Compositions and methods comprising lysin plycp025 and derivatives thereof

Abstract

Provided are compositions and methods for use in selectively killing certain types of bacteria which include: C. perfringens, C. sordelli and C. histolyticum. The compositions include lysin PlyCP025, as well as catalytically active fragments thereof, and variants thereof that retain killing activity. Methods for reducing one or more of C. perfringens, C. sordelli or C. histolyticum bacteria are provide and involve contacting such bacteria with a composition that contains PlyCP025 or an enzymatically active fragment or variant thereof, which can be provided as recombinant polypeptides. The composition and methods are useful for human and veterinary purposes. In certain examples, the compositions and methods are used to treat bacteria that infect avian animals. Pharmaceutical formulations containing the polypeptides are provided, as are methods of making the polypeptides using expression vectors. The expression vectors, and cells containing them are included. Also provides are one or more bacteria, such as a population of bacteria, that are in physical association with a recombinant polypeptide/lysin. Diagnostic approaches are also included are performed by contacting a sample obtained or derived from an animal, such as a mammal or an avian animal, with a recombinant polypeptide, and detecting binding of the polypeptide to bacteria in the sample if said bacteria that are bound to the polypeptide are present in the sample. The polypeptide may thus be detectably labeled to produce a detectable signal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pharmaceutical composition for killing  C. perfringens,  C. sordelli or  C. histolyticum  or a combination thereof comprising a lytic enzyme that comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or an amino acid sequence with at least 95% identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, the composition further comprising at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient. 
     
     
         2 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , wherein the lytic enzyme consists of the sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 or a sequence with at least 95% identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
         3 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1  wherein the lytic enzyme is produced by an expression vector. 
     
     
         4 . A single bacterium, or a population of bacteria, in physical association with a polypeptide that comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or an amino acid sequence with a segment having at least 95% identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
         5 . The single bacterium, or the population of bacteria of  claim 4 , wherein the polypeptide consists of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or an amino acid sequence having at least 95% identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
         6 . The population of bacteria of  claim 5 , wherein the population of bacteria are present on an avian animal. 
     
     
         7 . The population of bacteria of  claim 6 , wherein the polypeptide consists of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2. 
     
     
         8 . A composition comprising lysed bacteria and a polypeptide consisting of the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2.