Therapeutic potential of bacteriophage endolysins for infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria
Abstract Gram-positive (G+) bacterial infection is a great burden to both healthcare and community medical resources. As a result of the increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant G+ bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), novel antimicrobial agents must urgently be de...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-04-01
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| Series: | Journal of Biomedical Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12929-023-00919-1 |
| _version_ | 1797836387877126144 |
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| author | He Liu Zhen Hu Mengyang Li Yi Yang Shuguang Lu Xiancai Rao |
| author_facet | He Liu Zhen Hu Mengyang Li Yi Yang Shuguang Lu Xiancai Rao |
| author_sort | He Liu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Gram-positive (G+) bacterial infection is a great burden to both healthcare and community medical resources. As a result of the increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant G+ bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), novel antimicrobial agents must urgently be developed for the treatment of infections caused by G+ bacteria. Endolysins are bacteriophage (phage)-encoded enzymes that can specifically hydrolyze the bacterial cell wall and quickly kill bacteria. Bacterial resistance to endolysins is low. Therefore, endolysins are considered promising alternatives for solving the mounting resistance problem. In this review, endolysins derived from phages targeting G+ bacteria were classified based on their structural characteristics. The active mechanisms, efficacy, and advantages of endolysins as antibacterial drug candidates were summarized. Moreover, the remarkable potential of phage endolysins in the treatment of G+ bacterial infections was described. In addition, the safety of endolysins, challenges, and possible solutions were addressed. Notwithstanding the limitations of endolysins, the trends in development indicate that endolysin-based drugs will be approved in the near future. Overall, this review presents crucial information of the current progress involving endolysins as potential therapeutic agents, and it provides a guideline for biomaterial researchers who are devoting themselves to fighting against bacterial infections. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T15:08:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f539b83db7e64e55a256e4a08baa9e0e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1423-0127 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T15:08:01Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Biomedical Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-f539b83db7e64e55a256e4a08baa9e0e2023-04-30T11:23:26ZengBMCJournal of Biomedical Science1423-01272023-04-0130111810.1186/s12929-023-00919-1Therapeutic potential of bacteriophage endolysins for infections caused by Gram-positive bacteriaHe Liu0Zhen Hu1Mengyang Li2Yi Yang3Shuguang Lu4Xiancai Rao5Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Microbial Engineering Under the Educational Committee in Chongqing, Army Medical UniversityDepartment of Microbiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Microbial Engineering Under the Educational Committee in Chongqing, Army Medical UniversityDepartment of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Chongqing UniversityDepartment of Microbiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Microbial Engineering Under the Educational Committee in Chongqing, Army Medical UniversityDepartment of Microbiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Microbial Engineering Under the Educational Committee in Chongqing, Army Medical UniversityDepartment of Microbiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Microbial Engineering Under the Educational Committee in Chongqing, Army Medical UniversityAbstract Gram-positive (G+) bacterial infection is a great burden to both healthcare and community medical resources. As a result of the increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant G+ bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), novel antimicrobial agents must urgently be developed for the treatment of infections caused by G+ bacteria. Endolysins are bacteriophage (phage)-encoded enzymes that can specifically hydrolyze the bacterial cell wall and quickly kill bacteria. Bacterial resistance to endolysins is low. Therefore, endolysins are considered promising alternatives for solving the mounting resistance problem. In this review, endolysins derived from phages targeting G+ bacteria were classified based on their structural characteristics. The active mechanisms, efficacy, and advantages of endolysins as antibacterial drug candidates were summarized. Moreover, the remarkable potential of phage endolysins in the treatment of G+ bacterial infections was described. In addition, the safety of endolysins, challenges, and possible solutions were addressed. Notwithstanding the limitations of endolysins, the trends in development indicate that endolysin-based drugs will be approved in the near future. Overall, this review presents crucial information of the current progress involving endolysins as potential therapeutic agents, and it provides a guideline for biomaterial researchers who are devoting themselves to fighting against bacterial infections.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12929-023-00919-1BacteriophageEndolysinsGram-positive bacteriaInfectious diseases |
| spellingShingle | He Liu Zhen Hu Mengyang Li Yi Yang Shuguang Lu Xiancai Rao Therapeutic potential of bacteriophage endolysins for infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria Journal of Biomedical Science Bacteriophage Endolysins Gram-positive bacteria Infectious diseases |
| title | Therapeutic potential of bacteriophage endolysins for infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria |
| title_full | Therapeutic potential of bacteriophage endolysins for infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria |
| title_fullStr | Therapeutic potential of bacteriophage endolysins for infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria |
| title_full_unstemmed | Therapeutic potential of bacteriophage endolysins for infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria |
| title_short | Therapeutic potential of bacteriophage endolysins for infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria |
| title_sort | therapeutic potential of bacteriophage endolysins for infections caused by gram positive bacteria |
| topic | Bacteriophage Endolysins Gram-positive bacteria Infectious diseases |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12929-023-00919-1 |
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