Schuch, Raymond

ABSTRACT Biofilm‐associated staphylococcal infections remain exceptionally difficult to treat due to the presence of resilient staphylococcal biofilms and the limited effectiveness of currently available antibiotics. To combat persistent infections, providers are often forced to use prolonged courses of combination antimicrobial therapies that have significant toxicities with limited effectiveness, leading to increased hospital stays, substantial health care costs and a rise in patient morbidity and mortality. Staphylococcus aureus is a dominant cause of recalcitrant biofilms, for which novel non‐antibiotic therapeutics are critically needed. Lysins, a class of protein‐based antimicrobials, rapidly kill staphylococci, exhibit potent anti‐biofilm activity, have a low propensity of resistance development and synergy with antibiotics. To address this unmet need, we evaluate an extracellular vesicle (EV)‐based delivery platform for the engineered anti‐staphylococcal lysin LYSG101, designed to improve stability and localization at sites of infection. Initial proof‐of‐concept work is provided here, demonstrating that human serum‐derived EVs can be loaded with LYSG101 to exert a potent in vitro antimicrobial effect against both planktonic and biofilm forms of S. aureus . EV‐mediated delivery achieved activity equivalent to free lysin, with additional translational advantages including stability and the potential for sustained intra‐articular retention. This work supports further development of the EV‐mediated lysin delivery as a broadly applicable antimicrobial platform, with potential future applications in biofilm‐associated infections, including prosthetic joint infection (PJI).

Abstract Background Orthopedic foreign body-associated infection can be difficult to treat due to the formation of biofilms protecting microorganisms from both antimicrobials and the immune system. Exebacase (EXE) is a phage-derived lysin which acts as a direct lytic agent by hydrolyzing the peptidoglycan cell wall of Staphylococcus aureus. In this study, the activity of EXE was evaluated in comparison to daptomycin against MRSA biofilms on orthopedic Kirschner wires (K-wires). Methods MRSA strain IDRL-6169 was studied; it has a MIC of 0.5 µg/mL for both daptomycin (DAP) and EXE. Biofilms were formed in 1 mL of 106 cfu/mL tryptic soy broth on 0.5x0.1 mm threaded stainless steel K-wires for 10 hours, after which the wires were removed from the media and placed into 0.04 mL of either DAP or EXE at 0 (vehicle only), 0.098, 0.98, or 9.8 mg/mL. DAP+EXE was also tested, each at 0.098 mg/mL. Bacteria were quantified after 0, 2, 4, 8, and 12 hours of incubation at 37ºC. Testing was performed in triplicate. Results were reported as log10 cfu/K-wire reduction relative to vehicle alone. A 3-log10 cfu/K-wire reduction was considered bactericidal. P-values were calculated using Kruskal–Wallis. Results The bacterial burden of vehicle alone ranged from 5.49- to 6.33-log10 cfu/K-wire at all time points. Bacterial reductions for each treatment compared with carrier solution are shown in the table. DAP showed no bactericidal activity. EXE showed bactericidal activity at all concentrations at all time points studied except 0.098 mg/mL at 8 hours. There was no significant difference between EXE at 0.098 and 0.98 mg/mL at any time point but EXE at 9.8 mg/mL did show superiority over the lower concentrations. DAP+EXE 0.098 mg/mL was bactericidal at all time points. Conclusion EXE showed a rapid effect against MRSA biofilms on orthopedic K-wires apparent within the first 2 hours of exposure and was more active than daptomycin alone at the same concentrations. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

Bacteriophage-derived lysins are being developed as anti-infective agents. In an acute osteomyelitis methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) model, rats receiving no treatment or treatment with daptomycin, exebacase (CF-301), or daptomycin plus exebacase had means of 5.13, 4.09, 4.65, and 3.57 log 10 CFU/gram of bone, respectively.