AUTHOR=Yao Fangfang , Wu Xinyu , Liao Yilin , Yan Qi , Li Yuhong 

TITLE=Smart Chimeric Lysin ClyC Loaded Alginate Hydrogel Reduces Staphylococcus aureus Induced Bone Infection

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Materials

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/materials/articles/10.3389/fmats.2021.763297

DOI=10.3389/fmats.2021.763297

ISSN=2296-8016

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>Staphylococcus aureus</italic> (<italic>S. aureus</italic>) is the most common cause of hospital and community-acquired infections. The current clinical treatment is limited by the emergence of drug-resistant strains. We previously developed a chimeric ClyC that effectively inhibited <italic>S. aureus</italic> strains. Nonetheless, an efficient delivery system to provide sustained release of ClyC to infected site is needed. Thus, we engineered a chimeric ClyC loaded alginate hydrogel (ClyC-AH) to improve the therapeutic outcomes against <italic>S. aureus</italic>. ClyC-AH retained the stability and activity of ClyC while providing a sustained release of ClyC and a continuous antibacterial effect against <italic>S. aureus.</italic> Compared to ClyC alone, the use of ClyC-AH was relatively safe, as there was no significant cytotoxicity to BHK-21 cells at a ClyC concentration≤250 μg/ml. Furthermore, in a <italic>S. aureus</italic> infected mouse model of osteomyelitis, ClyC-AH reduced bacterial burden in the femur and surrounding tissues, with a reduction of 2 log<sub>10</sub> (CFU/ml) in viable bacterial number. Based on these results, hydrogel-delivered chimeric lysin ClyC provides a promising future in the <italic>S.aureus</italic> targeting therapy.</p>