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Phage-Derived Endolysins Against Resistant Staphylococcus spp.: A Review of Features, Antibacterial Activities, and

Mina Golban1, Javad Charostad1, Hossein Kazemian2

  • 1Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.

Infectious Diseases and Therapy
|November 16, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Endolysins, derived from bacteriophages, show promise as novel antimicrobial agents against Staphylococcus species, including MRSA. These enzymes offer a potential alternative to conventional antibiotics for combating rising antimicrobial resistance.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
  • Biotechnology and Enzyme Engineering

Background:

  • Antimicrobial resistance in Gram-positive bacteria, particularly Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), poses a significant global health threat, increasing morbidity, mortality, and healthcare expenses.
  • Staphylococcal infections present challenges in human and veterinary medicine, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies beyond traditional antibiotics.
  • Endolysins, bacteriophage-derived hydrolytic enzymes, are emerging as potent antimicrobial agents due to their ability to degrade bacterial peptidoglycan.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the characteristics and applications of endolysins derived from staphylococcal bacteriophages.
  • To evaluate the antibacterial efficacy of these endolysins against various Staphylococcus species.
  • To explore endolysins as a potential alternative to conventional antibiotics for treating staphylococcal infections.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and analysis of existing experimental data on staphylococcal endolysins.
  • Examination of endolysin enzymatic activities (glycosidase, amidase, etc.) targeting the bacterial peptidoglycan layer.
  • Assessment of antibacterial effectiveness through in vitro and in vivo studies cited in the literature.

Main Results:

  • Endolysins exhibit potent lytic activity against Staphylococcus spp., including antibiotic-resistant strains like MRSA.
  • The specific enzymatic activities of endolysins facilitate rapid bacterial cell lysis by degrading the peptidoglycan structure.
  • Studies indicate promising antibacterial effectiveness of staphylococcal endolysins, suggesting their potential as therapeutic agents.

Conclusions:

  • Endolysins represent a promising class of antimicrobial agents with significant potential for combating staphylococcal infections.
  • Their unique mechanism of action and effectiveness against resistant strains offer a viable alternative to conventional antibiotics.
  • Further research and development of endolysins are warranted for clinical and veterinary applications against Staphylococcus spp.
Keywords:
StaphylococcusAntimicrobial activityEndolysin

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