Opportunities for broadening the application of cell wall lytic enzymes

In light of emerging antibiotic resistance, bacterial cell wall lytic enzymes are promising antimicrobial agents that degrade bacterial peptidoglycan while specifically recognizing the target bacterium. The efficacy of lytic enzymes against several multi-drug-resistant pathogens infecting humans has led to many efforts focused on in vivo therapeutic applications. However, the potential for lytic enzymes to combat bacterial contamination in environments outside the human body is underexplored. The persistence of pathogenic bacteria, in either planktonic or biofilm states and on various surfaces, has facilitated the spread of bacterial infections, necessitating the development of robust strategies for detecting and killing resistant bacteria in diverse environments. Here, we present an overview of the current state-of-the-art of exploiting lytic enzymes for non-therapeutic applications including pathogen decontamination in social infrastructures and food decontamination, as well as pathogen detection. Key points • Lytic enzymes are effective antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and sporicidal agents. • Pathogen detection using lytic enzyme–binding domains is rapid and highly sensitive. • Domain engineering is required for enhanced enzyme activity in complex environments.