Phage-encoded depolymerases as a strategy for combating multidrug-resistant .

Front Cell Infect Microbiol

Department of Microbiology, College of Science and Technology, Dankook University, Cheonan, Republic of Korea.

Published: November 2024

AI Article Synopsis

  • A nosocomial pathogen poses a significant public health risk due to its resistance to multiple antibiotics, making treatment of severe infections difficult and often leading to high mortality rates.
  • The potential use of bacteriophage-derived polysaccharide depolymerase enzymes is highlighted as a novel approach, targeting bacterial components to disrupt biofilms and enhance treatment effectiveness.
  • However, challenges like the narrow host range of these enzymes and the emergence of phage-resistant strains necessitate further research and clinical trials to evaluate their full potential in therapeutic applications.

Article Abstract

, a predominant nosocomial pathogen, represents a grave threat to public health due to its multiple antimicrobial resistance. Managing patients afflicted with severe infections caused by multiple drug-resistant is particularly challenging, given the associated high mortality rates and unfavorable prognoses. The diminishing efficacy of antibiotics against this superbug underscores the urgent necessity for novel treatments or strategies to address this formidable issue. Bacteriophage-derived polysaccharide depolymerase enzymes present a potential approach to combating this pathogen. These enzymes target and degrade the bacterial cell's exopolysaccharide, capsular polysaccharide, and lipopolysaccharide, thereby disrupting biofilm formation and impairing the bacteria's defense mechanisms. Nonetheless, the narrow host range of phage depolymerases limits their therapeutic efficacy. Despite the benefits of these enzymes, phage-resistant strains have been identified, highlighting the complexity of phage-host interactions and the need for further investigation. While preliminary findings are encouraging, current investigations are limited, and clinical trials are imperative to advance this treatment approach for broader clinical applications. This review explores the potential of phage-derived depolymerase enzymes against infections.

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Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11540826PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2024.1462620DOI Listing

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