title: Lysostaphin: an antistaphylococcal agent.
abstract: Lysostaphin is a zinc metalloenzyme which has a specific lytic action against Staphylococcus aureus. Lysostaphin has activities of three enzymes namely, glycylglycine endopeptidase, endo-beta-N-acetyl glucosamidase and N-acteyl muramyl-L-alanine amidase. Glycylglycine endopeptidase specifically cleaves the glycine-glycine bonds, unique to the interpeptide cross-bridge of the S. aureus cell wall. Due to its unique specificity, lysostaphin could have high potential in the treatment of antibiotic-resistant staphylococcal infections. This review article presents a current understanding of the lysostaphin and its applications in therapeutic agent as a treatment against antibiotic-resistant S. aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) infections, either alone or in combination with other antibiotics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, National University of Singapore, Kent Ridge, Singapore. bchjkk@nus.edu.sg
authors.forename: Jaspal K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kumar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D004355:Drug Stability; D006801:Humans; D008248:Lysostaphin / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D008248:Lysostaphin