Molecular characterization of a Clostridium difficile bacteriophage and its cloned biologically active endolysin.
Clostridium difficile infection is increasing in both frequency and severity, with the emergence of new highly virulent strains highlighting the need for more rapid and effective methods of control. Here, we show that bacteriophage endolysin can be used to inhibit and kill C. difficile. The genome sequence of a novel bacteriophage that is active against C. difficile was determined, and the bacteriophage endolysin gene was subcloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The partially purified endolysin was active against 30 diverse strains of C. difficile, and importantly, this group included strains of the major epidemic ribotype 027 (B1/NAP1). In contrast, a range of commensal species that inhabit the gastrointestinal tract, including several representatives of the clostridium-like Firmicutes, were insensitive to the endolysin. This endolysin provides a platform for the generation of both therapeutic and detection systems to combat the C. difficile problem. To investigate a method for the protected delivery and production of the lysin in the gastrointestinal tract, we demonstrated the expression of active CD27L endolysin in the lactic acid bacterium Lactococcus lactis MG1363.
Mayer
Melinda J
MJ
Institute of Food Research, Norwich Research Park, Colney, Norwich NR4 7UA, United Kingdom.
Narbad
Arjan
A
Gasson
Michael J
MJ
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000821:virology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression; D023061:Gene Order; D016679:Genome, Viral; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins; D010450:Endopeptidases; C001143:endolysin