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Bayat F, Hilal A, Thirugnanasampanthar M, Tremblay D, Filipe CDM, Moineau S, Didar TF, Hosseinidoust Z. High throughput platform technology for rapid target identification in personalized phage therapy. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5626. [PMID: 38992046 PMCID: PMC11239838 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49710-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
As bacteriophages continue to gain regulatory approval for personalized human therapy against antibiotic-resistant infections, there is a need for transformative technologies for rapid target identification through multiple, large, decentralized therapeutic phages biobanks. Here, we design a high throughput phage screening platform comprised of a portable library of individual shelf-stable, ready-to-use phages, in all-inclusive solid tablets. Each tablet encapsulates one phage along with luciferin and luciferase enzyme stabilized in a sugar matrix comprised of pullulan and trehalose capable of directly detecting phage-mediated adenosine triphosphate (ATP) release through ATP bioluminescence reaction upon bacterial cell burst. The tablet composition also enhances desiccation tolerance of all components, which should allow easier and cheaper international transportation of phages and as a result, increased accessibility to therapeutic phages. We demonstrate high throughput screening by identifying target phages for select multidrug-resistant clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus with targets identified within 30-120 min.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fereshteh Bayat
- School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Arwa Hilal
- School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Denise Tremblay
- Département de biochimie, de microbiologie et de bio-informatique, Faculté des sciences et de génie, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
- Groupe de recherche en écologie buccale, Faculté de médecine dentaire, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
- Félix d'Hérelle Reference Center for Bacterial Viruses, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
| | - Carlos D M Filipe
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sylvain Moineau
- Département de biochimie, de microbiologie et de bio-informatique, Faculté des sciences et de génie, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
- Groupe de recherche en écologie buccale, Faculté de médecine dentaire, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
- Félix d'Hérelle Reference Center for Bacterial Viruses, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
| | - Tohid F Didar
- School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
- Michael DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Zeinab Hosseinidoust
- School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
- Michael DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
- Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
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2
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Azari R, Yousefi MH, Fallah AA, Alimohammadi A, Nikjoo N, Wagemans J, Berizi E, Hosseinzadeh S, Ghasemi M, Mousavi Khaneghah A. Controlling of foodborne pathogen biofilms on stainless steel by bacteriophages: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Biofilm 2024; 7:100170. [PMID: 38234712 PMCID: PMC10793095 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioflm.2023.100170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
This study investigates the potential of using bacteriophages to control foodborne pathogen biofilms on stainless steel surfaces in the food industry. Biofilm-forming bacteria can attach to stainless steel surfaces, rendering them difficult to eradicate even after a thorough cleaning and sanitizing procedures. Bacteriophages have been proposed as a possible solution, as they can penetrate biofilms and destroy bacterial cells within, reducing the number of viable bacteria and preventing the growth and spread of biofilms. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates the potential of bacteriophages against different biofilm-forming foodborne bacteria, including Cronobacter sakazakii, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Listeria monocytogenes. Bacteriophage treatment generally causes a significant average reduction of 38 % in biofilm formation of foodborne pathogens on stainless steel. Subgroup analyses revealed that phages are more efficient in long-duration treatment. Also, applying a cocktail of phages is 1.26-fold more effective than applying individual phages. Phages at concentrations exceeding 107 PFU/ml are significantly more efficacious in eradicating bacteria within a biofilm. The antibacterial phage activity decreases substantially by 3.54-fold when applied at 4 °C compared to temperatures above 25 °C. This analysis suggests that bacteriophages can be a promising solution for controlling biofilms in the food industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahim Azari
- Department of Food Hygiene and Quality Control, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hashem Yousefi
- Department of Food Hygiene and Public Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, 71946-84471, Iran
| | - Aziz A. Fallah
- Department of Food Hygiene and Quality Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, 34141, Iran
| | - Arezoo Alimohammadi
- Department of Food Hygiene and Quality Control, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Nastaran Nikjoo
- Department of Food Hygiene and Quality Control, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | | | - Enayat Berizi
- Department of Food Hygiene and Quality Control, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Saeid Hosseinzadeh
- Department of Food Hygiene and Public Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, 71946-84471, Iran
| | - Mohammad Ghasemi
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shahrekord University, P. O. Box 115, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Amin Mousavi Khaneghah
- Food Health Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
- Department of Fruit and Vegetable Product Technology, Prof. Wacław Dąbrowski Institute of Agricultural and Food Biotechnology—State Research Institute, 36 Rakowiecka St., 02-532, Warsaw, Poland
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3
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Cucić S, Ells T, Guri A, Kropinski AM, Khursigara CM, Anany H. Degradation of Listeria monocytogenes biofilm by phages belonging to the genus Pecentumvirus. Appl Environ Microbiol 2024; 90:e0106223. [PMID: 38315006 PMCID: PMC10952537 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01062-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Listeria monocytogenes is a pathogenic foodborne bacterium that is a significant cause of mortality associated with foodborne illness and causes many food recalls attributed to a bacteriological cause. Their ability to form biofilms contributes to the persistence of Listeria spp. in food processing environments. When growing as biofilms, L. monocytogenes are more resistant to sanitizers used in the food industry, such as benzalkonium chloride (BAC), as well as to physical stresses like desiccation and starvation. Lytic phages of Listeria are antagonistic to a broad range of Listeria spp. and may, therefore, have utility in reducing the occurrence of Listeria-associated food recalls by preventing food contamination. We screened nine closely related Listeria phages, including the commercially available Listex P100, for host range and ability to degrade microtiter plate biofilms of L. monocytogenes ATCC 19111 (serovar 1/2a). One phage, CKA15, was selected and shown to rapidly adsorb to its host under conditions relevant to applying the phage in dairy processing environments. Under simulated dairy processing conditions (SDPC), CKA15 caused a 2-log reduction in Lm19111 biofilm bacteria. This work supports the biosanitation potential of phage CKA15 and provides a basis for further investigation of phage-bacteria interactions in biofilms grown under SDPC. IMPORTANCE Listeria monocytogenes is a pathogenic bacterium that is especially dangerous for children, the elderly, pregnant women, and immune-compromised people. Because of this, the food industry takes its presence in their plants seriously. Food recalls due to L. monocytogenes are common with a high associated economic cost. In food-processing plants, Listeria spp. typically reside in biofilms, which are structures produced by bacteria that shield them from environmental stressors and are often attached to surfaces. The significance of our work is that we show a bacteriophage-a virus-infecting bacteria-can reduce Listeria counts by two orders of magnitude when the bacterial biofilms were grown under simulated dairy processing conditions. This work provides insights into how phages may be tested and used to develop biosanitizers that are effective but are not harmful to the environment or human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stevan Cucić
- Guelph Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Biological Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tim Ells
- Kentville Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Kentville, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Anilda Guri
- Gay Lea Foods Co-operative, Research and Development Centre, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Andrew M. Kropinski
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Cezar M. Khursigara
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Biological Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hany Anany
- Guelph Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Biological Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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Abstract
Phage therapy is the application of bacterial viruses to control and, ideally, to eliminate problematic bacteria from patients. Usually employed are so-called strictly lytic phages, which upon adsorption of a bacterium should give rise to both bacterial death and bacterial lysis. This killing occurs with single-hit kinetics, resulting in relatively simple ways to mathematically model organismal-level, phage-bacterium interactions. Reviewed here are processes of phage therapy as viewed from these simpler mathematical perspectives, starting with phage dosing, continuing through phage adsorption of bacteria, and then considering the potential for phage numbers to be enhanced through in situ phage population growth. Overall, I suggest that a basic working knowledge of the underlying "simple maths" of phage therapy can be helpful toward making dosing decisions and predicting certain outcomes. This especially is during controlled in vitro experimentation but is relevant to thinking about in vivo applications as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen T Abedon
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Mansfield, Ohio, USA
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Ribeiro JM, Pereira GN, Durli Junior I, Teixeira GM, Bertozzi MM, Verri WA, Kobayashi RKT, Nakazato G. Comparative analysis of effectiveness for phage cocktail development against multiple Salmonella serovars and its biofilm control activity. Sci Rep 2023; 13:13054. [PMID: 37567926 PMCID: PMC10421930 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-40228-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Foodborne diseases are a major challenge in the global food industry, especially those caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. Bacteria capable of biofilm formation, in addition to MDR strains, reduce the treatment efficacy, posing a significant threat to bacterial control. Bacteriophages, which are viruses that infect and kill bacteria, are considered a promising alternative in combating MDR bacteria, both in human medicine and animal production. Phage cocktails, comprising multiple phages, are commonly employed to broaden the host range and prevent or delay the development of phage resistance. There are numerous techniques and protocols available to evaluate the lytic activity of bacteriophages, with the most commonly used methods being Spot Test Assays, Efficiency of Plating (EOP), and infection assays in liquid culture. However, there is currently no standardization for which analyses should be employed and the possible differences among them in order to precisely determine the host range of phages and the composition of a cocktail. A preliminary selection using the Spot Test Assay resulted in four phages for subsequent evaluation against a panel of 36 Salmonella isolates of numerous serovars. Comparing EOP and infection assays in liquid culture revealed that EOP could underestimate the lytic activity of phages, directly influencing phage cocktail development. Moreover, the phage cocktail containing the four selected phages was able to control or remove biofilms formed by 66% (23/35) of the isolates, including those exhibiting low susceptibility to phages, according to EOP. Phages were characterized genomically, revealing the absence of genes associated with antibiotic resistance, virulence factors, or integrases. According to confocal laser scanning microscopy analysis, the biofilm maturation of one Salmonella isolate, which exhibited high susceptibility to phages in liquid culture and 96-well plates biofilm viability assays but had low values for EOP, was found to be inhibited and controlled by the phage cocktail. These observations indicate that phages could control and remove Salmonella biofilms throughout their growth and maturation process, despite their low EOP values. Moreover, using infection assays in liquid culture enables a more precise study of phage interactions for cocktail design timelessly and effortlessly. Hence, integrating strategies and techniques to comprehensively assess the host range and lytic activity of bacteriophages under different conditions can demonstrate more accurately the antibacterial potential of phage cocktails.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jhonatan Macedo Ribeiro
- Laboratory of Basic and Applied Bacteriology, State University of Londrina, Londrina, PR, Brazil
| | - Giovana Nicolete Pereira
- Laboratory of Basic and Applied Bacteriology, State University of Londrina, Londrina, PR, Brazil
| | - Itamar Durli Junior
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
| | | | - Mariana Marques Bertozzi
- Laboratory of Pain, Inflammation, Neuropathy, and Cancer, State University of Londrina, Londrina, PR, Brazil
| | - Waldiceu A Verri
- Laboratory of Pain, Inflammation, Neuropathy, and Cancer, State University of Londrina, Londrina, PR, Brazil
| | | | - Gerson Nakazato
- Laboratory of Basic and Applied Bacteriology, State University of Londrina, Londrina, PR, Brazil.
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Beschastnov VV, Egorikhina MN, Tulupov AA, Pogodin IE, Orlinskaya NY, Antoshina VV, Shirokova IY, Ryabkov MG. Immobilization of Bacteriophages in Ex Tempore Hydrogel for the Treatment of Burn Wound Infection. Gels 2023; 9:625. [PMID: 37623080 PMCID: PMC10453372 DOI: 10.3390/gels9080625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The resistance of bacteria to antibiotics is a major problem for anti-bacterial therapy. This problem may be solved by using bacteriophages-viruses that can attack and destroy bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant ones. In this article, the authors compared the efficacy of topical bacteriophage therapy and systemic antibiotic therapy in the treatment of wound infections caused by ESKAPE pathogens in patients with limited (less than 5% of the body surface) full-thickness burns. Patients in the study group (n = 30) were treated with PVA-based hydrogel dressings saturated ex tempore with a bacteriophage suspension characterized by its lytic activity against the bacteria colonizing the wound. Patients in the control group (n = 30) were treated using etiotropic systemic antibiotic therapy, and the wounds were covered with gauze bandages soaked in an aqueous solution of povidone-iodine. An assessment of the decrease in the level of bacterial contamination of the recipient wounds in both groups was conducted after 7 days, and after that, free skin grafting was performed. On day 14 after free skin grafting, patients in both groups underwent incisional biopsy. The study group demonstrated an increase in the indices of proliferative activity (Ki-67), and angiogenesis (CD-31, VEGF) in the area of engraftment of the split-thickness skin grafts. The results indicate that PVA-based hydrogel wound dressings can be used as bacteriophage carriers for local antimicrobial therapy ahead of free skin grafting.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Maksim G. Ryabkov
- University Clinic, Privolzhsky Research Medical University, Nizhny Novgorod 603155, Russia; (V.V.B.); (M.N.E.); (A.A.T.); (I.E.P.); (N.Y.O.); (V.V.A.); (I.Y.S.)
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7
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Stante M, Weiland-Bräuer N, Repnik U, Werner A, Bramkamp M, Chibani CM, Schmitz RA. Four Novel Caudoviricetes Bacteriophages Isolated from Baltic Sea Water Infect Colonizers of Aurelia aurita. Viruses 2023; 15:1525. [PMID: 37515211 PMCID: PMC10383413 DOI: 10.3390/v15071525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The moon jellyfish Aurelia aurita is associated with a highly diverse microbiota changing with provenance, tissue, and life stage. While the crucial relevance of bacteria to host fitness is well known, bacteriophages have often been neglected. Here, we aimed to isolate virulent phages targeting bacteria that are part of the A. aurita-associated microbiota. Four phages (Pseudomonas phage BSwM KMM1, Citrobacter phages BSwM KMM2-BSwM KMM4) were isolated from the Baltic Sea water column and characterized. Phages KMM2/3/4 infected representatives of Citrobacter, Shigella, and Escherichia (Enterobacteriaceae), whereas KMM1 showed a remarkably broad host range, infecting Gram-negative Pseudomonas as well as Gram-positive Staphylococcus. All phages showed an up to 99% adsorption to host cells within 5 min, short latent periods (around 30 min), large burst sizes (mean of 128 pfu/cell), and high efficiency of plating (EOP > 0.5), demonstrating decent virulence, efficiency, and infectivity. Transmission electron microscopy and viral genome analysis revealed that all phages are novel species and belong to the class of Caudoviricetes harboring a tail and linear double-stranded DNA (formerly known as Siphovirus-like (KMM3) and Myovirus-like (KMM1/2/4) bacteriophages) with genome sizes between 50 and 138 kbp. In the future, these isolates will allow manipulation of the A. aurita-associated microbiota and provide new insights into phage impact on the multicellular host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Stante
- Institute for General Microbiology, Christian Albrechts University, Am Botanischen Garten 1-9, D-24118 Kiel, Germany; (M.S.); (N.W.-B.); (A.W.); (M.B.); (C.M.C.)
| | - Nancy Weiland-Bräuer
- Institute for General Microbiology, Christian Albrechts University, Am Botanischen Garten 1-9, D-24118 Kiel, Germany; (M.S.); (N.W.-B.); (A.W.); (M.B.); (C.M.C.)
| | - Urska Repnik
- Central Microscopy Facility, Christian Albrechts University, Am Botanischen Garten 1-9, D-24118 Kiel, Germany;
| | - Almut Werner
- Institute for General Microbiology, Christian Albrechts University, Am Botanischen Garten 1-9, D-24118 Kiel, Germany; (M.S.); (N.W.-B.); (A.W.); (M.B.); (C.M.C.)
| | - Marc Bramkamp
- Institute for General Microbiology, Christian Albrechts University, Am Botanischen Garten 1-9, D-24118 Kiel, Germany; (M.S.); (N.W.-B.); (A.W.); (M.B.); (C.M.C.)
- Central Microscopy Facility, Christian Albrechts University, Am Botanischen Garten 1-9, D-24118 Kiel, Germany;
| | - Cynthia M. Chibani
- Institute for General Microbiology, Christian Albrechts University, Am Botanischen Garten 1-9, D-24118 Kiel, Germany; (M.S.); (N.W.-B.); (A.W.); (M.B.); (C.M.C.)
| | - Ruth A. Schmitz
- Institute for General Microbiology, Christian Albrechts University, Am Botanischen Garten 1-9, D-24118 Kiel, Germany; (M.S.); (N.W.-B.); (A.W.); (M.B.); (C.M.C.)
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Cui K, Li P, Huang J, Lin F, Li R, Cao D, Hao G, Sun S. Salmonella Phage CKT1 Effectively Controls the Vertical Transmission of Salmonella Pullorum in Adult Broiler Breeders. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12020312. [PMID: 36829587 PMCID: PMC9952982 DOI: 10.3390/biology12020312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
Phage therapy is widely being reconsidered as an alternative to antibiotics for the treatment of multidrug-resistant bacterial infections, including salmonellosis caused by Salmonella. As facultative intracellular parasites, Salmonella could spread by vertical transmission and pose a great threat to both human and animal health; however, whether phage treatment might provide an optional strategy for controlling bacterial vertical infection remains unknown. Herein, we explored the effect of phage therapy on controlling the vertical transmission of Salmonella enterica serovar Gallinarum biovar Pullorum (S. Pullorum), a poultry pathogen that causes economic losses worldwide due to high mortality and morbidity. A Salmonella phage CKT1 with lysis ability against several S. enterica serovars was isolated and showed that it could inhibit the proliferation of S. Pullorum in vitro efficiently. We then evaluated the effect of phage CKT1 on controlling the vertical transmission of S. Pullorum in an adult broiler breeder model. The results demonstrated that phage CKT1 significantly alleviated hepatic injury and decreased bacterial load in the liver, spleen, heart, ovary, and oviduct of hens, implying that phage CKT1 played an active role in the elimination of Salmonella colonization in adult chickens. Additionally, phage CKT1 enabled a reduction in the Salmonella-specific IgG level in the serum of infected chickens. More importantly, the decrease in the S. Pullorum load on eggshells and in liquid whole eggs revealed that phage CKT1 effectively controlled the vertical transmission of S. Pullorum from hens to laid eggs, indicating the potential ability of phages to control bacterial vertical transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ketong Cui
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
| | - Peiyong Li
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
| | - Jiaqi Huang
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
| | - Fang Lin
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
| | - Ruibo Li
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
| | - Dingguo Cao
- Poultry Research Institute of Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250000, China
| | - Guijuan Hao
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
- Correspondence: (G.H.); (S.S.); Tel.: +86-182-5202-6546 (G.H.); +86-137-0538-9710 (S.S.)
| | - Shuhong Sun
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
- Correspondence: (G.H.); (S.S.); Tel.: +86-182-5202-6546 (G.H.); +86-137-0538-9710 (S.S.)
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9
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Interruption of Capsular Polysaccharide Biosynthesis Gene wbaZ by Insertion Sequence IS 903B Mediates Resistance to a Lytic Phage against ST11 K64 Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae. mSphere 2022; 7:e0051822. [PMID: 36377881 PMCID: PMC9769513 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00518-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) is a major challenge for clinical management worldwide with limited antimicrobial options. Phages are considered an alternative option. Here, we isolated and identified a phage able to lyse ST11-K64 CRKP, the major type in China. This phage has a narrow host range, only lysing ST11-K64 CRKP, and inhibits the growth of host strains for 3 h forming large clear plaques (3.0 to 6.0 mm in diameter) with a surrounding halo. This phage exhibited excellent stability in different temperatures and pH and did not contain any virulence, lysogenic, antimicrobial resistance genes nor tRNA, meeting the criteria for phage therapy. Genomic analysis revealed that it represents a novel species of the Przondovirus genus according to ICTV standards. However, phage-resistant bacterial mutants emerged after 4-h exposure. Compared to the parental strain, phage-resistant mutants showed nonmucoid appearance and exhibited significantly reduced virulence for Galleria mellonella larva. Three randomly selected phage-resistant mutants were genome sequenced. Interruption of capsular polysaccharide biosynthesis-associated gene wcaJ or wbaZ by IS903B alone or an IS903-formed composite transposon was identified. Interruption of wcaJ is a known phage resistant mechanism, while that of wbaZ is not. By complementing the intact wbaZ, the phage susceptibility was restored, confirming the role of wbaZ interruption in phage resistance. This highlights that alteration in the capsular polysaccharide biosynthesis gene cluster, which could be due to transposable elements, is a major mechanism for resistance to Przondovirus phages in CRKP. Noncapsule-targeting phages may be combined for improving phage therapy against CRKP. IMPORTANCE Phage therapy is an alternative approach against multidrug resistant microorganisms such as carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP), which represents a major challenge for treatment due to very limited options of antimicrobial agents. For optimizing phage therapy, more new lytic phages are needed. Here, we isolated and characterized a phage of a novel species able to rapidly lyse a major type of CRKP without carrying any virulence, lysogenic, antimicrobial resistance genes. This phage is therefore suitable for clinical treatment. However, phage-resistant mutants of CRKP strains were observed after exposure. We found a new mechanism, i.e., interruption of a capsular polysaccharide biosynthesis gene wbaZ by an insertion sequence-formed composite transposon. Our study demonstrates the capsular polysaccharide biosynthesis gene cluster as a major source of resistance to certain lytic phages in CRKP. This requires more studies to counter phage resistance. Our studies also highlight the critical role of insertion sequences in phage resistance.
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10
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Han P, Zhang W, Pu M, Li Y, Song L, An X, Li M, Li F, Zhang S, Fan H, Tong Y. Characterization of the Bacteriophage BUCT603 and Therapeutic Potential Evaluation Against Drug-Resistant Stenotrophomonas maltophilia in a Mouse Model. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:906961. [PMID: 35865914 PMCID: PMC9294509 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.906961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (S. maltophilia) is a common opportunistic pathogen that is resistant to many antibiotics. Bacteriophages are considered to be an effective alternative to antibiotics for the treatment of drug-resistant bacterial infections. In this study, we isolated and characterized a phage, BUCT603, infecting drug-resistant S. maltophilia. Genome sequencing showed BUCT603 genome was composed of 44,912 bp (32.5% G + C content) with 64 predicted open reading frames (ORFs), whereas no virulence-related genes, antibiotic-resistant genes or tRNA were identified. Whole-genome alignments showed BUCT603 shared 1% homology with other phages in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database, and a phylogenetic analysis indicated BUCT603 can be classified as a new member of the Siphoviridae family. Bacteriophage BUCT603 infected 10 of 15 S. maltophilia and used the TonB protein as an adsorption receptor. BUCT603 also inhibited the growth of the host bacterium within 1 h in vitro and effectively increased the survival rate of infected mice in a mouse model. These findings suggest that bacteriophage BUCT603 has potential for development as a candidate treatment of S. maltophilia infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengjun Han
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Wenjing Zhang
- School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Mingfang Pu
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Yahao Li
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Lihua Song
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoping An
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Mengzhe Li
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Fei Li
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China
- Clinical Laboratory Center, Taian City Central Hospital, Taian, China
| | - Shuyan Zhang
- Department of Medical Technology Support, Jingdong Medical District of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Shuyan Zhang,
| | - Huahao Fan
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China
- Huahao Fan,
| | - Yigang Tong
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China
- Yigang Tong,
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11
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Abedon ST. Further Considerations on How to Improve Phage Therapy Experimentation, Practice, and Reporting: Pharmacodynamics Perspectives. PHAGE (NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y.) 2022; 3:98-111. [PMID: 36148139 PMCID: PMC9436263 DOI: 10.1089/phage.2022.0019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Phage therapy uses bacterial viruses (bacteriophages) to infect and kill targeted pathogens. Approximately one decade ago, I started publishing on how possibly to improve upon phage therapy experimentation, practice, and reporting. Here, I gather and expand upon some of those suggestions. The issues emphasized are (1) that using ratios of antibacterial agents to bacteria is not how dosing is accomplished in the real world, (2) that it can be helpful to not ignore Poisson distributions as a means of either anticipating or characterizing phage therapy success, and (3) how to calculate a concept of 'inundative phage densities.' Together, these are issues of phage therapy pharmacodynamics, meaning they are ways of thinking about the potential for phage therapy treatments to be efficacious mostly independent of the details of delivery of phages to targeted bacteria. Much emphasis is placed on working with Poisson distributions to better align phage therapy with other antimicrobial treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen T. Abedon
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Mansfield, Ohio, USA
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12
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Abstract
Bacteriophage (phage) are both predators and evolutionary drivers for bacteria, notably contributing to the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes by generalized transduction. Our current understanding of this complex relationship is limited. We used an interdisciplinary approach to quantify how these interacting dynamics can lead to the evolution of multidrug-resistant bacteria. We cocultured two strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, each harboring a different antibiotic resistance gene, with generalized transducing phage. After a growth phase of 8 h, bacteria and phage surprisingly coexisted at a stable equilibrium in our culture, the level of which was dependent on the starting concentration of phage. We detected double-resistant bacteria as early as 7 h, indicating that transduction of AMR genes had occurred. We developed multiple mathematical models of the bacteria and phage relationship and found that phage-bacteria dynamics were best captured by a model in which phage burst size decreases as the bacteria population reaches stationary phase and where phage predation is frequency-dependent. We estimated that one in every 108 new phage generated was a transducing phage carrying an AMR gene and that double-resistant bacteria were always predominantly generated by transduction rather than by growth. Our results suggest a shift in how we understand and model phage-bacteria dynamics. Although rates of generalized transduction could be interpreted as too rare to be significant, they are sufficient in our system to consistently lead to the evolution of multidrug-resistant bacteria. Currently, the potential of phage to contribute to the growing burden of AMR is likely underestimated. IMPORTANCE Bacteriophage (phage), viruses that can infect and kill bacteria, are being investigated through phage therapy as a potential solution to the threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In reality, however, phage are also natural drivers of bacterial evolution by transduction when they accidentally carry nonphage DNA between bacteria. Using laboratory work and mathematical models, we show that transduction leads to evolution of multidrug-resistant bacteria in less than 8 h and that phage production decreases when bacterial growth decreases, allowing bacteria and phage to coexist at stable equilibria. The joint dynamics of phage predation and transduction lead to complex interactions with bacteria, which must be clarified to prevent phage from contributing to the spread of AMR.
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13
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Lytic Phages against ST11 K47 Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae and the Corresponding Phage Resistance Mechanisms. mSphere 2022; 7:e0008022. [PMID: 35255715 PMCID: PMC9044933 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00080-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
We isolated and characterized a novel phage from hospital sewage, P13, able to lyse ST11 K47 carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP), a major CRKP lineage. P13 formed a large lytic plaque (3.0 to 6.0 mm in diameter) in double-layer LB agar after overnight coculture with its host bacterial strain. A translucent halo formed when the culture was prolonged to 48 h. P13 showed a narrow host range only lysing ST11 K47 CRKP with a burst size of around 167 PFU/cell and exhibited broad pH and thermal stability. Genome sequencing showed that P13 contains no virulence, lysogenic or antimicrobial resistance genes, making this lytic phage a potential agent for phage therapy. Transmission electron microscopy showed that P13 exhibited typical morphology of the family Podoviridae with an isometric head and a short noncontracted tail. Genomic analysis showed that P13 belongs to a novel species of the genus Przondovirus, subfamily Studiervirinae, family Autographiviridae. P13-resistant mutants of bacteria emerged after 4 h exposure to the phage. Interruptions of wbaP (encoding capsule polysaccharide synthesis) by insertion sequence IS903B mediated P13 resistance. The rapid emergence of resistant mutants represents a disadvantage for P13 as a therapeutic phage and highlights the need for recovery of a range of phages binding to different surface receptors of host bacteria to further extend their utility as a potential tool against CRKP. IMPORTANCE Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) is a major challenge for infection control and clinical management. Alternative therapies to antimicrobial agents are urgently needed and bacteriophages (phages) are an attractive option. However, more novel lytic phages and more studies to reveal phage-resistant mechanisms are needed to overcome phage resistance. In this study, we isolated and characterized a novel species of lytic phage active against CRKP. We found this phage exhibited delayed formation of halo, which is atypical compared to other characterized similar phages, and we provide an explanation for this phenotype based on genomic analysis. We also identified mechanisms mediating resistance to the phage.
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14
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Würstle S, Stender J, Hammerl JA, Vogele K, Rothe K, Willy C, Bugert JJ. Practical Assessment of an Interdisciplinary Bacteriophage Delivery Pipeline for Personalized Therapy of Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:186. [PMID: 35215298 PMCID: PMC8879309 DOI: 10.3390/ph15020186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite numerous advances in personalized phage therapy, smooth logistics are challenging, particularly for multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections requiring high numbers of specific lytic phages. We conducted this study to pave the way for efficient logistics for critically ill patients by (1) closely examining and improving a current pipeline under realistic conditions, (2) offering guidelines for each step, leading to safe and high-quality phage supplies, and (3) providing a tool to evaluate the pipeline's efficiency. Due to varying stipulations for quality and safety in different countries, we focused the pipeline on all steps up to a required phage product by a cell-free extract system. The first of three study runs included patients with respiratory bacterial infections from four intensive care units, and it revealed a cumulative time of up to 23 days. Ultimately, adjustment of specific set points of the vulnerable components of the pipeline, phage isolation, and titration increased the pipeline's efficiency by 15% and decreased the maximum required time to 13 days. We present a site-independent practical approach to establish and optimize pipelines for personalized phage delivery, the co-organization of pipeline components between different institutions, non-binding guidelines for every step, and an efficiency check for phage laboratories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Würstle
- Department of Internal Medicine II, School of Medicine, University Hospital Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Jana Stender
- Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, 80937 Munich, Germany;
| | - Jens André Hammerl
- Unit Epidemiology, Zoonoses and Antimicrobial Resistances, Department Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, 10589 Berlin, Germany;
| | - Kilian Vogele
- Physics of Synthetic Biological Systems-E14, Physics-Department and ZNN, Technical University Munich, 85748 Munich, Germany;
| | - Kathrin Rothe
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany;
| | - Christian Willy
- Trauma & Orthopaedic Surgery, Septic & Reconstructive Surgery, Research and Treatment Centre Septic Defect Wounds, Bundeswehr (Military) Academic Hospital Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany;
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15
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Fang Q, Feng Y, McNally A, Zong Z. Characterization of phage resistance and phages capable of intestinal decolonization of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in mice. Commun Biol 2022; 5:48. [PMID: 35027665 PMCID: PMC8758719 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03001-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) has emerged as a severe global health challenge. We isolate and characterize two previously unidentified lytic phages, P24 and P39, with large burst sizes active against ST11 KL64, a major CRKP lineage. P24 and P39 represent species of the genera Przondovirus (Studiervirinae subfamily) and Webervirus (Drexlerviridae family), respectively. P24 and P39 together restrain CRKP growth to nearly 8 h. Phage-resistant mutants exhibit reduced capsule production and decreased virulence. Modifications in mshA and wcaJ encoding capsule polysaccharide synthesis mediate P24 resistance whilst mutations in epsJ encoding exopolysaccharide synthesis cause P39 resistance. We test P24 alone and together with P39 for decolonizing CRKP using mouse intestinal colonization models. Bacterial load shed decrease significantly in mice treated with P24 and P39. In conclusion, we report the characterization of two previously unidentified lytic phages against CRKP, revealing phage resistance mechanisms and demonstrating the potential of lytic phages for intestinal decolonization. Fang et al. characterized two previously unidentified phage species that could inhibit growth and decrease virulence of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP). They also showed that CRKP develop phage resistance but could still be decolonized in a mouse intestinal colonization model, highlighting phage therapy as potential treatment against drug-resistant pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingqing Fang
- Center of Infectious Diseases, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yu Feng
- Center of Infectious Diseases, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.,Division of Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.,Center for Pathogen Research, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Alan McNally
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Zhiyong Zong
- Center of Infectious Diseases, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China. .,Division of Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Chengdu, Sichuan, China. .,Center for Pathogen Research, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China. .,Department of Infection Control, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
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16
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Danis-Wlodarczyk KM, Cai A, Chen A, Gittrich MR, Sullivan MB, Wozniak DJ, Abedon ST. Friends or Foes? Rapid Determination of Dissimilar Colistin and Ciprofloxacin Antagonism of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Phages. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:1162. [PMID: 34832944 PMCID: PMC8624478 DOI: 10.3390/ph14111162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Phage therapy is a century-old technique employing viruses (phages) to treat bacterial infections, and in the clinic it is often used in combination with antibiotics. Antibiotics, however, interfere with critical bacterial metabolic activities that can be required by phages. Explicit testing of antibiotic antagonism of phage infection activities, though, is not a common feature of phage therapy studies. Here we use optical density-based 'lysis-profile' assays to assess the impact of two antibiotics, colistin and ciprofloxacin, on the bactericidal, bacteriolytic, and new-virion-production activities of three Pseudomonas aeruginosa phages. Though phages and antibiotics in combination are more potent in killing P. aeruginosa than either acting alone, colistin nevertheless substantially interferes with phage bacteriolytic and virion-production activities even at its minimum inhibitory concentration (1× MIC). Ciprofloxacin, by contrast, has little anti-phage impact at 1× or 3× MIC. We corroborate these results with more traditional measures, particularly colony-forming units, plaque-forming units, and one-step growth experiments. Our results suggest that ciprofloxacin could be useful as a concurrent phage therapy co-treatment especially when phage replication is required for treatment success. Lysis-profile assays also appear to be useful, fast, and high-throughput means of assessing antibiotic antagonism of phage infection activities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alice Cai
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (A.C.); (A.C.); (M.R.G.); (M.B.S.)
| | - Anna Chen
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (A.C.); (A.C.); (M.R.G.); (M.B.S.)
| | - Marissa R. Gittrich
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (A.C.); (A.C.); (M.R.G.); (M.B.S.)
| | - Matthew B. Sullivan
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (A.C.); (A.C.); (M.R.G.); (M.B.S.)
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Geodetic Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Daniel J. Wozniak
- Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA;
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (A.C.); (A.C.); (M.R.G.); (M.B.S.)
| | - Stephen T. Abedon
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (A.C.); (A.C.); (M.R.G.); (M.B.S.)
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17
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Maffei E, Shaidullina A, Burkolter M, Heyer Y, Estermann F, Druelle V, Sauer P, Willi L, Michaelis S, Hilbi H, Thaler DS, Harms A. Systematic exploration of Escherichia coli phage-host interactions with the BASEL phage collection. PLoS Biol 2021; 19:e3001424. [PMID: 34784345 PMCID: PMC8594841 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophages, the viruses infecting bacteria, hold great potential for the treatment of multidrug-resistant bacterial infections and other applications due to their unparalleled diversity and recent breakthroughs in their genetic engineering. However, fundamental knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying phage-host interactions is mostly confined to a few traditional model systems and did not keep pace with the recent massive expansion of the field. The true potential of molecular biology encoded by these viruses has therefore remained largely untapped, and phages for therapy or other applications are often still selected empirically. We therefore sought to promote a systematic exploration of phage-host interactions by composing a well-assorted library of 68 newly isolated phages infecting the model organism Escherichia coli that we share with the community as the BASEL (BActeriophage SElection for your Laboratory) collection. This collection is largely representative of natural E. coli phage diversity and was intensively characterized phenotypically and genomically alongside 10 well-studied traditional model phages. We experimentally determined essential host receptors of all phages, quantified their sensitivity to 11 defense systems across different layers of bacterial immunity, and matched these results to the phages' host range across a panel of pathogenic enterobacterial strains. Clear patterns in the distribution of phage phenotypes and genomic features highlighted systematic differences in the potency of different immunity systems and suggested the molecular basis of receptor specificity in several phage groups. Our results also indicate strong trade-offs between fitness traits like broad host recognition and resistance to bacterial immunity that might drive the divergent adaptation of different phage groups to specific ecological niches. We envision that the BASEL collection will inspire future work exploring the biology of bacteriophages and their hosts by facilitating the discovery of underlying molecular mechanisms as the basis for an effective translation into biotechnology or therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enea Maffei
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Yannik Heyer
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | - Luc Willi
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sarah Michaelis
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Hubert Hilbi
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - David S. Thaler
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Program for the Human Environment, Rockefeller University, New York City, New York, United States of America
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18
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Ng RN, Grey LJ, Vaitekenas A, McLean SA, Rudrum JD, Laucirica DR, Poh MWP, Hillas J, Winslow SG, Iszatt JJ, Iosifidis T, Tai AS, Agudelo-Romero P, Chang BJ, Stick SM, Kicic A. Development and validation of a miniaturized bacteriophage host range screening assay against antibiotic resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. J Microbiol Methods 2021; 190:106346. [PMID: 34637818 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2021.106346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance is a current global health crisis, and the increasing emergence of multidrug resistant infections has led to the resurgent interest in bacteriophages as an alternative treatment. Prior to clinical application, phage suitability is assessed, via susceptibility testing and breadth of host range to bacteriophage, however, these are both large-scale manual processes and labor-intensive. The aim of the study was to establish and validate a scaled down methodology for high-throughput screening to reduce procedural footprint. In this paper, we describe a scaled-down adapted methodology that can successfully screen bacteriophages, isolated and purified from wastewater samples. Furthermore, we describe a miniaturized host range assay against clinical Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates using a spot test (2 μL/ drop) that was found to be both sensitive (94.6%) and specific (94.7%). It also demonstrated a positive predictive value (PPV) of 86.4% and negative predictive value (NPV) of 98%. The breadth of host range of bacteriophages that exhibited lytic activity on P. aeruginosa isolates was corroborated using the scaled down assay. The high correlation achieved in this study confirms miniaturization as the first step in future automation that could test phage diversity and efficacy as antimicrobials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renee Nicole Ng
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; Wal-Yan Respiratory Research Center, Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Lucinda Jane Grey
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; Wal-Yan Respiratory Research Center, Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Andrew Vaitekenas
- Wal-Yan Respiratory Research Center, Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; Occupation, Environment and Safety, School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Samantha Abagail McLean
- Wal-Yan Respiratory Research Center, Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Jack Dylan Rudrum
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; Wal-Yan Respiratory Research Center, Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Daniel Rodolfo Laucirica
- Wal-Yan Respiratory Research Center, Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; Medical School, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Matthew Wee-Peng Poh
- Wal-Yan Respiratory Research Center, Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; Medical School, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Jessica Hillas
- Wal-Yan Respiratory Research Center, Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Scott Glenn Winslow
- Wal-Yan Respiratory Research Center, Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Joshua James Iszatt
- Wal-Yan Respiratory Research Center, Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; Occupation, Environment and Safety, School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Thomas Iosifidis
- Wal-Yan Respiratory Research Center, Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; Occupation, Environment and Safety, School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; Center for Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine and Pharmacology, The University of Western Australia, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Anna Sze Tai
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; Institute for Respiratory Health, School of Medicine, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Patricia Agudelo-Romero
- Wal-Yan Respiratory Research Center, Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Barbara Jane Chang
- The Marshall Center for Infectious Diseases Research and Training, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Stephen Michael Stick
- Wal-Yan Respiratory Research Center, Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Perth Children's Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; Center for Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine and Pharmacology, The University of Western Australia, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Anthony Kicic
- Wal-Yan Respiratory Research Center, Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; Occupation, Environment and Safety, School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Perth Children's Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; Center for Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine and Pharmacology, The University of Western Australia, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
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- Wal-Yan Respiratory Research Center, Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Perth Children's Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Pediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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19
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Ramos-Vivas J, Elexpuru-Zabaleta M, Samano ML, Barrera AP, Forbes-Hernández TY, Giampieri F, Battino M. Phages and Enzybiotics in Food Biopreservation. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26175138. [PMID: 34500572 PMCID: PMC8433972 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26175138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Presently, biopreservation through protective bacterial cultures and their antimicrobial products or using antibacterial compounds derived from plants are proposed as feasible strategies to maintain the long shelf-life of products. Another emerging category of food biopreservatives are bacteriophages or their antibacterial enzymes called "phage lysins" or "enzybiotics", which can be used directly as antibacterial agents due to their ability to act on the membranes of bacteria and destroy them. Bacteriophages are an alternative to antimicrobials in the fight against bacteria, mainly because they have a practically unique host range that gives them great specificity. In addition to their potential ability to specifically control strains of pathogenic bacteria, their use does not generate a negative environmental impact as in the case of antibiotics. Both phages and their enzymes can favor a reduction in antibiotic use, which is desirable given the alarming increase in resistance to antibiotics used not only in human medicine but also in veterinary medicine, agriculture, and in general all processes of manufacturing, preservation, and distribution of food. We present here an overview of the scientific background of phages and enzybiotics in the food industry, as well as food applications of these biopreservatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Ramos-Vivas
- Research Group on Foods, Nutritional Biochemistry and Health, Universidad Europea del Atlántico, 39011 Santander, Spain; (J.R.-V.); (M.E.-Z.); (M.L.S.)
- Department of Project Management, Universidad Internacional Iberoamericana, Campeche 24560, Mexico;
| | - María Elexpuru-Zabaleta
- Research Group on Foods, Nutritional Biochemistry and Health, Universidad Europea del Atlántico, 39011 Santander, Spain; (J.R.-V.); (M.E.-Z.); (M.L.S.)
| | - María Luisa Samano
- Research Group on Foods, Nutritional Biochemistry and Health, Universidad Europea del Atlántico, 39011 Santander, Spain; (J.R.-V.); (M.E.-Z.); (M.L.S.)
- Department of Project Management, Universidad Internacional Iberoamericana, Campeche 24560, Mexico;
| | - Alina Pascual Barrera
- Department of Project Management, Universidad Internacional Iberoamericana, Campeche 24560, Mexico;
| | | | - Francesca Giampieri
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
- Correspondence: (F.G.); (M.B.); Tel.: +339-071-220-4136 (F.G.); +339-071-220-4646 (M.B.)
| | - Maurizio Battino
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
- International Research Center for Food Nutrition and Safety, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
- Correspondence: (F.G.); (M.B.); Tel.: +339-071-220-4136 (F.G.); +339-071-220-4646 (M.B.)
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Abedon ST. Phage-Antibiotic Combination Treatments: Antagonistic Impacts of Antibiotics on the Pharmacodynamics of Phage Therapy? Antibiotics (Basel) 2019; 8:antibiotics8040182. [PMID: 31614449 PMCID: PMC6963693 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics8040182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Revised: 10/02/2019] [Accepted: 10/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteria can evolve resistance to antibiotics. Even without changing genetically, bacteria also can display tolerance to antibiotic treatments. Many antibiotics are also broadly acting, as can result in excessive modifications of body microbiomes. Particularly for antibiotics of last resort or in treating extremely ill patients, antibiotics furthermore can display excessive toxicities. Antibiotics nevertheless remain the standard of care for bacterial infections, and rightly so given their long track records of both antibacterial efficacy and infrequency of severe side effects. Antibiotics do not successfully cure all treated bacterial infections, however, thereby providing a utility to alternative antibacterial approaches. One such approach is the use of bacteriophages, the viruses of bacteria. This nearly 100-year-old bactericidal, anti-infection technology can be effective against antibiotic-resistant or -tolerant bacteria, including bacterial biofilms and persister cells. Ideally phages could be used in combination with standard antibiotics while retaining their anti-bacterial pharmacodynamic activity, this despite antibiotics interfering with aspects of bacterial metabolism that are also required for full phage infection activity. Here I examine the literature of pre-clinical phage-antibiotic combination treatments, with emphasis on antibiotic-susceptible bacterial targets. I review evidence of antibiotic interference with phage infection activity along with its converse: phage antibacterial functioning despite antibiotic presence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen T Abedon
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Mansfield, OH 44906, USA.
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