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Novel method to control pathogenic bacteria on human mucous membranes.

Vincent A Fischetti1

  • 1The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, New York 10021, USA. vaf@mail.rockefeller.edu

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
|May 3, 2003
PubMed
Summary

Bacteriophage lysins, enzymes that kill bacteria, can eliminate pathogenic bacteria like Streptococcus pyogenes on mucous membranes. This discovery offers a new strategy against antibiotic-resistant bacteria without harming beneficial microbes.

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Biotechnology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Mucous membranes serve as primary sites for infection and reservoirs for antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria.
  • Current methods to reduce pathogenic bacteria on mucous membranes are limited.
  • Bacteriophage lysins, enzymes used by phages to lyse bacterial cells, show potential for targeted bacterial elimination.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the efficacy of bacteriophage lysins in eliminating pathogenic bacteria from mucous membranes.
  • To assess the specificity and safety of lysins against normal flora.

Main Methods:

  • Identification and purification of bacteriophage lysins targeting Gram-positive bacteria.
  • In vitro testing of lysin activity against Streptococcus pyogenes.

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  • In vivo colonization models (oral for S. pyogenes, nasal for S. pneumoniae) in animals.
  • Administration of specific lysins to colonized animals to assess bacterial clearance.

    • Main Results:

    • Lysins rapidly and effectively killed Gram-positive bacteria in vitro (e.g., 10(7) S. pyogenes reduced to undetectable levels in 10 seconds).
    • Lysins demonstrated high specificity, targeting only the intended pathogenic bacteria without affecting normal flora.
    • In vivo models showed complete clearance of S. pyogenes and S. pneumoniae following lysin treatment.

    Conclusions:

    • Bacteriophage lysins are potent and specific agents for eliminating pathogenic bacteria from mucous membranes.
    • Lysins represent a promising new therapeutic approach for controlling antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
    • This strategy could significantly reduce the incidence of infections originating from mucous membrane reservoirs.