Title
‘Artilysation’ of endolysin λSa2lys strongly improves its enzymatic and antibacterial activity against streptococci
Author
Lorena Rodríguez-Rubio, Wai-Ling Chang, Diana Gutiérrez, Rob Lavigne, Beatriz Martínez, Ana Rodríguez, Sander K. Govers, Abram Aertsen, Christine Hirl, Manfred Biebl, Yves Briers, Pilar García
Year
2016
Journal
Scientific Reports
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 λSa2lys 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 λSa2lys, 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.
Full Article
Instrument
J-815
Keywords
Circular dichroism, Secondary structure, Thermal stability, Biochemistry