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Kajsikova M, Kajsik M, Bocanova L, Papayova K, Drahovska H, Bukovska G. Endolysin EN572-5 as an alternative to treat urinary tract infection caused by Streptococcus agalactiae. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 108:79. [PMID: 38189950 PMCID: PMC10774192 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12949-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B Streptococcus, GBS) is an opportunistic pathogen causing urinary tract infection (UTI). Endolysin EN572-5 was identified in prophage KMB-572-E of the human isolate Streptococcus agalactiae KMB-572. The entire EN572-5 gene was cloned into an expression vector and the corresponding recombinant protein EN572-5 was expressed in Escherichia coli in a soluble form, isolated by affinity chromatography, and characterized. The isolated protein was highly active after 30 min incubation in a temperature range of - 20 °C to 37 °C and in a pH range of 5.5-8.0. The endolysin EN572-5 lytic activity was tested on different Streptococcus spp. and Lactobacillus spp. The enzyme lysed clinical GBS (n = 31/31) and different streptococci (n = 6/8), and also exhibited moderate lytic activity against UPEC (n = 4/4), but no lysis of beneficial vaginal lactobacilli (n = 4) was observed. The ability of EN572-5 to eliminate GBS during UTI was investigated using an in vitro model of UPSA. After the administration of 3 μM EN572-5, a nearly 3-log decrease of urine bacterial burden was detected within 3 h. To date, no studies have been published on the use of endolysins against S. agalactiae during UTI. KEY POINTS: • A lytic protein, EN572-5, from a prophage of a human GBS isolate has been identified. • This protein is easily produced, simple to prepare, and stable after lyophilization. • The bacteriolytic activity of EN572-5 was demonstrated for the first time in human urine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Kajsikova
- Department of Genomics and Biotechnology, Institute of Molecular Biology SAS, Dubravska cesta 21, 845 51, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Michal Kajsik
- Comenius University Science Park, Ilkovicova 8, 841 04, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Lucia Bocanova
- Department of Genomics and Biotechnology, Institute of Molecular Biology SAS, Dubravska cesta 21, 845 51, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Kristina Papayova
- Department of Genomics and Biotechnology, Institute of Molecular Biology SAS, Dubravska cesta 21, 845 51, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Hana Drahovska
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Ilkovicova 6, 841 15, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Gabriela Bukovska
- Department of Genomics and Biotechnology, Institute of Molecular Biology SAS, Dubravska cesta 21, 845 51, Bratislava, Slovakia.
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Vasina DV, Antonova NP, Gushchin VA, Aleshkin AV, Fursov MV, Fursova AD, Gancheva PG, Grigoriev IV, Grinkevich P, Kondratev AV, Kostarnoy AV, Lendel AM, Makarov VV, Nikiforova MA, Pochtovyi AA, Prudnikova T, Remizov TA, Shevlyagina NV, Siniavin AE, Smirnova NS, Terechov AA, Tkachuk AP, Usachev EV, Vorobev AM, Yakimakha VS, Yudin SM, Zackharova AA, Zhukhovitsky VG, Logunov DY, Gintsburg AL. Development of novel antimicrobials with engineered endolysin LysECD7-SMAP to combat Gram-negative bacterial infections. J Biomed Sci 2024; 31:75. [PMID: 39044206 PMCID: PMC11267749 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-024-01065-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Among the non-traditional antibacterial agents in development, only a few targets critical Gram-negative bacteria such as carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii or cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. Endolysins and their genetically modified versions meet the World Health Organization criteria for innovation, have a novel mode of antibacterial action, no known bacterial cross-resistance, and are being intensively studied for application against Gram-negative pathogens. METHODS The study presents a multidisciplinary approach, including genetic engineering of LysECD7-SMAP and production of recombinant endolysin, its analysis by crystal structure solution following molecular dynamics simulations and evaluation of antibacterial properties. Two types of antimicrobial dosage forms were formulated, resulting in lyophilized powder for injection and hydroxyethylcellulose gel for topical administration. Their efficacy was estimated in the treatment of sepsis, and pneumonia models in BALB/c mice, diabetes-associated wound infection in the leptin receptor-deficient db/db mice and infected burn wounds in rats. RESULTS In this work, we investigate the application strategies of the engineered endolysin LysECD7-SMAP and its dosage forms evaluated in preclinical studies. The catalytic domain of the enzyme shares the conserved structure of endopeptidases containing a putative antimicrobial peptide at the C-terminus of polypeptide chain. The activity of endolysins has been demonstrated against a range of pathogens, such as Klebsiella pneumoniae, A. baumannii, P. aeruginosa, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Achromobacter spp, Burkholderia cepacia complex and Haemophylus influenzae, including those with multidrug resistance. The efficacy of candidate dosage forms has been confirmed in in vivo studies. Some aspects of the interaction of LysECD7-SMAP with cell wall molecular targets are also discussed. CONCLUSIONS Our studies demonstrate the potential of LysECD7-SMAP therapeutics for the systemic or topical treatment of infectious diseases caused by susceptible Gram-negative bacterial species and are critical to proceed LysECD7-SMAP-based antimicrobials trials to advanced stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daria V Vasina
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Nataliia P Antonova
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladimir A Gushchin
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
- Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Andrey V Aleshkin
- G.N. Gabrichevsky Moscow Research Institute for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Mikhail V Fursov
- State Research Center for Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, Obolensk, Russia
| | - Anastasiia D Fursova
- State Research Center for Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, Obolensk, Russia
| | - Petya G Gancheva
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Igor V Grigoriev
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Pavel Grinkevich
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Alexey V Kondratev
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexey V Kostarnoy
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Anastasiya M Lendel
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
- Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Valentine V Makarov
- Centre for Strategic Planning and Management of Biomedical Health Risks of the Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russia
| | - Maria A Nikiforova
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Andrei A Pochtovyi
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
- Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Tatiana Prudnikova
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Timofey A Remizov
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Natalia V Shevlyagina
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Andrei E Siniavin
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Nina S Smirnova
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander A Terechov
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Artem P Tkachuk
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Evgeny V Usachev
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Aleksei M Vorobev
- G.N. Gabrichevsky Moscow Research Institute for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Victoria S Yakimakha
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Sergey M Yudin
- Centre for Strategic Planning and Management of Biomedical Health Risks of the Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russia
| | - Anastasia A Zackharova
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladimir G Zhukhovitsky
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
- Russian Medical Academy of Continuing Professional Education (RMANPO), Ministry of Public Health, Moscow, Russia
| | - Denis Y Logunov
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander L Gintsburg
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
- Department of Infectiology and Virology, Federal State Autonomous Educational Institution of Higher Education I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia
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Hülpüsch C, Rohayem R, Reiger M, Traidl-Hoffmann C. Exploring the skin microbiome in atopic dermatitis pathogenesis and disease modification. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2024; 154:31-41. [PMID: 38761999 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2024.04.029] [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: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
Inflammatory skin diseases such as atopic eczema (atopic dermatitis [AD]) affect children and adults globally. In AD, the skin barrier is impaired on multiple levels. Underlying factors include genetic, chemical, immunologic, and microbial components. Increased skin pH in AD is part of the altered microbial microenvironment that promotes overgrowth of the skin microbiome with Staphylococcus aureus. The secretion of virulence factors, such as toxins and proteases, by S aureus further aggravates the skin barrier deficiency and additionally disrupts the balance of an already skewed immune response. Skin commensal bacteria, however, can inhibit the growth and pathogenicity of S aureus through quorum sensing. Therefore, restoring a healthy skin microbiome could contribute to remission induction in AD. This review discusses direct and indirect approaches to targeting the skin microbiome through modulation of the skin pH; UV treatment; and use of prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics. Furthermore, exploratory techniques such as skin microbiome transplantation, ozone therapy, and phage therapy are discussed. Finally, we summarize the latest findings on disease and microbiome modification through targeted immunomodulatory systemic treatments and biologics. We believe that targeting the skin microbiome should be considered a crucial component of successful AD treatment in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Hülpüsch
- Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany; Institute of Environmental Medicine, Helmholtz Center Munich-German Research Center for Environmental Health, Augsburg, Germany; Christine-Kühne Center for Allergy Research and Education, Davos, Switzerland
| | - Robin Rohayem
- Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany; Christine-Kühne Center for Allergy Research and Education, Davos, Switzerland; Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Matthias Reiger
- Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany; Institute of Environmental Medicine, Helmholtz Center Munich-German Research Center for Environmental Health, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann
- Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany; Chair of Environmental Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany; Institute of Environmental Medicine, Helmholtz Center Munich-German Research Center for Environmental Health, Augsburg, Germany; Christine-Kühne Center for Allergy Research and Education, Davos, Switzerland; ZIEL-Institute for Food & Health, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany.
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Kairamkonda M, Saxena H, Gulati K, Poluri KM. Analyzing the impact of T7L variants overexpression on the metabolic profile of Escherichia coli. Metabolomics 2024; 20:68. [PMID: 38941046 DOI: 10.1007/s11306-024-02133-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Exploring metabolic changes within host E. coli through an untargeted metabolomic study of T7L variants overexpression to optimize engineered endolysins for clinical/therapeutic use. AIM AND OBJECTIVE This study aims to assess the impact of overexpressing T7L variants on the metabolic profiles of E. coli. The two variants considered include T7L-H37A, which has enhanced lytic activity compared to its wild-type protein, and T7L-H48K, a dead mutant with no significant activity. METHODS 1H NMR-based metabolomics was employed to compare the metabolic profiles of E. coli cells overexpressing T7L wild-type protein and its variants. RESULTS Overexpression of the T7L wild-type (T7L-WT) protein and its variants (T7L-H48K and T7L-H37A) was compared to RNAP overexpression in E. coli cells using 1H NMR-based metabolomics, analyzing a total of 75 annotated metabolites, including organic acids, amino acids, sugars, and nucleic acids. The results showed distinct clustering patterns for the two T7L variant groups compared with the WT, in which the dead mutant (H48K) group showed clustering close to that of RNAP. Pathway impact analysis revealed different effects of T7L variants on E. coli metabolic profiles, with T7L-H48K showing minimal alterations in energy and amino acid pathways linked to osmotic stress compared to noticeable alterations in these pathways for both T7L-H37A and T7L-WT. CONCLUSIONS This study uncovered distinct metabolic fingerprints when comparing the overexpression of active and inactive mutants of T7L lytic enzymes in E. coli cells. These findings could contribute to the optimization and enhancement of suitable endolysins as potential alternatives to antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manikyaprabhu Kairamkonda
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, 247667, India
| | - Harshi Saxena
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, 247667, India
| | - Khushboo Gulati
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, 247667, India
| | - Krishna Mohan Poluri
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, 247667, India.
- Centre for Nanotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, 247667, India.
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Zhang Y, Li R, Zou G, Guo Y, Wu R, Zhou Y, Chen H, Zhou R, Lavigne R, Bergen PJ, Li J, Li J. Discovery of Antimicrobial Lysins from the "Dark Matter" of Uncharacterized Phages Using Artificial Intelligence. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024:e2404049. [PMID: 38899839 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202404049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
The rapid rise of antibiotic resistance and slow discovery of new antibiotics have threatened global health. While novel phage lysins have emerged as potential antibacterial agents, experimental screening methods for novel lysins pose significant challenges due to the enormous workload. Here, the first unified software package, namely DeepLysin, is developed to employ artificial intelligence for mining the vast genome reservoirs ("dark matter") for novel antibacterial phage lysins. Putative lysins are computationally screened from uncharacterized Staphylococcus aureus phages and 17 novel lysins are randomly selected for experimental validation. Seven candidates exhibit excellent in vitro antibacterial activity, with LLysSA9 exceeding that of the best-in-class alternative. The efficacy of LLysSA9 is further demonstrated in mouse bloodstream and wound infection models. Therefore, this study demonstrates the potential of integrating computational and experimental approaches to expedite the discovery of new antibacterial proteins for combating increasing antimicrobial resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Key Laboratory of Environment Correlative Dietology, College of Biomedicine and Health, Shenzhen Institute of Nutrition and Health, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Runze Li
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Key Laboratory of Environment Correlative Dietology, College of Biomedicine and Health, Shenzhen Institute of Nutrition and Health, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Geng Zou
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Key Laboratory of Environment Correlative Dietology, College of Biomedicine and Health, Shenzhen Institute of Nutrition and Health, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Yating Guo
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Key Laboratory of Environment Correlative Dietology, College of Biomedicine and Health, Shenzhen Institute of Nutrition and Health, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Renwei Wu
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Key Laboratory of Environment Correlative Dietology, College of Biomedicine and Health, Shenzhen Institute of Nutrition and Health, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Yang Zhou
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Key Laboratory of Environment Correlative Dietology, College of Biomedicine and Health, Shenzhen Institute of Nutrition and Health, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Huanchun Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Key Laboratory of Environment Correlative Dietology, College of Biomedicine and Health, Shenzhen Institute of Nutrition and Health, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Rui Zhou
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Key Laboratory of Environment Correlative Dietology, College of Biomedicine and Health, Shenzhen Institute of Nutrition and Health, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Rob Lavigne
- Department of Biosystems, Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU Leuven, Leuven, 3001, Belgium
| | - Phillip J Bergen
- Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, 3800, Australia
| | - Jian Li
- Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, 3800, Australia
| | - Jinquan Li
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Key Laboratory of Environment Correlative Dietology, College of Biomedicine and Health, Shenzhen Institute of Nutrition and Health, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, 518000, China
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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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Carratalá JV, Ferrer-Miralles N, Garcia-Fruitós E, Arís A. LysJEP8: A promising novel endolysin for combating multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. Microb Biotechnol 2024; 17:e14483. [PMID: 38864495 PMCID: PMC11167605 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.14483] [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: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an escalating global health crisis, driven by the overuse and misuse of antibiotics. Multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Klebsiella pneumoniae, are particularly concerning due to their high morbidity and mortality rates. In this context, endolysins, derived from bacteriophages, offer a promising alternative to traditional antibiotics. This study introduces LysJEP8, a novel endolysin derived from Escherichia phage JEP8, which exhibits remarkable antimicrobial activity against key Gram-negative members of the ESKAPE group. Comparative assessments highlight LysJEP8's superior performance in reducing bacterial survival rates compared to previously described endolysins, with the most significant impact observed against P. aeruginosa, and notable effects on A. baumannii and K. pneumoniae. The study found that LysJEP8, as predicted by in silico analysis, worked best at lower pH values but lost its effectiveness at salt concentrations close to physiological levels. Importantly, LysJEP8 exhibited remarkable efficacy in the disruption of P. aeruginosa biofilms. This research underscores the potential of LysJEP8 as a valuable candidate for the development of innovative antibacterial agents, particularly against Gram-negative pathogens, and highlights opportunities for further engineering and optimization to address AMR effectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose Vicente Carratalá
- Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Ruminant Production, Institute of Agriculture and Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA), Barcelona, Spain
- Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine Networking Biomedical Research Centre (CIBER-BBN), Madrid, Spain
| | - Neus Ferrer-Miralles
- Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine Networking Biomedical Research Centre (CIBER-BBN), Madrid, Spain
| | - Elena Garcia-Fruitós
- Department of Ruminant Production, Institute of Agriculture and Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna Arís
- Department of Ruminant Production, Institute of Agriculture and Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA), Barcelona, Spain
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Sabri M, El Handi K, Cara O, De Stradis A, Valentini F, Elbeaino T. Xylella phage MATE 2: a novel bacteriophage with potent lytic activity against Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1412650. [PMID: 38863752 PMCID: PMC11165191 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1412650] [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: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Xylella fastidiosa (Xf) is a major phytosanitary threat to global agricultural production. The complexity and difficulty of controlling Xf underscore the pressing need for novel antibacterial agents, i.e., bacteriophages, which are natural predators of bacteria. In this study, a novel lytic bacteriophage of Xf subsp. pauca, namely Xylella phage MATE 2 (MATE 2), was isolated from sewage water in southern Italy. Biological characterization showed that MATE 2 possessed a broad-spectrum of antibacterial activity against various phytobacteria within the family Xanthomonadaceae, a rapid adsorption time (10 min), and high resistance to a broad range of pH (4-10) and temperatures (4-60°C). Most importantly, MATE 2 was able to suppress the growth of Xf subsp. pauca cells in liquid culture for 7 days, demonstrating its potential as an effective antibacterial agent against Xf. The genomic and electron microscopy analyses revealed that MATE 2 is a new species tentatively belonging to the genus Carpasinavirus within the class Caudoviricetes, with an isometric capsid head of 60 ± 5 nm along with a contractile tail of 120 ± 7.5 nm. Furthermore, the high-throughput sequencing and de novo assembly generated a single contig of 63,695 nucleotides in length; representing a complete genome composed of 95 Open Reading Frames. Bioinformatics analysis performed on MATE 2 genome revealed the absence of lysogenic mediated genes, and genes encoding virulence factors, antibiotic resistance, and toxins. This study adds a new phage to the very short list of Xf-infecting lytic phages, whose in-vitro antibacterial activity has been ascertained, while its efficacy on Xf-infected olive trees in the field has yet to be determined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miloud Sabri
- International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM of Bari), Valenzano, Italy
| | - Kaoutar El Handi
- International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM of Bari), Valenzano, Italy
| | - Orges Cara
- International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM of Bari), Valenzano, Italy
- Department of Soil, Plant and Food Science, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Angelo De Stradis
- Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection (IPSP), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Franco Valentini
- International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM of Bari), Valenzano, Italy
| | - Toufic Elbeaino
- International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM of Bari), Valenzano, Italy
- Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection (IPSP), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Portici, Italy
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9
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Chen W, Han LM, Chen XZ, Yi PC, Li H, Ren YY, Gao JH, Zhang CY, Huang J, Wang WX, Hu ZL, Hu CM. Engineered endolysin of Klebsiella pneumoniae phage is a potent and broad-spectrum bactericidal agent against "ESKAPEE" pathogens. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1397830. [PMID: 38784808 PMCID: PMC11112412 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1397830] [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: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The rise of antimicrobial resistance in ESKAPEE pathogens poses significant clinical challenges, especially in polymicrobial infections. Bacteriophage-derived endolysins offer promise in combating this crisis, but face practical hurdles. Our study focuses on engineering endolysins from a Klebsiella pneumoniae phage, fusing them with ApoE23 and COG133 peptides. We assessed the resulting chimeric proteins' bactericidal activity against ESKAPEE pathogens in vitro. ApoE23-Kp84B (CHU-1) reduced over 3 log units of CFU for A. baumannii, E. faecalis, K. pneumoniae within 1 h, while COG133-Kp84B (CHU-2) showed significant efficacy against S. aureus. COG133-L1-Kp84B, with a GS linker insertion in CHU-2, exhibited outstanding bactericidal activity against E. cloacae and P. aeruginosa. Scanning electron microscopy revealed alterations in bacterial morphology after treatment with engineered endolysins. Notably, CHU-1 demonstrated promising anti-biofilm and anti-persister cell activity against A. baumannii and E. faecalis but had limited efficacy in a bacteremia mouse model of their coinfection. Our findings advance the field of endolysin engineering, facilitating the customization of these proteins to target specific bacterial pathogens. This approach holds promise for the development of personalized therapies tailored to combat ESKAPEE infections effectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Chen
- Department of Tuberculosis, The Second Hospital of Nanjing, Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Li-Mei Han
- Department of Tuberculosis, The Second Hospital of Nanjing, Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
- Clinical Research Center, The Second Hospital of Nanjing, Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiu-Zhen Chen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Hospital of Nanjing, Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Peng-Cheng Yi
- Department of Tuberculosis, The Second Hospital of Nanjing, Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Hui Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Yun-Yao Ren
- Department of Tuberculosis, The Second Hospital of Nanjing, Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Jing-Han Gao
- Clinical Research Center, The Second Hospital of Nanjing, Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Cai-Yun Zhang
- Clinical Research Center, The Second Hospital of Nanjing, Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Jing Huang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Hospital of Nanjing, Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Wei-Xiao Wang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Hospital of Nanjing, Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhi-Liang Hu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Hospital of Nanjing, Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
- Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chun-Mei Hu
- Department of Tuberculosis, The Second Hospital of Nanjing, Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
- Innovation Center for Infectious Diseases of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing, China
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10
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Liu H, Wei X, Wang Z, Huang X, Li M, Hu Z, Zhang K, Hu Q, Peng H, Shang W, Yang Y, Wang Y, Lu S, Rao X. LysSYL: a broad-spectrum phage endolysin targeting Staphylococcus species and eradicating S. aureus biofilms. Microb Cell Fact 2024; 23:89. [PMID: 38528536 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-024-02359-4] [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: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Staphylococcus aureus and its single or mixed biofilm infections seriously threaten global public health. Phage therapy, which uses active phage particles or phage-derived endolysins, has emerged as a promising alternative strategy to antibiotic treatment. However, high-efficient phage therapeutic regimens have yet to be established. RESULTS In this study, we used an enrichment procedure to isolate phages against methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) XN108. We characterized phage SYL, a new member of the Kayvirus genus, Herelleviridae family. The phage endolysin LysSYL was expressed. LysSYL demonstrated stability under various conditions and exhibited a broader range of efficacy against staphylococcal strains than its parent phage (100% vs. 41.7%). Moreover, dynamic live/dead bacterial observation demonstrated that LysSYL could completely lyse MRSA USA300 within 10 min. Scan and transmission electron microscopy revealed evident bacterial cell perforation and deformation. In addition, LysSYL displayed strong eradication activity against single- and mixed-species biofilms associated with S. aureus. It also had the ability to kill bacterial persisters, and proved highly effective in eliminating persistent S. aureus when combined with vancomycin. Furthermore, LysSYL protected BALB/c mice from lethal S. aureus infections. A single-dose treatment with 50 mg/kg of LysSYL resulted in a dramatic reduction in bacterial loads in the blood, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys of a peritonitis mouse model, which resulted in rescuing 100% of mice challenged with 108 colony forming units of S. aureus USA300. CONCLUSIONS Overall, the data provided in this study highlight the strong therapeutic potential of endolysin LysSYL in combating staphylococcal infections, including mono- and mixed-species biofilms related to S. aureus.
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Affiliation(s)
- He Liu
- Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Microbial Engineering Under the Educational Committee in Chongqing, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Xuemei Wei
- Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400700, China
| | - Zhefen Wang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650032, Yunnan Province, China
| | - Xiaonan Huang
- Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Microbial Engineering Under the Educational Committee in Chongqing, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Mengyang Li
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China
| | - Zhen Hu
- Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Microbial Engineering Under the Educational Committee in Chongqing, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Kexin Zhang
- Immunology Research Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400700, China
| | - Qiwen Hu
- Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Microbial Engineering Under the Educational Committee in Chongqing, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Huagang Peng
- Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Microbial Engineering Under the Educational Committee in Chongqing, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Weilong Shang
- Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Microbial Engineering Under the Educational Committee in Chongqing, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Yi Yang
- Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Microbial Engineering Under the Educational Committee in Chongqing, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Yuting Wang
- Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Microbial Engineering Under the Educational Committee in Chongqing, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Shuguang Lu
- Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Microbial Engineering Under the Educational Committee in Chongqing, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China.
| | - Xiancai Rao
- Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Microbial Engineering Under the Educational Committee in Chongqing, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China.
- Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400700, China.
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11
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Kang D, Bagchi D, Chen IA. Pharmacokinetics and Biodistribution of Phages and their Current Applications in Antimicrobial Therapy. ADVANCED THERAPEUTICS 2024; 7:2300355. [PMID: 38933919 PMCID: PMC11198966 DOI: 10.1002/adtp.202300355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance remains a critical global health concern, necessitating the investigation of alternative therapeutic approaches. With the diminished efficacy of conventional small molecule drugs due to the emergence of highly resilient bacterial strains, there is growing interest in the potential for alternative therapeutic modalities. As naturally occurring viruses of bacteria, bacteriophage (or phage) are being re-envisioned as a platform to engineer properties that can be tailored to target specific bacterial strains and employ diverse antibacterial mechanisms. However, limited understanding of key pharmacological properties of phage is a major challenge to translating its use from preclinical to clinical settings. Here, we review modern advancements in phage-based antimicrobial therapy and discuss the in vivo pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of phage, addressing critical challenges in their application that must be overcome for successful clinical implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dayeon Kang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, 90024 USA
| | - Damayanti Bagchi
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, 90024 USA
| | - Irene A. Chen
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, 90024 USA
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12
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Asadi-Saghandi A, Bandehpour M, Hashemi A, Kazemi B. Enzymatic and antibacterial activity of the recombinant endolysin PVP-SE1gp146 expressed in Hansenula polymorpha. Protein Expr Purif 2024; 215:106402. [PMID: 37956916 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2023.106402] [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: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance, a major global concern, highlights the need for discovering alternative therapies. Recently, endolysins have garnered attention as antibacterial tools with a lower resistance development rate compared to conventional antibiotics, and their production in various expression hosts holds significance. Given its generally recognized as safe (GRAS) status and other advantages, Hansenula polymorpha offers a promising host for endolysin production. PVP-SE1gp146 originates from the Salmonella Enteritidis-specific phage PVP-SE1, which has been previously characterized. We inserted the PVP-SE1gp146 coding gene into the H. polymorpha expression vector pHIPX4. The resulting recombinant, pHIPX4-PVP-SE1gp146, was then introduced into H. polymorpha NCYC495 to facilitate the production of the endolysin PVP-SE1gp146. The expression level of the PVP-SE1gp146 protein was assessed, and it was determined to be approximately 43 mg/l of yeast culture medium. The enzymatic (muralytic) activity of this endolysin was also evaluated, corresponding to the version produced by the E. coli Bl21 strain. The endolysin exhibited admissible antibacterial activity against several gram-negative species, including P. aeruginosa, E. coli, and A. baumannii, while showing an almost negligible impact on K. pneumoniae. Endolysin production within GRAS-approved hosts holds potential for combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Challenges involve optimizing concentrations, targeting gram-negative species and improving attachment to bacterial cell walls. Addressing these issues requires dedicated research in endolysin engineering and a comprehensive evaluation of their production in diverse expression hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abolghasem Asadi-Saghandi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mojgan Bandehpour
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Ali Hashemi
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Bahram Kazemi
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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13
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Golosova NN, Matveev AL, Tikunova NV, Khlusevich YA, Kozlova YN, Morozova VV, Babkin IV, Ushakova TA, Zhirakovskaya EV, Panina EA, Ryabchikova EI, Tikunov AY. Bacteriophage vB_SepP_134 and Endolysin LysSte_134_1 as Potential Staphylococcus-Biofilm-Removing Biological Agents. Viruses 2024; 16:385. [PMID: 38543751 PMCID: PMC10975630 DOI: 10.3390/v16030385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacteria of the genus Staphylococcus are significant challenge for medicine, as many species are resistant to multiple antibiotics and some are even to all of the antibiotics we use. One of the approaches to developing new therapeutics to treat staphylococcal infections is the use of bacteriophages specific to these bacteria or the lytic enzymes of such bacteriophages, which are capable of hydrolyzing the cell walls of these bacteria. In this study, a new bacteriophage vB_SepP_134 (St 134) specific to Staphylococcus epidermidis was described. This podophage, with a genome of 18,275 bp, belongs to the Andhravirus genus. St 134 was able to infect various strains of 12 of the 21 tested coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species and one clinical strain from the Staphylococcus aureus complex. The genes encoding endolysin (LysSte134_1) and tail tip lysin (LysSte134_2) were identified in the St 134 genome. Both enzymes were cloned and produced in Escherichia coli cells. The endolysin LysSte134_1 demonstrated catalytic activity against peptidoglycans isolated from S. aureus, S. epidermidis, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, and Staphylococcus warneri. LysSte134_1 was active against S. aureus and S. epidermidis planktonic cells and destroyed the biofilms formed by clinical strains of S. aureus and S. epidermidis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Artem Y. Tikunov
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia; (N.N.G.); (N.V.T.); (Y.A.K.); (Y.N.K.); (V.V.M.); (I.V.B.); (T.A.U.); (E.A.P.); (E.I.R.)
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14
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Samir S. Molecular Machinery of the Triad Holin, Endolysin, and Spanin: Key Players Orchestrating Bacteriophage-Induced Cell Lysis and their Therapeutic Applications. Protein Pept Lett 2024; 31:85-96. [PMID: 38258777 DOI: 10.2174/0109298665181166231212051621] [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: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Phage therapy, a promising alternative to combat multidrug-resistant bacterial infections, harnesses the lytic cycle of bacteriophages to target and eliminate bacteria. Key players in this process are the phage lysis proteins, including holin, endolysin, and spanin, which work synergistically to disrupt the bacterial cell wall and induce lysis. Understanding the structure and function of these proteins is crucial for the development of effective therapies. Recombinant versions of these proteins have been engineered to enhance their stability and efficacy. Recent progress in the field has led to the approval of bacteriophage-based therapeutics as drugs, paving the way for their clinical use. These proteins can be combined in phage cocktails or combined with antibiotics to enhance their activity against bacterial biofilms, a common cause of treatment failure. Animal studies and clinical trials are being conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of phage therapy in humans. Overall, phage therapy holds great potential as a valuable tool in the fight against multidrug- resistant bacteria, offering hope for the future of infectious disease treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Safia Samir
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Giza, Egypt
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15
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Pottie I, Vázquez Fernández R, Van de Wiele T, Briers Y. Phage lysins for intestinal microbiome modulation: current challenges and enabling techniques. Gut Microbes 2024; 16:2387144. [PMID: 39106212 PMCID: PMC11305034 DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2024.2387144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2024] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 08/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The importance of the microbiota in the intestinal tract for human health has been increasingly recognized. In this perspective, microbiome modulation, a targeted alteration of the microbial composition, has gained interest. Phage lysins, peptidoglycan-degrading enzymes encoded by bacteriophages, are a promising new class of antibiotics currently under clinical development for treating bacterial infections. Due to their high specificity, lysins are considered microbiome-friendly. This review explores the opportunities and challenges of using lysins as microbiome modulators. First, the high specificity of endolysins, which can be further modulated using protein engineering or targeted delivery methods, is discussed. Next, obstacles and possible solutions to assess the microbiome-friendliness of lysins are considered. Finally, lysin delivery to the intestinal tract is discussed, including possible delivery methods such as particle-based and probiotic vehicles. Mapping the hurdles to developing lysins as microbiome modulators and identifying possible ways to overcome these hurdles can help in their development. In this way, the application of these innovative antimicrobial agents can be expanded, thereby taking full advantage of their characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris Pottie
- Laboratory of Applied Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
- Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
| | - Roberto Vázquez Fernández
- Laboratory of Applied Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Madrid, Spain
| | - Tom Van de Wiele
- Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
| | - Yves Briers
- Laboratory of Applied Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
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16
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Atto B, Anteneh Y, Bialasiewicz S, Binks MJ, Hashemi M, Hill J, Thornton RB, Westaway J, Marsh RL. The Respiratory Microbiome in Paediatric Chronic Wet Cough: What Is Known and Future Directions. J Clin Med 2023; 13:171. [PMID: 38202177 PMCID: PMC10779485 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13010171] [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: 10/29/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Chronic wet cough for longer than 4 weeks is a hallmark of chronic suppurative lung diseases (CSLD), including protracted bacterial bronchitis (PBB), and bronchiectasis in children. Severe lower respiratory infection early in life is a major risk factor of PBB and paediatric bronchiectasis. In these conditions, failure to clear an underlying endobronchial infection is hypothesised to drive ongoing inflammation and progressive tissue damage that culminates in irreversible bronchiectasis. Historically, the microbiology of paediatric chronic wet cough has been defined by culture-based studies focused on the detection and eradication of specific bacterial pathogens. Various 'omics technologies now allow for a more nuanced investigation of respiratory pathobiology and are enabling development of endotype-based models of care. Recent years have seen substantial advances in defining respiratory endotypes among adults with CSLD; however, less is understood about diseases affecting children. In this review, we explore the current understanding of the airway microbiome among children with chronic wet cough related to the PBB-bronchiectasis diagnostic continuum. We explore concepts emerging from the gut-lung axis and multi-omic studies that are expected to influence PBB and bronchiectasis endotyping efforts. We also consider how our evolving understanding of the airway microbiome is translating to new approaches in chronic wet cough diagnostics and treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brianna Atto
- School of Health Sciences, University of Tasmania, Launceston, TAS 7248, Australia;
| | - Yitayal Anteneh
- Child and Maternal Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT 0811, Australia; (Y.A.); (M.J.B.); (J.W.)
| | - Seweryn Bialasiewicz
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia;
| | - Michael J. Binks
- Child and Maternal Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT 0811, Australia; (Y.A.); (M.J.B.); (J.W.)
- SAHMRI Women and Kids, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Mostafa Hashemi
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada; (M.H.); (J.H.)
| | - Jane Hill
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada; (M.H.); (J.H.)
- Spire Health Technology, PBC, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Ruth B. Thornton
- Centre for Child Health Research, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia;
- Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases, Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Jacob Westaway
- Child and Maternal Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT 0811, Australia; (Y.A.); (M.J.B.); (J.W.)
- Centre for Tropical Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Robyn L. Marsh
- School of Health Sciences, University of Tasmania, Launceston, TAS 7248, Australia;
- Child and Maternal Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT 0811, Australia; (Y.A.); (M.J.B.); (J.W.)
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17
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Garvey M. Medical Device-Associated Healthcare Infections: Sterilization and the Potential of Novel Biological Approaches to Ensure Patient Safety. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:201. [PMID: 38203372 PMCID: PMC10778788 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Healthcare-associated infections caused by multi-drug-resistant pathogens are increasing globally, and current antimicrobial options have limited efficacy against these robust species. The WHO details the critically important bacterial and fungal species that are often associated with medical device HAIs. The effective sterilization of medical devices plays a key role in preventing infectious disease morbidity and mortality. A lack of adherence to protocol and limitations associated with each sterilization modality, however, allows for the incidence of disease. Furthermore, issues relating to carcinogenic emissions from ethylene oxide gas (EtO) have motivated the EPA to propose limiting EtO use or seeking alternative sterilization methods for medical devices. The Food and Drug Administration supports the sterilization of healthcare products using low-temperature VH2O2 as an alternative to EtO. With advances in biomaterial and medical devices and the increasing use of combination products, current sterilization modalities are becoming limited. Novel approaches to disinfection and sterilization of medical devices, biomaterials, and therapeutics are warranted to safeguard public health. Bacteriophages, endolysins, and antimicrobial peptides are considered promising options for the prophylactic and meta-phylactic control of infectious diseases. This timely review discusses the application of these biologics as antimicrobial agents against critically important WHO pathogens, including ESKAPE bacterial species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Garvey
- Department of Life Science, Atlantic Technological University, F91 YW50 Sligo, Ireland;
- Centre for Precision Engineering, Materials and Manufacturing Research (PEM), Atlantic Technological University, F91 YW50 Sligo, Ireland
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18
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Son SM, Kim J, Ryu S. Development of sensitizer peptide-fused endolysin Lys1S-L9P acting against multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1296796. [PMID: 38075915 PMCID: PMC10701683 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1296796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The advent of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria poses a major threat to public health, garnering attention to novel antibiotic replacements. Endolysin, a bacteriophage-derived cell wall-degrading enzyme, is a promising alternative to conventional antibiotics. However, it is challenging to control Gram-negative bacteria due to the presence of the outer membrane that shields the peptidoglycan layer from enzymatic degradation. To overcome this threshold, we constructed the fusion endolysin Lys1S-L9P by combining endolysin LysSPN1S with KL-L9P, a sensitizer peptide known to extend efficacy of antibiotics by perturbing the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. In addition, we established a new endolysin purification procedure that increases solubility allowing a 4-fold increase in production yield of Lys1S-L9P. The sensitizer peptide-fused endolysin Lys1S-L9P exhibited high bactericidal effects against many MDR Gram-negative pathogens and was more effective in eradicating biofilms compared to LysSPN1S. Moreover, Lys1S-L9P showed potential for clinical use, maintaining stability at various storage temperatures without cytotoxicity against human cells. In the in vivo Galleria mellonella model, Lys1S-L9P demonstrated potent antibacterial activity against MDR Gram-negative bacteria without inducing any toxic activity. This study suggest that Lys1S-L9P could be a potential biocontrol agent to combat MDR Gram-negative bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su Min Son
- Department of Food and Animal Biotechnology, Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Center for Food and Bioconvergence, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Joonbeom Kim
- Department of Food and Animal Biotechnology, Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sangryeol Ryu
- Department of Food and Animal Biotechnology, Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Center for Food and Bioconvergence, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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19
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McCallin S, Drulis-Kawa Z, Ferry T, Pirnay JP, Nir-Paz R. Phages and phage-borne enzymes as new antibacterial agents. Clin Microbiol Infect 2023:S1198-743X(23)00528-1. [PMID: 37866680 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2023.10.018] [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: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Persistent and resistant infections caused by bacteria are increasing in numbers and pose a treatment challenge to the medical community and public health. However, solutions with new agents that will enable effective treatment are lacking or delayed by complex development and authorizations. Bacteriophages are known as a possible solution for invasive infections for decades but were seldom used in the Western world. OBJECTIVES To provide an overview of the current status and emerging use of bacteriophage therapy and phage-based products, as well as touch on the socioeconomic and regulatory issues surrounding their development. SOURCES Peer-reviewed articles and authors' first-hand experience. CONTENT Although phage therapy is making a comeback since its early discovery, there are many hurdles to its current use. The lack of appropriate standardized bacterial susceptibility testing; lack of a simple business model and authorization for the need of many phages to treat a single species infection; and the lack of knowledge on predictable outcome measures are just a few examples. In this review, we explore the possible routes for phage use, either based on local specialty centres or by industry; the current status of phage therapy, which is mainly based on single-centre or single-bacterial cohorts, and emerging clinical trials; local country-level frameworks for phage utilization even without full authorization; and the use of phage-derived products as alternatives to antibiotics. We also explore what may be the current indications based on the possible availability of phages. IMPLICATIONS Although phages are emerging as a potential treatment for non-resolving and life-threatening infections, the models for their use and production still need to be defined by the medical community, regulatory bodies, and industry. Bacteriophages may have a great potential for infection treatment but many aspects still need to be defined before their routine use in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shawna McCallin
- Department of Neuro-Urology, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland; ESGNTA - ESCMID study group for non-traditional antibacterials, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Zuzanna Drulis-Kawa
- ESGNTA - ESCMID study group for non-traditional antibacterials, Basel, Switzerland; Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Tristan Ferry
- ESGNTA - ESCMID study group for non-traditional antibacterials, Basel, Switzerland; Centre interrégional de référence pour la prise en charge des infections ostéoarticulaires complexes, CRIOAc Lyon, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France; Infectious Diseases, Hôpital de la Croix-Rousse, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France; CIRI-Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Inserm, Universite Claude Bernard Lyon, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Univ Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Jean-Paul Pirnay
- ESGNTA - ESCMID study group for non-traditional antibacterials, Basel, Switzerland; Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Technology, Queen Astrid Military Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Ran Nir-Paz
- ESGNTA - ESCMID study group for non-traditional antibacterials, Basel, Switzerland; Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel; Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel; Israeli Phage Therapy Center of Hadassah Medical Center and the Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel.
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20
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Nazir A, Xu X, Liu Y, Chen Y. Phage Endolysins: Advances in the World of Food Safety. Cells 2023; 12:2169. [PMID: 37681901 PMCID: PMC10486871 DOI: 10.3390/cells12172169] [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: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
As antimicrobial resistance continues to escalate, the exploration of alternative approaches to safeguard food safety becomes more crucial than ever. Phage endolysins are enzymes derived from phages that possess the ability to break down bacterial cell walls. They have emerged as promising antibacterial agents suitable for integration into food processing systems. Their application as food preservatives can effectively regulate pathogens, thus contributing to an overall improvement in food safety. This review summarizes the latest techniques considering endolysins' potential for food safety. These techniques include native and engineered endolysins for controlling bacterial contamination at different points within the food production chain. However, we find that characterizing endolysins through in vitro methods proves to be time consuming and resource intensive. Alternatively, the emergence of advanced high-throughput sequencing technology necessitates the creation of a robust computational framework to efficiently characterize recently identified endolysins, paving the way for future research. Machine learning encompasses potent tools capable of analyzing intricate datasets and pattern recognition. This study briefly reviewed the use of these industry 4.0 technologies for advancing the research in food industry. We aimed to provide current status of endolysins in food industry and new insights by implementing these industry 4.0 strategies revolutionizes endolysin development. It will enhance food safety, customization, efficiency, transparency, and collaboration while reducing regulatory hurdles and ensuring timely product availability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amina Nazir
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Breeding, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China; (A.N.); (X.X.); (Y.L.)
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-Omics of MARA, Jinan 250100, China
| | - Xiaohui Xu
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Breeding, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China; (A.N.); (X.X.); (Y.L.)
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-Omics of MARA, Jinan 250100, China
| | - Yuqing Liu
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Breeding, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China; (A.N.); (X.X.); (Y.L.)
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-Omics of MARA, Jinan 250100, China
| | - Yibao Chen
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Breeding, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China; (A.N.); (X.X.); (Y.L.)
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-Omics of MARA, Jinan 250100, China
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21
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Miernikiewicz P, Barylski J, Wilczak A, Dragoš A, Rybicka I, Bałdysz S, Szymczak A, Dogsa I, Rokush K, Harhala MA, Ciekot J, Ferenc S, Gnus J, Witkiewicz W, Dąbrowska K. New Phage-Derived Antibacterial Enzyme PolaR Targeting Rothia spp. Cells 2023; 12:1997. [PMID: 37566076 PMCID: PMC10417112 DOI: 10.3390/cells12151997] [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: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Rothia is an opportunistic pathogen, particularly life-threatening for the immunocompromised. It is associated with pneumonia, endocarditis, peritonitis and many other serious infections, including septicemia. Of note, Rothia mucilaginousa produces metabolites that support and increase overgrowth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, one of the ESKAPE bacteria. Endolysins are considered as antibacterial enzymes derived from bacteriophages that selectively and efficiently kill susceptible bacteria without harming human cells or the normal microbiome. Here, we applied a computational analysis of metagenomic sequencing data of the gastric mucosa phageome extracted from human patients' stomach biopsies. A selected candidate anti-Rothia sequence was produced in an expression system, purified and confirmed as a Rothia mucilaginosa- and Rothia dentocariosa-specific endolysin PolaR, able to destroy bacterial cells even when aggregated, as in a biofilm. PolaR had no cytotoxic or antiproliferative effects on mammalian cells. PolaR is the first described endolysin selectively targeting Rothia species, with a high potential to combat infections caused by Rothia mucilaginosa and Rothia dentocariosa, and possibly other bacterial groups. PolaR is the first antibacterial enzyme selected from the gastric mucosa phageome, which underlines the biological complexity and probably underestimated biological role of the phageome in the human gastric mucosa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulina Miernikiewicz
- Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland; (A.W.); (I.R.); (A.S.); (K.R.); (M.A.H.); (J.C.); (K.D.)
| | - Jakub Barylski
- Department of Molecular Virology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, 61-712 Poznań, Poland; (J.B.); (S.B.)
| | - Aleksandra Wilczak
- Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland; (A.W.); (I.R.); (A.S.); (K.R.); (M.A.H.); (J.C.); (K.D.)
| | - Anna Dragoš
- Department of Microbiology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (A.D.); (I.D.)
| | - Izabela Rybicka
- Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland; (A.W.); (I.R.); (A.S.); (K.R.); (M.A.H.); (J.C.); (K.D.)
| | - Sophia Bałdysz
- Department of Molecular Virology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, 61-712 Poznań, Poland; (J.B.); (S.B.)
| | - Aleksander Szymczak
- Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland; (A.W.); (I.R.); (A.S.); (K.R.); (M.A.H.); (J.C.); (K.D.)
| | - Iztok Dogsa
- Department of Microbiology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (A.D.); (I.D.)
| | - Kostiantyn Rokush
- Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland; (A.W.); (I.R.); (A.S.); (K.R.); (M.A.H.); (J.C.); (K.D.)
| | - Marek Adam Harhala
- Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland; (A.W.); (I.R.); (A.S.); (K.R.); (M.A.H.); (J.C.); (K.D.)
| | - Jarosław Ciekot
- Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland; (A.W.); (I.R.); (A.S.); (K.R.); (M.A.H.); (J.C.); (K.D.)
| | - Stanisław Ferenc
- Research and Development Center, Regional Specialist Hospital in Wrocław, 51-124 Wrocław, Poland; (S.F.); (J.G.); (W.W.)
| | - Jan Gnus
- Research and Development Center, Regional Specialist Hospital in Wrocław, 51-124 Wrocław, Poland; (S.F.); (J.G.); (W.W.)
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Wrocław Medical University, 50-367 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Wojciech Witkiewicz
- Research and Development Center, Regional Specialist Hospital in Wrocław, 51-124 Wrocław, Poland; (S.F.); (J.G.); (W.W.)
| | - Krystyna Dąbrowska
- Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland; (A.W.); (I.R.); (A.S.); (K.R.); (M.A.H.); (J.C.); (K.D.)
- Research and Development Center, Regional Specialist Hospital in Wrocław, 51-124 Wrocław, Poland; (S.F.); (J.G.); (W.W.)
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Biondo C, Ponzo E, Midiri A, Ostone GB, Mancuso G. The Dark Side of Nosocomial Infections in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:1408. [PMID: 37374189 DOI: 10.3390/life13061408] [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: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a potentially serious acute respiratory infection caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a global pandemic, the virus has spread to more than 200 countries with more than 500 million cases and more than 6 million deaths reported globally. It has long been known that viral respiratory tract infections predispose patients to bacterial infections and that these co-infections often have an unfavourable clinical outcome. Moreover, nosocomial infections, also known as healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), are those infections that are absent at the time of admission and acquired after hospitalization. However, the impact of coinfections or secondary infections on the progression of COVID-19 disease and its lethal outcome is still debated. The aim of this review was to assess the literature on the incidence of bacterial co-infections and superinfections in patients with COVID-19. The review also highlights the importance of the rational use of antibiotics in patients with COVID-19 and the need to implement antimicrobial stewardship principles to prevent the transmission of drug-resistant organisms in healthcare settings. Finally, alternative antimicrobial agents to counter the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria causing healthcare-associated infections in COVID-19 patients will also be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmelo Biondo
- Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy
| | - Elena Ponzo
- Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy
| | - Angelina Midiri
- Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy
| | | | - Giuseppe Mancuso
- Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy
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