Insights into Bdellovibrio spp. mechanisms of action and potential applications

Predatory Bacteria in the Treatment of Infectious Diseases and Beyond

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an increasing problem worldwide, with significant associated morbidity and mortality. Given the slow production of new antimicrobials, non-antimicrobial methods for treating infections with significant AMR are required. This review examines the potential of predatory bacteria to combat infectious diseases, particularly those caused by pathogens with AMR. Predatory bacteria already have well-known applications beyond medicine, such as in the food industry, biocontrol, and wastewater treatment. Regarding their potential for use in treating infections, several in vitro studies have shown their potential in eliminating various pathogens, including those resistant to multiple antibiotics, and they also suggest minimal immune stimulation and cytotoxicity by predatory bacteria. In vivo animal studies have demonstrated safety and efficacy in reducing bacterial burden in various infection models. However, results can be inconsistent, suggesting dependence on factors like the animal model and the infecting bacteria. Until now, no clinical study in humans exists, but as experience with predatory bacteria grows, future studies including clinical studies in humans could be designed to evaluate their efficacy and safety in humans, thus leading to the potential for approval of a novel method for treating infectious diseases by bacteria.

Evaluation of the application potential of Bdellovibrio sp. YBD-1 isolated from Yak faeces

Studies on Bdellovibrio and like organisms (BALOs), obligate predatory bacteria, have highlighted the possibility of regulating bacteria and biofilms; however, yak-derived BALOs are yet to be reported. We aimed to characterize the BALOs isolated and identified from yak (Bos grunniens) feces and examine application potential. BALOs were isolated from healthy yak fecal samples, with Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) as prey using the double-layer agar method, identified by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and the specific 16S rDNA sequencing analysis. Sequencing of the 16S rDNA gene indicated that this isolate was 91% similar to the Bdellovibrio sp. NC01 reference strain and was named YBD-1. Proportion of YBD-1 lysed bacteria is 12/13. The YBD-1 showed best growth at 25-40°C, 0-0.25% (w/v) NaCl, and pH 6.5-7.5. YBD-1 significantly reduced the planktonic cells and biofilms of E.coli in co-culture compared to the E.coli group. Additionally, SEM analysis indicated that YBD-1 significantly reduced biofilm formation in E. coli. Furthermore, quantitative Real Time-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) showed that the expression of the virulence genes fim and iroN and the genes pgaABC involved in biofilm formation went down significantly. We concluded that YBD-1 may have the potential to control bacterial growth and biofilm-associated bacterial illnesses.

Salmonella antimicrobials inherited and the non-inherited resistance: mechanisms and alternative therapeutic strategies

Salmonella spp. is one of the most important foodborne pathogens. Typhoid fever and enteritis caused by Salmonella enterica are associated with 16-33 million infections and 500,000 to 600,000 deaths annually worldwide. The eradication of Salmonella is becoming increasingly difficult because of its remarkable capacity to counter antimicrobial agents. In addition to the intrinsic and acquired resistance of Salmonella, increasing studies indicated that its non-inherited resistance, which commonly mentioned as biofilms and persister cells, plays a critical role in refractory infections and resistance evolution. These remind the urgent demand for new therapeutic strategies against Salmonella. This review starts with escape mechanisms of Salmonella against antimicrobial agents, with particular emphasis on the roles of the non-inherited resistance in antibiotic failure and resistance evolution. Then, drug design or therapeutic strategies that show impressive effects in overcoming Salmonella resistance and tolerance are summarized completely, such as overcoming the barrier of outer membrane by targeting MlaABC system, reducing persister cells by limiting hydrogen sulfide, and applying probiotics or predatory bacteria. Meanwhile, according to the clinical practice, the advantages and disadvantages of above strategies are discussed. Finally, we further analyze how to deal with this tricky problems, thus can promote above novel strategies to be applied in the clinic as soon as possible. We believed that this review will be helpful in understanding the relationships between tolerance phenotype and resistance of Salmonella as well as the efficient control of antibiotic resistance.

Expanding therapeutic potential of Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus against multidrug-resistant pathogens

Novel treatments toward Gram-negative bacteria are urgently needed to prevent even higher mortality levels associated with resistant bacterial infections. Predatory bacteria have been studied as a new type of treatment against pathogenic bacteria, including resistant species. However, because of limitations related to eradication efficacy, combination therapy using predatory bacteria with other agents has also been tested. Here, we discuss recent advances in the use of predatory bacteria to treat infections and propose novel combinatory strategies with antivirulence compounds. Teaser: The increasing number of resistant bacteria requires the implementation of new strategies to avoid mortality. Studies about predatory bacteria indicate a field to be explored in different ways that can lead to new treatment solutions.

Potential of Predatory Bacteria to Colonize the Duckweed Microbiome and Change Its Structure: A Model Study Using the Obligate Predatory Bacterium, Bacteriovorax sp. HI3

Modifying the duckweed microbiome is a major challenge for enhancing the effectiveness of duckweed-based wastewater treatment and biomass production technologies. We herein examined the potential of the exogenous introduction of predatory bacteria to change the duckweed microbiome. Bacteriovorax sp. HI3, a model predatory bacterium, colonized the core of the Lemna microbiome, and its predatory behavior changed the microbiome structure, which correlated with colonization density. These results reveal that bacterial predatory interactions may be important drivers that shape the duckweed microbiome, suggesting their potential usefulness in modifying the microbiome.

Characterization of Two Novel Predatory Bacteria, Bacteriovorax stolpii HI3 and Myxococcus sp. MH1, Isolated from a Freshwater Pond: Prey Range, and Predatory Dynamics and Efficiency

Predatory bacteria, which prey on other bacteria, have significant functions in microbial ecosystems and have attracted increasing attention for their biotechnological use. However, knowledge of the characteristics of wild-type environmental predatory bacteria remains limited. This study isolated two predatory bacteria, Bacteriovorax stolpii HI3 and Myxococcus sp. MH1, from a freshwater pond and characterized their predation capabilities. Determination of the prey range using 53 potential prey strains, including 52 environmental strains, revealed that B. stolpii HI3 and Myxococcus sp. MH1 could prey on a wide spectrum of Gram-negative bacteria and a broader range of bacteria, irrespective of phylogeny, in accordance with the common characteristics of Bdellovibrio and like organisms and myxobacteria, respectively. Liquid culture assays also found that although predation by B. stolpii HI3 rapidly and largely occurred, the prey bacteria regrew, possibly through plastic phenotypic resistance to predation. In contrast, predation by Myxococcus sp. MH1 occurred at relatively low efficiency but was longer lasting. The two strains exhibited slightly distinct temperature preferences but commonly preferred slightly alkaline pH. The novel findings of this study provide evidence for the coexistence of predatory bacteria with diverse predation capabilities in the natural aquatic environment.

Biological Control of Acinetobacter baumannii: In Vitro and In Vivo Activity, Limitations, and Combination Therapies

The survival, proliferation, and epidemic spread of Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) in hospital settings is associated with several characteristics, including resistance to many commercially available antibiotics as well as the expression of multiple virulence mechanisms. This severely limits therapeutic options, with increased mortality and morbidity rates recorded worldwide. The World Health Organisation, thus, recognises A. baumannii as one of the critical pathogens that need to be prioritised for the development of new antibiotics or treatment. The current review will thus provide a brief overview of the antibiotic resistance and virulence mechanisms associated with A. baumannii’s “persist and resist strategy”. Thereafter, the potential of biological control agents including secondary metabolites such as biosurfactants [lipopeptides (surfactin and serrawettin) and glycolipids (rhamnolipid)] as well as predatory bacteria (Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus) and bacteriophages to directly target A. baumannii, will be discussed in terms of their in vitro and in vivo activity. In addition, limitations and corresponding mitigations strategies will be outlined, including curtailing resistance development using combination therapies, product stabilisation, and large-scale (up-scaling) production.