Enzyme-based targeted decontamination of bacterial pathogens
Authors
Mehta, Krunal Kirit
ORCID
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Other Contributors
Dordick, Jonathan S.
Kane, Ravi S.
Cramer, Steven M.
Colón, Wilfredo
Kane, Ravi S.
Cramer, Steven M.
Colón, Wilfredo
Issue Date
2014-12
Keywords
Chemical engineering
Degree
PhD
Terms of Use
This electronic version is a licensed copy owned by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY. Copyright of original work retained by author.
Full Citation
Abstract
The emergence of resistance to antibacterial agents is a pressing concern for human health. There continues to be a need for developing efficient and environmentally friendly treatments for several deadly bacterial pathogens. One emerging approach for inactivation of gram-positive bacteria is the use of bacteriolytic enzymes with highly evolved specificity toward bacterium-specific peptidoglycan cell walls. In this work, we have targeted selective decontamination of B. anthracis, used as a biological weapon and the causative agent of anthrax. Specifically, we performed in silico analysis of the genome of B. anthracis strain Ames using a consensus binding domain amino acid sequence as a probe, and identified a novel bacteriolytic enzyme (AmiBA2446). We characterized its amidase activity on isolated cell wall peptidoglycan, demonstrated its potent and selective bactericidal activity against B. anthracis amongst various Bacillus species tested, and its excellent storage and thermal stability. We also studied the influence of bacterial growth stage on bactericidal activity of lytic enzymes.
Description
December 2014
School of Engineering
School of Engineering
Department
Dept. of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Publisher
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY
Relationships
Rensselaer Theses and Dissertations Online Collection
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