Phages infecting Staphylococcus aureus can be used as therapeutics against antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. However, there is limited information about the mechanism of genome delivery of phages that infect Gram-positive bacteria. Here, we present the structures of native S. aureus phage P68, genome ejection intermediate, and empty particle. The P68 head contains 72 subunits of inner core protein, 15 of which bind to and alter the structure of adjacent major capsid proteins and thus specify attachment sites for head fibers. Unlike in the previously studied phages, the head fibers of P68 enable its virion to position itself at the cell surface for genome delivery. The unique interaction of one end of P68 DNA with one of the 12 portal protein subunits is disrupted before the genome ejection. The inner core proteins are released together with the DNA and enable the translocation of phage genome across the bacterial membrane into the cytoplasm.

• MeSH
• bakteriofágy genetika   MeSH
• buněčná membrána genetika   MeSH
• cytoplazma genetika   MeSH
• DNA virů genetika   MeSH
• genom virový genetika   MeSH
• Staphylococcus aureus genetika   MeSH
• virion genetika   MeSH
• virové plášťové proteiny genetika   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Staphylococcus aureus may be a highly virulent human pathogen, especially when it is able to form a biofilm, and it is resistant to antibiotic. Infections caused by these bacteria significantly affect morbidity and mortality, primarily in hospitalized patients. Treatment becomes more expensive, more toxic, and prolonged. This is the reason why research on alternative therapies should be one of the main priorities of medicine and biotechnology. A promising alternative treatment approach is bacteriophage therapy. The effect of the anti-staphylococcal bacteriophage preparation Stafal® on biofilm reduction was assessed on nine S. aureus strains using both sonication with subsequent quantification of surviving cells on the catheter surface and evaluation of biofilm reduction in microtiter plates. It was demonstrated that the bacteriophages destroy planktonic cells very effectively. However, to destroy cells embedded in the biofilm effectively requires a concentration at least ten times higher than that provided by the commercial preparation. The catheter disc method (CDM) allowed easier comparison of the effect on planktonic cells and cells in a biofilm than the microtiter plate (MTP) method.

• MeSH
• antiinfekční látky * MeSH
• bakteriologické techniky MeSH
• biofilmy * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• methicilin rezistentní Staphylococcus aureus růst a vývoj   izolace a purifikace   virologie   MeSH
• mikrobiální viabilita MeSH
• počet mikrobiálních kolonií MeSH
• stafylokokové bakteriofágy fyziologie   MeSH
• stafylokokové infekce mikrobiologie   MeSH
• Staphylococcus aureus růst a vývoj   izolace a purifikace   virologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH