title: Phage lytic enzyme Cpl-1 for antibacterial therapy in experimental pneumococcal meningitis.
abstract: Treatment of bacterial meningitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae is increasingly difficult, because of emerging resistance to antibiotics. Recombinant Cpl-1, a phage lysin specific for S. pneumoniae, was evaluated for antimicrobial therapy in experimental pneumococcal meningitis using infant Wistar rats. A single intracisternal injection (20 mg/kg) of Cpl-1 resulted in a rapid (within 30 min) decrease in pneumococci in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) by 3 orders of magnitude lasting for 2 h. Intraperitoneal administration of Cpl-1 (200 mg/kg) led to an antibacterial effect in CSF of 2 orders of magnitude for 3 h. Cpl-1 may hold promise as an alternative treatment option in pneumococcal meningitis.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grandgirard
authors.forename: Jutta M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Loeffler
authors.forename: Vincent A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Fischetti
authors.forename: Stephen L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Leib
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000201:enzymology*; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D057487:Enzyme Therapy; D004798:Enzymes / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008586:Meningitis, Pneumococcal / Q000188:drug therapy*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004798:Enzymes; D014764:Viral Proteins