Selective Eradication of <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> by the Designer Genetically Programmed Yeast Biocontrol Agent

• Main Authors: Sofiya O. Pipiya (Author), Yuliana A. Mokrushina (Author), Alexander G. Gabibov (Author), Ivan V. Smirnov (Author), Stanislav S. Terekhov (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: MDPI AG, 2020-08-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Summary

<i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> is a common human pathogen that is particularly often associated with antibiotic resistance. The eradication of this ubiquitous infectious agent from its ecological niches and contaminated surfaces is especially complicated by excessive biofilm formation and persisting cells, which evade the antibacterial activity of conventional antibiotics. Here, we present an alternative view of the problem of specific <i>S. aureus</i> eradication. The constitutive heterologous production of highly specific bacteriolytic protease lysostaphin in yeast <i>Pichia pastoris</i> provides an efficient biocontrol agent, specifically killing <i>S. aureus</i> in coculture. A yeast-based anti-<i>S. aureus</i> probiotic was efficient in a high range of temperatures and target-to-effector ratios, indicating its robustness and versatility in eliminating <i>S. aureus</i> cells. The efficient eradication of <i>S. aureus</i> by live lysostaphin-producing <i>P. pastoris</i> was achieved at high scales, providing a simple, biocompatible and cost-effective strategy for <i>S. aureus</i> lysis in bioproduction and surface decontamination. Future biomedical applications based on designer yeast biocontrol agents require evaluation in in vivo models. However, we believe that this strategy is very promising since it provides highly safe, efficient and selective genetically programmed probiotics and targeted biocontrol agents.

Item Description

10.3390/antibiotics9090527
2079-6382