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Updated: Feb 18, 2026

Author Spotlight: Efficiently Eliminating Bacteriophages from Infected Salmonella Cultures Using Lipopolysaccharides
Published on: June 28, 2024
The O-specific polysaccharide lyase from the phage LKA1 tailspike reduces Pseudomonas virulence
Tomasz Olszak1, Mikhail M Shneider2,3, Agnieszka Latka1
1Institute of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, 51-148, Poland.
Abstract:
Pseudomonas phage LKA1 of the subfamily Autographivirinae encodes a tailspike protein (LKA1gp49) which binds and cleaves B-band LPS (O-specific antigen, OSA) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. The crystal structure of LKA1gp49 catalytic domain consists of a beta-helix, an insertion domain and a C-terminal discoidin-like domain. The putative substrate binding and processing site is located on the face of the beta-helix whereas the C-terminal domain is likely involved in carbohydrates binding. NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry analyses of degraded LPS (OSA) fragments show an O5 serotype-specific polysaccharide lyase specificity. LKA1gp49 reduces virulence in an in vivo Galleria mellonella infection model and sensitizes P. aeruginosa to serum complement activity. This enzyme causes biofilm degradation and does not affect the activity of ciprofloxacin and gentamicin. This is the first comprehensive report on LPS-degrading lyase derived from a Pseudomonas phage. Biological properties reveal a potential towards its applications in antimicrobial design and as a microbiological or biotechnological tool.
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