Targeting of streptococci by zoocin A

Zoocin A is a domain-structured peptidoglycan hydrolase produced by Streptococcus equi ssp. zooepidemicus 4881. [C-14]-zoocin A was used to measure the amount of zoocin A bound to the surface of cells and to purified peptidoglycan. The sensitivity of various streptococci to zoocin A correlated with the amount of zoocin A bound (R-2=0.8609). Peptidoglycan purified from Streptococcus oralis and Streptococcus rattus were able to bind zoocin A but remained resistant to hydrolysis. All Streptococcus pyogenes strains were extremely sensitive to zoocin A with minimum inhibition concentrations of 31.5 ng mL(-1) or less, suggesting that zoocin A may have potential for use as an enzybiotic.