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Lysostaphin: an antistaphylococcal agent

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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-β-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.

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Acknowledgement

I am thankful to Prof. P. R. Kulkarni, Retired Head, Food and Fermentation department, UDCT, Mumbai, for the critical review of the manuscript.

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  1. Department of Biochemistry, National University of Singapore, Kent Ridge, Singapore

    Jaspal K. Kumar

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Correspondence to Jaspal K. Kumar.

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Kumar, J.K. Lysostaphin: an antistaphylococcal agent. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 80, 555–561 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-008-1579-y

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