Enzybiotics

Enzybiotics are an experimental antibacterial therapy.

Classification

Mechanism

Endolysins are specialized enzymes derived from bacteriophages, viruses that infect bacterial cells in order to replicate within them. Because phages have coevolved with their bacterial hosts, the endolysin system is very efficient at degrading bacterial cell walls.

Research

In one of the earliest studies of endolysins as antibacterial therapy, oral streptococcus infections of mice were completely eradicated following bacteriophage endolysin treatment.

History

Antibiotic Resistance