(Press-News.org)
Bacteria are ubiquitous microscopic organisms capable of rapid growth. While beneficial strains like lactic acid bacteria (LAB) promote gut health and food preservation, pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus can cause severe infections. These harmful microbes produce toxins and enzymes that compromise health and, increasingly, show resistance to conventional antibiotics.
In recent years, scientists have explored alternative approaches to tackle pathogenic bacteria. Among them, endolysins—enzymes that degrade bacterial cell walls—have emerged as potent tools. These proteins, often derived from bacteriophages or engineered microbes, offer specificity in targeting pathogens. However, their widespread use is limited by challenges such as high production costs, instability during storage or circulation, and susceptibility to enzymatic degradation.
To address this research gap, researchers from Pusan National University, Korea have turned their attention to extracellular vesicles (EVs)-membrane-bound nanoparticles released by cells that transport biologically active molecules like proteins or nucleic acids. They engineered EVs derived from LAB to carry pathogen-specific endolysins on their surface. Their findings were made available online on 2 April, 2025 and published in volume 512 of Chemical Engineering Journal on 15 May, 2025. The research outlines the discovery and application of a novel surface-displaying protein found on EVs from Lacticaseibacillus paracasei.
In their study, the scientists initially cultured L. paracasei (LP)-a strain of LAB bacteria in the laboratory and then collected the EVs via high-speed centrifugation and isolation techniques. Subsequently, the fraction of proteins bound to EVs was subjected to comprehensive proteomic analysis. During further experiments to map the functions of proteins using advanced bioinformatics tools, the team identified 13 surface-displaying proteins (SDPs) associated with EVs derived from LP.
Explaining the significance of the present study, Prof. Kim says, “To date, no SDPs from the EVs of LAB species have been characterized. Now, for the first time, our group has identified a novel SDP named LP-SDP3 from the extracellular vesicles of L. paracasei. Additionally, we observed homologous proteins to SDP3 in E. coli and other LAB strains, with the SDP function conserved across these species”.
Inspired by their findings, the researchers went a step further and incorporated PlyF307SQ-8C, an endolysin that specifically targets S. aureus bacteria, into EVs with LP-SDP3. Remarkably, these EVs displaying PlyF307SQ-8C via the LP-SDP3 protein could selectively target and eliminate S. aureus. Furthermore, these engineered EVs were resistant to changes in temperature and pH, and did not induce antimicrobial resistance, while maintaining a similar safety profile compared to purified PlyF307SQ-8C endolysin.
“Engineered EVs derived from LAB can be produced on a large-scale and reduces the need for expensive protein purification technologies,” comments Prof. Kim. “In 5 to 10 years, this research could help reshape the way we treat infections, preserve food, and manufacture biological therapies—shifting away from antibiotics toward safe, smart, and sustainable bioengineered alternatives”.
Taken together, the identification of LP-SDP3 protein and its use in developing a novel, safe, and efficient EV-based platform can transform the landscape of antibacterial therapies.
***
Reference
DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2025.162196
About Pusan National University
Pusan National University, located in Busan, South Korea, was founded in 1946 and is now the No. 1 national university of South Korea in research and educational competency. The multi-campus university also has other smaller campuses in Yangsan, Miryang, and Ami. The university prides itself on the principles of truth, freedom, and service and has approximately 30,000 students, 1,200 professors, and 750 faculty members. The university comprises 14 colleges (schools) and one independent division, with 103 departments in all.
Website: https://www.pusan.ac.kr/eng/Main.do
About the author
Dr. Kwang-sun Kim is a Professor of Chemistry at Pusan National University (PNU), Korea. His research focuses on understanding antibiotic resistance and developing innovative antimicrobial platforms, including nanomaterials and extracellular vesicle-based vaccines and therapeutics. He received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from KAIST in 2004 and completed postdoctoral training at KAIST and in Stanley N. Cohen’s lab at Stanford University. From 2009 to 2015, he served as a Senior Researcher at the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB). His work integrates biomedical and environmental applications of advanced vaccine and antimicrobial technologies.
Lab Website: https://rnabiochem.wixsite.com
ORCID id: 0000-0003-3703-5461
END
Many experts suggest using the entrepreneurial ecosystems (EE) approach to help grow Africa’s economy, especially in poorer countries. EE looks at how things like roads, money, rules, and skilled people can come together to support business growth. But Africa already has more entrepreneurs than anywhere else—mostly people working for themselves because they have no other choice. This raises an important question: Is encouraging even more entrepreneurship really the best path for Africa’s growth?
To gain more insights, ...
Sexual behavior and sex preference in animals and humans are shaped by complex interactions between the brain and hormones during early development. One critical factor is exposure to androgens (male sex hormones) during fetal development, which influences the sexual differentiation of the brain. This early hormonal exposure is linked to a wide range of adult behaviors, like sexual behavior and cognitive traits, but finding a reliable, non-invasive biological marker for the same has remained a challenge.
Now, a team of researchers led by Professor Hirotaka Sakamoto, along with Dr. Himeka Hayashi from Okayama University, ...
Quantum computers still face a major hurdle on their pathway to practical use cases: their limited ability to correct the arising computational errors. To develop truly reliable quantum computers, researchers must be able to simulate quantum computations using conventional computers to verify their correctness – a vital yet extraordinarily difficult task. Now, in a world-first, researchers from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden, the University of Milan, the University of Granada, and the University of Tokyo have unveiled a method for simulating ...
Scientists have revealed how certain immune cells may be quietly helping prostate cancer grow — and how blocking them could help the body fight back.
The study, published July 2 as the cover story in Molecular Cancer Research, identifies a group of cells called macrophages that, instead of protecting the body, appear to shield tumors from attack and promote tumor metastasis.
These cells are typically the immune system’s housekeeping crew — engulfing dead cells and responding to infection ...
Foams have numerous possible potential applications, for example ranging from the automotive, household and mechanical engineering sectors to leisure and sports applications. Until now, it has been common practice to produce these materials from crude oil, which negatively impacts their ecological footprint. In the EU project BreadCell, an international consortium has developed cellulose-based foams that are produced using a process similar to baking bread. These foams are completely biodegradable and recyclable. ...
University of Leeds news
Embargoed until 10:30 BST, 2 July 2025
Images available here
New fossils from Earth’s most famous extinction show climate tipping point was crossed
The collapse of tropical forests during Earth’s most catastrophic extinction event was the primary cause of the prolonged global warming which followed, according to new research.
The Permian–Triassic Mass Extinction – sometimes referred to as the "Great Dying," happened around 252 million years ago, leading to the massive loss of marine species and significant declines in terrestrial plants and ...
A new AI model is much better than doctors at identifying patients likely to experience cardiac arrest.
The linchpin is the system’s ability to analyze long-underused heart imaging, alongside a full spectrum of medical records, to reveal previously hidden information about a patient’s heart health.
The federally-funded work, led by Johns Hopkins University researchers, could save many lives and also spare many people unnecessary medical interventions, including the implantation of unneeded defibrillators.
“Currently ...
For the first time, astronomers have obtained visual evidence that a star met its end by detonating twice. By studying the centuries-old remains of supernova SNR 0509-67.5 with the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (ESO’s VLT), they have found patterns that confirm its star suffered a pair of explosive blasts. Published today, this discovery shows some of the most important explosions in the Universe in a new light.
Most supernovae are the explosive deaths of massive stars, but one important variety comes from an unassuming source. White dwarfs, the small, inactive cores left over after stars like our Sun burn ...
Gene therapy can improve hearing in children and adults with congenital deafness or severe hearing impairment, a new study involving researchers at Karolinska Institutet reports. Hearing improved in all ten patients, and the treatment was well-tolerated. The study was conducted in collaboration with hospitals and universities in China and is published in the journal Nature Medicine.
“This is a huge step forward in the genetic treatment of deafness, one that can be life-changing for children and adults,” says Maoli Duan, consultant and docent at the Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, ...
Irvine, Calif., July 2, 2025 — President Donald Trump’s approval ratings among California residents are tanking while Gov. Gavin Newsom’s favorability has improved, according to the latest UCI-OC Poll, administered by the University of California, Irvine School of Social Ecology.
In late May and early June, Newsom’s approval ratings looked nearly as bad as those for Trump. Fifty-nine percent of Californians disapproved of the governor’s job performance, nearly a third ...