Peptide-Grafted Nontoxic Cyclodextrins and Nanoparticles against Bacteriophage Infections

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Microbiology
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Bacteriophage infections pose a significant threat to bacteria-based bioreactors, impacting over 70% of companies in the biotechnology industry.
• Current methods for preventing or mitigating phage infections are ineffective, despite the widespread and dangerous nature of this risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and present a novel peptide-grafted compound capable of irreversibly deactivating bacteriophages.
• To ensure the safety of these compounds for bacteria and mammalian cells, enabling their use in bioreactor environments.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing a phage display technique to select peptides with high specificity for bacteriophages.
• Synthesizing core compounds (cyclodextrin or gold nanoparticles) coated with hydrophobic chains terminated by these selective peptides.
• Testing the irreversible deactivation efficacy against a range of T-like phages, including phage T1, at 37 °C over 1 hour.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated irreversible deactivation of a wide range of T-like bacteriophages within 1 hour at 37 °C.
• Confirmed the safety of the peptide-grafted compounds for both bacterial hosts and mammalian cells.
• Showcased the compounds' compatibility for direct use within bioreactor environments.

Conclusions:

• Peptide-grafted compounds offer a potent and safe solution for irreversible bacteriophage deactivation.
• These compounds can be safely integrated into bioreactor processes and used as additives for essential but non-autoclavable stock solutions like antibiotics and IPTG.
• This innovation addresses a critical unmet need in the biotechnology industry, enhancing the reliability and safety of bacteria-based bioprocesses.