Bacterium-Sculpted Porphyrin-Protein-Iron Sulfide Clusters for Distinction and Inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus .

Microbe-catalyzed surface modification is a promising method for the production of special targeting nanomaterials. A bacterium-selective material can be obtained by investigating the microbe-catalyzed mineralization of proteins. Herein, a novel method was fabricated for the biosynthesis of FeS-decorated porphyrin-protein clusters (P-CA@BE) via E. coli ( Escherichia coli )-catalyzed bio-Fe(III) reduction and bio-sulfidation of porphyrin (P), caffeic acid (CA), and protein [bovine serum albumin (BSA)] assemblies. The assembly (P-CA@BSA) was identified by spectroscopic methods. Next, the P-CA@BSA assembly was transferred into FeS-decorated porphyrin-protein clusters (P-CA@BE) catalyzed by E. coli . There are partial β-folding proteins in P-CA@BE, which selectively recognize S. aureus ( Staphylococcus aureus ) and show different antibacterial properties against E. coli and S. aureus . Results demonstrate that the E. coli -catalyzed mineralization of the porphyrin-protein assembly is an effective method for the biosynthesis of S. aureus -sensitive metal-protein clusters.