity and most of them are amidases. • Lysins could be used in treating B. anthracis infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Nakonieczna
- Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Biological Threats Identification and Countermeasure Center, Puławy, 24-100, Poland.
| | - Karolina Abramowicz
- Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Biological Threats Identification and Countermeasure Center, Puławy, 24-100, Poland
| | - Magdalena Kwiatek
- Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Biological Threats Identification and Countermeasure Center, Puławy, 24-100, Poland
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Mehmood Khan F, Manohar P, Singh Gondil V, Mehra N, Kayode Oyejobi G, Odiwuor N, Ahmad T, Huang G. The applications of animal models in phage therapy: An update. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2023; 19:2175519. [PMID: 36935353 PMCID: PMC10072079 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2023.2175519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The rapid increase in antibiotic resistance presents a dire situation necessitating the need for alternative therapeutic agents. Among the current alternative therapies, phage therapy (PT) is promising. This review extensively summarizes preclinical PT approaches in various in-vivo models. PT has been evaluated in several recent clinical trials. However, there are still several unanswered concerns due to a lack of appropriate regulation and pharmacokinetic data regarding the application of phages in human therapeutic procedures. In this review, we also presented the current state of PT and considered how animal models can be used to adapt these therapies for humans. The development of realistic solutions to circumvent these constraints is critical for advancing this technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fazal Mehmood Khan
- College of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.,Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.,Institute for Innovative Development of Food Industry, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.,Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Prasanth Manohar
- School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, India
| | - Vijay Singh Gondil
- Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, China.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Nancy Mehra
- Department of Pediatrics, Advanced Pediatrics Centre, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Greater Kayode Oyejobi
- Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, China.,Department of Microbiology, Osun State University, Osogbo, Nigeria.,School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Nelson Odiwuor
- Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, China.,International College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Microbiology, Sino-Africa Joint Research Centre, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Tauseef Ahmad
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Guangtao Huang
- Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Shenzhen Institute of Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.,Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China.,Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Nakonieczna A, Rutyna P, Fedorowicz M, Kwiatek M, Mizak L, Łobocka M. Three Novel Bacteriophages, J5a, F16Ba, and z1a, Specific for Bacillus anthracis, Define a New Clade of Historical Wbeta Phage Relatives. Viruses 2022; 14:v14020213. [PMID: 35215807 PMCID: PMC8878798 DOI: 10.3390/v14020213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Revised: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacillus anthracis is a potent biowarfare agent, able to be highly lethal. The bacteria dwell in the soil of certain regions, as natural flora. Bacteriophages or their lytic enzymes, endolysins, may be an alternative for antibiotics and other antibacterials to fight this pathogen in infections and to minimize environmental contamination with anthrax endospores. Upon screening environmental samples from various regions in Poland, we isolated three new siphophages, J5a, F16Ba, and z1a, specific for B. anthracis. They represent new species related to historical anthrax phages Gamma, Cherry, and Fah, and to phage Wbeta of Wbetavirus genus. We show that the new phages and their closest relatives, phages Tavor_SA, Negev_SA, and Carmel_SA, form a separate clade of the Wbetavirus genus, designated as J5a clade. The most distinctive feature of J5a clade phages is their cell lysis module. While in the historical phages it encodes a canonical endolysin and a class III holin, in J5a clade phages it encodes an endolysin with a signal peptide and two putative holins. We present the basic characteristic of the isolated phages. Their comparative genomic analysis indicates that they encode two receptor-binding proteins, of which one may bind a sugar moiety of B. anthracis cell surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Nakonieczna
- Biological Threats Identification and Countermeasure Center, Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, 24-100 Pulawy, Poland; (P.R.); (M.F.); (M.K.); (L.M.)
- Correspondence: (A.N.); (M.Ł.)
| | - Paweł Rutyna
- Biological Threats Identification and Countermeasure Center, Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, 24-100 Pulawy, Poland; (P.R.); (M.F.); (M.K.); (L.M.)
| | - Magdalena Fedorowicz
- Biological Threats Identification and Countermeasure Center, Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, 24-100 Pulawy, Poland; (P.R.); (M.F.); (M.K.); (L.M.)
| | - Magdalena Kwiatek
- Biological Threats Identification and Countermeasure Center, Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, 24-100 Pulawy, Poland; (P.R.); (M.F.); (M.K.); (L.M.)
| | - Lidia Mizak
- Biological Threats Identification and Countermeasure Center, Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, 24-100 Pulawy, Poland; (P.R.); (M.F.); (M.K.); (L.M.)
| | - Małgorzata Łobocka
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics of the Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
- Correspondence: (A.N.); (M.Ł.)
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Ben-Zaken H, Kraitman R, Coppenhagen-Glazer S, Khalifa L, Alkalay-Oren S, Gelman D, Ben-Gal G, Beyth N, Hazan R. Isolation and Characterization of Streptococcus mutans Phage as a Possible Treatment Agent for Caries. Viruses 2021; 13:825. [PMID: 34063251 PMCID: PMC8147482 DOI: 10.3390/v13050825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus mutans is a key bacterium in dental caries, one of the most prevalent chronic infectious diseases. Conventional treatment fails to specifically target the pathogenic bacteria, while tending to eradicate commensal bacteria. Thus, caries remains one of the most common and challenging diseases. Phage therapy, which involves the use of bacterial viruses as anti-bacterial agents, has been gaining interest worldwide. Nevertheless, to date, only a few phages have been isolated against S. mutans. In this study, we describe the isolation and characterization of a new S. mutans phage, termed SMHBZ8, from hundreds of human saliva samples that were collected, filtered, and screened. The SMHBZ8 genome was sequenced and analyzed, visualized by TEM, and its antibacterial properties were evaluated in various states. In addition, we tested the lytic efficacy of SMHBZ8 against S. mutans in a human cariogenic dentin model. The isolation and characterization of SMHBZ8 may be the first step towards developing a potential phage therapy for dental caries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hadar Ben-Zaken
- Department of Prosthodontics, Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91120, Israel; (H.B.-Z.); (R.K.); (G.B.-G.); (N.B.)
- Institute of Biomedical and Oral Research (IBOR), Faculty of Dental Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91120, Israel; (S.C.-G.); (L.K.); (S.A.-O.); (D.G.)
| | - Reut Kraitman
- Department of Prosthodontics, Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91120, Israel; (H.B.-Z.); (R.K.); (G.B.-G.); (N.B.)
- Institute of Biomedical and Oral Research (IBOR), Faculty of Dental Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91120, Israel; (S.C.-G.); (L.K.); (S.A.-O.); (D.G.)
| | - Shunit Coppenhagen-Glazer
- Institute of Biomedical and Oral Research (IBOR), Faculty of Dental Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91120, Israel; (S.C.-G.); (L.K.); (S.A.-O.); (D.G.)
| | - Leron Khalifa
- Institute of Biomedical and Oral Research (IBOR), Faculty of Dental Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91120, Israel; (S.C.-G.); (L.K.); (S.A.-O.); (D.G.)
| | - Sivan Alkalay-Oren
- Institute of Biomedical and Oral Research (IBOR), Faculty of Dental Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91120, Israel; (S.C.-G.); (L.K.); (S.A.-O.); (D.G.)
| | - Daniel Gelman
- Institute of Biomedical and Oral Research (IBOR), Faculty of Dental Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91120, Israel; (S.C.-G.); (L.K.); (S.A.-O.); (D.G.)
| | - Gilad Ben-Gal
- Department of Prosthodontics, Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91120, Israel; (H.B.-Z.); (R.K.); (G.B.-G.); (N.B.)
| | - Nurit Beyth
- Department of Prosthodontics, Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91120, Israel; (H.B.-Z.); (R.K.); (G.B.-G.); (N.B.)
| | - Ronen Hazan
- Institute of Biomedical and Oral Research (IBOR), Faculty of Dental Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91120, Israel; (S.C.-G.); (L.K.); (S.A.-O.); (D.G.)
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Complete Genome Sequences of Two Enterococcus faecalis Bacteriophages, EFGrKN and EFGrNG, Targeted to Phage Therapy. Microbiol Resour Announc 2021; 10:10/16/e00126-21. [PMID: 33888497 PMCID: PMC8063640 DOI: 10.1128/mra.00126-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
EFGrKN and EFGrNG are new Enterococcus faecalis phages that were isolated from sewage samples as part of the Israeli Phage Bank (IPB). The complete genomes were sequenced, analyzed, and deposited in GenBank. According to their lytic activity in vitro, it seems that these phages have a potential to be used in future phage therapy treatments. EFGrKN and EFGrNG are new Enterococcus faecalis phages that were isolated from sewage samples as part of the Israeli Phage Bank (IPB). The complete genomes were sequenced, analyzed, and deposited in GenBank. According to their lytic activity in vitro, it seems that these phages have a potential to be used in future phage therapy treatments.
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Complete Genome Sequences of Two Klebsiella pneumoniae Phages Isolated as Part of an International Effort. Microbiol Resour Announc 2019; 8:8/38/e00843-19. [PMID: 31537666 PMCID: PMC6753270 DOI: 10.1128/mra.00843-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
We report the genomic sequences of phages KpCHEMY26 and KpGranit, isolated in Israel during a worldwide effort against a multidrug- and phage-resistant strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae from a patient in Finland. These results demonstrate the importance of an efficient worldwide network for collaborating in personalized therapy for infectious diseases. We report the genomic sequences of phages KpCHEMY26 and KpGranit, isolated in Israel during a worldwide effort against a multidrug- and phage-resistant strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae from a patient in Finland. These results demonstrate the importance of an efficient worldwide network for collaborating in personalized therapy for infectious diseases.
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Gelman D, Beyth S, Lerer V, Adler K, Poradosu-Cohen R, Coppenhagen-Glazer S, Hazan R. Combined bacteriophages and antibiotics as an efficient therapy against VRE Enterococcus faecalis in a mouse model. Res Microbiol 2018; 169:531-539. [PMID: 29777835 DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2018.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2018] [Revised: 04/06/2018] [Accepted: 04/17/2018] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
Clinical applications of bacteriophage therapy have been recently gathering significant attention worldwide, used mostly as rescue therapy in cases of near-fatal antibiotic failure. Thus, clinically relevant in-vivo models presenting both short- and long-term implications of phage therapy given as rescue treatment for fulminant infections are of highest importance. In this study, a cocktail consisting of two lytic bacteriophages was used to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of phage therapy as a rescue treatment for severe septic peritonitis in a mouse model. We established that a single injection of the bacteriophage cocktail was sufficient to completely reverse a 100% mortality trend caused by Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus faecalis, with significant improvement in both the clinical state and laboratory test results, and without harmful effects on the microbiome. The combination of bacteriophages with a suboptimal antibiotic regimen imparts an additional beneficial effect on the treatment success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Gelman
- Institute of Dental Sciences, Faculty of Dental Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Hadassah Campus, P.O.B 12272, Jerusalem, 91120, Israel; The Military Track of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University - Hadassah School of Medicine, Hadassah Campus, P.O.B 12272, Jerusalem, 91120, Israel.
| | - Shaul Beyth
- Orthopedic Surgery Department, Hadassah Medical Center, Hadassah University Hospital, P.O.B 12000, Jerusalem, 91120, Israel.
| | - Vanda Lerer
- Institute of Dental Sciences, Faculty of Dental Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Hadassah Campus, P.O.B 12272, Jerusalem, 91120, Israel.
| | - Karen Adler
- Institute of Dental Sciences, Faculty of Dental Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Hadassah Campus, P.O.B 12272, Jerusalem, 91120, Israel.
| | - Ronit Poradosu-Cohen
- Department of Infectious Diseases of Sourasky Medical Center and Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
| | - Shunit Coppenhagen-Glazer
- Institute of Dental Sciences, Faculty of Dental Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Hadassah Campus, P.O.B 12272, Jerusalem, 91120, Israel.
| | - Ronen Hazan
- Institute of Dental Sciences, Faculty of Dental Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Hadassah Campus, P.O.B 12272, Jerusalem, 91120, Israel.
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