Bacteriophage-derived peptidase CHAP_K eliminates and prevents staphylococcal biofilms

Authors

Mark Fenton, Cork Institute of Technology
Ruth Keary, Cork Institute of Technology
Olivia McAuliffe, Moorepark Food Research Centre
R. Paul Ross, Moorepark Food Research Centre
Jim O'Mahony, Department of Biological Sciences, Cork Institute of Technology, Cork, IrelandFollow
Aidan Coffey, Department of Biological Sciences, Cork Institute of Technology, Cork, IrelandFollow

Document Type

Article

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Disciplines

Biology

Publication Details

International Journal of Microbiology

Abstract

New antibacterial agents are urgently needed for the elimination of biofilm-forming bacteria that are highly resistant to traditional antimicrobial agents. Proliferation of such bacteria can lead to significant economic losses in the agri-food sector. This study demonstrates the potential of the bacteriophage-derived peptidase, CHAP K, as a biocidal agent for the rapid disruption of biofilm-forming staphylococci, commonly associated with bovine mastitis. Purified CHAP K applied to biofilms of Staphylococcus aureus DPC5246 completely eliminated the staphylococcal biofilms within 4 h. In addition, CHAP K was able to prevent biofilm formation by this strain. The CHAP K lysin also reduced S. aureus in a skin decolonization model. Our data demonstrates the potential of CHAP K as a biocidal agent for prevention and treatment of biofilm-associated staphylococcal infections or as a decontaminating agent in the food and healthcare sectors. © 2013 Mark Fenton et al.

Recommended Citation

Fenton, Mark; Keary, Ruth; McAuliffe, Olivia; Ross, R. Paul; O'Mahony, Jim; and Coffey, Aidan, "Bacteriophage-derived peptidase CHAP_K eliminates and prevents staphylococcal biofilms" (2013). Department of Biological Sciences Publications [online].
Available at: https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/625341