Endolysin LysEF-P10 shows potential as an alternative treatment strategy for multidrug-resistant Enterococcus faecalis infections

Sci Rep. 2017 Aug 31;7(1):10164. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-10755-7.

Abstract

Phage-derived lysins can hydrolyse bacterial cell walls and show great potential for combating Gram-positive pathogens. In this study, the potential of LysEF-P10, a new lysin derived from a isolated Enterococcus faecalis phage EF-P10, as an alternative treatment for multidrug-resistant E. faecalis infections, was studied. LysEF-P10 shares only 61% amino acid identity with its closest homologues. Four proteins were expressed: LysEF-P10, the cysteine, histidine-dependent amidohydrolase/peptidase (CHAP) domain (LysEF-P10C), the putative binding domain (LysEF-P10B), and a fusion recombination protein (LysEF-P10B-green fluorescent protein). Only LysEF-P10 showed highly efficient, broad-spectrum bactericidal activity against E. faecalis. Several key functional residues, including the Cys-His-Asn triplet and the calcium-binding site, were confirmed using 3D structure prediction, BLAST and mutation analys. We also found that calcium can switch LysEF-P10 between its active and inactive states and that LysEF-P10B is responsible for binding E. faecalis cells. A single administration of LysEF-P10 (5 μg) was sufficient to protect mice against lethal vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis (VREF) infection, and LysEF-P10-specific antibody did not affect its bactericidal activity or treatment effect. Moreover, LysEF-P10 reduced the number of Enterococcus colonies and alleviated the gut microbiota imbalance caused by VREF. These results indicate that LysEF-P10 might be an alternative treatment for multidrug-resistant E. faecalis infections.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacteriophages / enzymology
  • Bacteriophages / genetics*
  • Bacteriophages / isolation & purification
  • Binding Sites
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial / drug effects*
  • Enterococcus faecalis / drug effects
  • Enterococcus faecalis / virology*
  • Female
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / prevention & control*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Microbial Viability / drug effects
  • Models, Molecular
  • Mutation
  • N-Glycosyl Hydrolases / administration & dosage*
  • N-Glycosyl Hydrolases / chemistry*
  • N-Glycosyl Hydrolases / genetics
  • N-Glycosyl Hydrolases / pharmacology
  • Protein Conformation
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Viral Proteins / administration & dosage
  • Viral Proteins / chemistry
  • Viral Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Proteins / pharmacology

Substances

  • Viral Proteins
  • N-Glycosyl Hydrolases