Publications by authors named "Hazel M Sisson"
Strategies for the biocontrol Pseudomonas infections pre-fruit harvest.
Microb Biotechnol
October 2024
The efficiency of global crop production is under threat from microbial pathogens which is likely to be worsened by climate change. Major contributors to plant disease are Pseudomonas syringae (P. syringae) pathovars which affect a variety of important crops.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOur ability to control the growth of Gram-negative bacterial pathogens is challenged by rising antimicrobial resistance and requires new approaches. Endolysins are phage-derived enzymes that degrade peptidoglycan and therefore offer potential as antimicrobial agents. However, the outer membrane (OM) of Gram-negative bacteria impedes the access of externally applied endolysins to peptidoglycan.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Bacterial diseases like those caused by the phytopathogen affecting kiwifruit are challenging global crop production, prompting a search for sustainable antimicrobial alternatives to traditional copper and antibiotics.
- The study investigates the use of phage endolysins, which can degrade bacterial cell walls, and finds that combining them with citric acid effectively disrupts the protective outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, leading to bacterial cell lysis.
- Results show that the citric acid-endolysin combination significantly reduces viable pathogens, suggesting a promising new approach for environmentally friendly agriculture management and potential solutions to antimicrobial resistance.