Inhibition of l. Monocytogenes biofilm formation by the amidase domain of the phage vb_lmos_293 endolysin

Authors

Vincenzo Pennone, Moorepark Food Research Centre
Marta Sanz-Gaitero, CSIC - Centro Nacional de Biotecnologia (CNB)
Paula O’Connor, Moorepark Food Research Centre
Aidan Coffey, Department of Biological Sciences, Cork Institute of Technology, Cork, IrelandFollow
Kieran Jordan, Moorepark Food Research Centre
Mark J. van Raaij, CSIC - Centro Nacional de Biotecnologia (CNB)
Olivia McAuliffe, Moorepark Food Research Centre

Abstract

© 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. Listeria monocytogenes is a ubiquitous Gram-positive bacterium that is a major concern for food business operators because of its pathogenicity and ability to form biofilms in food production environments. Bacteriophages (phages) have been evaluated as biocontrol agents for L. monocytogenes in a number of studies and, indeed, certain phages have been approved for use as anti-listerial agents in food processing environments (ListShield and PhageGuard Listex). Endolysins are proteins produced by phages in the host cell. They cleave the peptidoglycan cell wall, thus allowing release of progeny phage into the environment. In this study, the amidase domain of the phage vB_LmoS_293 endolysin (293-amidase) was cloned and expressed in Escherichia. coli (E. coli). Muralytic activity at different concentrations, pH and temperature values, lytic spectrum and activity against biofilms was determined for the purified 293-amidase protein. The results showed activity on autoclaved cells at three different temperatures (20 °C, 37 °C and 50 °C), with a wider specificity (L. monocytogenes 473 and 3099, a serotype 4b and serogroup 1/2b-3b-7, respectively) compared to the phage itself, which targets only L. monocytogenes serotypes 4b and 4e. The protein also inhibits biofilm formation on abiotic surfaces. These results show the potential of using recombinant antimicrobial proteins against pathogens in the food production environment.

Disciplines

Biology

DOI

10.3390/v11080722

Full Publication Date

August 2019

Publication Details

Viruses

Publisher

MDPI

Funder Name 1

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Award Number 1

14/F/881

Funder Name 2

Teagasc

Funder Name 3

Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades

Award Number 3

BFU2014-53425-P

Resource Type

journal article

Access Rights

open access

License Condition

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Alternative Identifier

https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/11/8/722

Recommended Citation

Pennone et al., 2019. Inhibition of L. monocytogenes Biofilm Formation by the Amidase Domain of the Phage vB_LmoS_293 Endolysin. Viruses, 11(8), p.722. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/v11080722.