title: Recombinant bacteriophage lysins as antibacterials.
abstract: With the increasing worldwide prevalence of antibiotic resistant bacteria, bacteriophage endolysins (lysins) represent a very promising novel alternative class of antibacterial in the fight against infectious disease. Lysins are phage-encoded peptidoglycan hydrolases which, when applied exogenously (as purified recombinant proteins) to Gram-positive bacteria, bring about rapid lysis and death of the bacterial cell. A number of studies have recently demonstrated the strong potential of these enzymes in human and veterinary medicine to control and treat pathogens on mucosal surfaces and in systemic infections. They also have potential in diagnostics and detection, bio-defence, elimination of food pathogens and control of phytopathogens. This review discusses the extensive research on recombinant bacteriophage lysins in the context of antibacterials, and looks forward to future development and potential.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Cork Institute of Technology, Bishopstown, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fenton
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Olivia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: McAuliffe
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: O'Mahony
authors.forename: Aidan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coffey
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics*; D057005:Bioengineering; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009238:N-Acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine Amidase / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; D009238:N-Acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine Amidase