'Artilysation' of endolysin ?Sa2lys strongly improves its enzymatic and antibacterial activity against streptococci.

ABSTRACT: Endolysins constitute a promising class of antibacterials against Gram-positive bacteria. Recently, endolysins have been engineered with selected peptides to obtain a new generation of lytic proteins, Artilysins, with specific activity against Gram-negative bacteria. Here, we demonstrate that artilysation can also be used to enhance the antibacterial activity of endolysins against Gram-positive bacteria and to reduce the dependence on external conditions. Art-240, a chimeric protein of the anti-streptococcal endolysin ?Sa2lys and the polycationic peptide PCNP, shows a similar species specificity as the parental endolysin, but the bactericidal activity against streptococci increases and is less affected by elevated NaCl concentrations and pH variations. Time-kill experiments and time-lapse microscopy demonstrate that the killing rate of Art-240 is approximately two-fold higher compared to wildtype endolysin ?Sa2lys, with a reduction in viable bacteria of 3 log units after 10?min. In addition, lower doses of Art-240 are required to achieve the same bactericidal effect.

SUBMITTER: Rodriguez-Rubio L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5075790 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature