Novel Phage Lysin Capable of Killing the Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacterium Acinetobacter baumannii in a Mouse Bacteremia Model

Abstract

ABSTRACTAcinetobacter baumannii, a Gram-negative multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterium, is now recognized as one of the more common nosocomial pathogens. Because most clinical isolates are found to be multidrug resistant, alternative therapies need to be developed to control this pathogen. We constructed a bacteriophage genomic library based on prophages induced from 13A. baumanniistrains and screened it for genes encoding bacteriolytic activity. Using this approach, we identified 21 distinct lysins with different activities and sequence diversity that were capable of killingA. baumannii. The lysin (PlyF307) displaying the greatest activity was further characterized and was shown to efficiently kill (>5-log-unit decrease) all testedA. baumanniiclinical isolates. Treatment with PlyF307 was able to significantly reduce planktonic and biofilmA. baumanniibothin vitroandin vivo. Finally, PlyF307 rescued mice from lethalA. baumanniibacteremia and as such represents the first highly active therapeutic lysin specific for Gram-negative organisms in an array of native lysins found inAcinetobacterphage.