Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 13, 2026

Genotyping of Staphylococcus aureus by Ribosomal Spacer PCR RS-PCR
08:51

Genotyping of Staphylococcus aureus by Ribosomal Spacer PCR RS-PCR

Published on: November 4, 2016

10.2K

Characterization of the Lytic Capability of a LysK-Like Endolysin, Lys-phiSA012, Derived from a Polyvalent

Jumpei Fujiki1, Tomohiro Nakamura2, Takaaki Furusawa3

  • 1Laboratory of Biochemistry, School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University, Ebetsu 069-8501, Japan. j-fujiki@rakuno.ac.jp.

Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
|March 3, 2018
PubMed

Insights

This study purified an endolysin, Lys-phiSA012, effective against antibiotic-resistant bacteria like methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The endolysin’s activity is enhanced by specific ions and can reduce antibiotic minimum inhibitory concentrations.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) pose a significant global health threat, exacerbated by widespread antibiotic use.
  • Staphylococcus aureus infections, including methicillin-resistant strains (MRSA), cause substantial harm to human and livestock health.
  • Bacteriophage-derived enzymes (endolysins) are emerging as promising alternatives to conventional antibiotics against ARB.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize a novel endolysin, Lys-phiSA012, derived from a Staphylococcus aureus bacteriophage.
  • To evaluate the lytic activity of Lys-phiSA012 against staphylococcal strains, including MRSA.
  • To investigate the role of specific domains and metal ions in the endolysin's activity and its potential to reduce antibiotic resistance.

Main Methods:

  • Purification and characterization of the endolysin Lys-phiSA012, featuring CHAP, amidase, and SH3b domains.
  • Lytic activity assays using turbidity reduction to assess the endolysin's efficacy against staphylococcal strains.
  • Deletion mutant analysis to determine the functional contribution of each domain.
  • Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays to evaluate the combined effect of the endolysin and oxacillin.

Main Results:

  • Lys-phiSA012 demonstrated potent lytic activity against various staphylococcal strains, including MRSA.
  • The cysteine/histidine-dependent amidohydrolase/peptidase (CHAP) and SH3b domains were essential for the endolysin's lytic function.
  • Lytic activity was significantly enhanced by the presence of calcium (Ca2+) and zinc (Zn2+) ions.
  • Co-administration of Lys-phiSA012 with oxacillin reduced the MIC of oxacillin, indicating a synergistic effect.

Conclusions:

  • Endolysin Lys-phiSA012 is a potent antimicrobial agent effective against antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
  • The combination of CHAP and SH3b domains is crucial for the lytic activity of Lys-phiSA012.
  • Metal ion supplementation can potentiate endolysin efficacy.
  • Endolysins represent a viable strategy to combat ARB and promote judicious antibiotic use.
Keywords:
Staphylococcus aureusantibiotic resistantantimicrobial agentbacteriophageendolysinmultidrug resistantphage therapystaphylococci

More Related Videos

Development and Assessment of Intracellular Infection Models for Staphylococcus aureus08:32

Development and Assessment of Intracellular Infection Models for Staphylococcus aureus

Published on: January 17, 2025

1.3K
Staphylococcus aureus Growth using Human Hemoglobin as an Iron Source06:37

Staphylococcus aureus Growth using Human Hemoglobin as an Iron Source

Published on: February 7, 2013

17.2K

Related Concept Videos

Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages01:30

Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages

Bacteriophages, also known as phages, are specialized viruses that infect bacteria. A key characteristic of phages is their distinctive “head-tail” morphology. A phage begins the infection process (i.e., lytic cycle) by attaching to the outside of a bacterial cell. Attachment is accomplished via proteins in the phage tail that bind to specific receptor proteins on the outer surface of the bacterium. The tail injects the phage’s DNA genome into the bacterial cytoplasm. In the...
78.2K
Lysogenic Cycle of Bacteriophages00:43

Lysogenic Cycle of Bacteriophages

In contrast to the lytic cycle, phages infecting bacteria via the lysogenic cycle do not immediately kill their host cell. Instead, they combine their genome with the host genome, allowing the bacteria to replicate the phage DNA along with the bacterial genome. The incorporated copy of the phage genome is called the prophage. Some prophages can re-activate and enter the lytic cycle. This often occurs in response to a perturbation, such as DNA damage, but can also transpire in the absence of...
68.1K
DNA Bacteriophages01:26

DNA Bacteriophages

Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that specifically infect bacteria, utilizing their genetic material to hijack host cellular machinery for replication. DNA bacteriophages employ single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) or double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) genomes. These phages exhibit diverse replication strategies and host interactions, influencing their ecological roles and applications in biotechnology and medicine.ssDNA BacteriophagesssDNA phages, with their small genomes, utilize unique strategies to...
1.1K
Viral Replication: Lytic Cycle01:20

Viral Replication: Lytic Cycle

Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that specifically infect bacteria. Among them, T-even bacteriophages, such as T4, exhibit a well-characterized lytic replication cycle in Escherichia coli (E. coli). This process ensures the rapid proliferation of the virus while ultimately leading to the destruction of the bacterial host.Attachment and DNA InjectionThe infection process begins with the recognition and binding of the T4 phage to the E. coli cell surface. Tail fibers of the phage...
1.8K
Measurement: Derived Units03:02

Measurement: Derived Units

The International System of Units or SI system, by international agreement, has fixed measurement units for seven fundamental properties: length, mass, time, temperature, electric current, amount of substance, and luminosity. These are called the SI base units.
56.1K
Higher Derivatives01:29

Higher Derivatives

In calculus, higher-order derivatives extend the idea of differentiation beyond the first derivative to capture successive rates of change. These derivatives provide detailed information about the behavior of functions and have important applications in both mathematics and physics. To illustrate these concepts, consider the example functionwhich serves as a useful case study for exploring higher derivatives.The first derivative represents the slope of the original function. The second...
115