SUMMARY Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most common pathogens of humans and animals, where it frequently colonizes skin and mucosal membranes. It is of major clinical importance as a nosocomial pathogen and causative agent of a wide array of diseases. Multidrug-resistant strains have become increasingly prevalent and represent a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. For this reason, novel strategies to combat multidrug-resistant pathogens are urgently needed. Bacteriophage-derived enzymes, so-called endolysins, and other peptidoglycan hydrolases with the ability to disrupt cell walls represent possible alternatives to conventional antibiotics. These lytic enzymes confer a high degree of host specificity and could potentially replace or be utilized in combination with antibiotics, with the aim to specifically treat infections caused by Gram-positive drug-resistant bacterial pathogens such as methicillin-resistant S. aureus. LysK is one of the best-characterized endolysins with activity against multiple staphylococcal species. Various approaches to further enhance the antibacterial efficacy and applicability of endolysins have been demonstrated. These approaches include the construction of recombinant endolysin derivatives and the development of novel delivery strategies for various applications, such as the production of endolysins in lactic acid bacteria and their conjugation to nanoparticles. These novel strategies are a major focus of this review.

Cancers of the female reproductive system include ovarian, uterine, vaginal, cervical and vulvar cancers, which are termed gynecologic cancer. The emergence of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), which are believed to play a crucial role in several different biological processes, has made the regulation of gene expression more complex. Although the function of lncRNAs is still rather elusive, their broad involvement in the initiation and progression of various cancers is clear. They are also involved in the pathogenesis of cancers of the female reproductive system. LncRNAs play a critical physiological role in apoptosis, metastasis, invasion, migration and cell proliferation in these cancers. Different expression profiles of lncRNAs have been observed in various types of tumors compared with normal tissues and between malignant and benign tumors. These differential expression patterns may lead to the promotion or suppression of cancer development and tumorigenesis. In the current review, we present the lncRNAs that show a differential expression between cancerous and normal tissues in ovarian, cervical and endometrial cancers, and highlight the associations between lncRNAs and some of the molecular pathways involved in these cancers.

Cysteine/histidine-dependent amidohydrolase/peptidase (CHAP) and amidase are known as catalytic domains of the bacteriophage-derived endolysin LysK and were previously reported to show lytic activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). In the current study, the in silico design and analysis of chimeric CHAP-amidase model was applied to enhance the stability and solubility of protein, which was achieved through improving the properties of primary, secondary and tertiary structures. The coding gene sequence of the chimeric CHAP-amidase was synthesized and subcloned into the pET-22(+) expression vector, and the recombinant protein was expressed in E.coli BL21 (DE3) strain. Subsequent affinity-based purification yielded ~12 mg soluble protein per liter of E.coli culture. Statistical analysis indicated that concentrations of ≥ 1 µg/mL of the purified protein have significant antibacterial activity against S.aureus MRSA252 cells. The engineered chimeric CHAP-amidase exhibited 3.2 log reduction of MRSA252 cell counts at the concentration of 10 µg/mL. A synergistic interaction between CHAP-amidase and vancomycin was detected by using checkerboard assay and calculating the fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) index. This synergistic effect was shown by 8-fold reduction in the minimum inhibitory concentration of vancomycin. The chimeric CHAP-amidase displayed strong antibacterial activity against S.aureus, S.epidermidis and enterococcus. However, it did not indicate any significant antibacterial activity against E.coli and Lactococcus lactis. Taken together, these findings suggest that our chimeric CHAP-amidase might represent potential to be used for the development of efficient antibacterial therapies targeting MRSA and certain Gram-positive bacteria.

The increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections is a major global health concern, with biofilms playing a key role in bacterial persistence and resistance. Biofilms provide a protective matrix that limits antibiotic penetration, enhances horizontal gene transfer, and enables bacterial survival in hostile environments. Conventional antimicrobial therapies are often ineffective against biofilm-associated infections, necessitating the development of novel therapeutic strategies. The CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing system has emerged as a revolutionary tool for precision genome modification, offering targeted disruption of antibiotic resistance genes, quorum sensing pathways, and biofilm-regulating factors. However, the clinical application of CRISPR-based antibacterials faces significant challenges, particularly in efficient delivery and stability within bacterial populations. Nanoparticles (NPs) present an innovative solution, serving as effective carriers for CRISPR/Cas9 components while exhibiting intrinsic antibacterial properties. Nanoparticles can enhance CRISPR delivery by improving cellular uptake, increasing target specificity, and ensuring controlled release within biofilm environments. Recent advances have demonstrated that liposomal CRISPR-Cas9 formulations can reduce Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm biomass by over 90% in vitro, while gold nanoparticle carriers enhance editing efficiency up to 3.5-fold compared to non-carrier systems. These hybrid platforms also enable co-delivery with antibiotics, producing synergistic antibacterial effects and superior biofilm disruption. Additionally, they can facilitate co-delivery of antibiotics or antimicrobial peptides, further enhancing therapeutic efficacy. This review explores the synergistic integration of CRISPR/Cas9 and nanoparticles in combating biofilm-associated antibiotic resistance. We discuss the mechanisms of action, recent advancements, and current challenges in translating this approach into clinical practice. While CRISPR-nanoparticle hybrid systems hold immense potential for next-generation precision antimicrobial therapies, further research is required to optimize delivery platforms, minimize off-target effects, and assess long-term safety. Understanding and overcoming these challenges will be critical for developing effective biofilm-targeted antibacterial strategies.