Enzymatic Degradation of Cryptosporidium spp. Oocysts: A Combined In Silico and In Vitro Study
Abstract
Proteases are widely studied hydrolases as "green technologies" for degrading structures within complex matrices, although combining different classes poses challenges for catalytic stability. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to specifically evaluate the biochemical control of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts using plant- and microbial-derived proteases. This study evaluated the compatibility and sanitizing potential of the microbial serine protease subtilisin Carlsberg (HPF-1SCA) and the plant cysteine protease papain (1PPP), both individually and in a 15% (w/v) combination, hypothesizing a synergistic effect due to their distinct catalytic specificities, as a potential biochemical approach to reduce contamination by these zoonotic protozoa of global importance, which are highly resilient to conventional disinfectants. The experimental design comprised five distinct treatment groups: a negative control (distilled water), a positive chemical control (0.04% v/v NaClO), treatment with isolated papain (15% w/v), treatment with isolated microbial HPF formulation (15% w/v), and a combined treatment using both enzymes simultaneously (15% w/v each). Concurrently, an in silico molecular docking investigation was conducted to elucidate the predicted binding scores, structural compatibility, and preferential binding mechanisms of these enzymes toward the Cryptosporidium Oocyst Wall Protein (COWP). In vitro compatibility assays revealed an immediate antagonistic effect…
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