title: SASP gene delivery: a novel antibacterial approach.
abstract: Antibiotic resistance is a global problem, and with bacteria having developed resistance to all approved antibacterial agents there is a growing need for innovative solutions. Phico Therapeutics has developed a new class of antibacterial agent, a platform technology called SASPject. SASPject comprises modified, disabled bacterial viruses (bacteriophages) injecting a gene encoding an antibacterial protein, SASP, into target bacteria. SASP, or Small, Acid-soluble Spore Protein(s), inactivate bacterial DNA in a non-sequence-specific manner so their activity is unaffected by DNA mutations. Selected pathogens can be targeted, avoiding the normal flora. A Staphylococcus aureus-targeted SASPject, PT1.2, developed for the nasal decolonization of S. aureus, including methicillin-resistant (MRSA) strains, is expected to complete phase I in 2009. SASPject PT1.2 shows good in vitro activity against a wide range of diverse clinical S. aureus isolates, including MRSA strains. A systemic SASPject PT1.2, and SASPjects targeted against Clostridium difficile and multidrug-resistant Gram-negative organisms are in development. The SASPject technology could represent a new paradigm in antibacterial therapeutics.
authors.affiliation: Phico Therapeutics Ltd., Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge, UK. hf@phicotherapeutics.co.uk
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fairhead
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000235:genetics*; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D006801:Humans; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins