Chimeric phage lysins act synergistically with lysostaphin to kill mastitis-causing Staphylococcus aureus in murine mammary glands

Appl Environ Microbiol. 2012 Apr;78(7):2297-305. doi: 10.1128/AEM.07050-11. Epub 2012 Jan 27.

Abstract

Staphylococci cause bovine mastitis, with Staphylococcus aureus being responsible for the majority of the mastitis-based losses to the dairy industry (up to $2 billion/annum). Treatment is primarily with antibiotics, which are often ineffective and potentially contribute to resistance development. Bacteriophage endolysins (peptidoglycan hydrolases) present a promising source of alternative antimicrobials. Here we evaluated two fusion proteins consisting of the streptococcal λSA2 endolysin endopeptidase domain fused to staphylococcal cell wall binding domains from either lysostaphin (λSA2-E-Lyso-SH3b) or the staphylococcal phage K endolysin, LysK (λSA2-E-LysK-SH3b). We demonstrate killing of 16 different S. aureus mastitis isolates, including penicillin-resistant strains, by both constructs. At 100 μg/ml in processed cow milk, λSA2-E-Lyso-SH3b and λSA2-E-LysK-SH3b reduced the S. aureus bacterial load by 3 and 1 log units within 3 h, respectively, compared to a buffer control. In contrast to λSA2-E-Lyso-SH3b, however, λSA2-E-LysK-SH3b permitted regrowth of the pathogen after 1 h. In a mouse model of mastitis, infusion of 25 μg of λSA2-E-Lyso-SH3b or λSA2-E-LysK-SH3b into mammary glands reduced S. aureus CFU by 0.63 or 0.81 log units, compared to >2 log for lysostaphin. Both chimeras were synergistic with lysostaphin against S. aureus in plate lysis checkerboard assays. When tested in combination in mice, λSA2-E-LysK-SH3b and lysostaphin (12.5 μg each/gland) caused a 3.36-log decrease in CFU. Furthermore, most protein treatments reduced gland wet weights and intramammary tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) concentrations, which serve as indicators of inflammation. Overall, our animal model results demonstrate the potential of fusion peptidoglycan hydrolases as antimicrobials for the treatment of S. aureus-induced mastitis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Cattle
  • Cattle Diseases / drug therapy
  • Cattle Diseases / microbiology
  • Drug Synergism
  • Endopeptidases / genetics
  • Endopeptidases / metabolism
  • Endopeptidases / pharmacology*
  • Endopeptidases / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Lysostaphin / metabolism
  • Lysostaphin / pharmacology*
  • Lysostaphin / therapeutic use
  • Mammary Glands, Animal / microbiology*
  • Mastitis, Bovine / drug therapy*
  • Mastitis, Bovine / microbiology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Models, Animal
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / pharmacology*
  • Staphylococcus Phages / metabolism
  • Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects*
  • Staphylococcus aureus / isolation & purification
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Endopeptidases
  • Lysostaphin
  • endolysin