TSPphg Lysin from the Extremophilic <i>Thermus</i> Bacteriophage TSP4 as a Potential Antimicrobial Agent against Both Gram-Negative and Gram-Positive Pathogenic Bacteria
Feng Wang,
Xinyu Ji,
Qiupeng Li,
Guanling Zhang,
Jiani Peng,
Jun Hai,
Yao Zhang,
Baiquan Ci,
Hongwei Li,
Yan Xiong,
Xianyu Deng,
Lianbing Lin
Affiliations
Feng Wang
Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, 727 South Jingming Road, Kunming 650500, China
Xinyu Ji
Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, 727 South Jingming Road, Kunming 650500, China
Qiupeng Li
Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, 727 South Jingming Road, Kunming 650500, China
Guanling Zhang
Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, 727 South Jingming Road, Kunming 650500, China
Jiani Peng
Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, 727 South Jingming Road, Kunming 650500, China
Jun Hai
Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, 727 South Jingming Road, Kunming 650500, China
Yao Zhang
Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, 727 South Jingming Road, Kunming 650500, China
Baiquan Ci
Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, 727 South Jingming Road, Kunming 650500, China
Hongwei Li
Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, 727 South Jingming Road, Kunming 650500, China
Yan Xiong
Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, 727 South Jingming Road, Kunming 650500, China
Xianyu Deng
Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, 727 South Jingming Road, Kunming 650500, China
Lianbing Lin
Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, 727 South Jingming Road, Kunming 650500, China
New strategies against antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens are urgently needed but are not within reach. Here, we present in vitro and in vivo antimicrobial activity of TSPphg, a novel phage lysin identified from extremophilic Thermus phage TSP4 by sequencing its whole genome. By breaking down the bacterial cells, TSPphg is able to cause bacteria destruction and has shown bactericidal activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive pathogenic bacteria, especially antibiotic-resistant strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae, in which the complete elimination and highest reduction in bacterial counts by greater than 6 logs were observed upon 50 μg/mL TSPphg treatment at 37 °C for 1 h. A murine skin infection model further confirmed the in vivo efficacy of TSPphg in removing a highly dangerous and multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from skin damage and in accelerating wound closure. Together, our findings may offer a therapeutic alternative to help fight bacterial infections in the current age of mounting antibiotic resistance, and to shed light on bacteriophage-based strategies to develop novel anti-infectives.
