Rodríguez-Rubio, LorenaChang, Wai-LingGutiérrez, DianaLavigne, RobMartínez, BeatrizRodríguez, AnaGovers, Sander K.Aertsen, AbramHirl, ChristineBiebl, ManfredBriers, YvesGarcía, Pilar2018-11-092018-11-092016-10-242045-2322https://hdl.handle.net/2445/125974Endolysins constitute a promising class of antibacterials against Gram-positive bacteria. Recently, endolysins have been engineered with selected peptides to obtain a new generation of lytic proteins, Artilysins, with specific activity against Gram-negative bacteria. Here, we demonstrate that artilysation can also be used to enhance the antibacterial activity of endolysins against Gram-positive bacteria and to reduce the dependence on external conditions. Art-240, a chimeric protein of the anti-streptococcal endolysin λSa2lys and the polycationic peptide PCNP, shows a similar species specificity as the parental endolysin, but the bactericidal activity against streptococci increases and is less affected by elevated NaCl concentrations and pH variations. Time-kill experiments and time-lapse microscopy demonstrate that the killing rate of Art-240 is approximately two-fold higher compared to wildtype endolysin λSa2lys, with a reduction in viable bacteria of 3 log units after 10min. In addition, lower doses of Art240 are required to achieve the same bactericidal effect.11 p.application/pdfengcc-by (c) Rodriguez Rubio, Lorena et al., 2016http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/esEstreptococsEnzims microbiansBacteriòfagsStreptococcusMicrobial enzymesBacteriophagesinfo:eu-repo/semantics/article6806852018-11-09info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess27775093