Purocin protein technology (AvidBiotics) offers rapid response to E.coli infection

A new study shows that AvidBiotics' antibacterial Purocin protein technology can be used to create a highly targeted bactericidal protein against the life-threatening foodborne E. coli O104 strain by making use of rapidly acquired, published, draft genomic sequence data. This strategy offers a rapid-response platform with the potential to create targeted agents for use against emerging bacterial pathogens within days-to-weeks of acquiring the pathogen's genome sequence. With genetic data, the Purocin protein technology system allowed them to synthesize the identified gene and fuse it to an R-type bacteriocin and express the engineered, antibacterial protein so that it was incorporated into an R-type bacteriocin structure. The resulting protein demonstrated the ability to specifically bind and rapidly kill all tested E. coli strains that produce the O104 lipopolysaccharide antigen, including the German outbreak strain isolated from affected patients. None of many tested E. coli strains lacking the O104 antigen was sensitive to the O104-targeted protein, ensuring no unintended collateral damage. Purocin proteins can be engineered to recognize and kill in a highly targeted and specific manner a variety of bacteria, including E. coli, Salmonella, and Shigella, thus serving as a platform for the production of numerous highly specific antibacterial agents. AvidBiotics is collaborating with food safety and hygiene company Ecolab, to develop antibacterial proteins for use against E. coli O157:H7 in processing meat and other foods.