Application of the Phage Lysin Ply5218 in the Treatment of Streptococcus suis Infection in Piglets

• Published in: Viruses Vol. 11; no. 8; p. 715
• Main Authors: Wang, Zhaofei, Ma, Jingjiao, Wang, Jian, Yang, Denghui, Kong, Licheng, Fu, Qiang, Cheng, Yuqiang, Wang, Hengan, Yan, Yaxian, Sun, Jianhe
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 05.08.2019; MDPI
• Subjects: Antibacterial activity; Antibiotic resistance; Antibiotics; Antimicrobial agents; Bacterial infections; Cell walls; E coli; Hogs; Hydrolase; infection; Infections; Infectious diseases; Inflammation; Interleukin 6; Laboratories; lysin; Pathogens; Phages; piglet; Proteins; Serotypes; Spleen; Streptococcus infections; Streptococcus suis; treatment; Viral infections; United States > US; China; lysine; treatment; infection; piglet; Streptococcus suis
• DOI: 10.3390/v11080715
• ISSN: 1999-4915

( ) is a gram-positive bacterium and zoonotic pathogen. Currently it poses a serious problem in the swine industry due to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Thus, novel antimicrobials against infections are urgently needed. In the previous study, a cell wall hydrolase or lysin derived from Streptococcus prophage phi5218, termed Ply5218, was identified. This lysin showed strong bacteriolytic activity against . In the current study, the in vitro data showed that after incubation with pig serum, the bacteriolytic efficacy of Ply5218 declined in a time-dependent manner. The in vivo assays indicated that a Ply5218 triple treatment (6, 24, and 48 h post infection) was effective against various serotypes of in a murine infection model. This regimen also alleviated streptococcal-induced clinical symptoms in piglets and significantly reduced the bacterial burden and levels of interleukin 6, a proinflammatory cytokine. This study indicates that Ply5218 shows strong antibacterial activity in pigs and has the potential to be used as a treatment for infectious diseases caused by .