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Antibacterial activity of Acinetobacter baumannii phage ϕAB2 endolysin (LysAB2) against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria

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Abstract

To investigate the nature and origin of the antibacterial activity of the lytic phage ϕAB2 toward Acinetobacter baumannii, we successfully isolated and characterized a novel phage lysozyme (endolysin) from ϕAB2 and named it LysAB2. To analyze antibacterial activity of LysAB2, the complete LysAB2 and two deletion derivatives were constructed, purified and characterized. Zymographic assays showed that only the intact LysAB2 could lyse the peptidoglycan of A. baumannii and the Staphylococcus aureus cell wall. Antibacterial analysis also showed that only the intact LysAB2 retained the complete bactericidal activity. When applied exogenously, LysAB2 exhibited a broad bacteriolytic activity against a number of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Thermostability assays indicated that LysAB2 was stable at 20∼40°C. Its optimal pH was 6.0, and it was active from pH 4 to 8. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that exposure to 500 μg ml−1 LysAB2 for up to 60 min caused a remarkable modification of the cell shape of the bacteria. Treating bacteria with LysAB2 clearly enhanced permeation of the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane. These results indicate that LysAB2 is an effective lysozyme against bacteria, and they suggest that it is a good candidate for a therapeutic/disinfectant agent to control nosocomial infections caused by multiple drug-resistant bacteria.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the Electron Microscopy Laboratory of the Department of Anatomy of Tzu Chi University for technical assistance. This work was supported by grants TCSP-0302 from the Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital and TCIRP99002-03 from Tzu Chi University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, 970, Taiwan

    Meng-Jiun Lai, Anren Hu, Po-Chi Soo, Long-Hui Chen & Kai-Chih Chang

  2. Institute of Microbiology Immunology and Molecular Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, 970, Taiwan

    Nien-Tsung Lin

  3. College of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, 970, Taiwan

    Li-Kuang Chen

  4. Department of Emergency Medicine, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien, 970, Taiwan

    Li-Kuang Chen

  5. Department of Laboratory Medicine, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien, 970, Taiwan

    Kai-Chih Chang

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  1. Meng-Jiun Lai
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  2. Nien-Tsung Lin
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  3. Anren Hu
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  4. Po-Chi Soo
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  5. Li-Kuang Chen
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  6. Long-Hui Chen
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Correspondence to Kai-Chih Chang.

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Meng-Jiun Lai and Nien-Tsung Lin contributed equally to this work.

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Lai, MJ., Lin, NT., Hu, A. et al. Antibacterial activity of Acinetobacter baumannii phage ϕAB2 endolysin (LysAB2) against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 90, 529–539 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-011-3104-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-011-3104-y

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