Artilysins are a novel class of enzyme-based antibacterials that quickly kill (multidrug-resistant) Pseudomonas aeruginosa and their persisters: from concept to application

Artilysins represent a novel, promising class of antibacterials, exploiting the lytic power of bacteriophageencoded endolysins. These enzymes are produced by bacteriophages at the end of their lytic replication cycle. Once the endolysins have passed through the cytoplasmic membrane, they degrade the peptidoglycan layer rapidly, causing osmotic lysis of the infected cell and liberation of the progeny. Purified endolysins have successfully been exploited to kill Gram-positive pathogens. However, Gram-negative bacteria are not susceptible due to the presence of a protective outer membrane.