Engineering of Long-Circulating Peptidoglycan Hydrolases Enables Efficient Treatment of Systemic Staphylococcus aureus Infection.

is a human pathogen causing life-threatening diseases. The increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant infections is a global health concern, requiring development of novel therapeutic options. Peptidoglycan-degrading enzymes (peptidoglycan hydrolases, PGHs) have emerged as a highly effective class of antimicrobial proteins against and other pathogens.

Point-of-care testing system for digital single cell detection of MRSA directly from nasal swabs.

We present an automated point-of-care testing (POCT) system for rapid detection of species- and resistance markers in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) at the level of single cells, directly from nasal swab samples. Our novel system allows clear differentiation between MRSA, methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (MR-CoNS), which is not the case for currently used real-time quantitative PCR based systems.

Targeting Hidden Pathogens: Cell-Penetrating Enzybiotics Eradicate Intracellular Drug-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

is a major concern in human health care, mostly due to the increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance. Intracellular localization of plays a key role in recurrent infections by protecting the pathogens from antibiotics and immune responses. Peptidoglycan hydrolases (PGHs) are highly specific bactericidal enzymes active against both drug-sensitive and -resistant bacteria.

Improved Biodistribution and Extended Serum Half-Life of a Bacteriophage Endolysin by Albumin Binding Domain Fusion.

The increasing number of multidrug-resistant bacteria intensifies the need to develop new antimicrobial agents. Endolysins are bacteriophage-derived enzymes that degrade the bacterial cell wall and hold promise as a new class of highly specific and versatile antimicrobials. One major limitation to the therapeutic use of endolysins is their often short serum circulation half-life, mostly due to kidney excretion and lysosomal degradation.