A5075146072- Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
- Streptococcal Infections and Treatments
- Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Antimicrobial Resistance in Staphylococcus
- Microbial infections and disease research
- Probiotics and Fermented Foods
- Biochemical and Structural Characterization
- Bacillus and Francisella bacterial research
- Oral microbiology and periodontitis research
- Peptidase Inhibition and Analysis
- Hepatitis C virus research
- Monoclonal and Polyclonal Antibodies Research
- RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
- Pneumonia and Respiratory Infections
- Neonatal and Maternal Infections
- Protein Structure and Dynamics
- Transgenic Plants and Applications
- Enzyme Structure and Function
- Bacterial Infections and Vaccines
- Legume Nitrogen Fixing Symbiosis
- Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens research
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Glycosylation and Glycoproteins Research
- Respiratory viral infections research
University of Maryland, College Park
2015-2024
Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research
2015-2024
Advanced Bioscience Laboratories (United States)
2014-2024
University of Maryland, Baltimore
2013-2024
National Institute of Standards and Technology
2013-2024
New York Blood Center
2024
University of Minnesota
2023
Virginia–Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine
2011-2022
Rockefeller University
2002-2019
University of Florida
2008-2015
Bacteriophage lytic enzymes quickly destroy the cell wall of host bacterium to release progeny phage. Because such specifically kill species in which they were produced, may represent an effective way control pathogenic bacteria without disturbing normal microflora. In this report, we studied a murein hydrolase from streptococcal bacteriophage C 1 termed lysin. This enzyme is specific for groups A, C, and E streptococci, with little or no activity toward several oral streptococci other...
Nasopharyngeal carriage is the major reservoir for Streptococcus pneumoniae in community. Although eliminating this would greatly reduce disease occurrence, no suitable intervention has been available purpose. We show here that seconds after contact, a purified pneumococcal bacteriophage lytic enzyme (Pal) able to kill 15 common serotypes of pneumococci, including highly penicillin-resistant strains. In vivo, previously colonized mice revealed undetectable titers 5 hours single treatment....
In bacterial biofilms, high molecular weight, secreted exopolysaccharides can serve as a scaffold to which additional carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids adhere, forming the matrix of developing biofilm. Here we report methods extract purify weight (>15 kDa) from biofilms eight human pathogens, including species Staphylcococcus, Klebsiella, Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, toxigenic strain Escherichia coli O157:H7. Glycosyl composition analysis indicated total mannose content...
Group B streptococci (GBS) are the leading cause of neonatal meningitis and sepsis worldwide. The current treatment strategy is limited to intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis in pregnant women prevent early-onset diseases, but considering potential for resistance, risk losing control over disease high. To approach this problem, we have developed a bacteriophage (phage) lytic enzyme remove colonizing GBS. Bacteriophage muralytic enzymes, termed lysins, highly evolved molecules designed degrade...
Enterococcus faecalis and faecium infections are increasingly difficult to treat due high levels of resistance antibiotics. PlyV12, a bacteriophage lytic enzyme, was isolated shown effectively kill both E. (including vancomycin-resistant strains), as well other human pathogens. We propose its development use an alternative therapeutic tool.
Lysins are murein hydrolases produced by bacteriophage that act on the bacterial host cell wall to release progeny phage. When added extrinsically in their purified form, these enzymes produce total lysis of susceptible Gram-positive bacteria within seconds, suggesting a unique antimicrobial strategy. All known lysins as single polypeptide containing catalytic activity domain, which cleaves one four major peptidoglycan bonds, and cell-wall-binding may bind species-specific carbohydrate...
ABSTRACT Plant productivity is greatly affected by environmental stress factors. In this review, we give an overview of molecular approaches that have been taken to study tolerance; in particular, consider drought, salt and cold stress. Strategies perspectives using biology improve tolerance are outlined describing specific examples. Osmotic associated with the synthesis novel polypeptides and/or osmolytes. The spectrum action these different metabolites summarized. A number stress‐related...
Abstract Objectives In the light of increasing drug resistance in Staphylococcus aureus, bacteriophage endolysins [peptidoglycan hydrolases (PGHs)] have been suggested as promising antimicrobial agents. The aim this study was to determine activity nine enzymes representing unique homology groups within a diverse class staphylococcal PGHs. Methods PGHs were recombinantly expressed, purified and tested for staphylolytic multiple vitro assays (zymogram, turbidity reduction assay plate lysis)...
Streptococcus pyogenes, or Group A streptococcus (GAS), has a propensity to colonize human tissues and form biofilms. Significantly, these biofilms are contributing mechanism of antibiotic treatment failure in streptococcal disease. In this study, we evaluate streptococcal-specific bacteriophage-encoded endolysin (PlyC), which is known lyse planktonic streptococci, on both static dynamic biofilms.PlyC was benchmarked against antibiotics for MIC, MBC minimum biofilm eradication concentration...
The increasing emergence of multi-drug resistant streptococci poses a serious threat to public health worldwide. Bacteriophage lysins are promising alternatives antibiotics; however, their narrow lytic spectrum restricted closely related species is central shortcoming translational development. Here, we describe an efficient method for rapid screening engineered chimeric and report unique "chimeolysin", ClyR, with robust activity extended-spectrum streptococcal host range against most...
Abstract Multi-drug resistant bacteria are a persistent problem in modern health care, food safety and animal health. There is need for new antimicrobials to replace over used conventional antibiotics. Here we describe engineered triple-acting staphylolytic peptidoglycan hydrolases wherein three unique antimicrobial activities from two parental proteins combined into single fusion protein. This effectively reduces the incidence of strain development. The protein reduced colonization by...
Proteolytic enzymes produced byPorphyromonas gingivalis are important virulence factors of this periodontopathogen. Two these enzymes, referred to as arginine-specific cysteine proteinases (gingipains R), the product two related genes. Here, we describe purification an enzyme translated from rgpB/rgp-2 gene (gingipain R2, RGP-2) and secreted a single chain protein 422 residues. The occurs in several isoforms differing pI, molecular mass, mobility gelatin zymography gels, affinity...
Previous studies have shown that human serum containing anti-group A streptococcus carbohydrate (GAS CHO) antibodies were opsonic for different M protein-carrying serotypes. To investigate the role anti-GAS CHO play in passive and active protection, mice immunized subcutaneously or intranasally with GAS conjugated to tetanus toxoid, mortality oral colonization monitored after challenge live GAS. Compared control mice, significantly protected against systemic nasal Furthermore, of samples...
Bacteriophages deploy lysins that degrade the bacterial cell wall and facilitate virus egress from host. When applied exogenously, these enzymes destroy susceptible microbes and, accordingly, have potential as therapeutic agents. The most potent lysin identified to date is PlyC, an enzyme assembled two components (PlyCA PlyCB) specific for streptococcal species. Here structure of PlyC holoenzyme reveals a single PlyCA moiety tethered ring-shaped assembly eight PlyCB molecules....
Alginate is a polysaccharide produced by certain seaweeds and bacteria that consists of mannuronic acid guluronic residues. Seaweed alginate used in food industrial chemical processes, while the biosynthesis bacterial associated with pathogenic Pseudomonas aeruginosa. lyases cleave this into short oligo-uronates thus have potential to be utilized for both medicinal applications. An lyase gene, algMsp, from Microbulbifer sp. 6532A, was synthesized as an E.coli codon-optimized clone. The...
PlyC, a bacteriophage-encoded endolysin, lyses Streptococcus pyogenes (Spy) on contact. Here, we demonstrate that PlyC is potent agent for controlling intracellular Spy often underlies refractory infections. We show the holoenzyme, mediated by its PlyCB subunit, crosses epithelial cell membranes and clears in dose-dependent manner. Quantitative studies using model establish interacts strongly with phosphatidylserine (PS), whereas interaction other lipids weak, suggesting specificity PS as...
Critical assessment of structure prediction (CASP) conducts community experiments to determine the state art in computing protein from amino acid sequence. The process relies on experimental providing information about not yet public or be solved structures, for use as targets. For some targets, is time CASP. Calculated accuracy improved dramatically this round, implying that models should now much more useful resolving many sorts difficulties. To test this, selected seven unsolved targets...