Thermal characterization of the multimeric bacteriophage endolysin PlyC

Bacteriophage endolysins degrade the bacterial peptidoglycan and are considered enzymatic alternatives to small molecule antibiotics. In particular, the multimeric streptococcal endolysin PlyC has appealing antibacterial properties. However, a comprehensive thermal analysis of PlyC is lacking, which is necessary for evaluating long-term stability and downstream therapeutic potential. Biochemical and kinetic-based methods were used in combination with differential scanning calorimetry to investigate the structural, kinetic and thermodynamic stability of PlyC and its various subunits and domains. The PlyC holoenzyme structure is irreversibly compromised due to partial unfolding and aggregation at 46°C. Unfolding of the catalytic subunit, PlyCA, instigates this event, resulting in the kinetic inactivation of the endolysin. In contrast to PlyCA, the PlyCB octamer (the cell wall binding domain) is thermostable, denaturing at ~75°C. Isolation of PlyCA or PlyCB alone altered their thermal properties. Contrary to the holoenzyme, PlyCA alone unfolds uncooperatively and is thermodynamically destabilized whereas the PlyCB octamer reversibly dissociates into monomers and forms an intermediate state at 74°C in phosphate buffered saline, with each subunit subsequently denaturing at 927°C. Adding folded PlyCA to an intermediate state PlyCB, followed by cooling, allowed for in vitro reconstitution of the active holoenzyme.

An Engineered Multimodular Enzybiotic against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Development of multidrug antibiotic resistance in bacteria is a predicament encountered worldwide. Researchers are in a constant hunt to develop effective antimicrobial agents to counter these dreadful pathogenic bacteria. Here we describe a chimerically engineered multimodular enzybiotic to treat a clinical isolate of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). The cell wall binding domain of phage ϕ11 endolysin was replaced with a truncated and more potent cell wall binding domain from a completely unrelated protein from a different phage. The engineered enzybiotic showed strong activity against clinically relevant methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. In spite of a multimodular peptidoglycan cleaving catalytic domain, the engineered enzybiotic could not exhibit its activity against a veterinary isolate of S. aureus. Our studies point out that novel antimicrobial proteins can be genetically engineered. Moreover, the cell wall binding domain of the engineered protein is indispensable for a strong binding and stability of the proteins.

Potential Application of Phage ɸ11 Lytic Proteins in Rapid Detection and Elimination of Staphylococcus aureus

The increasing antibiotic resistance conferred by Staphylococcus aureus to multiple potential antibiotics has become a serious issue of concern and threat to mankind worldwide. In light of this, phage lytic proteins have been reported which show potential antimicrobial activity against pathogenic microorganisms that could be a promising alternative to antibiotics to eradicate the antibiotic resistant problems. This review discusses the various applications of S. aureus phage lytic proteins and the potentiality of aureophage phi 11 endolysin and virion associated peptidoglycan hydrolase (VAPGH) against staphylococcus strains. Phage Phi11 endolysin harbors two enzymatically active domain; cysteine and histidine-dependent amidohydrolase/peptidase (CHAP) and Amidase 2 at the N-terminus and a cell wall binding domain (CBD) SH3 5 at the C-terminus, while virion associated peptidoglycan hydrolase (VAPGH) has two catalytic domains, CHAP and Glucosaminidase (Mannosyl-glycoprotein endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase) at its N-terminal and C-terminal, respectively.

Structural Investigations on the SH3b Domains of Clostridium perfringens Autolysin through NMR Spectroscopy and Structure Simulation Enlighten the Cell Wall Binding Function

Clostridium perfringens autolysin (CpAcp) is a peptidoglycan hydrolase associated with cell separation, division, and growth. It consists of a signal peptide, ten SH3b domains, and a catalytic domain. The structure and function mechanisms of the ten SH3bs related to cell wall peptidoglycan binding remain unclear. Here, the structures of CpAcp SH3bs were studied through NMR spectroscopy and structural simulation. The NMR structure of SH3b6 was determined at first, which adopts a typical β-barrel fold and has three potential ligand-binding pockets. The largest pocket containing eight conserved residues was suggested to bind with peptide ligand in a novel model. The structures of the other nine SH3bs were subsequently predicted to have a fold similar to SH3b6. Their ligand pockets are largely similar to those of SH3b6, although with varied size and morphology, except that SH3b1/2 display a third pocket markedly different from those in other SH3bs. Thus, it was supposed that SH3b3-10 possess similar ligand-binding ability, while SH3b1/2 have a different specificity and additional binding site for ligand. As an entirety, ten SH3bs confer a capacity for alternatively binding to various peptidoglycan sites in the cell wall. This study presents an initial insight into the structure and potential function of CpAcp SH3bs.

The antimicrobial peptide MK58911-NH2 acts on planktonic, biofilm and intramacrophage cells of Cryptococcus neoformans

Cryptococcosis is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality, especially in AIDS patients. Its treatment is carried out by combining amphotericin B and azoles or flucytosine, which cause unavoidable toxicity issues to the host. Thus, the urgency in obtaining new antifungals drives the search for antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). This study aimed to extend the understanding of the mechanism of action of an AMP analog from wasps peptide toxins, MK58911-NH2, on Cryptococcus neoformans . It was also evaluated if MK58911-NH2 can act on cryptococcal cells in macrophages, biofilms, and an immersion zebrafish model of infection. Finally, we investigated the structure-antifungal action and the toxicity relation of MK58911-NH2 fragments and a derivative of this peptide (MH58911-NH2). The results demonstrated that MK58911-NH2 did not alter the fluorescence intensity of cell wall - binding dye calcofluor or capsule- binding dye 18b7 antibody-FITC of C. neoformans , but rather reduced the number and size of fungal cells. This activity reduced the fungal burden of C. neoformans both in macrophages and in zebrafish embryos as well as within biofilms. Three fragments of the MK58911-NH2 peptide showed no activity against Cryptococcus or toxicity in lung cells. The derivative peptide MH58911-NH2, in which the lysine residues of MK58911-NH2 were replaced by histidine, reduced the activity against extracellular and intracellular C. neoformans . On the other hand, it was active against biofilm, and reducing toxicity. In summary, the results showed that peptide MK58911-NH2 could be a promising agent against cryptococcosis. The work also opens a perspective for the verification of the antifungal activity of other derivatives.

Differential binding of human and murine IgGs to catalytic and cell wall binding domains of Staphylococcus aureus peptidoglycan hydrolases

Staphylococcus aureus is an opportunistic pathogen causing high morbidity and mortality. Since multi-drug resistant S. aureus lineages are nowadays omnipresent, alternative tools for preventive or therapeutic interventions, like immunotherapy, are urgently needed. However, there are currently no vaccines against S. aureus. Surface-exposed and secreted proteins are regarded as potential targets for immunization against S. aureus infections. Yet, many potential staphylococcal antigens of this category do not elicit protective immune responses. To obtain a better understanding of this problem, we compared the binding of serum IgGs from healthy human volunteers, highly S. aureus-colonized patients with the genetic blistering disease epidermolysis bullosa (EB), or immunized mice to the purified S. aureus peptidoglycan hydrolases Sle1, Aly and LytM and their different domains. The results show that the most abundant serum IgGs from humans and immunized mice target the cell wall-binding domain of Sle1, and the catalytic domains of Aly and LytM. Interestingly, in a murine infection model, these particular IgGs were not protective against S. aureus bacteremia. In contrast, relatively less abundant IgGs against the catalytic domain of Sle1 and the N-terminal domains of Aly and LytM were almost exclusively detected in sera from EB patients and healthy volunteers. These latter IgGs may contribute to the protection against staphylococcal infections, as previous studies suggest that serum IgGs protect EB patients against severe S. aureus infection. Together, these observations focus attention on the use of particular protein domains for vaccination to direct potentially protective immune responses towards the most promising epitopes within staphylococcal antigens.

Molecular basis for recognition of the Group A Carbohydrate backbone by the PlyC streptococcal bacteriophage endolysin

Endolysins are peptidoglycan (PG) hydrolases that function as part of the bacteriophage (phage) lytic system to release progeny phage at the end of a replication cycle. Notably, endolysins alone can produce lysis without phage infection, which offers an attractive alternative to traditional antibiotics. Endolysins from phage that infect Gram-positive bacterial hosts contain at least one enzymatically active domain (EAD) responsible for hydrolysis of PG bonds and a cell wall binding domain (CBD) that binds a cell wall epitope, such as a surface carbohydrate, providing some degree of specificity for the endolysin. Whilst the EADs typically cluster into conserved mechanistic classes with well-defined active sites, relatively little is known about the nature of the CBDs and only a few binding epitopes for CBDs have been elucidated. The major cell wall components of many streptococci are the polysaccharides that contain the polyrhamnose (pRha) backbone modified with species-specific and serotype-specific glycosyl side chains. In this report, using molecular genetics, microscopy, flow cytometry and lytic activity assays, we demonstrate the interaction of PlyCB, the CBD subunit of the streptococcal PlyC endolysin, with the pRha backbone of the cell wall polysaccharides, Group A Carbohydrate (GAC) and serotype c-specific carbohydrate (SCC) expressed by the Group A Streptococcus and Streptococcus mutans, respectively.

Abstract P-6: Automated Pipeline for Parametrization of the Coarse-Grained Models for Biomolecular Simulations

Background: Antibiotic-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus cause human infections that are difficult to treat and can lead to death. Bacteriophage (phage) phi812K1/420 from the family Myoviridae infects 95% of clinical isolates of S. aureus and therefore is a promising candidate for a phage therapy agent. As the native phage particle approaches its host cell, phage receptor-binding proteins make a contact with the host cell wall. This interaction triggers a cascade of structural changes in the baseplate resulting in phage tail contraction and genome ejection. Mechanistic description of the baseplate re-organization, however, remains unknown. Methods: Using cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), we studied the baseplate of the phage phi812K1/420. Also, selected proteins involved in the host cell wall binding and penetration were produced in recombinant form and their structures were solved using X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM single-particle reconstruction. Results: We reconstructed the phage baseplate in native and contracted states. The reconstruction of the native baseplate reaches a resolution of 4 Å, which enables us to discern individual protein structures. Solved protein structures will be fitted into the reconstruction of the contracted baseplate. Conclusion: Our results provide the first structural characterization of contractile phage infecting a Gram-positive bacterium. Comparison of the two distinct baseplate states will allow us to describe the molecular mechanism of the initial stage of phage infection in detail.

Abstract OR-6: Baseplate Structure of Bacteriophage Phi812 and Mechanism of Cell Wall Binding and Penetration

Background: Antibiotic-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus cause human infections that are difficult to treat and can lead to death. Bacteriophage (phage) phi812K1/420 from the family Myoviridae infects 95% of clinical isolates of S. aureus and therefore is a promising candidate for a phage therapy agent. As the native phage particle approaches its host cell, phage receptor-binding proteins make a contact with the host cell wall. This interaction triggers a cascade of structural changes in the baseplate resulting in phage tail contraction and genome ejection. Mechanistic description of the baseplate re-organization, however, remains unknown. Methods: Using cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), we studied the baseplate of the phage phi812K1/420. Also, selected proteins involved in the host cell wall binding and penetration were produced in recombinant form and their structures were solved using X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM single-particle reconstruction. Results: We reconstructed the phage baseplate in native and contracted states. The reconstruction of the native baseplate reaches a resolution of 4 Å, which enables us to discern individual protein structures. Solved protein structures will be fitted into the reconstruction of the contracted baseplate. Conclusion: Our results provide the first structural characterization of contractile phage infecting a Gram-positive bacterium. Comparison of the two distinct baseplate states will allow us to describe the molecular mechanism of the initial stage of phage infection in detail.

Characterization of an Endolysin Targeting Clostridioides difficile That Affects Spore Outgrowth

Clostridioides difficile is a spore-forming enteric pathogen causing life-threatening diarrhoea and colitis. Microbial disruption caused by antibiotics has been linked with susceptibility to, and transmission and relapse of, C. difficile infection. Therefore, there is an urgent need for novel therapeutics that are effective in preventing C. difficile growth, spore germination, and outgrowth. In recent years bacteriophage-derived endolysins and their derivatives show promise as a novel class of antibacterial agents. In this study, we recombinantly expressed and characterized a cell wall hydrolase (CWH) lysin from C. difficile phage, phiMMP01. The full-length CWH displayed lytic activity against selected C. difficile strains. However, removing the N-terminal cell wall binding domain, creating CWH351—656, resulted in increased and/or an expanded lytic spectrum of activity. C. difficile specificity was retained versus commensal clostridia and other bacterial species. As expected, the putative cell wall binding domain, CWH1—350, was completely inactive. We also observe the effect of CWH351—656 on preventing C. difficile spore outgrowth. Our results suggest that CWH351—656 has therapeutic potential as an antimicrobial agent against C. difficile infection.