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Fowler VG, Das AF, Lipka-Diamond J, Ambler JE, Schuch R, Pomerantz R, Cassino C, Jáuregui-Peredo L, Moran GJ, Rupp ME, Lachiewicz AM, Kuti JL, Wise RA, Kaye KS, Zervos MJ, Nichols WG. Exebacase in Addition to Standard-of-Care Antibiotics for Staphylococcus aureus Bloodstream Infections and Right-Sided Infective Endocarditis: A Phase 3, Superiority-Design, Placebo-Controlled, Randomized Clinical Trial (DISRUPT). Clin Infect Dis 2024; 78:1473-1481. [PMID: 38297916 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciae043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Novel treatments are needed for Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia, particularly for methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Exebacase is a first-in-class antistaphylococcal lysin that is rapidly bactericidal and synergizes with antibiotics. METHODS In Direct Lysis of Staph Aureus Resistant Pathogen Trial of Exebacase (DISRUPT), a superiority-design phase 3 study, patients with S. aureus bacteremia/endocarditis were randomly assigned to receive a single dose of intravenous exebacase or placebo in addition to standard-of-care antibiotics. The primary efficacy outcome was clinical response at day 14 in the MRSA population. RESULTS A total of 259 patients were randomized before the study was stopped for futility based on the recommendation of the unblinded Data Safety Monitoring Board. Clinical response rates at day 14 in the MRSA population (n = 97) were 50.0% (exebacase + antibiotics; 32/64) versus 60.6% (antibiotics alone; 20/33) (P = .392). Overall, rates of adverse events were similar across groups. No adverse events of hypersensitivity related to exebacase were reported. CONCLUSIONS Exebacase + antibiotics failed to improve clinical response at day 14 in patients with MRSA bacteremia/endocarditis. This result was unexpected based on phase 2 data that established proof-of-concept for exebacase + antibiotics in patients with MRSA bacteremia/endocarditis. In the antibiotics-alone group, the clinical response rate was higher than that seen in phase 2. Heterogeneity within the study population and a relatively small sample size in either the phase 2 or phase 3 studies may have increased the probability of imbalances in the multiple components of day 14 clinical outcome. This study provides lessons for future superiority studies in S. aureus bacteremia/endocarditis. Clinical Trials Registration.NCT04160468.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vance G Fowler
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Anita F Das
- AD Stat Consulting, Guerneville, California, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Cara Cassino
- Stony Point Life Sciences Consulting, Benson, Vermont, USA
| | - Luis Jáuregui-Peredo
- Department of Medicine, Mercy Health-St. Vincent Medical Center, Toledo, Ohio, USA
| | - Gregory J Moran
- Department of Medicine, Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, Sylmar, California, USA
| | - Mark E Rupp
- Department of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Anne M Lachiewicz
- Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina Health Care System, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Joseph L Kuti
- Department of Medicine, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, Connecticut, USA
| | - Robert A Wise
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Keith S Kaye
- Department of Medicine, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
| | - Marcus J Zervos
- Department of Medicine, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Michigan, USA
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2
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Bałdysz S, Nawrot R, Barylski J. "Tear down that wall"-a critical evaluation of bioinformatic resources available for lysin researchers. Appl Environ Microbiol 2024:e0236123. [PMID: 38842338 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02361-23] [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: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Lytic enzymes, or lysins for short, break down peptidoglycan and interrupt the continuity of the cell wall, which, in turn, causes osmotic lysis of the bacterium. Their ability to destroy bacteria from without makes them promising antimicrobial agents that can be used as alternatives or supplements to antibiotics. In this paper, we briefly summarize basic terms and concepts used to describe lysin sequences and delineate major lysin groups. More importantly, we describe the domain repertoire found in lysins and critically review bioinformatic tools or databases which are used in studies of these enzymes (with particular emphasis on the repositories of Hidden Markov models). Finally, we present a novel comprehensive, meticulously curated set of lysin-related family and domain models, sort them into clusters that reflect major families, and demonstrate that the selected models can be used to efficiently search for new lysins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia Bałdysz
- Department of Molecular Virology, Institute of Experimental Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - Robert Nawrot
- Department of Molecular Virology, Institute of Experimental Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - Jakub Barylski
- Department of Molecular Virology, Institute of Experimental Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
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3
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Tossavainen H, Pitkänen I, Antenucci L, Thapa C, Permi P. Chemical shift assignments of the catalytic domain of Staphylococcus aureus LytM. BIOMOLECULAR NMR ASSIGNMENTS 2024; 18:1-5. [PMID: 37914968 PMCID: PMC11082022 DOI: 10.1007/s12104-023-10161-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
S. aureus resistance to antibiotics has increased rapidly. MRSA strains can simultaneously be resistant to many different classes of antibiotics, including the so-called "last-resort" drugs. Resistance complicates treatment, increases mortality and substantially increases the cost of treatment. The need for new drugs against (multi)resistant S. aureus is high. M23B family peptidoglycan hydrolases, enzymes that can kill S. aureus by cleaving glycine-glycine peptide bonds in S. aureus cell wall are attractive targets for drug development because of their binding specificity and lytic activity. M23B enzymes lysostaphin, LytU and LytM have closely similar catalytic domain structures. They however differ in their lytic activities, which can arise from non-conserved residues in the catalytic groove and surrounding loops or differences in dynamics. We report here the near complete 1H/13C/15N resonance assignment of the catalytic domain of LytM, residues 185-316. The chemical shift data allow comparative structural and functional studies between the enzymes and is essential for understanding how these hydrolases degrade the cell wall.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Tossavainen
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyvaskyla, Jyvaskyla, Finland
| | - Ilona Pitkänen
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyvaskyla, Jyvaskyla, Finland
| | - Lina Antenucci
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyvaskyla, Jyvaskyla, Finland
| | - Chandan Thapa
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyvaskyla, Jyvaskyla, Finland
| | - Perttu Permi
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyvaskyla, Jyvaskyla, Finland.
- Department of Chemistry, Nanoscience Center, University of Jyvaskyla, Jyvaskyla, Finland.
- Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
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4
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Zheng T, Zhang C. Engineering strategies and challenges of endolysin as an antibacterial agent against Gram-negative bacteria. Microb Biotechnol 2024; 17:e14465. [PMID: 38593316 PMCID: PMC11003714 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.14465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 03/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophage endolysin is a novel antibacterial agent that has attracted much attention in the prevention and control of drug-resistant bacteria due to its unique mechanism of hydrolysing peptidoglycans. Although endolysin exhibits excellent bactericidal effects on Gram-positive bacteria, the presence of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria makes it difficult to lyse them extracellularly, thus limiting their application field. To enhance the extracellular activity of endolysin and facilitate its crossing through the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, researchers have adopted physical, chemical, and molecular methods. This review summarizes the characterization of endolysin targeting Gram-negative bacteria, strategies for endolysin modification, and the challenges and future of engineering endolysin against Gram-negative bacteria in clinical applications, to promote the application of endolysin in the prevention and control of Gram-negative bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyu Zheng
- Bathurst Future Agri‐Tech InstituteQingdao Agricultural UniversityQingdaoChina
| | - Can Zhang
- College of Veterinary MedicineQingdao Agricultural UniversityQingdaoChina
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5
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Sisson HM, Jackson SA, Fagerlund RD, Warring SL, Fineran PC. Gram-negative endolysins: overcoming the outer membrane obstacle. Curr Opin Microbiol 2024; 78:102433. [PMID: 38350268 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2024.102433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
Our ability to control the growth of Gram-negative bacterial pathogens is challenged by rising antimicrobial resistance and requires new approaches. Endolysins are phage-derived enzymes that degrade peptidoglycan and therefore offer potential as antimicrobial agents. However, the outer membrane (OM) of Gram-negative bacteria impedes the access of externally applied endolysins to peptidoglycan. This review highlights recent advances in the discovery and characterization of natural endolysins that can breach the OM, as well as chemical and engineering approaches that increase antimicrobial efficacy of endolysins against Gram-negative pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hazel M Sisson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Genetics Otago, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Bioprotection Aotearoa, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Simon A Jackson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Genetics Otago, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Bioprotection Aotearoa, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Robert D Fagerlund
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Genetics Otago, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Bioprotection Aotearoa, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Suzanne L Warring
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Genetics Otago, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Peter C Fineran
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Genetics Otago, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Bioprotection Aotearoa, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand.
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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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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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8
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Zhao X, Li C, Yang H, Wei H, Li Y. Antibacterial Activity of a Lysin LysP53 against Streptococcus mutans. J Dent Res 2023; 102:1231-1240. [PMID: 37698342 DOI: 10.1177/00220345231182675] [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] [Indexed: 09/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Dental caries is a common disease affecting quality of life globally. In the present study, we found that a bacteriophage lysin LysP53 against Acinetobacter baumannii possesses selective activity on Streptococcus mutans, the main etiological agent of dental caries, even in low pH caries microenvironments, whereas only minor LysP53 activity was detected against Streptococcus sanguinis, Streptococcus oralis, and Streptococcus mitis. Testing activity against S. mutans planktonic cells showed that 4 μM LysP53 could kill more than 84% of S. mutans within 1 min in buffer with optimal pHs ranging from 4.0 to 6.5. Daily application of LysP53 on biofilms formed in BHI medium supplemented or not with sucrose could reduce exopolysaccharides, expression of genes related to acid resistance and adhesion, and the number of live bacteria in the biofilms. LysP53 treatment also showed similar effects as 0.12% chlorhexidine in preventing enamel demineralization due to S. mutans biofilms, as well as effective removal of S. mutans colonization of tooth surfaces in mice without observed toxic effects. Because of its selective activity against main cariogenic bacteria and good activity in low pH caries microenvironments, it is advantageous to use LysP53 as an active agent for preventing caries.
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Affiliation(s)
- X Zhao
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine, Ministry of Education, School of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - C Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - H Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - H Wei
- CAS Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Y Li
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine, Ministry of Education, School of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
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9
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Vila-Farres X, Sauve K, Oh J, Swift S, DeJonge B, Ambler JE, Schuch R. Rapid bacteriolysis of Staphylococcus aureus by lysin exebacase. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0190623. [PMID: 37561151 PMCID: PMC10580946 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01906-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Lysins (peptidoglycan hydrolases) are promising new protein-based antimicrobial candidates under development to address rising antibiotic resistance encountered among pathogenic bacteria. Exebacase is an antistaphylococcal lysin and the first member of the lysin class to have entered clinical trials in the United States. In this study, the bacteriolytic activity of exebacase was characterized with time-kill assays, turbidity reduction assays, and microscopy. Three methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus and three methicillin-resistant S. aureus isolates were tested in time-kill assays over a range of concentrations from 0.25 to 8 × MIC. Exebacase demonstrated a concentration-dependent killing and showed bactericidal activity (≥3 log10 kill achieved relative to the starting inoculum) within 3 h at 1 × MIC against all strains tested. Dose-dependent lysis by exebacase was, furthermore, observed in the turbidity reduction assay, wherein decreases in initial OD600 of 50% were observed within ~15 min at concentrations as low as 4 µg/mL. Membrane dissolution, loss of cytoplasmic material, and lysis were confirmed by video and electron microscopy. The demonstrated rapid bacteriolytic effect of exebacase is an important distinguishing feature of this novel modality. IMPORTANCE To guide the development of an investigational new antibacterial entity, microbiological data are required to evaluate the killing kinetics against target organism(s). Exebacase is a lysin (peptidoglycan hydrolase) that represents a novel antimicrobial modality based on degradation of the cell wall of Staphylococcus aureus. Killing by exebacase was determined in multiple assay formats including time-kill assays, wherein reductions of viability of ≥3 log10 colony-forming units/mL were observed within 3 h for multiple different isolates tested, consistent with very rapid bactericidal activity. Rapid reductions in optical density were likewise observed in exebacase-treated cultures, which were visually consistent with microscopic observations of rapid lysis. Overall, exebacase provides a novel antimicrobial modality against S. aureus, characterized by a rapid cidal and lytic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Karen Sauve
- ContraFect Corporation, Yonkers, New York, USA
| | - Jun Oh
- Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Brisbane, California, USA
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Euler CW, Raz A, Hernandez A, Serrano A, Xu S, Andersson M, Zou G, Zhang Y, Fischetti VA, Li J. PlyKp104, a Novel Phage Lysin for the Treatment of Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Other Gram-Negative ESKAPE Pathogens. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2023; 67:e0151922. [PMID: 37098944 PMCID: PMC10190635 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01519-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are two leading causes of burn and wound infections, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and more severe invasive diseases, which are often multidrug resistant (MDR) or extensively drug resistant. Due to this, it is critical to discover alternative antimicrobials, such as bacteriophage lysins, against these pathogens. Unfortunately, most lysins that target Gram-negative bacteria require additional modifications or outer membrane permeabilizing agents to be bactericidal. We identified four putative lysins through bioinformatic analysis of Pseudomonas and Klebsiella phage genomes in the NCBI database and then expressed and tested their intrinsic lytic activity in vitro. The most active lysin, PlyKp104, exhibited >5-log killing against K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, and other Gram-negative representatives of the multidrug-resistant ESKAPE pathogens (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, K. pneumonia, Acinetobacter baumannii, P. aeruginosa, and Enterobacter species) without further modification. PlyKp104 displayed rapid killing and high activity over a wide pH range and in high concentrations of salt and urea. Additionally, pulmonary surfactants and low concentrations of human serum did not inhibit PlyKp104 activity in vitro. PlyKp104 also significantly reduced drug-resistant K. pneumoniae >2 logs in a murine skin infection model after one treatment of the wound, suggesting that this lysin could be used as a topical antimicrobial against K. pneumoniae and other MDR Gram-negative infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chad W. Euler
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Biomedicine and Health, College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Laboratory of Bacterial Pathogenesis and Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Hunter College, CUNY, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Assaf Raz
- Laboratory of Bacterial Pathogenesis and Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Hunter College, CUNY, New York, New York, USA
| | - Anaise Hernandez
- Laboratory of Bacterial Pathogenesis and Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Hunter College, CUNY, New York, New York, USA
| | - Anna Serrano
- Laboratory of Bacterial Pathogenesis and Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Siyue Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Biomedicine and Health, College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Laboratory of Bacterial Pathogenesis and Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA
- Institute of Food Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Martin Andersson
- Laboratory of Bacterial Pathogenesis and Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Geng Zou
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Biomedicine and Health, College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Biomedicine and Health, College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Vincent A. Fischetti
- Laboratory of Bacterial Pathogenesis and Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Jinquan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Biomedicine and Health, College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Laboratory of Bacterial Pathogenesis and Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA
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11
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Oh J, Warner M, Ambler JE, Schuch R. The Lysin Exebacase Has a Low Propensity for Resistance Development in Staphylococcus aureus and Suppresses the Emergence of Resistance to Antistaphylococcal Antibiotics. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0526122. [PMID: 36862002 PMCID: PMC10100934 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.05261-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Exebacase (CF-301) belongs to a novel class of protein-based antibacterial agents, called lysins (peptidoglycan hydrolases). Exebacase exhibits potent antistaphylococcal activity and is the first lysin to initiate clinical trials in the United States. To support clinical development, the potential for resistance development to exebacase was assessed over 28 days of serial daily subculture in the presence of increasing concentrations of the lysin performed in its reference broth medium. Exebacase MICs remained unchanged over serial subculture for three replicates each of methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) strain ATCC 29213 and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strain MW2. For comparator antibiotics also tested, oxacillin MICs increased by 32-fold with ATCC 29213 and daptomycin and vancomycin MICs increased by 16- and 8-fold, respectively, with MW2. Serial passage was also used to examine the capacity of exebacase to suppress selection for increased oxacillin, daptomycin, and vancomycin MICs when used together in combination, wherein daily exposures to increasing concentrations of antibiotic were performed over 28 days with the added presence of fixed sub-MIC amounts of exebacase. Exebacase suppressed increases in antibiotic MICs over this period. These findings are consistent with a low propensity for resistance to exebacase and an added benefit of reducing the potential for development of antibiotic resistance. IMPORTANCE To guide development of an investigational new antibacterial drug, microbiological data are required to understand the potential for development of resistance to the drug in the target organism(s). Exebacase is a lysin (peptidoglycan hydrolase) that represents a novel antimicrobial modality based on degradation of the cell wall of Staphylococcus aureus. Exebacase resistance was examined here using an in vitro serial passage method that assesses the impact of daily exposures to increasing concentrations of exebacase over 28 days in medium approved for use in exebacase antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). No changes in susceptibility to exebacase were observed over the 28-day period for multiple replicates of two S. aureus strains, indicating a low propensity for resistance development. Interestingly, while high-level resistance to commonly used antistaphylococcal antibiotics was readily obtained using the same method, the added presence of exebacase acted to suppress antibiotic resistance development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Oh
- ContraFect Corporation, Yonkers, New York, USA
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Liu P, Dong X, Cao X, Xie Q, Huang X, Jiang J, Dai H, Tang Z, Lin Y, Feng S, Luo K. Identification of Three Campylobacter Lysins and Enhancement of Their Anti-Escherichia coli Efficacy Using Colicin-Based Translocation and Receptor-Binding Domain Fusion. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0451522. [PMID: 36749047 PMCID: PMC10100823 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.04515-22] [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: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli, which poses a major threat to public health, has motivated the development of numerous alternative antimicrobials. Lysins are bacteriophage- and bacterium-derived peptidoglycan hydrolases that represent a new antibiotic treatment targeting bacterial cell walls. However, the bactericidal effect of native lysins on Gram-negative bacteria is restricted by the presence of an outer membrane. Here, we first evaluated the antibacterial activity of three Campylobacter-derived lysins (Clysins) against E. coli. To improve their transmembrane ability and antibacterial activities, six engineered Clysins were constructed by fusing with the translocation and receptor-binding (TRB) domains from two types of colicins (colicin A [TRBA] and colicin K [TRBK]), and their biological activities were determined. Notably, engineered lysin TRBK-Cly02 exhibited the highest bactericidal activity against the E. coli BL21 strain, with a reduction of 6.22 ± 0.34 log units of cells at a concentration of 60.1 μg/mL, and formed an observable inhibition zone even at a dose of 6.01 μg. Moreover, TRBK-Cly02 killed E. coli dose dependently and exhibited the strongest bactericidal activity at pH 6. It also exhibited potential bioactivity against multidrug-resistant E. coli clinical isolates. In summary, this study identified three lysins from Campylobacter strains against E. coli, and the enhancement of their antibacterial activities by TRB domains fusion may allow them to be developed as potential alternatives to antibiotics. IMPORTANCE Three lysins from Campylobacter, namely, Clysins, were investigated, and their antibacterial activities against E. coli were determined for the first time. To overcome the restriction of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, we combined the TRB domains of colicins with these Clysins. Moreover, we discovered that the Clysins fused with TRB domains from colicin K (TRBK) killed E. coli more effectively, and this provides a new foundation for the development of novel bioengineered lysins by employing TRBK constructs that target outer membrane receptor/transport systems. One of the designed lysins, TRBK-Cly02, exhibited potent bactericidal efficacy against E. coli strains and may be used for control of multidrug-resistant clinical isolates. The results suggest that TRBK-Cly02 can be considered a potential antibacterial agent against pathogenic E. coli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peiqi Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xinying Dong
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xuewei Cao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qianmei Xie
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiuqin Huang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jinfei Jiang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huilin Dai
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zheng Tang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yizhen Lin
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Saixiang Feng
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Kaijian Luo
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
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Ye J, Chen X. Current Promising Strategies against Antibiotic-Resistant Bacterial Infections. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 12:antibiotics12010067. [PMID: 36671268 PMCID: PMC9854991 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12010067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) are one of the major global health challenges of our time. In addition to developing new antibiotics to combat ARB, sensitizing ARB, or pursuing alternatives to existing antibiotics are promising options to counter antibiotic resistance. This review compiles the most promising anti-ARB strategies currently under development. These strategies include the following: (i) discovery of novel antibiotics by modification of existing antibiotics, screening of small-molecule libraries, or exploration of peculiar places; (ii) improvement in the efficacy of existing antibiotics through metabolic stimulation or by loading a novel, more efficient delivery systems; (iii) development of alternatives to conventional antibiotics such as bacteriophages and their encoded endolysins, anti-biofilm drugs, probiotics, nanomaterials, vaccines, and antibody therapies. Clinical or preclinical studies show that these treatments possess great potential against ARB. Some anti-ARB products are expected to become commercially available in the near future.
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Li G, Walker MJ, De Oliveira DMP. Vancomycin Resistance in Enterococcus and Staphylococcus aureus. Microorganisms 2022; 11:microorganisms11010024. [PMID: 36677316 PMCID: PMC9866002 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11010024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium and Staphylococcus aureus are both common commensals and major opportunistic human pathogens. In recent decades, these bacteria have acquired broad resistance to several major classes of antibiotics, including commonly employed glycopeptides. Exemplified by resistance to vancomycin, glycopeptide resistance is mediated through intrinsic gene mutations, and/or transferrable van resistance gene cassette-carrying mobile genetic elements. Here, this review will discuss the epidemiology of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus and S. aureus in healthcare, community, and agricultural settings, explore vancomycin resistance in the context of van and non-van mediated resistance development and provide insights into alternative therapeutic approaches aimed at treating drug-resistant Enterococcus and S. aureus infections.
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Zagaliotis P, Michalik-Provasek J, Gill JJ, Walsh TJ. Therapeutic Bacteriophages for Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections in Animals and Humans. Pathog Immun 2022; 7:1-45. [PMID: 36320594 PMCID: PMC9596135 DOI: 10.20411/pai.v7i2.516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial pathogens are an increasingly serious health threat causing worldwide nosocomial infections with high morbidity and mortality. Of these, the most prevalent and severe are Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Salmonella typhimurium. The extended use of antibiotics has led to the emergence of multidrug resistance in these bacteria. Drug-inactivating enzymes produced by these bacteria, as well as other resistance mechanisms, render drugs ineffective and make treatment of such infections more difficult and complicated. This makes the development of novel antimicrobial agents an urgent necessity. Bacteriophages, which are bacteria-killing viruses first discovered in 1915, have been used as therapeutic antimicrobials in the past, but their use was abandoned due to the widespread availability of antibiotics in the 20th century. The emergence, however, of drug-resistant pathogens has re-affirmed the need for bacteriophages as therapeutic strategies. This review describes the use of bacteriophages as novel agents to combat this rapidly emerging public health crisis by comprehensively enumerating and discussing the innovative use of bacteriophages in both animal models and in patients infected by Gram-negative bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panagiotis Zagaliotis
- Transplantation-Oncology Infectious Diseases Program, Weill Cornell Medicine New York, NY
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
- CORRESPONDING AUTHOR: Panagiotis Zagaliotis, MS
| | | | - Jason J. Gill
- Center for Phage Technology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
| | - Thomas J. Walsh
- Transplantation-Oncology Infectious Diseases Program, Weill Cornell Medicine New York, NY
- Departments of Pediatrics and Microbiology & Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine New York, NY
- Center for Innovative Therapeutics and Diagnostics, Richmond, VA
- CORRESPONDING AUTHOR: Thomas J. Walsh, MD, PhD (Hon), FIDSA, FAAM, FECMM
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