Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40993698›Full record

ArticleBMC veterinary research2025

PlyNJ3: a three-domain endolysin with broad-spectrum anti-streptococcal activity and synergistic efficacy against multidrug-resistant Streptococcus suis.

Jiaqi Zhao, Jingju Wang, Peizhao Han, Cai Yin, Shushu Gu, Hui Ji, Xiaoming Wang, Liping Wang, Jinhu Huang

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In one paragraph

Article in BMC veterinary research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Jiaqi ZhaoMOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, Risk Assessment Center of Veterinary Drug Residue and Antimicrobial Resistance, Center for Veterinary Drug Research and Evaluation, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China.
Jingju WangMOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, Risk Assessment Center of Veterinary Drug Residue and Antimicrobial Resistance, Center for Veterinary Drug Research and Evaluation, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China.
Peizhao HanMOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, Risk Assessment Center of Veterinary Drug Residue and Antimicrobial Resistance, Center for Veterinary Drug Research and Evaluation, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China.
Cai YinNingxia Hui Autonomous Region Center for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Yinchuan, 750002, China.
Shushu GuNanjing Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Station, Nanjing, 210012, China.
Hui JiMOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, Risk Assessment Center of Veterinary Drug Residue and Antimicrobial Resistance, Center for Veterinary Drug Research and Evaluation, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China.
Xiaoming WangMOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, Risk Assessment Center of Veterinary Drug Residue and Antimicrobial Resistance, Center for Veterinary Drug Research and Evaluation, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China.
Liping WangMOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, Risk Assessment Center of Veterinary Drug Residue and Antimicrobial Resistance, Center for Veterinary Drug Research and Evaluation, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China.
Jinhu HuangMOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, Risk Assessment Center of Veterinary Drug Residue and Antimicrobial Resistance, Center for Veterinary Drug Research and Evaluation, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China. jhuang@njau.edu.cn.

Funding

Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities KYCXJC2025001National Natural Science Foundation of China 32172917Natural Science Foundation of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region No. 2024AAC05098Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions PAPD
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe global spread of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria prompts the exploration of innovative antimicrobial strategies. Phage lysins-peptidoglycan hydrolases known for species-specific activity and low resistance potential-offer promising alternatives to conventional antibiotics. However, their typically narrow spectrum limits broad therapeutic application. To overcome this limitation, we leveraged the wide distribution of streptococcal mobilizable prophage (SMphage) families across Streptococcus species as a strategy to discover lysins with inherent broad-spectrum potential. Within these conserved prophages, we expressed PlyNJ3, an SMphage-derived endolysin homolog identified in S. suis, and evaluated its therapeutic efficacy in infection models.

resultsPlyNJ3 exhibited potent lytic activity against a broad panel of streptococci, including diverse S. suis clinical isolates (15 serotypes), 83.3% of S. uberis, and key strains of S. agalactiae, S. dysgalactiae, and S. pyogenes. Optimal bacteriolytic activity occurred at physiological temperature (37 °C) with dose-dependent efficacy. Electron microscopy revealed PlyNJ3-mediated cell wall perforation, cytoplasmic content release, and structural disintegration. In a murine invasive S. suis infection model, high-dose intraperitoneal PlyNJ3 (0.9 mg/head) conferred 87.5% survival, while synergism with ampicillin prolonged survival. Intramuscular administration in a murine thigh infection model enhanced bacterial clearance compared to intraperitoneal delivery. Phylogenetic and structural analysis confirmed conservation across SMphage-derived lysins, underpinning their broad streptococcal target potential.

conclusionsOur findings establish SMphage-derived lysins as a conserved, therapeutically valuable class of antimicrobials with inherent broad-spectrum potential across diverse streptococcal pathogens. Building on the previously demonstrated in vivo efficacy of PlySK1249 against S. dysgalactiae and S. agalactiae, we show that its structural homolog, PlyNJ3, exhibits robust therapeutic activity against S. suis infections. Together, these results validate the SMphage lysin platform for generating precision-targeted agents against specific streptococcal infections.

Indexed as

Anti-Bacterial AgentsEndopeptidasesStreptococcal InfectionsStreptococcus suisAnimalsDrug Resistance, Multiple, BacterialFemaleMiceProphagesStreptococcus PhagesAnti-Bacterial AgentsendolysinEndopeptidasesAlternatives to antibioticsAntimicrobial synergyAnti-streptococcal candidateEndolysinMultidrug-resistant Streptococcus suis

Identifiers

PMID40993698
PMCPMC12462003

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.