University System of Maryland

United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary of Agriculture

Western University of Health Sciences

Jerel Waters

David M Donovan

Steven M Swift

Dayana T Rowley

Brian B Oakley

can cause food poisoning and is a major agent in necrotic enteritis. As laws banning the use of antibiotics in animal feed become more common, the need for alternatives to antibiotics becomes greater. Peptidoglycan hydrolases that target the cell wall of specific bacteria are one such alternative. Genes for four endolysins, PlyCP10, PlyCP18, PlyCP33, and PlyCP41, were found within clusters of phage associated genes, likely prophages from strains Cp10, Cp18, Cp33, and Cp41. PlyCP18 and PlyCP33 harbor L-alanine amidase catalytic domains, and PlyCP10 and PlyCP41 have glycosyl hydrolase catalytic domains as predicted by BlastP and PFAM searches. All four genes were synthesized withcodon optimization, expressed inexpression vectors with a 6&#xd7;His tag for nickel column purification, and the recombinant proteins purified. The four endolysins were capable of lysing the 66strains tested but not the other bacteria tested.

Growing community of inventors

Randallstown, MD, United States of America

Jerel Waters