Design, expression, and characterization of a novel targeted plectasin against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2013 May;97(9):3991-4002. doi: 10.1007/s00253-012-4508-z. Epub 2012 Oct 25.

Abstract

A novel specifically targeted antimicrobial peptide (STAMP) that was especially effective against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was designed by fusing the AgrD1 pheromone to the N-terminal end of plectasin. This STAMP was named Agplectasin, and its gene was synthesized and expressed in Pichia pastoris X-33 via pPICZαA. The highest amount of total secreted protein reached 1,285.5 mg/l at 108 h during the 120-h induction. The recombinant Agplectasin (rAgP) was purified by cation exchange chromatography and hydrophobic exchange chromatography; its yield reached 150 mg/l with 94 % purity. The rAgP exhibited strong bactericidal activity against S. aureus but not Staphylococcus epidermidis or other types of tested bacteria. A bactericidal kinetics assay showed that the rAgP killed over 99.9 % of tested S. aureus (ATCC 25923 and ATCC 43300) in both Mueller-Hinton medium and human blood within 10 h when treated with 4× minimal inhibitory concentration. The rAgP caused only approximately 1 % hemolysis of human blood cells, even when the concentration reached 512 μg/ml, making it potentially feasible as a clinical injection agent. In addition, it maintained a high activity over a wide range of pH values (2.0-10.0) and demonstrated a high thermal stability at 100 °C for 1 h. These results suggested that this STAMP has the potential to eliminate MRSA strains without disrupting the normal flora.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / metabolism*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects*
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Peptides / genetics
  • Peptides / metabolism*
  • Peptides, Cyclic / genetics
  • Peptides, Cyclic / metabolism*
  • Pichia / genetics
  • Pichia / metabolism
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / pharmacology*

Substances

  • AgrD protein, Staphylococcus
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Peptides
  • Peptides, Cyclic
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • plectasin