Characterisation and engineering of the streptococcal C1 phage lysin, PlyC

Resistance to current antibiotics is reaching crisis levels and there is an urgent need to develop antibacterial agents with new modes of action. Bacteriophage infect bacteria and can cause bacterial cell death by destroying the bacterial cell wall. The bacteriophage endolysin enzymes are the agents that are responsible for this digestion of the cell wall. This function makes them an attractive alternative to traditional antibiotics. The streptococcal C1 phage lysin, PlyC, is the most potent endolysin described to date. This thesis characterises the PlyC enzyme and discovers how the unique structure of PlyC leads to its extraordinary potency and specificity.