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A novel endolysin from an Enterococcus faecalis phage and application

Yingying Xiang1, Suping Wang2, Hao Huang1

  • 1-Department of Stomatology, Yan'an Hospital Affiliated to Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650031, China.

Microbial Pathogenesis
|May 16, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Phage endolysin pEF51 shows strong antibacterial activity against drug-resistant Enterococcus faecalis. This protein effectively removes biofilms and protects against infection in rat models, offering a potential alternative to antibiotics.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Drug Discovery

Background:

  • Enterococcus faecalis is a primary cause of persistent infections after root canal therapy.
  • Antibiotic resistance in E. faecalis necessitates novel therapeutic strategies.
  • Phage endolysins are emerging as potential antibacterial agents.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To clone, express, and characterize the phage endolysin pEF51 for its antibacterial properties.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of pEF51 against E. faecalis planktonic cells and biofilms.
  • To assess the in vivo therapeutic potential of pEF51 in a rat infection model.

Main Methods:

  • Gene cloning and recombinant protein expression of phage endolysin pEF51.
  • Determination of antibacterial activity, lysis profile, and biofilm removal efficacy.
  • In vivo efficacy study using an infected Sprague-Dawley rat model and 16S rDNA analysis of gut microbiota.

Main Results:

  • Recombinant endolysin pEF51 exhibited significant antibacterial activity and a broad bactericidal spectrum.
  • pEF51 demonstrated high efficacy in eliminating E. faecalis biofilms.
  • In vivo treatment with pEF51 significantly reduced abscess formation in infected rats with minimal impact on gut microbial diversity.

Conclusions:

  • Phage endolysin pEF51 is a potent antibacterial agent against Enterococcus faecalis.
  • pEF51 shows promise as a therapeutic alternative to conventional antibiotics for E. faecalis infections.
  • Further research into pEF51's safety and efficacy is warranted for clinical applications.
Keywords:
BiofilmEndolysinEnterococcus faecalisPhagePopulation

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