Enzybiotics : antibiotic enzymes as drugs and therapeutics

Presents the latest research and applications for a new, promising approach to fighting infectious diseases Enzybiotics is a promising way of fighting bacterial or fungal infectious diseases by using viruses or viral-derived lysins. Drawing from the fields of medicinal chemistry, microbiology, genetics, and biochemistry, this book presents the state of the science in enzybiotics research, fully exploring its emerging therapeutic applications. The book begins with four chapters that review the potential applications, possible advantages, and phylogeny of enzybiotics. Next, the book explores: A new approach to controlling infections using Gram-negative bacteria Bacteriophage holins and their membrane-disrupting activity Anti-staphylococcal lytic enzymes Membrane-targeted enzybiotics Design of phage cocktails for therapy from a host-range point of view Novel methods to identify new enzybiotics Genetically modified phages that deliver suicidal genes to target bacteria The authors, all active enzybiotics researchers, offer a variety of perspectives, the benefit of their own hands-on investigations, as well as a thorough review and analysis of the current literature. As more and more bacteria become resistant to antibiotics, the development of new disease-fighting agents has become essential. This book demonstrates the full potential of the emerging field of enzybiotics to control infectious diseases. Moreover, it will serve as a springboard for new research and the development of new therapeutics.

Presents the latest research and applications for a new, promising approach to fighting infectious diseases

Enzybiotics is a promising way of fighting bacterial or fungal infectious diseases by using viruses or viral-derived lysins. Drawing from the fields of medicinal chemistry, microbiology, genetics, and biochemistry, this book presents the state of the science in enzybiotics research, fully exploring its emerging therapeutic applications.

The book begins with four chapters that review the potential applications, possible advantages, and phylogeny of enzybiotics. Next, the book explores:

• A new approach to controlling infections using Gram-negative bacteria
• Bacteriophage holins and their membrane-disrupting activity
• Anti-staphylococcal lytic enzymes
• Membrane-targeted enzybiotics
• Design of phage cocktails for therapy from a host-range point of view
• Novel methods to identify new enzybiotics
• Genetically modified phages that deliver suicidal genes to target bacteria

The authors, all active enzybiotics researchers, offer a variety of perspectives, the benefit of their own hands-on investigations, as well as a thorough review and analysis of the current literature.

As more and more bacteria become resistant to antibiotics, the development of new disease-fighting agents has become essential. This book demonstrates the full potential of the emerging field of enzybiotics to control infectious diseases. Moreover, it will serve as a springboard for new research and the development of new therapeutics.

Enzybiotics and their potential applications in medicine / Jan Borysowski and Andrzej Górski -- Advantages and disadvantages in the use of antibiotics or phages as therapeutical agents / T.G. Villa and P. Veiga-Crespo -- Enzybiotics for use in selectively killing target bacteria / Juan C. Alonso and Marcelo Tolmasky -- Phylogeny of enzybiotics / T.G. Villa and P. Veiga-Crespo -- Bacteriophage lytic enzymes : novel anti-infectives to control gram-positive pathogens / Vincent A. Fischetti -- Bacteriophages holins and their membrane disrupting activity / Maria Gasset -- Anti-staphylococcal lytic enzymes / Jan Borysowski and Andrzej Górski -- Membrane-targeted enzybiotics / Maria Gasset -- Design of phage cocktails for therapy from a host range point of view / Lawrence Goodridge -- Identifying phage lytic enzymes : past, present, and future / Jonathan E. Schmitz, Raymond Schuch, and Vincent A. Fischetti -- Use of genetically modified phages to deliver suicidal genes to target bacteria / Lawrence Goodridge Enzybiotics and their potential applications in medicine / Jan Borysowski and Andrzej Górski Advantages and disadvantages in the use of antibiotics or phages as therapeutical agents / Patricia Veiga-Crespo and Tomas G. Villa Enzybiotics as selective killers of target bacteria / Juan C. Alonso and Marcelo E. Tolmasky Phylogeny of enzybiotics / Patricia Veiga-Crespo and Tomas G. Villa Bacteriophage lysins : the ultimate enzybiotic / Vincent A. Fischetti Bacteriophages holins and their membrane-disrupting activity / María Gasset Anti-staphylococcal lytic enzymes / Jan Borysowski and Andrzej Górski Membrane-targeted enzybiotics / María Gasset Design of phage cocktails for therapy from a host range point of view / Lawrence D. Goodridge Identifying phage lytic enzymes : past, present, and future / Jonathan E. Schmitz, Raymond Schuch, and Vincent A. Fischetti Use of genetically modified phages to deliver suicidal genes to target bacteria / Lawrence D. Goodridge. ENZYBIOTICS 4 CONTENTS 8 PREFACE 10 CONTRIBUTORS 12 1 ENZYBIOTICS AND THEIR POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS IN MEDICINE 14 2 ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES IN THE USE OF ANTIBIOTICS OR PHAGES AS THERAPEUTIC AGENTS 40 3 ENZYBIOTICS AS SELECTIVE KILLERS OF TARGET BACTERIA 72 4 PHYLOGENY OF ENZYBIOTICS 88 5 BACTERIOPHAGE LYSINS: THE ULTIMATE ENZYBIOTIC 120 6 BACTERIOPHAGE HOLINS AND THEIR MEMBRANE-DISRUPTING ACTIVITY 136 7 ANTI-STAPHYLOCOCCAL LYTIC ENZYMES 162 8 MEMBRANE-TARGETED ENZYBIOTICS 186 9 DESIGN OF PHAGE COCKTAILS FOR THERAPY FROM A HOST RANGE POINT OF VIEW 212 10 IDENTIFYING PHAGE LYTIC ENZYMES: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE 232 11 USE OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED PHAGES TO DELIVER SUICIDAL GENES TO TARGET BACTERIA 266 CONCLUDING REMARKS: THE FUTURE OF ENZYBIOTICS 282 INDEX 292 Enzybiotics, by using enzymes to fight bacteria, offer a novel and promising new way to combat infectious diseases. This book presents the state-of-the-art and therapeutic potential of enzybiotics, with a stress on therapeutic applications. The coverage offers a unique combination of medicinal chemistry, microbiology, genetics, and biochemistry. It also addresses the timely topic of bacterial resistance to antibiotics, and provides readers with a novel angle to study and combat infectious diseases