Lysostaphin: an antistaphylococcal agent.

Abstract

Lysostaphin is a zinc metalloenzyme which has a specific lytic action against Staphylococcus aureus. Lysostaphin has activities of three enzymes namely, glycylglycine endopeptidase, endo-beta-N-acetyl glucosamidase and N-acteyl muramyl-L-alanine amidase. Glycylglycine endopeptidase specifically cleaves the glycine-glycine bonds, unique to the interpeptide cross-bridge of the S. aureus cell wall. Due to its unique specificity, lysostaphin could have high potential in the treatment of antibiotic-resistant staphylococcal infections. This review article presents a current understanding of the lysostaphin and its applications in therapeutic agent as a treatment against antibiotic-resistant S. aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) infections, either alone or in combination with other antibiotics.

• Authors: Jaspal K Kumar
• Journal: Applied microbiology and biotechnology (Appl Microbiol Biotechnol) Vol. 80 Issue 4 Pg. 555-61 (Sep 2008) ISSN: 1432-0614 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 18607587 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents
• Pharmaceutical Preparations
• Lysostaphin

Topics

• Animals
• Anti-Bacterial Agents (immunology, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Drug Resistance, Bacterial
• Drug Stability
• Humans
• Lysostaphin (immunology, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Pharmaceutical Preparations
• Staphylococcal Infections (drug therapy, immunology)
• Staphylococcus aureus (drug effects)