Recombinant Phage Lytic Protein for Staphylococcus aureus

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing resistance of Staphylococcus aureus to conventional antibiotics poses a significant challenge in treating infectious diseases, necessitating the development of alternative antimicrobial agents that can effectively target this pathogen without inducing resistance or causing harm to non-target bacteria.

Innovation Solution

A novel antimicrobial protein derived from the Podoviridae bacteriophage, specifically designed to target Staphylococcus aureus, is produced using molecular biological and biotechnological techniques, offering a safer and more effective alternative to traditional antibiotics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional antibiotics are used to treat Staphylococcus aureus infections, then bacterial growth is inhibited, but resistance develops and effectiveness decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantibacterial effectivenessVSAvoidantibiotic resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and utilizes the lytic protein (lysM gene) from the bacteriophage genome, separating the active antimicrobial component from the viral structure. This extracted protein can be produced recombinantly without requiring the complete phage, thereby eliminating resistance development while maintaining bactericidal activity against Staphylococcus aureus

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the molecular parameter from using whole bacteriophage particles to using a purified recombinant lytic protein. This parameter change allows for controlled production through recombinant expression systems, ensuring consistent activity and eliminating the variability associated with whole phage preparations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If bacteriophage is used directly to kill bacteria, then antimicrobial activity is achieved, but safety concerns arise due to exposure to pathogenic bacteria during culture

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantimicrobial activityVSAvoidsafety risk from pathogenic bacteria

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The active lytic protein is extracted from the bacteriophage and produced separately using safe recombinant expression systems (e.g., E. coli). This eliminates the need to culture pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus strains, thereby removing the safety hazard while preserving the antimicrobial function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

A safe intermediary host organism (such as E. coli) is used to produce the lytic protein through recombinant DNA technology. This intermediary system allows production of the active antimicrobial agent without direct handling or culturing of the pathogenic target bacteria, thus eliminating safety risks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If antibiotics are overused to treat infections, then bacterial killing efficiency is maintained, but multi-drug resistant strains emerge

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebacterial killing efficiencyVSAvoidlong-term effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the bacteriophage's natural lytic mechanism into a beneficial therapeutic agent by producing its lytic protein recombinantly. This approach harnesses the evolutionary advantage of phage-bacteria specificity to target Staphylococcus aureus precisely, achieving high killing efficiency without the collateral damage and resistance induction associated with broad-spectrum antibiotics

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The antimicrobial protein demonstrates broad bactericidal activity against Staphylococcus aureus, reducing symptoms of infections such as mastitis and other diseases caused by this bacterium, while minimizing the risk of resistance development and side effects.

Implementation Method 1

Bacteriophage invades into a host bacterium, it multiplicates itself and then induces expressions of enzymes involved in the decomposition of cell wall of the host bacterium. The enzymes destroy cell wall by attacking the peptidoglycan layer which is responsible for rigidity and mechanical strength of cell wall.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLytic activity:

Implementation Method 2

Antimicrobial protein derived from Podoviridae bacteriophage having killing activity (lytic activity, antimicrobial activity) specific to Staphylococcus aureus

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAntimicrobial activity:

Data Source

PatentUS8377866B2Antimicrobial protein derived from Podoviridae bacteriophage specific to <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>

Publication Date: 2013.02.19 INTRON BIOTECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

The present invention relates to a novel antimicrobial protein derived from bacteriophage having killing activity specific to Staphylococcus aureus, more precisely an antimicrobial protein originated from Podoviridae bacteriophage having killing activity specific to Staphylococcus aureus which is the causing agent of infectious disease in human and animals, a pharmaceutical composition for the prevention and treatment of infectious disease caused by Staphylococcus aureus, an antibiotic and a disinfectant containing the bacteriophage-originated antimicrobial protein as an active ingredient.