Lysostaphin Applications for Staphylococcus Aureus Infections
Summary
Lysostaphin, a zinc-dependent endopeptidase produced by Staphylococcus simulans, cleaves the pentaglycine crossbridges unique to the peptidoglycan of Staphylococcus aureus, including methicillin-resistant strains. Its potent bacteriolytic activity has driven translational research into diverse formulations and delivery modes. Preclinical and early clinical studies have explored systemic and topical administration, pulmonary delivery for S. aureus pneumonia, and incorporation into biomaterials to prevent device-related infections. Conjugation of lysostaphin with polymers or incorporation into gels enhances stability and biofilm penetration, while recombinant engineering has improved expression yields and reduced immunogenicity. Collectively, these advances underscore lysostaphin’s promise as a complementary or alternative therapy to traditional antibiotics, particularly against drug-resistant and biofilm-associated infections.
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Lysostaphin Applications for Staphylococcus Aureus Infections publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in lysostaphin applications for staphylococcus aureus infections across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Lysostaphin: A bacteriolytic enzyme that cleaves pentaglycine bridges in the cell wall peptidoglycan of Staphylococcus aureus.
Biofilm: A structured community of bacteria embedded within a self-produced extracellular polymeric matrix, conferring resistance to antibiotics and host defences.
Enzybiotic: An antimicrobial enzyme, often derived from bacteria or bacteriophages, that degrades essential bacterial polymers.
Endolysin: A bacteriophage-encoded enzyme capable of hydrolysing bacterial cell wall components to release phage progeny, repurposed as an antibacterial agent.
Nebuliser: A medical device that converts liquid medication into inhalable aerosol droplets for pulmonary administration.
References
- Storage stability of lysostaphin solution and its pulmonary delivery. Drug Delivery and Translational Research (2024).
- Alginate Gel Encapsulated with Enzybiotics Cocktail Is Effective against Multispecies Biofilms. Gels (2024).
- Lysostaphin-Functionalized Waterborne Polyurethane/Polydopamine Coatings Effective against S. Aureus Biofilms. ACS Applied Polymer Materials (2022).
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