Recombinant production of antimicrobial proteins in bacterial expression systems: Escherichia coli vs. lactic acid bacteria

The development of antimicrobial treatments as alternatives to antibiotics to combat antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) bacteria is a global priority. Antimicrobial peptides and proteins such as Host Defense Peptides (HDPs) and endolysins are one of the alternatives that are being explored. HDPs are smal...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Travé Asensio, Sergi; Gómez, Oriol; Carratalá, Jose Vicente; Robles, Carla; Fàbregas, Francesc; López Cano, Adrià; Rodríguez Rodríguez, Xavier; Ratera, Immaculada; Arís, Anna; Garcia Fruitós, Elena
Format: Article
Status:Published version
Publication date:2025
Country:España
Institution:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repository:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:dnet:digitalcsic_::020ebce14423922108208617c6678ef3
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/432337
https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/105026322001
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Escherichia coli
Lactic acid bacteria
Protein activity
Recombinant endolysins
Recombinant host defense peptides
Description
Summary:The development of antimicrobial treatments as alternatives to antibiotics to combat antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) bacteria is a global priority. Antimicrobial peptides and proteins such as Host Defense Peptides (HDPs) and endolysins are one of the alternatives that are being explored. HDPs are small, cationic, and amphiphilic antimicrobial peptides derived from the innate immune system exhibiting a broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. On the other hand, endolysins are enzymes produced by bacteriophages to hydrolyze the bacterial peptidoglycan layer, offering more specific antimicrobial activity than HDPs. While short peptides can be chemically synthesized, this approach presents several limitations, and recombinant production is also being used. Escherichia coli is the most used bacterial expression system for protein production. Alternative systems based on Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) microorganisms such as Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) have also been employed. However, so far, no comparative studies have evaluated the production and activity of antimicrobial proteins expressed in E. coli versus LAB and this study aims to address that gap.