Bioengineered lysozyme reduces bacterial burden and inflammation in a murine model of mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infection

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2013 Nov;57(11):5559-64. doi: 10.1128/AAC.00500-13. Epub 2013 Aug 26.

Abstract

The spread of drug-resistant bacterial pathogens is a growing global concern and has prompted an effort to explore potential adjuvant and alternative therapies derived from nature's repertoire of bactericidal proteins and peptides. In humans, the airway surface liquid layer is a rich source of antibiotics, and lysozyme represents one of the most abundant and effective antimicrobial components of airway secretions. Human lysozyme is active against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, acting through several mechanisms, including catalytic degradation of cell wall peptidoglycan and subsequent bacterial lysis. In the infected lung, however, lysozyme's dense cationic character can result in sequestration and inhibition by polyanions associated with airway inflammation. As a result, the efficacy of the native enzyme may be compromised in the infected and inflamed lung. To address this limitation, we previously constructed a charge-engineered variant of human lysozyme that was less prone to electrostatic-mediated inhibition in vitro. Here, we employ a murine model to show that this engineered enzyme is superior to wild-type human lysozyme as a treatment for mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infections. The engineered enzyme effectively decreases the bacterial burden and reduces markers of inflammation and lung injury. Importantly, we found no evidence of acute toxicity or allergic hypersensitivity upon repeated administration of the engineered biotherapeutic. Thus, the charge-engineered lysozyme represents an interesting therapeutic candidate for P. aeruginosa lung infections.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / metabolism
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / chemistry
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / cytology
  • Colony Count, Microbial
  • Cytokines / biosynthesis
  • Cytokines / immunology
  • Glycosaminoglycans / biosynthesis
  • Glycosaminoglycans / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / prevention & control
  • Lung / drug effects*
  • Lung / microbiology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Muramidase / chemistry
  • Muramidase / genetics
  • Muramidase / pharmacology*
  • Protein Engineering
  • Pseudomonas Infections / drug therapy*
  • Pseudomonas Infections / immunology
  • Pseudomonas Infections / microbiology
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / drug effects*
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / growth & development
  • Static Electricity

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Cytokines
  • Glycosaminoglycans
  • mucoid exopolysaccharide (P aeruginosa)
  • Muramidase