1
|
Turchi B, Campobasso C, Nardinocchi A, Wagemans J, Torracca B, Lood C, Di Giuseppe G, Nieri P, Bertelloni F, Turini L, Ruffo V, Lavigne R, Di Luca M. Isolation and characterization of novel Staphylococcus aureus bacteriophage Hesat from dairy origin. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 108:299. [PMID: 38619619 PMCID: PMC11018700 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-024-13129-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: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
A novel temperate phage, named Hesat, was isolated by the incubation of a dairy strain of Staphylococcus aureus belonging to spa-type t127 with either bovine or ovine milk. Hesat represents a new species of temperate phage within the Phietavirus genus of the Azeredovirinae subfamily. Its genome has a length of 43,129 bp and a GC content of 35.11% and contains 75 predicted ORFs, some of which linked to virulence. This includes (i) a pathogenicity island (SaPln2), homologous to the type II toxin-antitoxin system PemK/MazF family toxin; (ii) a DUF3113 protein (gp30) that is putatively involved in the derepression of the global repressor Stl; and (iii) a cluster coding for a PVL. Genomic analysis of the host strain indicates Hesat is a resident prophage. Interestingly, its induction was obtained by exposing the bacterium to milk, while the conventional mitomycin C-based approach failed. The host range of phage Hesat appears to be broad, as it was able to lyse 24 out of 30 tested S. aureus isolates. Furthermore, when tested at high titer (108 PFU/ml), Hesat phage was also able to lyse a Staphylococcus muscae isolate, a coagulase-negative staphylococcal strain. KEY POINTS: • A new phage species was isolated from a Staphylococcus aureus bovine strain. • Pathogenicity island and PVL genes are encoded within phage genome. • The phage is active against most of S. aureus strains from both animal and human origins.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Turchi
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale Delle Piagge 2, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Claudia Campobasso
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via San Zeno 37, 56127, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 21, Box 2462, 3001, Louvain, Belgium
| | - Arianna Nardinocchi
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via San Zeno 37, 56127, Pisa, Italy
| | - Jeroen Wagemans
- Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 21, Box 2462, 3001, Louvain, Belgium
| | - Beatrice Torracca
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale Delle Piagge 2, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Cédric Lood
- Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 21, Box 2462, 3001, Louvain, Belgium
- Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, Centre for Microbial and Plant Genetics, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 20, Box 2460, 3001, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Paola Nieri
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno Pisano 6, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Bertelloni
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale Delle Piagge 2, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Luca Turini
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale Delle Piagge 2, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Valeria Ruffo
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale Delle Piagge 2, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Rob Lavigne
- Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 21, Box 2462, 3001, Louvain, Belgium
| | - Mariagrazia Di Luca
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via San Zeno 37, 56127, Pisa, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Chen J, Gissendanner CR, Tikhe CV, Li HF, Sun Q, Husseneder C. Genomics and Geographic Diversity of Bacteriophages Associated With Endosymbionts in the Guts of Workers and Alates of Coptotermes Species (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae). Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.881538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Subterranean termites depend nutritionally on their gut microbiota, which includes protozoa as well as taxonomically and functionally diverse bacteria. Our previous metavirome study revealed a high diversity and novel families of bacteriophages in the guts of Coptotermes formosanus workers from New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Two assembled bacteriophage genomes (Phages TG-crAlp-04 and 06, family Podoviridae) existed in all colonies and showed similarity to a prophage (ProJPt-Bp1) previously sequenced from a bacterial endosymbiont (Candidatus Azobacteroides pseudotrichonymphae, CAP) of protozoa in the gut of a termite species of the genus Prorhinotermes from Taiwan. In this study the genomes of Phage TG-crAlp-04 and 06 were subjected to detailed functional annotation. Both phage genomes contained conserved genes for DNA packaging, head and tail morphogenesis, and phage replication. Approximately 30% of the amino acid sequences derived from genes in both genomes matched to those of ProJPt-Bp1 phage or other phages from the crAss-like phage group. No integrase was identified; the lack of a lysogeny module is a characteristic of crAss-like phages. Primers were designed to sequence conserved genes of the two phages and their putative host bacterium (CAP) to detect their presence in different termite species from native and introduced distribution ranges. Related strains of the host bacterium were found across different termite genera and geographic regions. Different termite species had separate CAP strains, but intraspecific geographical variation was low. These results together with the fact that CAP is an important intracellular symbiont of obligate cellulose-digesting protozoa, suggest that CAP is a core gut bacterium and co-evolved across several subterranean termite species. Variants of both crAss-like phages were detected in different Coptotermes species from the native and introduced range, but they did not differentiate by species or geographic region. Since similar phages were detected in different termite species, we propose the existence of a core virome associated with core bacterial endosymbionts of protozoa in the guts of subterranean termites. This work provides a strong basis for further study of the quadripartite relationship of termites, protozoa, bacteria, and bacteriophages.
Collapse
|
3
|
Balaban CL, Suárez CA, Boncompain CA, Peressutti-Bacci N, Ceccarelli EA, Morbidoni HR. Evaluation of factors influencing expression and extraction of recombinant bacteriophage endolysins in Escherichia coli. Microb Cell Fact 2022; 21:40. [PMID: 35292023 PMCID: PMC8922839 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-022-01766-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Endolysins are peptidoglycan hydrolases with promising use as environment-friendly antibacterials mainly when used topically. However, in general, endolysin expression is hampered by its low solubility. Thus, a critical point in endolysin industrial production is optimizing their expression, including improvement of solubility and recovery from cell extracts. Results We report the expression of two endolysins encoded in the genome of phages infecting Staphylococcus aureus. Expression was optimized through changes in the concentration of the inducer and growth temperature during the expression. Usually, only 30–40% of the total endolysin was recovered in the soluble fraction. Co-expression of molecular chaperones (DnaK, GroEL) or N-term fusion tags endowed with increased solubility (DsbC, Trx, Sumo) failed to improve that yield substantially. Inclusion of osmolytes (NaCl, CaCl2, mannitol, glycine betaine, glycerol and trehalose) or tensioactives (Triton X-100, Tween 20, Nonidet P-40, CHAPS, N-lauroylsarcosine) in the cell disruption system (in the absence of any molecular chaperone) gave meager improvements excepted by N-lauroylsarcosine which increased recovery to 54% of the total endolysin content. Conclusion This is the first attempt to systematically analyze methods for increasing yields of recombinant endolysins. We herein show that neither solubility tags nor molecular chaperones co-expression are effective to that end, while induction temperature, (His)6-tag location and lysis buffer additives (e.g.N-lauroylsarcosine), are sensible strategies to obtain higher levels of soluble S. aureus endolysins. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12934-022-01766-9.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Lucía Balaban
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Cristian Alejandro Suárez
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Carina Andrea Boncompain
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Natalia Peressutti-Bacci
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Eduardo Augusto Ceccarelli
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Héctor Ricardo Morbidoni
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Park DW, Lee YD, Park JH. Characteristics for phage-encoded cell wall hydrolase of LysSAP27 to reduce staphylococcal food poisoning. Food Sci Biotechnol 2021; 30:745-753. [PMID: 34123470 PMCID: PMC8144258 DOI: 10.1007/s10068-021-00910-2] [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: 02/18/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Abstract
To reduce staphylococcal food poisoning (SFP), a phage-encoded cell wall hydrolase called endolysin has emerged as an attractive antibacterial agent. In this study, the Staphylococcus aureus infecting phage vB_SauS-SAP27 (ϕSAP27) was isolated from sewage and characterized morphologically and genetically. ϕSAP27 was identified as Siphoviridae temperate phage, with a genome of 43 kbp. A ϕSAP27 endolysin named LysSAP27 was produced recombinantly in Escherichia coli. LysSAP27 exhibited the highest activity at neutral pH and a temperature of 30 °C, and its lytic activity was upregulated by calcium ions. Following optimization of the enzymatic conditions, LysSAP27 was applied to S. aureus-contaminated milk. Treatment with 2 μM LysSAP27 led to a significant bactericidal effect, corresponding to a reduction in bacterial titer by 2.8 log CFU/mL within 1 h and 3.4 log CFU/mL within 2 h. Therefore, LysSAP27 could be used as an effective antimicrobial agent to prevent SFP in food. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10068-021-00910-2.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Do-won Park
- Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, College of Bionano Technology, Gachon University, Seongnam, 13120 Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Duck Lee
- Department of Food Science and Engineering, Seowon University, Cheongju, 28674 Republic of Korea
| | - Jong-Hyun Park
- Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, College of Bionano Technology, Gachon University, Seongnam, 13120 Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Walsh L, Johnson CN, Hill C, Ross RP. Efficacy of Phage- and Bacteriocin-Based Therapies in Combatting Nosocomial MRSA Infections. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:654038. [PMID: 33996906 PMCID: PMC8116899 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.654038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is a pathogen commonly found in nosocomial environments where infections can easily spread - especially given the reduced immune response of patients and large overlap between personnel in charge of their care. Although antibiotics are available to treat nosocomial infections, the increased occurrence of antibiotic resistance has rendered many treatments ineffective. Such is the case for methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA), which has continued to be a threat to public health since its emergence. For this reason, alternative treatment technologies utilizing antimicrobials such as bacteriocins, bacteriophages (phages) and phage endolysins are being developed. These antimicrobials provide an advantage over antibiotics in that many have narrow inhibition spectra, enabling treatments to be selected based on the target (pathogenic) bacterium while allowing for survival of commensal bacteria and thus avoiding collateral damage to the microbiome. Bacterial resistance to these treatments occurs less frequently than with antibiotics, particularly in circumstances where combinatory antimicrobial therapies are used. Phage therapy has been well established in Eastern Europe as an effective treatment against bacterial infections. While there are no Randomized Clinical Trials (RCTs) to our knowledge examining phage treatment of S. aureus infections that have completed all trial phases, numerous clinical trials are underway, and several commercial phage preparations are currently available to treat S. aureus infections. Bacteriocins have primarily been used in the food industry for bio-preservation applications. However, the idea of repurposing bacteriocins for human health is an attractive one considering their efficacy against many bacterial pathogens. There are concerns about the ability of bacteriocins to survive the gastrointestinal tract given their proteinaceous nature, however, this obstacle may be overcome by altering the administration route of the therapy through encapsulation, or by bioengineering protease-resistant variants. Obstacles such as enzymatic digestion are less of an issue for topical/local administration, for example, application to the surface of the skin. Bacteriocins have also shown impressive synergistic effects when used in conjunction with other antimicrobials, including antibiotics, which may allow antibiotic-based therapies to be used more sparingly with less resistance development. This review provides an updated account of known bacteriocins, phages and phage endolysins which have demonstrated an impressive ability to kill S. aureus strains. In particular, examples of antimicrobials with the ability to target MRSA strains and their subsequent use in a clinical setting are outlined.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Walsh
- School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.,APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Crystal N Johnson
- School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.,APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.,Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Cork, Ireland
| | - Colin Hill
- School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.,APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - R Paul Ross
- School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.,APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.,Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Cork, Ireland
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Abril AG, Carrera M, Böhme K, Barros-Velázquez J, Cañas B, Rama JLR, Villa TG, Calo-Mata P. Proteomic Characterization of Bacteriophage Peptides from the Mastitis Producer Staphylococcus aureus by LC-ESI-MS/MS and the Bacteriophage Phylogenomic Analysis. Foods 2021; 10:799. [PMID: 33917943 PMCID: PMC8068337 DOI: 10.3390/foods10040799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 03/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The present work describes LC-ESI-MS/MS MS (liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry) analyses of tryptic digestion peptides from phages that infect mastitis-causing Staphylococcus aureus isolated from dairy products. A total of 1933 nonredundant peptides belonging to 1282 proteins were identified and analyzed. Among them, 79 staphylococcal peptides from phages were confirmed. These peptides belong to proteins such as phage repressors, structural phage proteins, uncharacterized phage proteins and complement inhibitors. Moreover, eighteen of the phage origin peptides found were specific to S. aureus strains. These diagnostic peptides could be useful for the identification and characterization of S. aureus strains that cause mastitis. Furthermore, a study of bacteriophage phylogeny and the relationship among the identified phage peptides and the bacteria they infect was also performed. The results show the specific peptides that are present in closely related phages and the existing links between bacteriophage phylogeny and the respective Staphylococcus spp. infected.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana G. Abril
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15898 Santiago de Compostela, Spain; (A.G.A.); (J.-L.R.R.); (T.G.V.)
| | - Mónica Carrera
- Department of Food Technology, Spanish National Research Council, Marine Research Institute, 36208 Vigo, Spain
| | - Karola Böhme
- Agroalimentary Technological Center of Lugo, 27002 Lugo, Spain;
| | - Jorge Barros-Velázquez
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Food Science, School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, Spain;
| | - Benito Cañas
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - José-Luis R. Rama
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15898 Santiago de Compostela, Spain; (A.G.A.); (J.-L.R.R.); (T.G.V.)
| | - Tomás G. Villa
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15898 Santiago de Compostela, Spain; (A.G.A.); (J.-L.R.R.); (T.G.V.)
| | - Pilar Calo-Mata
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Food Science, School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, Spain;
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Dakheel KH, Rahim RA, Neela VK, Al-Obaidi JR, Hun TG, Isa MNM, Yusoff K. Genomic analyses of two novel biofilm-degrading methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus phages. BMC Microbiol 2019; 19:114. [PMID: 31138130 PMCID: PMC6540549 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-019-1484-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2018] [Accepted: 05/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) biofilm producers represent an important etiological agent of many chronic human infections. Antibiotics and host immune responses are largely ineffective against bacteria within biofilms. Alternative actions and novel antimicrobials should be considered. In this context, the use of phages to destroy MRSA biofilms presents an innovative alternative mechanism. Results Twenty-five MRSA biofilm producers were used as substrates to isolate MRSA-specific phages. Despite the difficulties in obtaining an isolate of this phage, two phages (UPMK_1 and UPMK_2) were isolated. Both phages varied in their ability to produce halos around their plaques, host infectivity, one-step growth curves, and electron microscopy features. Furthermore, both phages demonstrated antagonistic infectivity on planktonic cultures. This was validated in an in vitro static biofilm assay (in microtiter-plates), followed by the visualization of the biofilm architecture in situ via confocal laser scanning microscopy before and after phage infection, and further supported by phages genome analysis. The UPMK_1 genome comprised 152,788 bp coding for 155 putative open reading frames (ORFs), and its genome characteristics were between the Myoviridae and Siphoviridae family, though the morphological features confined it more to the Siphoviridae family. The UPMK_2 has 40,955 bp with 62 putative ORFs; morphologically, it presented the features of the Podoviridae though its genome did not show similarity with any of the S. aureus in the Podoviridae family. Both phages possess lytic enzymes that were associated with a high ability to degrade biofilms as shown in the microtiter plate and CLSM analyses. Conclusions The present work addressed the possibility of using phages as potential biocontrol agents for biofilm-producing MRSA. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12866-019-1484-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Khulood Hamid Dakheel
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.,Department of Biology, College of Science, Mustansiriyah University, Palestine Street, PO Box 14022, Baghdad, Iraq
| | - Raha Abdul Rahim
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.,Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
| | - Vasantha Kumari Neela
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
| | - Jameel R Al-Obaidi
- Agro-biotechnology Institute Malaysia (ABI), c/o MARDI Headquarters, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Tan Geok Hun
- Department of Agriculture Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Mohd Noor Mat Isa
- Malaysia Genome Institute (MGI), Jalan Bangi, 43000, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Khatijah Yusoff
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia. .,Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Genome Sequence of Jumbo Phage vB_AbaM_ME3 of Acinetobacter baumanni. GENOME ANNOUNCEMENTS 2016; 4:4/4/e00431-16. [PMID: 27563033 PMCID: PMC5000817 DOI: 10.1128/genomea.00431-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Bacteriophage (phage) vB_AbaM_ME3 was previously isolated from wastewater effluent using the propagating host Acinetobacter baumannii DSM 30007. The full genome was sequenced, revealing it to be the largest Acinetobacter bacteriophage sequenced to date with a size of 234,900 bp and containing 326 open reading frames (ORFs).
Collapse
|
9
|
Drulis-Kawa Z, Majkowska-Skrobek G, Maciejewska B. Bacteriophages and phage-derived proteins--application approaches. Curr Med Chem 2016; 22:1757-73. [PMID: 25666799 PMCID: PMC4468916 DOI: 10.2174/0929867322666150209152851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 130] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2014] [Revised: 11/29/2014] [Accepted: 02/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Currently, the bacterial resistance, especially to most commonly used antibiotics has proved to be a severe therapeutic problem. Nosocomial and community-acquired infections are usually caused by multidrug resistant strains. Therefore, we are forced to develop an alternative or supportive treatment for successful cure of life-threatening infections. The idea of using natural bacterial pathogens such as bacteriophages is already well known. Many papers have been published proving the high antibacterial efficacy of lytic phages tested in animal models as well as in the clinic. Researchers have also investigated the application of non-lytic phages and temperate phages, with promising results. Moreover, the development of molecular biology and novel generation methods of sequencing has opened up new possibilities in the design of engineered phages and recombinant phage-derived proteins. Encouraging performances were noted especially for phage enzymes involved in the first step of viral infection responsible for bacterial envelope degradation, named depolymerases. There are at least five major groups of such enzymes – peptidoglycan hydrolases, endosialidases, endorhamnosidases, alginate lyases and hyaluronate lyases – that have application potential. There is also much interest in proteins encoded by lysis cassette genes (holins, endolysins, spanins) responsible for progeny release during the phage lytic cycle. In this review, we discuss several issues of phage and phage-derived protein application approaches in therapy, diagnostics and biotechnology in general.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zuzanna Drulis-Kawa
- Institute of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Wroclaw, Przybyszewskiego 63/77, 51-148 Wroclaw, Poland.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Varga M, Pantu˚ček R, Ru˚žičková V, Doškarˇ J. Molecular characterization of a new efficiently transducing bacteriophage identified in meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. J Gen Virol 2016; 97:258-268. [DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.000329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Marian Varga
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlárˇská 2, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Roman Pantu˚ček
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlárˇská 2, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Vladislava Ru˚žičková
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlárˇská 2, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jirˇí Doškarˇ
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlárˇská 2, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Schmelcher M, Loessner MJ. Bacteriophage endolysins: applications for food safety. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2015; 37:76-87. [PMID: 26707470 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2015.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2015] [Revised: 10/12/2015] [Accepted: 10/26/2015] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Bacteriophage endolysins (peptidoglycan hydrolases) have emerged as a new class of antimicrobial agents useful for controlling bacterial infection or other unwanted contaminations in various fields, particularly in the light of the worldwide increasing frequency of drug-resistant pathogens. This review summarizes and discusses recent developments regarding the use of endolysins for food safety. Besides the use of native and engineered endolysins for controlling bacterial contamination at different points within the food production chain, this also includes the application of high-affinity endolysin-derived cell wall binding domains for rapid detection of pathogenic bacteria. Novel approaches to extend the lytic action of endolysins towards Gram-negative cells will also be highlighted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mathias Schmelcher
- Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zurich, Schmelzbergstrasse 7, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Martin J Loessner
- Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zurich, Schmelzbergstrasse 7, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Roach DR, Donovan DM. Antimicrobial bacteriophage-derived proteins and therapeutic applications. BACTERIOPHAGE 2015; 5:e1062590. [PMID: 26442196 DOI: 10.1080/21597081.2015.1062590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2015] [Revised: 06/08/2015] [Accepted: 06/11/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotics have the remarkable power to control bacterial infections. Unfortunately, widespread use, whether regarded as prudent or not, has favored the emergence and persistence of antibiotic resistant strains of human pathogenic bacteria, resulting in a global health threat. Bacteriophages (phages) are parasites that invade the cells of virtually all known bacteria. Phages reproduce by utilizing the host cell's machinery to replicate viral proteins and genomic material, generally damaging and killing the cell in the process. Thus, phage can be exploited therapeutically as bacteriolytic agents against bacteria. Furthermore, understanding of the molecular processes involved in the viral life cycle, particularly the entry and cell lysis steps, has led to the development of viral proteins as antibacterial agents. Here we review the current preclinical state of using phage-derived endolysins, virion-associated peptidoglycan hydrolases, polysaccharide depolymerases, and holins for the treatment of bacterial infection. The scope of this review is a focus on the viral proteins that have been assessed for protective effects against human pathogenic bacteria in animal models of infection and disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dwayne R Roach
- Molecular Biology of the Genes in Extremophiles; Department of Microbiology; Institute Pasteur ; Paris, France
| | - David M Donovan
- Animal Biosciences and Biotechnology Laboratory; NEA; Agricultural Research Service; US Department of Agriculture ; Beltsville, MD USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Sanz-Gaitero M, Keary R, Garcia-Doval C, Coffey A, van Raaij MJ. Crystal structure of the lytic CHAP(K) domain of the endolysin LysK from Staphylococcus aureus bacteriophage K. Virol J 2014; 11:133. [PMID: 25064136 PMCID: PMC4126393 DOI: 10.1186/1743-422x-11-133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2014] [Accepted: 07/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bacteriophages encode endolysins to lyse their host cell and allow escape of their progeny. Endolysins are also active against Gram-positive bacteria when applied from the outside and are thus attractive anti-bacterial agents. LysK, an endolysin from staphylococcal phage K, contains an N-terminal cysteine-histidine dependent amido-hydrolase/peptidase domain (CHAP(K)), a central amidase domain and a C-terminal SH3b cell wall-binding domain. CHAP(K) cleaves bacterial peptidoglycan between the tetra-peptide stem and the penta-glycine bridge. METHODS The CHAP(K) domain of LysK was crystallized and high-resolution diffraction data was collected both from a native protein crystal and a methylmercury chloride derivatized crystal. The anomalous signal contained in the derivative data allowed the location of heavy atom sites and phase determination. The resulting structures were completed, refined and analyzed. The presence of calcium and zinc ions in the structure was confirmed by X-ray fluorescence emission spectroscopy. Zymogram analysis was performed on the enzyme and selected site-directed mutants. RESULTS The structure of CHAP(K) revealed a papain-like topology with a hydrophobic cleft, where the catalytic triad is located. Ordered buffer molecules present in this groove may mimic the peptidoglycan substrate. When compared to previously solved CHAP domains, CHAP(K) contains an additional lobe in its N-terminal domain, with a structural calcium ion, coordinated by residues Asp45, Asp47, Tyr49, His51 and Asp56. The presence of a zinc ion in the active site was also apparent, coordinated by the catalytic residue Cys54 and a possible substrate analogue. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to demonstrate that residues involved in calcium binding and of the proposed active site were important for enzyme activity. CONCLUSIONS The high-resolution structure of the CHAP(K) domain of LysK was determined, suggesting the location of the active site, the substrate-binding groove and revealing the presence of a structurally important calcium ion. A zinc ion was found more loosely bound. Based on the structure, we propose a possible reaction mechanism. Future studies will be aimed at co-crystallizing CHAP(K) with substrate analogues and elucidating its role in the complete LysK protein. This, in turn, may lead to the design of site-directed mutants with altered activity or substrate specificity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Mark J van Raaij
- Departamento de Estructura de Macromoleculas, Centro Nacional de Biotecnologia (CNB-CSIC), Calle Darwin 3, E-28049 Madrid, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|