A bacteriolytic agent that detects and kills Bacillus anthracis

Schuch, Raymond
Nelson, Daniel
Fischetti, Vincent A.

Laboratory of Bacterial Pathogenesis and Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10021, USA

Received 5 June; accepted 22 July 2002; doi:10.1038/nature01026.

Correspondence and requests for materials should be addressed to V.A.F.

(e-mail: [email protected]). The γ phage plyG sequence has been deposited in GenBank (accession number AF536823)

Nature 418(6900):p 884-889, August 22, 2002.

The dormant and durable spore form ofBacillus anthracisis an ideal biological weapon of mass destruction. Once inhaled, spores are transported by alveolar macrophages to lymph nodes surrounding the lungs, where they germinate; subsequent vegetative expansion causes an overwhelming flood of bacteria and toxins into the blood, killing up to 99% of untreated victims. Natural and genetically engineered antibiotic-resistant bacilli amplify the threat of spores being used as weapons, and heighten the need for improved treatments and spore-detection methods after an intentional release. We exploited the inherent binding specificity and lytic action of bacteriophage enzymes called lysins for the rapid detection and killing ofB. anthracis.Here we show that the PlyG lysin, isolated from the γ phage ofB. anthracis,specifically killsB. anthracisisolates and other members of theB. anthracis'cluster' of bacilliin vitroandin vivo.Both vegetative cells and germinating spores are susceptible. The lytic specificity of PlyG was also exploited as part of a rapid method for the identification ofB. anthracis.We conclude that PlyG is a tool for the treatment and detection ofB. anthracis.