Hydrolytic Enzymes as Potentiators of Antimicrobials against an Inter-Kingdom Biofilm Model.

Biofilms are recalcitrant to antimicrobials, partly due to the barrier effect of their matrix. The use of hydrolytic enzymes capable to degrade matrix constituents has been proposed as an alternative strategy against biofilm-related infections. This study aimed to determine whether hydrolytic enzymes could potentiate the activity of antimicrobials against hard-to-treat interkingdom biofilms comprising two bacteria and one fungus. We studied the activity of a series of enzymes alone or in combination, followed or not by antimicrobial treatment, against single-, dual- or three-species biofilms of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans, by measuring their residual biomass or culturable cells. Two hydrolytic enzymes, subtilisin A and lyticase, were identified as the most effective to reduce the biomass of C. albicans biofilm. When targeting interkingdom biofilms, subtilisin A alone was the most effective enzyme to reduce biomass of all biofilms, followed by lyticase combined with an enzymatic cocktail composed of cellulase, denarase, and dispersin B that proved previously active against bacterial biofilms. The subsequent incubation with antimicrobials further reduced the biomass. Enzymes alone did not reduce culturable cells in most cases and did not interfere with the cidal effects of antimicrobials. Therefore, this work highlights the potential interest of pre-exposing interkingdom biofilms to hydrolytic enzymes to reduce their biomass besides the number of culturable cells, which was not achieved when using antimicrobials alone. IMPORTANCE Biofilms are recalcitrant to antimicrobial treatments. This problem is even more critical when dealing with polymicrobial, interkingdom biofilms, including both bacteria and fungi, as these microorganisms cooperate to strengthen the biofilm and produce a complex matrix. Here, we demonstrate that the protease subtilisin A used alone, or a cocktail containing lyticase, cellulase, denarase, and dispersin B markedly reduce the biomass of interkingdom biofilms and cooperate with antimicrobials to act upon these recalcitrant forms of infection. This work may open perspectives for the development of novel adjuvant therapies against biofilm-related infections.

The past, present, and future of enzyme-based therapies.

Enzyme-based therapeutics (EBTs) have the potential to tap into an almost unmeasurable amount of enzyme biodiversity and treat myriad conditions. Although EBTs were some of the first biologics used clinically, the rate of development of newer EBTs has lagged behind that of other biologics. Here, we review the history of EBTs, and discuss the state of each class of EBT, their potential clinical advantages, and the unique challenges to their development. Additionally, we discuss key remaining technical barriers that, if addressed, could increase the diversity and rate of the development of EBTs.

Enhancing the therapeutic use of biofilm-dispersing enzymes with smart drug delivery systems.

Biofilm-dispersing enzymes degrade the extracellular polymeric matrix surrounding bacterial biofilms, disperse the microbial community and increase their susceptibility to antibiotics and immune cells. Challenges for the clinical translation of biofilm-dispersing enzymes involve their susceptibility to denaturation, degradation, and clearance upon administration in vivo. Drug delivery systems aim to overcome these limitations through encapsulation, stabilization and protection from the exterior environment, thereby maintaining the enzymatic activity. Smart drug delivery systems offer target specificity, releasing payloads at the site of infection while minimizing unnecessary systemic exposure. This review highlights critical advances of biofilm-dispersing enzymes as a novel therapeutic approach for biofilm-associated infections. We explore how smart, bio-responsive delivery systems overcome the limiting factors of biofilm-dispersing enzymes and summarize the key systems designed. This review will guide future developments, focusing on utilizing selective and specific therapies in a targeted fashion to meet the unmet therapeutic needs of biofilm infections.

Arginine depriving enzymes: applications as emerging therapeutics in cancer treatment.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy and other medications are employed to treat various types of cancer. However, each treatment has its own set of side effects, owing to its low specificity. As a result, there is an urgent need for newer therapeutics that do not disrupt healthy cells' normal functioning. Depriving nutrient or non/semi-essential amino acids to which cancerous cells are auxotrophic remains one such promising anticancer strategy. L-Arginine (Arg) is a semi-essential vital amino acid involved in versatile metabolic processes, signaling pathways, and cancer cell proliferation. Hence, the administration of Arg depriving enzymes (ADE) such as arginase, arginine decarboxylase (ADC), and arginine deiminase (ADI) could be effective in cancer therapy. The Arg auxotrophic cancerous cells like hepatocellular carcinoma, human colon cancer, leukemia, and breast cancer cells are sensitive to ADE treatment due to low expression of crucial enzymes argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS), argininosuccinate lyase (ASL), and ornithine transcarbamylase (OCT). These therapeutic enzyme treatments induce cell death through inducing autophagy, apoptosis, generation of oxidative species, i.e., oxidative stress, and arresting the progression and expansion of cancerous cells at certain cell cycle checkpoints. The enzymes are undergoing clinical trials and could be successfully exploited as potential anticancer agents in the future.

Impact of dietary Chlorella vulgaris and carbohydrate-active enzymes incorporation on plasma metabolites and liver lipid composition of broilers.

BACKGROUND: Chlorella vulgaris has been proposed as a sustainable green feedstock in poultry nutrition due to its ease of cultivation, minimal environmental impact and balanced nutritional composition. However, the majority of studies documents the use of C. vulgaris as a dietary supplement in broilers instead of a feed ingredient. To the best of our knowledge, no report has shown the effect of a high-level incorporation (>2 % in the diet) of C. vulgaris on plasma metabolites and hepatic lipid composition of broilers. One hundred and twenty Ross 308 male birds were housed in 40 wired-floor cages and randomly distributed by the following experimental diets at 22 days of age (n = 10) during 15 days: (1) a corn-soybean meal based diet (control); (2) based diet with 10% of C. vulgaris; (3) diet 2 supplemented with 0.005% Rovabio® Excel AP; and (4) diet 2 supplemented with 0.01% of a pre-selected four-CAZyme mixture. RESULTS: The inclusion of C. vulgaris at 10% in the diet, regardless of the presence of exogenous CAZymes, changed plasma metabolites but did not compromise broilers growth. Plasma total lipids increased in broilers fed C. vulgaris combined with the two feed CAZymes (p < 0.001) compared with the control diet. Moreover, the supplementation with Rovabio® increased total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol, while the addition of the four-CAZyme mixture increased triacylglycerols, VLDL-cholesterol and ALP activity. In opposition, HDL-cholesterol levels decreased in broilers fed microalga alone (p = 0.002). Regarding hepatic composition, the inclusion of C. vulgaris in broiler diets, individually or combined with exogenous CAZymes, had a minor effect on fatty acids but improved the n-6/n-3 ratio and total carotenoids. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, the inclusion of a high level (10%) of C. vulgaris in broiler´s diet, regardless of the presence of exogenous CAZymes, improved hepatic antioxidant composition and did not impair broiler's performance. In addition, the feed supplementation with CAZymes increased broilers lipemia. Therefore, dietary C. vulgaris at this incorporation level seems to be safe for animal health and do not compromise performance traits, with no need of CAZymes supplementation.

Strain variation in Bacillus cereus biofilms and their susceptibility to extracellular matrix-degrading enzymes.

Bacillus cereus is a foodborne pathogen and can form biofilms on food contact surfaces, which causes food hygiene problems. While it is necessary to understand strain-dependent variation to effectively control these biofilms, strain-to-strain variation in the structure of B. cereus biofilms is poorly understood. In this study, B. cereus strains from tatsoi (BC4, BC10, and BC72) and the ATCC 10987 reference strain were incubated at 30°C to form biofilms in the presence of the extracellular matrix-degrading enzymes DNase I, proteinase K, dispase II, cellulase, amyloglucosidase, and α-amylase to assess the susceptibility to these enzymes. The four strains exhibited four different patterns in terms of biofilm susceptibility to the enzymes as well as morphology of surface-attached biofilms or suspended cell aggregates. DNase I inhibited the biofilm formation of strains ATCC 10987 and BC4 but not of strains BC10 and BC72. This result suggests that some strains may not have extracellular DNA, or their extracellular DNA may be protected in their biofilms. In addition, the strains exhibited different patterns of susceptibility to protein- and carbohydrate-degrading enzymes. While other strains were resistant, strains ATCC 10987 and BC4 were susceptible to cellulase, suggesting that cellulose or its similar polysaccharides may exist and play an essential role in their biofilm formation. Our compositional and imaging analyses of strains ATCC 10987 and BC4 suggested that the physicochemical properties of their biofilms are distinct, as calculated by the carbohydrate to protein ratio. Taken together, our study suggests that the extracellular matrix of B. cereus biofilms may be highly diverse and provides insight into the diverse mechanisms of biofilm formation among B. cereus strains.

Prussian blue nanozyme-mediated nanoscavenger ameliorates acute pancreatitis via inhibiting TLRs/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Rationale: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a serious acute condition affecting the abdomen and shows high morbidity and mortality rates. Its global incidence has increased in recent years. Inflammation and oxidative stress are potential therapeutic targets for AP. This study was conducted to investigate the intrinsic anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of Prussian blue nanozyme (PBzyme) on AP, along with its underlying mechanism. Methods: Prussian blue nanozymes were prepared by polyvinylpyrrolidone modification method. The effect of PBzyme on inhibiting inflammation and scavenging reactive oxygen species was verified at the cellular level. The efficacy and mechanism of PBzyme for prophylactically treating AP were evaluated using the following methods: serum testing in vivo, histological scoring following hematoxylin and eosin staining, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling fluorescence staining, polymerase chain reaction array, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis and Western blotting analysis. Results: The synthetic PBzyme showed potent anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects in reducing oxidative stress and alleviating inflammation both in vitro and in vivo in the prophylactic treatment of AP. The prophylactic therapeutic efficacy of PBzyme on AP may involve inhibition of the toll-like receptor/nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway and reactive oxygen species scavenging. Conclusion: The single-component, gram-level mass production, stable intrinsic biological activity, biosafety, and good therapeutic efficacy suggest the potential of PBzyme in the preventive treatment of AP. This study provides a foundation for the clinical application of PBzyme.

Effects of site-directed PEGylation on L-asparaginase thermostability / Efeitos da PEGuilação sítio-dirigida na termoestabilidade da L-asparaginase

The enzyme L-asparaginase (ASNase) is broadly applied as a drug to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia, as well as in the food industry to avoid acrylamide formation in baked and fried food. In the present work, ASNase was covalently attached to polyethylene glycol (PEG) of different molecular weights (ASNase-PEG-5, ASNase-PEG-10, ASNase-PEG-20, and ASNase-PEG-40) at the N-terminal portion (monoPEGylation). Native and PEGylated forms were analyzed regarding thermodynamics and thermostability based on enzyme activity measurements. ASNase (native and PEGylated) presented maximum activity at 40 °C and denaturation followed a first-order kinetics. Based on these results, the activation energy for denaturation (E*d) was estimated and higher values were observed for PEGylated forms compared to the native ASNase, highlighting the ASNase-PEG10 with a 4.24-fold increase (48.85 kJ.mol-1) in comparison to the native form (11.52 kJ.mol-1). The enzymes were evaluated by residual activity over time (21 days) under different storage temperatures (4 and 37 °C) and the PEGylated conjugates remained stable after the 21 days. Thermodynamic parameters like enthalpy (ΔH‡), entropy (ΔS‡) and Gibbs free energy (ΔG‡) of ASNase (native and PEGylated) irreversible denaturation were also investigated. Higher - and positive - values of Gibbs free energy were found for the PEGylated conjugates (61.21 a 63.45 kJ.mol-1), indicating that the process of denaturation was not spontaneous. Enthalpy also was higher for PEGylated conjugates (18.84 a 46.08 kJ.mol-1), demonstrating the protective role of PEGylation. As for entropy, the negative values were more elevated for native ASNase (-0.149 J/mol.K), pointing out that the denaturation process enhanced the randomness and aggregation of the system, which was observed by circular dichroism. Thus, PEGylation proved its potential to increase ASNase thermostability

A enzima L-asparaginase (ASNase) é amplamente usada como medicamento para tratamento da leucemia linfoblástica aguda, bem como na indústria de alimentos para evitar a formação de acrilamida em alimentos cozidos e fritos. No presente trabalho, ASNase foi covalentemente ligada ao polímero poli(etilenoglicol) (PEG) de diferentes massas moleculares (ASNase-PEG-5, ASNase-PEG- 10, ASNase-PEG-20, and ASNase-PEG-40) na região N-terminal (monoPEGuilação) a fim de se estudar os efeitos da PEGuilação na termoestabilidade da enzima. As formas PEGuiladas e nativa foram analisadas em relação à termodinâmica e termoestabilidade a partir de atividade enzimática. A ASNase (nativa e PEGuilada) apresentou atividade máxima a 40 °C e a desnaturação ocorreu por cinética de primeira ordem. Com base nesses resultados, a energia de ativação para desnaturação (E*d) foi estimada e maiores valores foram observados para as formas PEGuiladas em comparação à enzima nativa, destacando-se a ASNase-PEG10 com aumento de 4.24 vezes (48.85 kJ.mol-1) em comparação com a forma nativa in (11.52 kJ.mol mol-1). As enzimas foram avaliadas por sua atividade residual ao longo do tempo em diferentes temperaturas de armazenamento (4 e 37 °C) e os conjugados PEGuilados mostraram-se mais estáveis após os 21 dias de ensaio. Parâmetros termodinâmicos como entalpia (ΔH‡) de desnaturação irreversível foram analisados. Valores maiores - e ), entropia (ΔS‡) de desnaturação irreversível foram analisados. Valores maiores - e ) e energia livre de Gibbs (ΔG‡) de desnaturação irreversível foram analisados. Valores maiores - e positivos - da energia livre de Gibbs foram encontrados para os conjugados PEGuilados (61.21 a 63.45 kJ.mol-1), indicando que o processo de desnaturação não ocorreu de forma espontânea. A entalpia também foi maior para os conjugados PEGuilados (18.84 a 46.08 kJ.mol-1), demonstrando o efeito protetivo da PEGuilação. Já para a entropia, os valores negativos foram mais elevados para a ASNase nativa (-0.149 J/mol.K), apontando que o processo de desnaturação aumentou a aleatoriedade e agregação do sistema, o que foi confirmado pelo dicroísmo circular. Dessa forma, a PEGuilação revelou o seu potencial de aumento de termoestabilidade para a ASNase

Effect of feed form, soybean meal protein content, and Rovabio Advance on poult live performance to 3 wk of age.

Based on research reports, feed characteristics can increase poult growth via several factors. Two rearing experiments (EXP) were conducted to test the effects of feed form and ingredient quality in turkey poults. Bird performance and the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and cecum morphology were observed in both EXP. Poults were reared in battery cages (48 cages in EXP 1 and 72 cages in EXP 2). Four dietary treatments with differing feed form and function factors were evaluated in EXP 1. A completely randomized block design with a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments consisting of 2 levels of fines, 2 soybean meal (SBM) sources, and 2 levels of an enzyme cocktail (Rovabio Advance) was tested in EXP 2. Poult BW, BW gain (BWG), feed intake (FI), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were determined in both EXP. Apparent metabolizable energy corrected for nitrogen (AMEn) was determined in EXP 2. Differences were considered to be statistically significant at P ≤ 0.05. Feeding increased feed crumble particle size with fewer fines in the starter feed resulted in an increased BWG accompanied by an increased FI. Reduced feed fines reduced AMEn when the dietary enzyme cocktail was not present. The feed formulation with 60% CP SBM resulted in a lower FI and an improved FCR. The enzyme cocktail interacted synergistically with screening and fed SBM source factors on the AMEn and FCR. It was concluded that both the feed form and quality, as used in this study, affect poult performance.

Target Enzymes Considered for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease and Parkinson's Disease.

Various amyloidogenic proteins have been suggested to be involved in the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases (ND) such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). Particularly, the aggregation of misfolded amyloid-ß and hyperphosphorylated tau and α-synuclein are linked to the pathogenesis of AD and PD, respectively. In order to care the diseases, multiple small molecules have been developed to regulate the aggregation pathways of these amyloid proteins. In addition to controlling the aggregation of amyloidogenic proteins, maintaining the levels of the proteins in the brain by amyloid degrading enzymes (ADE; neprilysin (NEP), insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE), asparagine endopeptidase (AEP), and ADAM10) is also essential to cure AD and PD. Therefore, numerous biological molecules and chemical agents have been investigated as either inducer or inhibitor against the levels and activities of ADE. Although the side effect of enhancing the activity of ADE could occur, the removal of amyloidogenic proteins could result in a relatively good strategy to treat AD and PD. Furthermore, since the causes of ND are diverse, various multifunctional (multitarget) chemical agents have been designed to control the actions of multiple risk factors of ND, including amyloidogenic proteins, metal ions, and reactive oxygen species. Many of them, however, were invented without considerations of regulating ADE levels and actions. Incorporation of previously created molecules with the chemical agents handling ADE could be a promising way to treat AD and PD. This review introduces the ADE and molecules capable of modulating the activity and expression of ADE.

Impact of commercial feed dilution with copra meal or cassava leaf meal and enzyme supplementation on broiler performance.

A preliminary study investigated the impact of commercial feed dilution with copra meal (CM) or cassava leaf meal (CLM) and enzyme supplementation on broiler performance. Commercial feed alone (control) or diluted with CM and CLM at a concentration of 100 and 200 g/kg in the starter and finisher diets, respectively, was fed without and with Challenzyme 300A at a concentration of 300 g/tonne in 2 × 2 factorial arrangements with a control. Two hundred, 7-day-old male, Cobb 500 broiler chicks were randomly assigned to 5 diets containing 4 replicates of 10 birds each. There were no interaction or main effects (P > 0.05) on feed intake during either the starter or finisher phase. In the starter phase, feed-to-gain ratio (F:G) increased (P < 0.05) in the group fed with CM without enzyme. Enzyme supplementation restored F:G similar to the control. Diet dilution with CM or CLM had no effect (P > 0.05) on weight gain (WG) in the starter phase. Diluting the feed with CM or CLM without enzyme suppressed (P < 0.05) WG and F:G in the finisher phase, but enzyme supplementation restored the lost performances. There were no interaction or main effects (P > 0.05) on the carcass traits. Enzyme supplementation reduced (P < 0.05) feed cost per kilogram of carcass. Heavier ceca were observed in the group fed with dilution diets (P < 0.05). Enzyme supplementation reduced cecum weight in the group fed with CM (P < 0.05). The heaviest (P < 0.05) abdominal fat was recorded in the group fed with enzyme-supplemented CM diet, and the lightest (P < 0.05) abdominal fat was recorded in the group fed with CLM with enzyme. In the main effects, lighter (P < 0.05) liver, gizzard, and proventriculus were recorded in the group fed with control diet than in the group fed with the CLM diets, but the weight of these segments did not differ (P > 0.05) between the control and CM groups and between the fiber sources. The results suggest that dilution of commercial diet with CM or CLM may be a viable option for medium- and small-scale broiler production in the region. There is need for more research in the level of dilution, enzyme source, and concentration.

Phosphoesterase complex modulates microflora and chronic inflammation in rats with alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Phosphoesterase complex (Pho), a major active component of barley malt, has been demonstrated to be clinically effective in relieving alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD), and several lines of evidence have suggested that microbial dysbiosis, caused by chronic alcohol overconsumption, plays a key role in the progression of AFLD. The current study aimed to investigate the modulatory effect of Pho on gut microflora. The microbiota diversity, determined via detection of the V4 region of 16S rDNA genes, was analyzed in rats fed the Lieber-Decarli diet. Gut permeability was evaluated via mucus layer staining. Dysbiosis-associated chronic inflammation was investigated by observing the expression of the following inflammatory molecules in the liver: tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1), chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1 (CXCL-1) and interleukin 1 beta (IL-1ß). Pyrosequencing revealed that the gut microbiota in Pho-treated rats was different from that of AFLD rats at both the phylum and genus levels. In addition, Pho significantly alleviated dysbiosis-associated disruption of gut permeability and inflammation, increased mucus layer thickness and downregulated TNF-α, MCP-1, CXCL-1 and IL-1ß expression. In summary, the current results revealed that the microflora, gut barrier and chronic inflammation in AFLD may be modulated by Pho.

Resistance to peptidoglycan-degrading enzymes.

The spread of bacterial strains resistant to commonly used antibiotics urges the development of novel antibacterial compounds. Ideally, these novel antimicrobials should be less prone to the development of resistance. Peptidoglycan-degrading enzymes are a promising class of compounds with a fundamentally different mode of action compared to traditionally used antibiotics. The difference in the mechanism of action implies differences both in the mechanisms of resistance and the chances of its emergence. To critically assess the potential of resistance development to peptidoglycan-degrading enzymes, we review the available evidence for the development of resistance to these enzymes in vitro, along with the known mechanisms of resistance to lysozyme, bacteriocins, autolysins, and phage endolysins. We conclude that genetic determinants of resistance to peptidoglycan-degrading enzymes are unlikely to readily emerge de novo. However, resistance to these enzymes would probably spread by the horizontal transfer between intrinsically resistant and susceptible species. Finally, we speculate that the higher cost of the therapeutics based on peptidoglycan degrading enzymes compared to classical antibiotics might result in less misuse, which in turn would lead to lower selective pressure, making these antibacterials less prone to resistance development.

2020 John Charnley Award: The antimicrobial potential of bacteriophage-derived lysin in a murine debridement, antibiotics, and implant retention model of prosthetic joint infection.

AIMS: Current treatments of prosthetic joint infection (PJI) are minimally effective against Staphylococcus aureus biofilm. A murine PJI model of debridement, antibiotics, and implant retention (DAIR) was used to test the hypothesis that PlySs2, a bacteriophage-derived lysin, can target S. aureus biofilm and address the unique challenges presented in this periprosthetic environment. METHODS: The ability of PlySs2 and vancomycin to kill biofilm and colony-forming units (CFUs) on orthopaedic implants were compared using in vitro models. An in vivo murine PJI model of DAIR was used to assess the efficacy of a combination of PlySs2 and vancomycin on periprosthetic bacterial load. RESULTS: PlySs2 treatment reduced 99% more CFUs and 75% more biofilm compared with vancomycin in vitro. A combination of PlySs2 and vancomycin in vivo reduced the number of CFUs on the surface of implants by 92% and in the periprosthetic tissue by 88%. CONCLUSION: PlySs2 lysin was able to reduce biofilm, target planktonic bacteria, and work synergistically with vancomycin in our in vitro models. A combination of PlySs2 and vancomycin also reduced bacterial load in periprosthetic tissue and on the surface of implants in a murine model of DAIR treatment for established PJI. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2020;102-B(7 Supple B):3-10.

Stabilization of immobilized l-arabinose isomerase for the production of d-tagatose from d-galactose.

The aim of this work was to develop a stable immobilized enzyme biocatalyst for the isomerization of d-galactose to d-tagatose at high temperature. l-Arabinose isomerase from the hyperthermophilic bacterium Thermotoga maritima (TMAI) was produced as a (His)6 -tagged protein, immobilized on a copper-chelate epoxy support and subjected to several postimmobilization treatments aimed at increasing its operational and structural stability. Treatment with glutaraldehyde and ethylenediamine resulted in a more than twofold increase in the operational stability and in all enzyme subunits linked, directly or indirectly, to the support via covalent bonds. A postimmobilization treatment of the immobilized derivatives with mercaptoethanol for the removal of any remaining copper ions, determined a further increase of the operational biocatalytic activity. Immobilized derivatives subjected to both treatments were used for the bioconversion of 18 g/L d-galactose to d-tagatose at 80°C in a packed bed reactor in three repeated cycles and showed a better operational stability compared with the literature data. This study shows that a postimmobilization stabilization treatment with glutaraldehyde and ethylenediamine can stabilize the multi-subunit structure of an enzyme immobilized on a metal-chelate epoxy support with an increase of its operational stability, results that are not easily achievable with the sole immobilization on epoxy or metal chelate-epoxy supports in the case of complex multimeric enzymes with geometric incongruence with the support.

Dynamics of Mycobacteriophage-Mycobacterial Host Interaction.

Mycobacterium sp. is exhibiting complex evolution of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and can therefore be considered as a serious human pathogen. Many strategies were employed earlier to evade the pathogenesis but AMR became threatened. Molecular tools employing bacteriophage can be an alternative to effective treatment against Mycobacterium. Phage treatment using phage-encoded products, such as lysins, causes lysis of cells; particularly bacteria could be used instead of direct use of these bacteriophages. Modern technologies along with bacteriophage strategies such as in silico immunoinformatics approach, machine learning, and artificial intelligence have been described thoroughly to escape the pathogenesis. Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanisms could be a possible alternative to evade the pathogenesis.

Accelerating itaconic acid production by increasing membrane permeability of whole-cell biocatalyst based on a psychrophilic bacterium Shewanella livingstonensis Ac10.

Whole-cell biocatalysts have numerous advantages including ease of preparation and coenzyme recovery over purified industrially used enzymes. However, the cell membrane can occasionally hinder cytoplasmic diffusion of the substrate, resulting in reduced biotransformation efficiency. Psychrophiles can grow and reproduce at low temperatures; their cell membranes are highly flexible, and their permeability can be improved via heat treatment at a moderate temperature. The aim of this study was to generate a psychrophile-based simple biocatalyst (PSCats) using Shewanella livingstonensis Ac10. This biocatalyst contained two enzymes that were heterologously expressed and converted citric acid to itaconic acid, thereby serving as a potential platform replacing the petroleum-based counterparts. The efficiency of the biocatalyst was increased via heat treatment at 45 °C for 15 min, and itaconic acid productivity of the cells after heat treatment (1.41 g/L/h) was increased around 6-fold in comparison with those without heat treatment (0.22 g/L/h). A large part of the productivity remained (67.3 %) when the cells were reused for 5 times (10 h for each reaction). Therefore, the potential of this heat-permeabilized psychrophile host to increase the productivity of whole-cell biocatalyst was proved; however, further research is necessary to understand the underlying mechanism.

Construction and characterization of a chimeric lysin ClyV with improved bactericidal activity against Streptococcus agalactiae in vitro and in vivo.

The emergence of antibiotic-resistant beta-hemolytic Streptococcus agalactiae strains poses increasing threat to human beings globally. As an attempt to create a novel lysin with improved activity against S. agalactiae, a chimeric lysin, ClyV, was constructed by fusing the enzymatically active domain (EAD) from PlyGBS lysin (GBS180) and the cell wall binding domain (CBD) from PlyV12 lysin (V12CBD). Plate lysis assay combined with lytic kinetic analysis demonstrated that ClyV has improved activity than its parental enzymatic domain GBS180 against multiple streptococci. Biochemical characterization showed that ClyV is active from pH 7 to 10, with the optimum pH of 9, and is stable under NaCl concentration of < 500 mM. In a S. agalactiae infection model, a single intraperitoneally administration of 0.1 mg/mouse of ClyV protected 100% mice, while it was observed that ~ 29% survive in group that received a single dose of 0.1 mg/mouse of GBS180. Moreover, a high dose of 0.8 mg/mouse ClyV did not show any adverse effects to the health or survival rate of the mice. Considering the robust bactericidal activity and good safety profile of ClyV, it represents a potential candidate for the treatment of S. agalactiae infections.

Ferritins as natural and artificial nanozymes for theranostics.

Nanozymes are a class of nanomaterials with intrinsic enzyme-like characteristics which overcome the limitations of natural enzymes such as high cost, low stability and difficulty to large scale preparation. Nanozymes combine the advantages of chemical catalysts and natural enzymes together, and have exhibited great potential in biomedical applications. However, the size controllable synthesis and targeting modifications of nanozymes are still challenging. Here, we introduce ferritin nanozymes to solve these problems. Ferritins are natural nanozymes which exhibit intrinsic enzyme-like activities (e.g. ferroxidase, peroxidase). In addition, by biomimetically synthesizing nanozymes inside the ferritin protein shells, artificial ferritin nanozymes are introduced, which possess the advantages of versatile self-assembly ferritin nanocage and enzymatic activity of nanozymes. Ferritin nanozymes provide a new horizon for the development of nanozyme in disease targeted theranostics research. The emergence of ferritin nanozyme also inspires us to learn from the natural nanostructures to optimize or rationally design nanozymes. In this review, the intrinsic enzyme-like activities of ferritin and bioengineered synthesis of ferritin nanozyme were summarized. After that, the applications of ferritin nanozymes were covered. Finally, the advantages, challenges and future research directions of advanced ferritin nanozymes for biomedical research were discussed.

Effect of supplementation of multiple enzymes to the diets containing variable protein sources on performance and nutrient utilization in commercial broilers.

The effect of supplementation of multiple enzymes at 0, 1X, and 2X concentration to the diet containing variable protein sources (replacement of soybean meal with 10% guar meal (GM), 10% rapeseed meal (RSM), and 10% cottonseed meal (CSM)) was studied in a factorial manner on performance, carcass yield, protein, and energy utilization in commercial broiler males. For this purpose, 600-day-old commercial male broiler chicks (Ross) were randomly divided into 12 treatment groups with 10 replications of 5 birds each and reared in battery brooders up to 42 days of age. Treatment groups are as follows: T1 control and T2 and T3 corn-soya diet with enzymes at 1X and 2X concentrations, respectively. From T4 to T12 treatments, corn-soya meal was replaced by 10% GM, RSM, and CSM without, with 1X and 2X concentration of enzyme supplementation, respectively. The cumulative body weight gain was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in control and birds fed with GM diet in pre-starter and starter as well as during overall period. Supplementation of multiple enzymes at 1X and 2X did not influence body weight, feed intake, and FCR (P > 0.05) during 0-42 days of age. During experimental period, birds fed with the control diet and 10% GM diet showed significantly (P < 0.05) higher cumulative feed intake and better FCR compared to birds fed with 10% RSM diet and 10% cottonseed meal (CSM). Supplementation of multiple enzymes did not influence the mortality and slaughter variables and protein utilization in broilers.