Therapeutic Potential of an Endolysin Derived from Kayvirus S25-3 for Staphylococcal Impetigo
Ichiro Imanishi,
Jumpei Uchiyama,
Toshihiro Tsukui,
Junzo Hisatsune,
Kaori Ide,
Shigenobu Matsuzaki,
Motoyuki Sugai,
Koji Nishifuji
Affiliations
Ichiro Imanishi
Laboratory of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Division of Animal Life Science, Institute of Agriculture, Graduate School, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
Jumpei Uchiyama
Laboratory of Veterinary Microbiology I, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, 1-17-71 Fuchinobe, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5201, Japan
Department of Bacteriology, Graduate school of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8553, Japan
Kaori Ide
Laboratory of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Division of Animal Life Science, Institute of Agriculture, Graduate School, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
Shigenobu Matsuzaki
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, 185-1 Kohasu, Oko-cho, Nankoku, Kochi 783-8505, Japan
Motoyuki Sugai
Department of Bacteriology, Graduate school of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8553, Japan
Koji Nishifuji
Laboratory of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Division of Animal Life Science, Institute of Agriculture, Graduate School, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
Impetigo is a contagious skin infection predominantly caused by Staphylococcus aureus. Decontamination of S. aureus from the skin is becoming more difficult because of the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains. Bacteriophage endolysins are less likely to invoke resistance and can eliminate the target bacteria without disturbance of the normal microflora. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic potential of a recombinant endolysin derived from kayvirus S25-3 against staphylococcal impetigo in an experimental setting. First, the recombinant S25-3 endolysin required an incubation period of over 15 minutes to exhibit efficient bactericidal effects against S. aureus. Second, topical application of the recombinant S25-3 endolysin decreased the number of intraepidermal staphylococci and the size of pustules in an experimental mouse model of impetigo. Third, treatment with the recombinant S25-3 endolysin increased the diversity of the skin microbiota in the same mice. Finally, we revealed the genus-specific bacteriolytic effect of recombinant S25-3 endolysin against staphylococci, particularly S. aureus, among human skin commensal bacteria. Therefore, topical treatment with recombinant S25-3 endolysin can be a promising disease management procedure for staphylococcal impetigo by efficient bacteriolysis of S. aureus while improving the cutaneous bacterial microflora.
