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González-Gómez JP, Rodríguez-Arellano SN, Gomez-Gil B, Vergara-Jiménez MDJ, Chaidez C. Genomic and biological characterization of bacteriophages against Enterobacter cloacae, a high-priority pathogen. Virology 2024; 595:110100. [PMID: 38714025 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2024.110100] [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: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/09/2024]
Abstract
Enterobacter cloacae is a clinically significant pathogen due to its multi-resistance to antibiotics, presenting a challenge in the treatment of infections. As concerns over antibiotic resistance escalate, novel therapeutic approaches have been explored. Bacteriophages, characterized by their remarkable specificity and ability to self-replicate within target bacteria, are emerging as a promising alternative therapy. In this study, we isolated and partially characterized nine lytic bacteriophages targeting E. cloacae, with two selected for comprehensive genomic analysis based on their host range and bacteriolytic activity. All identified phages exhibited a narrow host range, demonstrated stability within a temperature range of 30-60 °C, displayed pH tolerance from 3 to 10, and showed an excellent bacteriolytic capacity for up to 18 h. Notably, the fully characterized phage genomes revealed an absence of lysogenic, virulence, or antibiotic-resistance genes, positioning them as promising candidates for therapeutic intervention against E. cloacae-related diseases. Nonetheless, translating this knowledge into practical therapeutic applications mandates a deeper understanding of bacteriophage interactions within complex biological environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean Pierre González-Gómez
- Laboratorio Nacional para la Investigación en Inocuidad Alimentaria (LANIIA), Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C. (CIAD), Carretera a Eldorado km 5.5, Campo El Diez, 80110, Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico
| | | | - Bruno Gomez-Gil
- Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C. (CIAD), Unidad Mazatlán en Acuicultura y Manejo Ambiental, AP 711, Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico
| | | | - Cristobal Chaidez
- Laboratorio Nacional para la Investigación en Inocuidad Alimentaria (LANIIA), Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C. (CIAD), Carretera a Eldorado km 5.5, Campo El Diez, 80110, Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico.
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2
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Lossouarn J, Beurrier E, Bouteau A, Moncaut E, Sir Silmane M, Portalier H, Zouari A, Cattoir V, Serror P, Petit MA. The virtue of training: extending phage host spectra against vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium strains using the Appelmans method. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2024; 68:e0143923. [PMID: 38591854 PMCID: PMC11210271 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01439-23] [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: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Phage therapy has (re)emerged as a serious possibility for combating multidrug-resistant bacterial infections, including those caused by vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium strains. These opportunistic pathogens belong to a specific clonal complex 17, against which relatively few phages have been screened. We isolated a collection of 21 virulent phages growing on these vancomycin-resistant isolates. Each of these phages harbored a typical narrow plaquing host range, lysing at most 5 strains and covering together 10 strains of our panel of 14 clinical isolates. To enlarge the host spectrum of our phages, the Appelmans protocol was used. We mixed four out of our most complementary phages in a cocktail that we iteratively grew on eight naive strains from our panel, of which six were initially refractory to at least three of the combined phages. Fifteen successive passages permitted to significantly improve the lytic activity of the cocktail, from which phages with extended host ranges within the E. faecium species could be isolated. A single evolved phage able to kill up to 10 of the 14 initial E. faecium strains was obtained, and it barely infected nearby species. All evolved phages had acquired point mutations or a recombination event in the tail fiber genetic region, suggesting these genes might have driven phage evolution by contributing to their extended host spectra.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Lossouarn
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Elsa Beurrier
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Astrid Bouteau
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Elisabeth Moncaut
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Maria Sir Silmane
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Heïdi Portalier
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Asma Zouari
- CHU de Rennes, Service de Bactériologie-Hygiène Hospitalière et CNR de la Résistance aux Antibiotiques (laboratoire associé "Entérocoques"), Rennes, France
| | - Vincent Cattoir
- CHU de Rennes, Service de Bactériologie-Hygiène Hospitalière et CNR de la Résistance aux Antibiotiques (laboratoire associé "Entérocoques"), Rennes, France
- Université de Rennes, INSERM, UMR_S1230 BRM, Rennes, France
| | - Pascale Serror
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Marie-Agnès Petit
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France
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3
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Zhen J, Liu R, Man C, Xu S, Zhang W, Zou L, Liu W, Ni HB, Zou M, He T, Wang R, Zhang XX, Zhang C. Bacteriophage LHE83 targeting OmpA as a receptor exhibited synergism with spectinomycin against Escherichia coli. Poult Sci 2024; 103:103643. [PMID: 38537406 PMCID: PMC10987938 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2024.103643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Understanding the characteristics of bacteriophages is crucial for the optimization of phage therapy. In this study, the biological and genomic characteristics of coliphage LHE83 were determined and its synergistic effects with different types of antibiotics against E. coli E82 were investigated. Phage LHE83 displayed a contractile tail morphology and had a titer of 3.02 × 109 pfu/mL at an optimal MOI of 0.01. Meanwhile, phage LHE83 exhibited good physical and chemical factors tolerance. The 1-step growth analysis revealed a latent period of approx. 10 min with a burst size of 87 pfu/infected cell. Phage LHE83 belongs to the genus Dhakavirus. Its genome consists of 170,464 bp with a 40% GC content, and a total of 268 Open Reading Frames (ORF) were predicted with no detected virulent or resistant genes. ORF 213 was predicted to encode the receptor binding protein (RBP) and confirmed by the antibody-blocking assay. Furthermore, a phage-resistant strain E. coli E82R was generated by co-culturing phage LHE83 with E. coli E82. Genomic analysis revealed that OmpA served as the receptor for phage LHE83, which was further confirmed by phage adsorption assay using E. coli BL21ΔOmpA, E. coli BL21ΔOmpA: OmpA and E. coli BL21:OmpA strains. Additionally, a synergistic effect was observed between phage LHE83 and spectinomycin against the drug-resistant strain E. coli E82. These results provide a theoretical basis for understanding the interactions between phages, antibiotics, and host bacteria, which can assist in the clinical application of phages and antibiotics against drug-resistant bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianyu Zhen
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Rui Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Cheng Man
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Shijie Xu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Wenxiu Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Ling Zou
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Wenhua Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Hong-Bo Ni
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Ming Zou
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Tao He
- Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Ran Wang
- Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiao-Xuan Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Can Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China.
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4
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Wang X, Tang Y, Yue X, Wang S, Yang K, Xu Y, Shen Q, Friman VP, Wei Z. The role of rhizosphere phages in soil health. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2024; 100:fiae052. [PMID: 38678007 PMCID: PMC11065364 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiae052] [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: 12/31/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
While the One Health framework has emphasized the importance of soil microbiomes for plant and human health, one of the most diverse and abundant groups-bacterial viruses, i.e. phages-has been mostly neglected. This perspective reviews the significance of phages for plant health in rhizosphere and explores their ecological and evolutionary impacts on soil ecosystems. We first summarize our current understanding of the diversity and ecological roles of phages in soil microbiomes in terms of nutrient cycling, top-down density regulation, and pathogen suppression. We then consider how phages drive bacterial evolution in soils by promoting horizontal gene transfer, encoding auxiliary metabolic genes that increase host bacterial fitness, and selecting for phage-resistant mutants with altered ecology due to trade-offs with pathogen competitiveness and virulence. Finally, we consider challenges and avenues for phage research in soil ecosystems and how to elucidate the significance of phages for microbial ecology and evolution and soil ecosystem functioning in the future. We conclude that similar to bacteria, phages likely play important roles in connecting different One Health compartments, affecting microbiome diversity and functions in soils. From the applied perspective, phages could offer novel approaches to modulate and optimize microbial and microbe-plant interactions to enhance soil health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofang Wang
- Jiangsu provincial key lab for solid organic waste utilization, Key lab of organic-based fertilizers of China,Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-saving fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Yike Tang
- Jiangsu provincial key lab for solid organic waste utilization, Key lab of organic-based fertilizers of China,Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-saving fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Xiufeng Yue
- Jiangsu provincial key lab for solid organic waste utilization, Key lab of organic-based fertilizers of China,Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-saving fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Shuo Wang
- Jiangsu provincial key lab for solid organic waste utilization, Key lab of organic-based fertilizers of China,Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-saving fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Keming Yang
- Jiangsu provincial key lab for solid organic waste utilization, Key lab of organic-based fertilizers of China,Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-saving fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Yangchun Xu
- Jiangsu provincial key lab for solid organic waste utilization, Key lab of organic-based fertilizers of China,Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-saving fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Qirong Shen
- Jiangsu provincial key lab for solid organic waste utilization, Key lab of organic-based fertilizers of China,Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-saving fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Ville-Petri Friman
- Jiangsu provincial key lab for solid organic waste utilization, Key lab of organic-based fertilizers of China,Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-saving fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- Department of Microbiology, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Zhong Wei
- Jiangsu provincial key lab for solid organic waste utilization, Key lab of organic-based fertilizers of China,Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-saving fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
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5
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Sisson HM, Fagerlund RD, Jackson SA, Briers Y, Warring SL, Fineran PC. Antibacterial synergy between a phage endolysin and citric acid against the Gram-negative kiwifruit pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae. Appl Environ Microbiol 2024; 90:e0184623. [PMID: 38319087 PMCID: PMC10952447 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01846-23] [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: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Horticultural diseases caused by bacterial pathogens provide an obstacle to crop production globally. Management of the infection of kiwifruit by the Gram-negative phytopathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa) currently includes copper and antibiotics. However, the emergence of bacterial resistance and a changing regulatory landscape are providing the impetus to develop environmentally sustainable antimicrobials. One potential strategy is the use of bacteriophage endolysins, which degrade peptidoglycan during normal phage replication, causing cell lysis and the release of new viral progeny. Exogenous use of endolysins as antimicrobials is impaired by the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria that provides an impermeable barrier and prevents endolysins from accessing their target peptidoglycan. Here, we describe the synergy between citric acid and a phage endolysin, which results in a reduction of viable Psa below detection. We show that citric acid drives the destabilization of the outer membrane via acidification and sequestration of divalent cations from the lipopolysaccharide, which is followed by the degradation of the peptidoglycan by the endolysin. Scanning electron microscopy revealed clear morphological differences, indicating cell lysis following the endolysin-citric acid treatment. These results show the potential for citric acid-endolysin combinations as a possible antimicrobial approach in agricultural applications. IMPORTANCE The phytopathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa) causes major impacts to kiwifruit horticulture, and the current control strategies are heavily reliant on copper and antibiotics. The environmental impact and increasing resistance to these agrichemicals are driving interest in alternative antimicrobials including bacteriophage-derived therapies. In this study, we characterize the endolysin from the Otagovirus Psa374 which infects Psa. When combined with citric acid, this endolysin displays an impressive antibacterial synergy to reduce viable Psa below the limit of detection. The use of citric acid as a synergistic agent with endolysins has not been extensively studied and has never been evaluated against a plant pathogen. We determined that the synergy involved a combination of the chelation activity of citric acid, acidic pH, and the specific activity of the ΦPsa374 endolysin. Our study highlights an exciting opportunity for alternative antimicrobials in agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hazel M. Sisson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Bioprotection Aotearoa, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Robert D. Fagerlund
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Bioprotection Aotearoa, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Genetics Otago, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Simon A. Jackson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Bioprotection Aotearoa, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Genetics Otago, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Yves Briers
- Laboratory of Applied Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Suzanne L. Warring
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Peter C. Fineran
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Bioprotection Aotearoa, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Genetics Otago, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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6
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Acton L, Pye HV, Thilliez G, Kolenda R, Matthews M, Turner AK, Yasir M, Holden E, Al-Khanaq H, Webber M, Adriaenssens EM, Kingsley RA. Collateral sensitivity increases the efficacy of a rationally designed bacteriophage combination to control Salmonella enterica. J Virol 2024; 98:e0147623. [PMID: 38376991 PMCID: PMC10949491 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01476-23] [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: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The ability of virulent bacteriophages to lyse bacteria influences bacterial evolution, fitness, and population structure. Knowledge of both host susceptibility and resistance factors is crucial for the successful application of bacteriophages as biological control agents in clinical therapy, food processing, and agriculture. In this study, we isolated 12 bacteriophages termed SPLA phage which infect the foodborne pathogen Salmonella enterica. To determine phage host range, a diverse collection of Enterobacteriaceae and Salmonella enterica was used and genes involved in infection by six SPLA phages were identified using Salmonella Typhimurium strain ST4/74. Candidate host receptors included lipopolysaccharide (LPS), cellulose, and BtuB. Lipopolysaccharide was identified as a susceptibility factor for phage SPLA1a and mutations in LPS biosynthesis genes spontaneously emerged during culture with S. Typhimurium. Conversely, LPS was a resistance factor for phage SPLA5b which suggested that emergence of LPS mutations in culture with SPLA1a represented collateral sensitivity to SPLA5b. We show that bacteria-phage co-culture with SPLA1a and SPLA5b was more successful in limiting the emergence of phage resistance compared to single phage co-culture. Identification of host susceptibility and resistance genes and understanding infection dynamics are critical steps in the rationale design of phage cocktails against specific bacterial pathogens.IMPORTANCEAs antibiotic resistance continues to emerge in bacterial pathogens, bacterial viruses (phage) represent a potential alternative or adjunct to antibiotics. One challenge for their implementation is the predisposition of bacteria to rapidly acquire resistance to phages. We describe a functional genomics approach to identify mechanisms of susceptibility and resistance for newly isolated phages that infect and lyse Salmonella enterica and use this information to identify phage combinations that exploit collateral sensitivity, thus increasing efficacy. Collateral sensitivity is a phenomenon where resistance to one class of antibiotics increases sensitivity to a second class of antibiotics. We report a functional genomics approach to rationally design a phage combination with a collateral sensitivity dynamic which resulted in increased efficacy. Considering such evolutionary trade-offs has the potential to manipulate the outcome of phage therapy in favor of resolving infection without selecting for escape mutants and is applicable to other virus-host interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke Acton
- Quadram Institute Biosciences, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
- University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Hannah V. Pye
- Quadram Institute Biosciences, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
- University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Gaëtan Thilliez
- Quadram Institute Biosciences, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Rafał Kolenda
- Quadram Institute Biosciences, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Michaela Matthews
- Quadram Institute Biosciences, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - A. Keith Turner
- Quadram Institute Biosciences, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Muhammad Yasir
- Quadram Institute Biosciences, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Emma Holden
- Quadram Institute Biosciences, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Haider Al-Khanaq
- Quadram Institute Biosciences, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Webber
- Quadram Institute Biosciences, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
- University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | | | - Robert A. Kingsley
- Quadram Institute Biosciences, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
- University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom
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7
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Keith M, Park de la Torriente A, Chalka A, Vallejo-Trujillo A, McAteer SP, Paterson GK, Low AS, Gally DL. Predictive phage therapy for Escherichia coli urinary tract infections: Cocktail selection for therapy based on machine learning models. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2313574121. [PMID: 38478693 PMCID: PMC10962980 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2313574121] [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: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
This study supports the development of predictive bacteriophage (phage) therapy: the concept of phage cocktail selection to treat a bacterial infection based on machine learning (ML) models. For this purpose, ML models were trained on thousands of measured interactions between a panel of phage and sequenced bacterial isolates. The concept was applied to Escherichia coli associated with urinary tract infections. This is an important common infection in humans and companion animals from which multidrug-resistant (MDR) bloodstream infections can originate. The global threat of MDR infection has reinvigorated international efforts into alternatives to antibiotics including phage therapy. E. coli exhibit extensive genome-level variation due to horizontal gene transfer via phage and plasmids. Associated with this, phage selection for E. coli is difficult as individual isolates can exhibit considerable variation in phage susceptibility due to differences in factors important to phage infection including phage receptor profiles and resistance mechanisms. The activity of 31 phage was measured on 314 isolates with growth curves in artificial urine. Random Forest models were built for each phage from bacterial genome features, and the more generalist phage, acting on over 20% of the bacterial population, exhibited F1 scores of >0.6 and could be used to predict phage cocktails effective against previously untested strains. The study demonstrates the potential of predictive ML models which integrate bacterial genomics with phage activity datasets allowing their use on data derived from direct sequencing of clinical samples to inform rapid and effective phage therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianne Keith
- The Roslin Institute, Division of Bacteriology, University of Edinburgh, EdinburghEH25 9RG, United Kingdom
| | - Alba Park de la Torriente
- The Roslin Institute, Division of Bacteriology, University of Edinburgh, EdinburghEH25 9RG, United Kingdom
| | - Antonia Chalka
- The Roslin Institute, Division of Bacteriology, University of Edinburgh, EdinburghEH25 9RG, United Kingdom
| | - Adriana Vallejo-Trujillo
- The Roslin Institute, Division of Bacteriology, University of Edinburgh, EdinburghEH25 9RG, United Kingdom
| | - Sean P. McAteer
- The Roslin Institute, Division of Bacteriology, University of Edinburgh, EdinburghEH25 9RG, United Kingdom
| | - Gavin K. Paterson
- The Roslin Institute, Division of Bacteriology, University of Edinburgh, EdinburghEH25 9RG, United Kingdom
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Easter Bush Pathology, University of Edinburgh, EdinburghEH25 9RG, United Kingdom
| | - Alison S. Low
- The Roslin Institute, Division of Bacteriology, University of Edinburgh, EdinburghEH25 9RG, United Kingdom
| | - David L. Gally
- The Roslin Institute, Division of Bacteriology, University of Edinburgh, EdinburghEH25 9RG, United Kingdom
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8
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Würstle S, Lee A, Kortright KE, Winzig F, An W, Stanley GL, Rajagopalan G, Harris Z, Sun Y, Hu B, Blazanin M, Hajfathalian M, Bollyky PL, Turner PE, Koff JL, Chan BK. Optimized preparation pipeline for emergency phage therapy against Pseudomonas aeruginosa at Yale University. Sci Rep 2024; 14:2657. [PMID: 38302552 PMCID: PMC10834462 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52192-3] [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: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophage therapy is one potential strategy to treat antimicrobial resistant or persistent bacterial infections, and the year 2021 marked the centennial of Felix d'Hérelle's first publication on the clinical applications of phages. At the Center for Phage Biology & Therapy at Yale University, a preparatory modular approach has been established to offer safe and potent phages for single-patient investigational new drug applications while recognizing the time constraints imposed by infection(s). This study provides a practical walkthrough of the pipeline with an Autographiviridae phage targeting Pseudomonas aeruginosa (phage vB_PaeA_SB, abbreviated to ΦSB). Notably, a thorough phage characterization and the evolutionary selection pressure exerted on bacteria by phages, analogous to antibiotics, are incorporated into the pipeline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Würstle
- Yale Center for Phage Biology and Therapy, Yale University, 165 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06519, USA
- Technical University of Munich, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Alina Lee
- Yale Center for Phage Biology and Therapy, Yale University, 165 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Kaitlyn E Kortright
- Yale Center for Phage Biology and Therapy, Yale University, 165 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Franziska Winzig
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
- Technical University of Munich, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - William An
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Gail L Stanley
- Yale Center for Phage Biology and Therapy, Yale University, 165 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06519, USA
| | - Govindarajan Rajagopalan
- Yale Center for Phage Biology and Therapy, Yale University, 165 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06519, USA
| | - Zach Harris
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06519, USA
| | - Ying Sun
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06519, USA
| | - Buqu Hu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06519, USA
| | - Michael Blazanin
- Yale Center for Phage Biology and Therapy, Yale University, 165 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Maryam Hajfathalian
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Paul L Bollyky
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Paul E Turner
- Yale Center for Phage Biology and Therapy, Yale University, 165 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06519, USA
- Program in Microbiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Jonathan L Koff
- Yale Center for Phage Biology and Therapy, Yale University, 165 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06519, USA.
| | - Benjamin K Chan
- Yale Center for Phage Biology and Therapy, Yale University, 165 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
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9
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Oliveira A, Dias C, Oliveira R, Almeida C, Fuciños P, Sillankorva S, Oliveira H. Paving the way forward: Escherichia coli bacteriophages in a One Health approach. Crit Rev Microbiol 2024; 50:87-104. [PMID: 36608263 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2022.2161869] [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: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Escherichia coli is one of the most notorious pathogens for its ability to adapt, colonize, and proliferate in different habitats through a multitude of acquired virulence factors. Its presence affects the food-processing industry and causes food poisoning, being also a major economic burden for the food, agriculture, and health sectors. Bacteriophages are emerging as an appealing strategy to mitigate bacterial pathogens, including specific E. coli pathovars, without exerting a deleterious effect on humans and animals. This review globally analyzes the applied research on E. coli phages for veterinary, food, and human use. It starts by describing the pathogenic E. coli pathotypes and their relevance in human and animal context. The idea that phages can be used as a One Health approach to control and interrupt the transmission routes of pathogenic E. coli is sustained through an exhaustive revision of the recent literature. The emerging phage formulations, genetic engineering and encapsulation technologies are also discussed as a means of improving phage-based control strategies, with a particular focus on E. coli pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Oliveira
- CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- LABBELS - Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Carla Dias
- CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- LABBELS - Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Oliveira
- INIAV, IP-National Institute for Agrarian and Veterinary Research, Vairão, Vila do Conde, Portugal
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, Porto, Portugal
- ALiCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, Porto, Portugal
| | - Carina Almeida
- INIAV, IP-National Institute for Agrarian and Veterinary Research, Vairão, Vila do Conde, Portugal
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, Porto, Portugal
- ALiCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, Porto, Portugal
| | - Pablo Fuciños
- ALiCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, Porto, Portugal
| | - Sanna Sillankorva
- INL - International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Avenida Mestre José Veiga, Braga, Portugal
| | - Hugo Oliveira
- CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- LABBELS - Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
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10
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Yang Y, Dufault-Thompson K, Yan W, Cai T, Xie L, Jiang X. Large-scale genomic survey with deep learning-based method reveals strain-level phage specificity determinants. Gigascience 2024; 13:giae017. [PMID: 38649301 PMCID: PMC11034027 DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giae017] [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: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Phage therapy, reemerging as a promising approach to counter antimicrobial-resistant infections, relies on a comprehensive understanding of the specificity of individual phages. Yet the significant diversity within phage populations presents a considerable challenge. Currently, there is a notable lack of tools designed for large-scale characterization of phage receptor-binding proteins, which are crucial in determining the phage host range. RESULTS In this study, we present SpikeHunter, a deep learning method based on the ESM-2 protein language model. With SpikeHunter, we identified 231,965 diverse phage-encoded tailspike proteins, a crucial determinant of phage specificity that targets bacterial polysaccharide receptors, across 787,566 bacterial genomes from 5 virulent, antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Notably, 86.60% (143,200) of these proteins exhibited strong associations with specific bacterial polysaccharides. We discovered that phages with identical tailspike proteins can infect different bacterial species with similar polysaccharide receptors, underscoring the pivotal role of tailspike proteins in determining host range. The specificity is mainly attributed to the protein's C-terminal domain, which strictly correlates with host specificity during domain swapping in tailspike proteins. Importantly, our dataset-driven predictions of phage-host specificity closely match the phage-host pairs observed in real-world phage therapy cases we studied. CONCLUSIONS Our research provides a rich resource, including both the method and a database derived from a large-scale genomics survey. This substantially enhances understanding of phage specificity determinants at the strain level and offers a valuable framework for guiding phage selection in therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiyan Yang
- National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA
| | | | - Wei Yan
- National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA
| | - Tian Cai
- Ph.D. Program in Computer Science, The Graduate Center, The City University of New York, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Lei Xie
- Ph.D. Program in Computer Science, The Graduate Center, The City University of New York, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Department of Computer Science, Hunter College, The City University of New York, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Xiaofang Jiang
- National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA
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11
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Laanto E. Overcoming Bacteriophage Resistance in Phage Therapy. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2738:401-410. [PMID: 37966611 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3549-0_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] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance among pathogenic bacteria is one of the most severe global challenges. It is predicted that over ten million lives will be lost annually by 2050. Phage therapy is a promising alternative to antibiotics. However, the ease of development of phage resistance during therapy is a concern. This review focuses on the possible ways to overcome phage resistance in phage therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elina Laanto
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science and Nanoscience Center, University of Jyvaskyla, Jyväskylä, Finland.
- Molecular and Integrative Biosciences Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
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12
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Forti F, Bertoli C, Cafora M, Gilardi S, Pistocchi A, Briani F. Identification and impact on Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence of mutations conferring resistance to a phage cocktail for phage therapy. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0147723. [PMID: 37966242 PMCID: PMC10714927 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01477-23] [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: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE In this work, we identified the putative receptors of 16 Pseudomonas phages and evaluated how resistance to phages recognizing different bacterial receptors may affect the virulence. Our findings are relevant for the implementation of phage therapy of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections, which are difficult to treat with antibiotics. Overall, our results highlight the need to modify natural phages to enlarge the repertoire of receptors exploited by therapeutic phages and suggest that phages using the PAO1-type T4P as receptor may have limited value for the therapy of the cystic fibrosis infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Forti
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Claudia Bertoli
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Marco Cafora
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche e Medicina Traslazionale, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Sara Gilardi
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Anna Pistocchi
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche e Medicina Traslazionale, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Federica Briani
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
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13
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Li J, Yan B, He B, Li L, Zhou X, Wu N, Wang Q, Guo X, Zhu T, Qin J. Development of phage resistance in multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae is associated with reduced virulence: a case report of a personalised phage therapy. Clin Microbiol Infect 2023; 29:1601.e1-1601.e7. [PMID: 37652124 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2023.08.022] [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: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Phage-resistant bacteria often emerge rapidly when performing phage therapy. However, the relationship between the emergence of phage-resistant bacteria and improvements in clinical symptoms is still poorly understood. METHODS An inpatient developed a pulmonary infection caused by multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae. He received a first course of treatment with a single nebulized phage (ΦKp_GWPB35) targeted at his bacterial isolate of Kp7450. After 14 days, he received a second course of treatment with a phage cocktail (ΦKp_GWPB35+ΦKp_GWPA139). Antibiotic treatment was continued throughout the course of phage therapy. Whole-genome analysis was used to identify mutations in phage-resistant strains. Mutated genes associated with resistance were further analysed by generating knockouts of Kp7450 and by measuring phage adsorption rates of bacteria treated with proteinase K and periodate. Bacterial virulence was evaluated in mouse and zebrafish infection models. RESULTS Phage-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae strains emerged after the second phage treatment. Comparative genomic analyses revealed that fabF was deleted in phage-resistant strains. The fabF knockout strain (Kp7450ΔfabF) resulted in an altered structure of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which was identified as the host receptor for the therapeutic phages. Virulence evaluations in mice and zebrafish models showed that LPS was the main determinant of virulence in Kp7450 and alteration of LPS structure in Kp7450ΔfabF, and the bacteriophage-resistant strains reduced their virulence at cost. DISCUSSION This study may shed light on the mechanism by which some patients experience clinical improvement in their symptoms post phage therapy, despite the incomplete elimination of pathogenic bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianhui Li
- Shanghai Institute of Phage, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Centre, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Bo Yan
- Centre for Tuberculosis Research, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Centre, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Bin He
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Centre, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lisha Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jinshan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xin Zhou
- CreatiPhage Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Shanghai, China
| | - Nannan Wu
- Shanghai Institute of Phage, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Centre, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; CreatiPhage Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Shanghai, China
| | - Qingming Wang
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Centre, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaokui Guo
- Shanghai Institute of Phage, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Centre, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Tongyu Zhu
- Shanghai Institute of Phage, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Centre, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Shanghai, China.
| | - Jinhong Qin
- Shanghai Institute of Phage, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Centre, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
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14
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Chen B, Benavente LP, Chittò M, Wychowaniec JK, Post V, D'Este M, Constant C, Zeiter S, Feng W, Moreno MG, Trampuz A, Wagemans J, Onsea J, Richards RG, Lavigne R, Moriarty TF, Metsemakers WJ. Alginate microbeads and hydrogels delivering meropenem and bacteriophages to treat Pseudomonas aeruginosa fracture-related infections. J Control Release 2023; 364:159-173. [PMID: 37866403 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.10.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Bacteriophage (phage) therapy has shown promise in treating fracture-related infection (FRI); however, questions remain regarding phage efficacy against biofilms, phage-antibiotic interaction, administration routes and dosing, and the development of phage resistance. The goal of this study was to develop a dual antibiotic-phage delivery system containing hydrogel and alginate microbeads loaded with a phage cocktail plus meropenem and evaluate efficacy against muti-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Two phages (FJK.R9-30 and MK.R3-15) displayed enhanced antibiotic activity against P. aeruginosa biofilms when tested in combination with meropenem. The antimicrobial activity of both antibiotic and phage was retained for eight days at 37 °C in dual phage and antibiotic loaded hydrogel with microbeads (PA-HM). In a mouse FRI model, phages were recovered from all tissues within all treatment groups receiving dual PA-HM. Moreover, animals that received the dual PA-HM either with or without systemic antibiotics had less incidence of phage resistance and less serum neutralization compared to phages in saline. The dual PA-HM could reduce bacterial load in soft tissue when combined with systemic antibiotics, although the infection was not eradicated. The use of alginate microbeads and injectable hydrogel for controlled release of phages and antibiotics, leads to the reduced development of phage resistance and lower exposure to the adaptive immune system, which highlights the translational potential of the dual PA-HM. However, further optimization of phage therapy and its delivery system is necessary to achieve higher bacterial killing activity in vivo in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baixing Chen
- Department of Trauma Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; AO Research Institute Davos, Davos, Switzerland
| | - Luis Ponce Benavente
- Center for Musculoskeletal Surgery Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Wenli Feng
- AO Research Institute Davos, Davos, Switzerland
| | - Mercedes González Moreno
- Center for Musculoskeletal Surgery Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Andrej Trampuz
- Center for Musculoskeletal Surgery Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Jolien Onsea
- Department of Trauma Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Rob Lavigne
- Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Willem-Jan Metsemakers
- Department of Trauma Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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15
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Ruest MK, Supina BSI, Dennis JJ. Bacteriophage steering of Burkholderia cenocepacia toward reduced virulence and increased antibiotic sensitivity. J Bacteriol 2023; 205:e0019623. [PMID: 37791751 PMCID: PMC10601696 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00196-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance in bacteria is a growing global concern and has spurred increasing efforts to find alternative therapeutics, such as the use of bacterial viruses, or bacteriophages. One promising approach is to use phages that not only kill pathogenic bacteria but also select phage-resistant survivors that are newly sensitized to traditional antibiotics, in a process called "phage steering." Members of the bacterial genus Burkholderia, which includes various human pathogens, are highly resistant to most antimicrobial agents, including serum immune components, antimicrobial peptides, and polymixin-class antibiotics. However, the application of phages in combination with certain antibiotics can produce synergistic effects that more effectively kill pathogenic bacteria. Herein, we demonstrate that Burkholderia cenocepacia serum resistance is due to intact lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and membranes, and phage-induced resistance altering LPS structure can enhance bacterial sensitivity not only to immune components in serum but also to membrane-associated antibiotics such as colistin. IMPORTANCE Bacteria frequently encounter selection pressure from both antibiotics and lytic phages, but little is known about the interactions between antibiotics and phages. This study provides new insights into the evolutionary trade-offs between phage resistance and antibiotic sensitivity. The creation of phage resistance through changes in membrane structure or lipopolysaccharide composition can simultaneously be a major cause of antibiotic sensitivity. Our results provide evidence of synergistic therapeutic efficacy in phage-antibiotic interactions and have implications for the future clinical use of phage steering in phage therapy applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta K. Ruest
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | | | - Jonathan J. Dennis
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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16
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Petrosino A, Saporetti R, Starinieri F, Sarti E, Ulfo L, Boselli L, Cantelli A, Morini A, Zadran SK, Zuccheri G, Pasquini Z, Di Giosia M, Prodi L, Pompa PP, Costantini PE, Calvaresi M, Danielli A. A modular phage vector platform for targeted photodynamic therapy of Gram-negative bacterial pathogens. iScience 2023; 26:108032. [PMID: 37822492 PMCID: PMC10563061 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108032] [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: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Growing antibiotic resistance has encouraged the revival of phage-inspired antimicrobial approaches. On the other hand, photodynamic therapy (PDT) is considered a very promising research domain for the protection against infectious diseases. Yet, very few efforts have been made to combine the advantages of both approaches in a modular, retargetable platform. Here, we foster the M13 bacteriophage as a multifunctional scaffold, enabling the selective photodynamic killing of bacteria. We took advantage of the well-defined molecular biology of M13 to functionalize its capsid with hundreds of photo-activable Rose Bengal sensitizers and contemporarily target this light-triggerable nanobot to specific bacterial species by phage display of peptide targeting moieties fused to the minor coat protein pIII of the phage. Upon light irradiation of the specimen, the targeted killing of diverse Gram(-) pathogens occurred at subnanomolar concentrations of the phage vector. Our findings contribute to the development of antimicrobials based on targeted and triggerable phage-based nanobiotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annapaola Petrosino
- Dipartimento di Farmacia e Biotecnologie (FaBiT) – Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, Via Francesco Selmi 3, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Roberto Saporetti
- Dipartimento di Chimica “Giacomo Ciamician” – Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, Via Francesco Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Francesco Starinieri
- Dipartimento di Farmacia e Biotecnologie (FaBiT) – Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, Via Francesco Selmi 3, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Edoardo Sarti
- Dipartimento di Farmacia e Biotecnologie (FaBiT) – Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, Via Francesco Selmi 3, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Luca Ulfo
- Dipartimento di Farmacia e Biotecnologie (FaBiT) – Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, Via Francesco Selmi 3, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Luca Boselli
- Nanobiointeractions and Nanodiagnostics Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Andrea Cantelli
- CNR Institute of Molecular Genetics "Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza" Unit of Bologna, Italy
- IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy
| | - Andrea Morini
- Dipartimento di Farmacia e Biotecnologie (FaBiT) – Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, Via Francesco Selmi 3, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Suleman Khan Zadran
- Dipartimento di Farmacia e Biotecnologie (FaBiT) – Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, Via Francesco Selmi 3, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Giampaolo Zuccheri
- Dipartimento di Farmacia e Biotecnologie (FaBiT) – Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, Via Francesco Selmi 3, 40126 Bologna, Italy
- CIRI SDV – Centro Interdipartimentale Scienze della Vita - Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra, 41/E - 40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia (BO), Italy
| | - Zeno Pasquini
- Infectious Diseases Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Italy
| | - Matteo Di Giosia
- Dipartimento di Chimica “Giacomo Ciamician” – Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, Via Francesco Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Luca Prodi
- Dipartimento di Chimica “Giacomo Ciamician” – Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, Via Francesco Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy
- CIRI SDV – Centro Interdipartimentale Scienze della Vita - Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra, 41/E - 40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia (BO), Italy
| | - Pier Paolo Pompa
- Nanobiointeractions and Nanodiagnostics Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Paolo Emidio Costantini
- Dipartimento di Farmacia e Biotecnologie (FaBiT) – Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, Via Francesco Selmi 3, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Matteo Calvaresi
- Dipartimento di Chimica “Giacomo Ciamician” – Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, Via Francesco Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy
- CIRI SDV – Centro Interdipartimentale Scienze della Vita - Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra, 41/E - 40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia (BO), Italy
| | - Alberto Danielli
- Dipartimento di Farmacia e Biotecnologie (FaBiT) – Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, Via Francesco Selmi 3, 40126 Bologna, Italy
- CIRI SDV – Centro Interdipartimentale Scienze della Vita - Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra, 41/E - 40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia (BO), Italy
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17
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Xu B, Cai G, Gao Y, Chen M, Xu C, Wang C, Yu D, Qi D, Li R, Wu J. Nanofibrous Dressing with Nanocomposite Monoporous Microspheres for Chemodynamic Antibacterial Therapy and Wound Healing. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:38481-38493. [PMID: 37867710 PMCID: PMC10586453 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c05271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
The excessive use of antibiotics and consequent bacterial resistance have emerged as crucial public safety challenges for humanity. As a promising antibacterial treatment, using reactive oxygen species (ROS) can effectively address this problem and has the advantages of being highly efficient and having low toxicity. Herein, electrospinning and electrospraying were employed to fabricate magnesium oxide (MgO)-based nanoparticle composited polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibrous dressings for the chemodynamic treatment of bacteria-infected wounds. By utilizing electrospraying, erythrocyte-like monoporous PCL microspheres incorporating silver (Ag)- and copper (Cu)-doped MgO nanoparticles were generated, and the unique microsphere-filament structure enabled efficient anchoring on nanofibers. The composite dressings produced high levels of ROS, as confirmed by the 2,7-dichloriflurescin fluorescent probe. The sustained generation of ROS resulted in efficient glutathione oxidation and a remarkable bacterial killing rate of approximately 99% against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). These dressings were found to be effective at treating externally infected wounds. The unique properties of these composite nanofibrous dressings suggest great potential for their use in the medical treatment of bacteria-infected injuries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingjie Xu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Advanced Textile Materials & Manufacturing Technology, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China
| | - Guoqiang Cai
- NICE Zhejiang Technology Co., Ltd, Hangzhou 310013, China
- Key Laboratory of Green Cleaning Technology & Detergent of Zhejiang Province, Lishui 323000, China
| | - Yujie Gao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Advanced Textile Materials & Manufacturing Technology, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China
- Key Laboratory of Green Cleaning Technology & Detergent of Zhejiang Province, Lishui 323000, China
| | - Mingchao Chen
- MOE Key Laboratory of Advanced Textile Materials & Manufacturing Technology, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China
| | - Chenlu Xu
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Chenglong Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Advanced Textile Materials & Manufacturing Technology, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China
| | - Dan Yu
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Dongming Qi
- MOE Key Laboratory of Advanced Textile Materials & Manufacturing Technology, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China
- Key Laboratory of Green Cleaning Technology & Detergent of Zhejiang Province, Lishui 323000, China
| | - Renhong Li
- MOE Key Laboratory of Advanced Textile Materials & Manufacturing Technology, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China
| | - Jindan Wu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Advanced Textile Materials & Manufacturing Technology, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China
- Key Laboratory of Green Cleaning Technology & Detergent of Zhejiang Province, Lishui 323000, China
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18
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Namonyo S, Weynberg KD, Guo J, Carvalho G. The effectiveness and role of phages in the disruption and inactivation of clinical P. aeruginosa biofilms. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 234:116586. [PMID: 37423363 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Biofilms of P. aeruginosa are known to be resilient forms of survival of this opportunistic pathogen, both within the host and in natural or engineered environments. This study investigated the role of phages in the disruption and inactivation of clinical P. aeruginosa biofilms by previously isolated phages. All seven tested clinical strains formed biofilms in 56-80 h. Four previously isolated phages were effective in disrupting the formed biofilms when applied at multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 10, where phage cocktails had equivalent or worse performance than single phages. Phage treatments reduced the biofilms' biomass (cells and extracellular matrix) by 57.6-88.5% after 72 h of incubation. Biofilm disruption led to the detachment of 74.5-80.4% of the cells. The phages were also able to kill the cells from the biofilms, reducing the living cell counts by approximately 40.5-62.0% after a single treatment. A fraction of 24-80% of these killed cells were also lysed due to phage action. This study showed that phages can have a relevant role in disrupting, inactivating, and destroying P. aeruginosa biofilms, which can be used in the development of treatment processes to complement or replace antibiotics and/or disinfectants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Namonyo
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology (formerly AWMC), The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia; Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia
| | - Karen D Weynberg
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry & Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Jianhua Guo
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology (formerly AWMC), The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Gilda Carvalho
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology (formerly AWMC), The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia; School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia.
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19
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Oromí-Bosch A, Antani JD, Turner PE. Developing Phage Therapy That Overcomes the Evolution of Bacterial Resistance. Annu Rev Virol 2023; 10:503-524. [PMID: 37268007 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-virology-012423-110530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The global rise of antibiotic resistance in bacterial pathogens and the waning efficacy of antibiotics urge consideration of alternative antimicrobial strategies. Phage therapy is a classic approach where bacteriophages (bacteria-specific viruses) are used against bacterial infections, with many recent successes in personalized medicine treatment of intractable infections. However, a perpetual challenge for developing generalized phage therapy is the expectation that viruses will exert selection for target bacteria to deploy defenses against virus attack, causing evolution of phage resistance during patient treatment. Here we review the two main complementary strategies for mitigating bacterial resistance in phage therapy: minimizing the ability for bacterial populations to evolve phage resistance and driving (steering) evolution of phage-resistant bacteria toward clinically favorable outcomes. We discuss future research directions that might further address the phage-resistance problem, to foster widespread development and deployment of therapeutic phage strategies that outsmart evolved bacterial resistance in clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jyot D Antani
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Center for Phage Biology & Therapy, and Quantitative Biology Institute, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA;
| | - Paul E Turner
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Center for Phage Biology & Therapy, and Quantitative Biology Institute, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA;
- Program in Microbiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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20
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Ge H, Ye L, Cai Y, Guo H, Gu D, Xu Z, Hu M, Allison HE, Jiao X, Chen X. Efficient screening of adsorbed receptors for Salmonella phage LP31 and identification of receptor-binding protein. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0260423. [PMID: 37728369 PMCID: PMC10581130 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02604-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The adsorption process is the first step in the lifecycle of phages and plays a decisive role in the entire infection process. Identifying the adsorption mechanism of phages not only makes phage therapy more precise and efficient but also enables the exploration of other potential applications and modifications of phages. Phage LP31 can lyse multiple Salmonella serotypes, efficiently clearing biofilms formed by Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (S. Enteritidis) and significantly reducing the concentration of S. Enteritidis in chicken feces. Therefore, LP31 has great potential for many practical applications. In this study, we established an efficient screening method for phage infection-related genes and identified a total of 10 genes related to the adsorption process of phage LP31. After the construction of strain C50041ΔrfaL 58-358, it was found that the knockout strain had a rough phenotype as an O-antigen-deficient strain. Adsorption rate and transmission electron microscopy experiments showed that the receptor for phage LP31 was the O9 antigen of S. Enteritidis. Homology comparison and adsorption experiments confirmed that the tail fiber protein Lp35 of phage LP31 participated in the adsorption process as a receptor-binding protein. IMPORTANCE A full understanding of the interaction between phages and their receptors can help with the development of phage-related products. Phages like LP31 with the tail fiber protein Lp35, or a closely related protein, have been reported to effectively recognize and infect multiple Salmonella serotypes. However, the role of these proteins in phage infection has not been previously described. In this study, we established an efficient screening method to detect phage adsorption to host receptors. We found that phage LP31 can utilize its tail fiber protein Lp35 to adsorb to the O9 antigen of S. Enteritidis, initiating the infection process. This study provides a great model system for further studies of how a phage-encoded receptor-binding protein (RBP) interacts with its host's RBP binding target, and this new model offers opportunities for further theoretical and experimental studies to understand the infection mechanism of phages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haojie Ge
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis/Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Biological Hazard Factors (Animal Origin) for Agrifood Safety and Quality of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Ling Ye
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis/Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Biological Hazard Factors (Animal Origin) for Agrifood Safety and Quality of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Yueyi Cai
- Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Huimin Guo
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis/Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Biological Hazard Factors (Animal Origin) for Agrifood Safety and Quality of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Dan Gu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis/Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Biological Hazard Factors (Animal Origin) for Agrifood Safety and Quality of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Zhengzhong Xu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis/Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Biological Hazard Factors (Animal Origin) for Agrifood Safety and Quality of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Maozhi Hu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis/Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Biological Hazard Factors (Animal Origin) for Agrifood Safety and Quality of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Heather E. Allison
- Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Xin'an Jiao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis/Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Biological Hazard Factors (Animal Origin) for Agrifood Safety and Quality of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Xiang Chen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis/Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Biological Hazard Factors (Animal Origin) for Agrifood Safety and Quality of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
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Kondo K, Nakano S, Hisatsune J, Sugawara Y, Kataoka M, Kayama S, Sugai M, Kawano M. Characterization of 29 newly isolated bacteriophages as a potential therapeutic agent against IMP-6-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae from clinical specimens. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0476122. [PMID: 37724861 PMCID: PMC10581060 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.04761-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) are one of the most detrimental species of antibiotic-resistant bacteria globally. Phage therapy has emerged as an effective strategy for the treatment of CPE infections. In western Japan, the rise of Klebsiella pneumoniae strains harboring the pKPI-6 plasmid encoding bla IMP-6 is of increasing concern. To address this challenge, we isolated 29 phages from Japanese sewage, specifically targeting 31 K. pneumoniae strains and one Escherichia coli strain harboring the pKPI-6 plasmid. Electron microscopy analysis revealed that among the 29 isolated phages, 21 (72.4%), 5 (17.2%), and 3 (10.3%) phages belonged to myovirus, siphovirus, and podovirus morphotypes, respectively. Host range analysis showed that 18 Slopekvirus strains within the isolated phages infected 25-26 K. pneumoniae strains, indicating that most of the isolated phages have a broad host range. Notably, K. pneumoniae strain Kp21 was exclusively susceptible to phage øKp_21, whereas Kp22 exhibited susceptibility to over 20 phages. Upon administering a phage cocktail composed of 10 phages, we observed delayed emergence of phage-resistant bacteria in Kp21 but not in Kp22. Intriguingly, phage-resistant Kp21 exhibited heightened sensitivity to other bacteriophages, indicating a "trade-off" for resistance to phage øKp_21. Our proposed phage set has an adequate number of phages to combat the K. pneumoniae strain prevalent in Japan, underscoring the potential of a well-designed phage cocktail in mitigating the occurrence of phage-resistant bacteria. IMPORTANCE The emergence of Klebsiella pneumoniae harboring the bla IMP-6 plasmid poses an escalating threat in Japan. In this study, we found 29 newly isolated bacteriophages that infect K. pneumoniae strains carrying the pKPI-6 plasmid from clinical settings in western Japan. Our phages exhibited a broad host range. We applied a phage cocktail treatment composed of 10 phages against two host strains, Kp21 and Kp22, which displayed varying phage susceptibility patterns. Although the phage cocktail delayed the emergence of phage-resistant Kp21, it was unable to hinder the emergence of phage-resistant Kp22. Moreover, the phage-resistant Kp21 became sensitive to other phages that were originally non-infective to the wild-type Kp21 strains. Our study highlights the potential of a well-tailored phage cocktail in reducing the occurrence of phage-resistant bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kohei Kondo
- Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Higashimurayama, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoshi Nakano
- Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Higashimurayama, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Junzo Hisatsune
- Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Higashimurayama, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yo Sugawara
- Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Higashimurayama, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Michiyo Kataoka
- Department of Pathology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shizuo Kayama
- Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Higashimurayama, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Motoyuki Sugai
- Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Higashimurayama, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mitsuoki Kawano
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Nakamura Gakuen University, Jonan-Ku, Fukuoka, Japan
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22
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Jo SJ, Kwon J, Kim SG, Lee SJ. The Biotechnological Application of Bacteriophages: What to Do and Where to Go in the Middle of the Post-Antibiotic Era. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2311. [PMID: 37764155 PMCID: PMC10534921 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11092311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Amid the escalating challenges of antibiotic resistance, bacterial infections have emerged as a global threat. Bacteriophages (phages), viral entities capable of selectively infecting bacteria, are gaining momentum as promising alternatives to traditional antibiotics. Their distinctive attributes, including host specificity, inherent self-amplification, and potential synergy with antibiotics, render them compelling candidates. Phage engineering, a burgeoning discipline, involves the strategic modification of bacteriophages to enhance their therapeutic potential and broaden their applications. The integration of CRISPR-Cas systems facilitates precise genetic modifications, enabling phages to serve as carriers of functional genes/proteins, thereby enhancing diagnostics, drug delivery, and therapy. Phage engineering holds promise in transforming precision medicine, addressing antibiotic resistance, and advancing diverse applications. Emphasizing the profound therapeutic potential of phages, this review underscores their pivotal role in combatting bacterial diseases and highlights their significance in the post-antibiotic era.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su Jin Jo
- College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Jun Kwon
- Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jeonbuk National University, 79 Gobong-ro, Iksan City 54596, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Guen Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kyonggi University, Suwon 16227, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung-Jun Lee
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science and Engineering, Seowon University, 377-3 Musimseoro, Seowon-gu, Cheong-ju City 28674, Republic of Korea
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23
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Xu J, Li J, Yan Y, Han P, Tong Y, Li X. SW16-7, a Novel Ackermannviridae Bacteriophage with Highly Effective Lytic Activity Targets Salmonella enterica Serovar Weltevreden. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2090. [PMID: 37630650 PMCID: PMC10458263 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11082090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Salmonella enterica serovar Weltevreden is a foodborne pathogen commonly transmitted through fresh vegetables and seafood. In this study, a lytic phage, SW16-7, was isolated from medical sewage, demonstrating high infectivity against S. Weltevreden, S. London, S. Meleagridis, and S. Give of Group O:3. In vitro inhibition assays revealed its effective antibacterial effect for up to 12 h. Moreover, analysis using the Comprehensive Antibiotic Resistance Database (CARD) and the Virulence Factor Database (VFDB) showed that SW16-7's genome does not contain any virulence factors or antibiotic resistance genes, indicating its potential as a promising biocontrol agent against S. Weltevreden. Additionally, a TSP gene cluster was identified in SW16-7's genome, with TSP1 and TSP2 showing a high similarity to lysogenic phages ε15 and ε34, respectively, in the C-terminal region. The whole-genome phylogenetic analysis classified SW16-7 within the Ackermannviridae family and indicated a close relationship with Agtrevirus, which is consistent with the ANI results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jialiang Xu
- China Food Flavor and Nutrition Health Innovation Center, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China; (J.X.); (J.L.); (Y.Y.)
| | - Jia Li
- China Food Flavor and Nutrition Health Innovation Center, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China; (J.X.); (J.L.); (Y.Y.)
| | - Yi Yan
- China Food Flavor and Nutrition Health Innovation Center, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China; (J.X.); (J.L.); (Y.Y.)
| | - Pengjun Han
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China; (P.H.); (Y.T.)
| | - Yigang Tong
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China; (P.H.); (Y.T.)
| | - Xu Li
- China Food Flavor and Nutrition Health Innovation Center, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China; (J.X.); (J.L.); (Y.Y.)
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24
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Bai J, Raustad N, Denoncourt J, van Opijnen T, Geisinger E. Genome-wide phage susceptibility analysis in Acinetobacter baumannii reveals capsule modulation strategies that determine phage infectivity. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1010928. [PMID: 37289824 PMCID: PMC10249906 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Phage have gained renewed interest as an adjunctive treatment for life-threatening infections with the resistant nosocomial pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii. Our understanding of how A. baumannii defends against phage remains limited, although this information could lead to improved antimicrobial therapies. To address this problem, we identified genome-wide determinants of phage susceptibility in A. baumannii using Tn-seq. These studies focused on the lytic phage Loki, which targets Acinetobacter by unknown mechanisms. We identified 41 candidate loci that increase susceptibility to Loki when disrupted, and 10 that decrease susceptibility. Combined with spontaneous resistance mapping, our results support the model that Loki uses the K3 capsule as an essential receptor, and that capsule modulation provides A. baumannii with strategies to control vulnerability to phage. A key center of this control is transcriptional regulation of capsule synthesis and phage virulence by the global regulator BfmRS. Mutations hyperactivating BfmRS simultaneously increase capsule levels, Loki adsorption, Loki replication, and host killing, while BfmRS-inactivating mutations have the opposite effect, reducing capsule and blocking Loki infection. We identified novel BfmRS-activating mutations, including knockouts of a T2 RNase protein and the disulfide formation enzyme DsbA, that hypersensitize bacteria to phage challenge. We further found that mutation of a glycosyltransferase known to alter capsule structure and bacterial virulence can also cause complete phage resistance. Finally, additional factors including lipooligosaccharide and Lon protease act independently of capsule modulation to interfere with Loki infection. This work demonstrates that regulatory and structural modulation of capsule, known to alter A. baumannii virulence, is also a major determinant of susceptibility to phage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinna Bai
- Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Nicole Raustad
- Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Jason Denoncourt
- Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Tim van Opijnen
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, CISID, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Edward Geisinger
- Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
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25
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Gao D, Ji H, Li X, Ke X, Li X, Chen P, Qian P. Host receptor identification of a polyvalent lytic phage GSP044, and preliminary assessment of its efficacy in the clearance of Salmonella. Microbiol Res 2023; 273:127412. [PMID: 37243984 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2023.127412] [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: 02/05/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Salmonella and pathogenic Escherichia coli are important foodborne pathogens. Phages are being recognized as potential antibacterial agents to control foodborne pathogens. In the current study, a polyvalent broad-spectrum phage, GSP044, was isolated from pig farm sewage. It can simultaneously lyse many different serotypes of Salmonella and E. coli, exhibiting a broad host range. Using S. Enteritidis SE006 as the host bacterium, phage GSP044 was further characterized. GSP044 has a short latent period (10 min), high stability at different temperatures and pH, and good tolerance to chloroform. Genome sequencing analysis revealed that GSP044 has a double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) genome consisting of 110,563 bp with G + C content of 39%, and phylogenetic analysis of the terminase large subunit confirmed that GSP044 belonged to the Demerecviridae family, Epseptimavirus genus. In addition, the genomic sequence did not contain any lysogenicity-related, virulence-related, or antibiotic resistance-related genes. Analysis of phage-targeted host receptors revealed that the outer membrane protein (OMP) BtuB was identified as a required receptor for phage infection of host bacteria. The initial application capability of phage GSP044 was assessed using S. Enteritidis SE006. Phage GSP044 could effectively reduce biofilm formation and degrade the mature biofilm in vitro. Moreover, GSP044 significantly decreased the viable counts of artificially contaminated S. Enteritidis in chicken feed and drinking water. In vivo tests, a mouse model of intestinal infection demonstrated that phage GSP044 was able to reduce the number of colonized S. Enteritidis in the intestine. These results suggest that phage GSP044 may be a promising candidate biologic agent for controlling Salmonella infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongyang Gao
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, People's Republic of China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, the Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongyue Ji
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, People's Republic of China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, the Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Li
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, People's Republic of China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, the Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiquan Ke
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, People's Republic of China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, the Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiangmin Li
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, People's Republic of China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, the Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Pin Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, People's Republic of China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, the Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, People's Republic of China.
| | - Ping Qian
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, People's Republic of China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, the Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, People's Republic of China.
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26
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Wang Y, Xuan G, Lin H, Fei Z, Wang J. Phage resistance of Salmonella enterica obtained by transposon Tn5-mediated SefR gene silent mutation. J Basic Microbiol 2023; 63:530-541. [PMID: 37032321 DOI: 10.1002/jobm.202200532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023]
Abstract
Salmonella enterica contamination is a primary cause of global food poisoning. Using phages as bactericidal alternatives to antibiotics could confront the issue of drug resistance. However, the problem of phage resistance, especially mutant strains with multiple phage resistance, is a critical barrier to the practical application of phages. In this study, a library of EZ-Tn5 transposable mutants of susceptible host S. enterica B3-6 was constructed. After the infestation pressure of a broad-spectrum phage TP1, a mutant strain with resistance to eight phages was obtained. Analysis of the genome resequencing results revealed that the SefR gene was disrupted in the mutant strain. The mutant strain displayed a reduced adsorption rate of 42% and a significant decrease in swimming and swarming motility, as well as a significantly reduced expression of the flagellar-related FliL and FliO genes to 17% and 36%, respectively. An uninterrupted form of the SefR gene was cloned into vector pET-21a (+) and used for complementation of the mutant strain. The complemented mutant exhibited similar adsorption and motility as the wild-type control. These results suggest that the disrupted flagellar-mediated SefR gene causes an adsorption inhibition, which is responsible for the phage-resistant phenotype of the S. enterica transposition mutant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinfeng Wang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Guanhua Xuan
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Hong Lin
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Zhenhong Fei
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Jingxue Wang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong, China
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27
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Abd-Allah IM, El-Housseiny GS, Al-Agamy MH, Radwan HH, Aboshanab KM, Hassouna NA. Statistical optimization of a podoviral anti-MRSA phage CCASU-L10 generated from an under sampled repository: Chicken rinse. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1149848. [PMID: 37065190 PMCID: PMC10102507 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1149848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
IntroductionThe insurgence of antimicrobial resistance is an imminent health danger globally. A wide range of challenging diseases are attributed to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) as it is weaponized with a unique array of virulence factors, and most importantly, the resistance it develops to most of the antibiotics used clinically. On that account, the present study targeted the optimization of the production of a bacteriophage active against MRSA, and evaluating some of its characters.Methods and resultsThe bacteriophage originated from a quite peculiar environmental source, raw chicken rinse and was suggested to belong to Podoviridae, order Caudovirales. It withstood a variety of extreme conditions and yield optimization was accomplished via the D-optimal design by response surface methodology (RSM). A reduced quadratic model was generated, and the ideal production conditions recommended were pH 8, glycerol 0.9% v/v, peptone 0.08% w/v, and 107 CFU/ml as the host inoculum size. These conditions led to a two-log fold increase in the phage titer (1.17x10¹² PFU/ml), as compared to the regular conditions.DiscussionTo conclude, statistical optimization successfully enhanced the output of the podoviral phage titer by two-log fold and therefore, can be regarded as a potential scale-up strategy. The produced phage was able to tolerate extreme environmental condition making it suitable for topical pharmaceutical preparations. Further preclinical and clinical studies are required to ensure its suitability for use in human.
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Affiliation(s)
- Israa M. Abd-Allah
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Organization of African Unity Street, Abbassia, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ghadir S. El-Housseiny
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Organization of African Unity Street, Abbassia, Cairo, Egypt
- *Correspondence: Ghadir S. El-Housseiny, ; Khaled M. Aboshanab,
| | - Mohamed H. Al-Agamy
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Hesham H. Radwan
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khaled M. Aboshanab
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Organization of African Unity Street, Abbassia, Cairo, Egypt
- *Correspondence: Ghadir S. El-Housseiny, ; Khaled M. Aboshanab,
| | - Nadia A. Hassouna
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Organization of African Unity Street, Abbassia, Cairo, Egypt
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28
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Teklemariam AD, Al Hindi R, Qadri I, Alharbi MG, Hashem AM, Alrefaei AA, Basamad NA, Haque S, Alamri T, Harakeh S. Phage cocktails - an emerging approach for the control of bacterial infection with major emphasis on foodborne pathogens. Biotechnol Genet Eng Rev 2023:1-29. [PMID: 36927397 DOI: 10.1080/02648725.2023.2178870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Phage therapy has recently attracted a great deal of attention to counteract the rapid emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In comparison to monophage therapy, phage cocktails are typically used to treat individual and/or multi-bacterial infections since the bacterial agents are unlikely to become resistant as a result of exposure to multiple phages simultaneously. The bacteriolytic effect of phage cocktails may produce efficient killing effect in comparison to individual phage. However, multiple use of phages (complex cocktails) may lead to undesirable side effects such as dysbiosis, horizontal gene transfer, phage resistance, cross resistance, and/or higher cost of production. Cocktail formulation, therefore, representa compromise between limiting the complexity of the cocktail and achieving substantial bacterial load reduction towards the targeted host organisms. Despite some constraints, the applications of monophage therapy have been well documented in the literature. However, phage cocktails-based approaches and their role for the control of pathogens have not been well investigated. In this review, we discuss the principle of phage cocktail formulations, their optimization strategies, major phage cocktail preparations, and their efficacy in inactivating various food borne bacterial pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Addisu D Teklemariam
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rashad Al Hindi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ishtiaq Qadri
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mona G Alharbi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Anwar M Hashem
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,Vaccine and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdullah A Alrefaei
- Molecular Virology Department, King Fahad General Hospital, Ministry of Health, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Najlaa A Basamad
- Parasitology Department, King Fahad General Hospital, Ministry of Health, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shafiul Haque
- Research and Scientific Studies Unit, College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan-45142, Saudi Arabia.,Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine, Lebanese, American University, Beirut, Lebanon.,Centre of Medical and Bio-Allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
| | - Turki Alamri
- Family and community Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine in Rabigh, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Steve Harakeh
- King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,Yousef Abdullatif Jameel Chair of Prophetic Medicine Application, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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29
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Lee JH, Oh M, Kim BS. Phage biocontrol of zoonotic food-borne pathogen Vibrio parahaemolyticus for seafood safety. Food Control 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2022.109334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
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30
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Strathdee SA, Hatfull GF, Mutalik VK, Schooley RT. Phage therapy: From biological mechanisms to future directions. Cell 2023; 186:17-31. [PMID: 36608652 PMCID: PMC9827498 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2022.11.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 130] [Impact Index Per Article: 130.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Increasing antimicrobial resistance rates have revitalized bacteriophage (phage) research, the natural predators of bacteria discovered over 100 years ago. In order to use phages therapeutically, they should (1) preferably be lytic, (2) kill the bacterial host efficiently, and (3) be fully characterized to exclude side effects. Developing therapeutic phages takes a coordinated effort of multiple stakeholders. Herein, we review the state of the art in phage therapy, covering biological mechanisms, clinical applications, remaining challenges, and future directions involving naturally occurring and genetically modified or synthetic phages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steffanie A Strathdee
- Center for Innovative Phage Applications and Therapeutics, Division of Infectious Disease and Global Public Health, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0507, USA.
| | - Graham F Hatfull
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Vivek K Mutalik
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Robert T Schooley
- Center for Innovative Phage Applications and Therapeutics, Division of Infectious Disease and Global Public Health, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0507, USA
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31
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Borin JM, Lee JJ, Gerbino KR, Meyer JR. Comparison of bacterial suppression by phage cocktails, dual-receptor generalists, and coevolutionarily trained phages. Evol Appl 2022; 16:152-162. [PMID: 36699129 PMCID: PMC9850009 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The evolution and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria have renewed interest in phage therapy, the use of bacterial viruses (phages) to combat bacterial infections. The delivery of phages in cocktails where constituent phages target different modalities (e.g., receptors) may improve treatment outcomes by making it more difficult for bacteria to evolve resistance. However, the multipartite nature of cocktails may lead to unintended evolutionary and ecological outcomes. Here, we compare a 2-phage cocktail with a largely unconsidered group of phages: generalists that can infect through multiple, independent receptors. We find that λ phage generalists and cocktails that target the same receptors (LamB and OmpF) suppress Escherichia coli similarly for ~2 days. Yet, a "trained" generalist phage, which previously adapted to its host via 28 days of coevolution, demonstrated superior suppression. To understand why the trained generalist was more effective, we measured the resistance of bacteria against each of our phages. We find that, when bacteria were assailed by two phages in the cocktail, they evolved mutations in manXYZ, a host inner-membrane transporter that λ uses to move its DNA across the periplasmic space and into the cell for infection. This provided cross-resistance against the cocktail and untrained generalist. However, these mutations were ineffective at blocking the trained generalist because, through coevolutionary training, it evolved to bypass manXYZ resistance. The trained generalist's past experiences in training make it exceedingly difficult for bacteria to evolve resistance, further demonstrating the utility of coevolutionary phage training for improving the therapeutic properties of phages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua M. Borin
- Division of Biological SciencesUniversity of California San DiegoLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Justin J. Lee
- Division of Biological SciencesUniversity of California San DiegoLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Krista R. Gerbino
- Division of Biological SciencesUniversity of California San DiegoLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Justin R. Meyer
- Division of Biological SciencesUniversity of California San DiegoLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
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32
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Luo J, Dai D, Lv L, Ahmed T, Chen L, Wang Y, An Q, Sun G, Li B. Advancements in the Use of Bacteriophages to Combat the Kiwifruit Canker Phytopathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae. Viruses 2022; 14:2704. [PMID: 36560706 PMCID: PMC9785728 DOI: 10.3390/v14122704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Revised: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the last several decades, kiwifruit production has been severely damaged by the bacterial plant pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa), resulting in severe economic losses worldwide. Currently, copper bactericides and antibiotics are the main tools used to control this bacterial disease. However, their use is becoming increasingly ineffective due to the emergence of antibiotic resistance. In addition, environmental issues and the changes in the composition of soil bacterial communities are also concerning when using these substances. Although biocontrol methods have shown promising antibacterial effects on Psa infection under in vitro conditions, the efficiency of antagonistic bacteria and fungi when deployed under field conditions remains unclear. Therefore, it is crucial to develop a phage-based biocontrol strategy for this bacterial pathogen. Due to the specificity of the target bacteria and for the benefit of the environment, bacteriophages (phages) have been widely regarded as promising biological agents to control plant, animal, and human bacterial diseases. An increasing number of studies focus on the use of phages for the control of plant diseases, including the kiwifruit bacterial canker. In this review, we first introduce the characteristics of the Psa-induced kiwifruit canker, followed by a description of the diversity and virulence of Psa strains. The main focus of the review is the description of recent advances in the isolation of Psa phages and their characterization, including morphology, host range, lytic activity, genome characterization, and lysis mechanism, but we also describe the biocontrol strategies together with potential challenges introduced by abiotic factors, such as high temperature, extreme pH, and UV irradiation in kiwifruit orchards. The information presented in this review highlights the potential role of phages in controlling Psa infection to ensure plant protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinyan Luo
- Department of Plant Quarantine, Shanghai Extension and Service Center of Agriculture Technology, Shanghai 201103, China
| | - Dejiang Dai
- Station for the Plant Protection & Quarantine and Control of Agrochemicals Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310004, China
| | - Luqiong Lv
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Temoor Ahmed
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Lei Chen
- Department of Plant Quarantine, Shanghai Extension and Service Center of Agriculture Technology, Shanghai 201103, China
| | - Yanli Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
| | - Qianli An
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Guochang Sun
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
| | - Bin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
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33
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Shaidullina A, Harms A. Toothpicks, logic, and next-generation sequencing: systematic investigation of bacteriophage-host interactions. Curr Opin Microbiol 2022; 70:102225. [PMID: 36327691 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2022.102225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Bacteriophages are abundant and diverse predators that drive community dynamics in many ecosystems and hold great potential for biotechnology and as therapeutics for bacterial infections. Previous research has largely explored phage-host interactions one-by-one, which limited our ability to observe phenotypic patterns, to uncover their genetic basis, and to unravel the underlying molecular mechanisms. However, the famous 'toothpicks and logic' were recently joined by large-scale sequencing of phage genomes and bacterial genome-wide screens that enable us to systematically investigate phage-host interactions. In this article, we highlight recent breakthroughs from the molecular basis of phage host range and receptor recognition over new insights into bacterial immunity to the serendipitous discovery of a new bacterial surface glycan. Future work will enable the understanding, prediction, and engineering of more complicated phage traits for new applications and extend the scope of these studies from simple test tube experiments to natural communities of phages and hosts.
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34
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Fitness Trade-Offs in Phage Cocktail-Resistant Salmonella enterica Serovar Enteritidis Results in Increased Antibiotic Susceptibility and Reduced Virulence. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0291422. [PMID: 36165776 PMCID: PMC9603643 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02914-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The rapid emergence of phage-resistant bacterial mutants is a major challenge for phage therapy. Phage cocktails have been considered one approach to mitigate this issue. However, the synergistic effect of randomly selected phages in the cocktails is ambiguous. Here, we rationally designed a phage cocktail consisting of four phages that utilize the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) O antigen, the LPS outer core, the LPS inner core, and the outer membrane proteins BtuB and TolC on the Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis cell surface as receptors. We demonstrated that the four-phage cocktail could significantly delay the emergence of phage-resistant bacterial mutants compared to the single phage. To investigate the fitness costs associated with phage resistance, we characterized a total of 80 bacterial mutants resistant to a single phage or the four-phage cocktail. We observed that mutants resistant to the four-phage cocktail were more sensitive to several antibiotics than the single-phage-resistant mutants. In addition, all mutants resistant to the four-phage cocktail had significantly reduced virulence compared to wild-type strains. Our mouse model of Salmonella Enteritidis infection also indicated that the four-phage cocktail exhibited an enhanced therapeutic effect. Together, our work demonstrates an efficient strategy to design phage cocktails by combining phages with different bacterial receptors, which can steer the evolution of phage-resistant strains toward clinically exploitable phenotypes. IMPORTANCE The selection pressure of phage promotes bacterial mutation, which results in a fitness cost. Such fitness trade-offs are related to the host receptor of the phage; therefore, we can utilize knowledge of bacterial receptors used by phages as a criterion for designing phage cocktails. Here, we evaluated the efficacy of a phage cocktail made up of phages that target four different receptors on Salmonella Enteritidis through in vivo and in vitro experiments. Importantly, we found that pressure from phage cocktails with different receptors can drive phage-resistant bacterial mutants to evolve in a direction that entails more severe fitness costs, resulting in reduced virulence and increased susceptibility to antibiotics. These findings suggest that phage cocktail therapy using combinations of phages targeting different important receptors (e.g., LPS or the efflux pump AcrAB-TolC) on the host surface can steer the host bacteria toward more detrimental surface mutations than single-phage therapy, resulting in more favorable therapeutic outcomes.
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35
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Liyanagedera SBW, Williams J, Wheatley JP, Biketova AY, Hasan M, Sagona AP, Purdy KJ, Puxty RJ, Feher T, Kulkarni V. SpyPhage: A Cell-Free TXTL Platform for Rapid Engineering of Targeted Phage Therapies. ACS Synth Biol 2022; 11:3330-3342. [PMID: 36194543 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.2c00244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
The past decade has seen the emergence of multidrug resistant pathogens as a leading cause of death worldwide, reigniting interest in the field of phage therapy. Modern advances in the genetic engineering of bacteriophages have enabled several useful results including host range alterations, constitutive lytic growth, and control over phage replication. However, the slow licensing process of genetically modified organisms clearly inhibits the rapid therapeutic application of novel engineered variants necessary to fight mutant pathogens that emerge throughout the course of a pandemic. As a solution to this problem, we propose the SpyPhage system where a "scaffold" bacteriophage is engineered to incorporate a SpyTag moiety on its capsid head to enable rapid postsynthetic modification of their surfaces with SpyCatcher-fused therapeutic proteins. As a proof of concept, through CRISPR/Cas-facilitated phage engineering and whole genome assembly, we targeted a SpyTag capsid fusion to K1F, a phage targeting the pathogenic strain Escherichia coli K1. We demonstrate for the first time the cell-free assembly and decoration of the phage surface with two alternative fusion proteins, SpyCatcher-mCherry-EGF and SpyCatcher-mCherry-Rck, both of which facilitate the endocytotic uptake of the phages by a urinary bladder epithelial cell line. Overall, our work presents a cell-free phage production pipeline for the generation of multiple phenotypically distinct phages with a single underlying "scaffold" genotype. These phages could become the basis of next-generation phage therapies where the knowledge-based engineering of numerous phage variants would be quickly achievable without the use of live bacteria or the need to repeatedly license novel genetic alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joshua Williams
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | - Joseph P Wheatley
- School of Engineering, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | - Alona Yu Biketova
- Institute of Biochemistry, Eötvös Lóránd Research Network, Szeged Biological Research Centre, Szeged 6726, Hungary.,Jodrell Laboratory, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond TW9 3AE, United Kingdom
| | - Muhammad Hasan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | - Antonia P Sagona
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin J Purdy
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | - Richard J Puxty
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | - Tamas Feher
- Institute of Biochemistry, Eötvös Lóránd Research Network, Szeged Biological Research Centre, Szeged 6726, Hungary
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36
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Understanding Bacteriophage Tail Fiber Interaction with Host Surface Receptor: The Key “Blueprint” for Reprogramming Phage Host Range. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232012146. [PMID: 36292999 PMCID: PMC9603124 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232012146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophages (phages), as natural antibacterial agents, are being rediscovered because of the growing threat of multi- and pan-drug-resistant bacterial pathogens globally. However, with an estimated 1031 phages on the planet, finding the right phage to recognize a specific bacterial host is like looking for a needle in a trillion haystacks. The host range of a phage is primarily determined by phage tail fibers (or spikes), which initially mediate reversible and specific recognition and adsorption by susceptible bacteria. Recent significant advances at single-molecule and atomic levels have begun to unravel the structural organization of tail fibers and underlying mechanisms of phage–host interactions. Here, we discuss the molecular mechanisms and models of the tail fibers of the well-characterized T4 phage’s interaction with host surface receptors. Structure–function knowledge of tail fibers will pave the way for reprogramming phage host range and will bring future benefits through more-effective phage therapy in medicine. Furthermore, the design strategies of tail fiber engineering are briefly summarized, including machine-learning-assisted engineering inspired by the increasingly enormous amount of phage genetic information.
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Isaev A, Andriianov A, Znobishcheva E, Zorin E, Morozova N, Severinov K. Editing of Phage Genomes—Recombineering-assisted SpCas9 Modification of Model Coliphages T7, T5, and T3. Mol Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1134/s0026893322060073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Bacteriophages—viruses that infect bacterial cells—are the most abundant biological entities on Earth. The use of phages in fundamental research and industry requires tools for precise manipulation of their genomes. Yet, compared to bacterial genome engineering, modification of phage genomes is challenging because of the lack of selective markers and thus requires laborious screenings of recombinant/mutated phage variants. The development of the CRISPR-Cas technologies allowed to solve this issue by the implementation of negative selection that eliminates the parental phage genomes. In this manuscript, we summarize current methods of phage genome engineering and their coupling with CRISPR-Cas technologies. We also provide examples of our successful application of these methods for introduction of specific insertions, deletions, and point mutations in the genomes of model Escherichia coli lytic phages T7, T5, and T3.
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38
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Synthesis, characterization, DFT studies, and molecular modeling of 2-(-(2-hydroxy-5-methoxyphenyl)-methylidene)-amino) nicotinic acid against some selected bacterial receptors. JOURNAL OF THE IRANIAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s13738-022-02550-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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39
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Yang L, Zhang T, Li L, Zheng C, Tan D, Wu N, Wang M, Zhu T. Characterization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Bacteriophage L5 Which Requires Type IV Pili for Infection. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:907958. [PMID: 35847060 PMCID: PMC9284122 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.907958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common opportunistic human pathogen. With the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) clinical infection of P. aeruginosa, phage therapy has received renewed attention in treating P. aeruginosa infections. Moreover, a detailed understanding of the host receptor of lytic phage is crucial for selecting proper phages for therapy. Here, we describe the characterization of the P. aeruginosa bacteriophage L5 with a double-stranded DNA genome of 42,925 bp. The genomic characteristics indicate that L5 is a lytic bacteriophage belonging to the subfamily Autographivirinae. In addition, the phage receptors for L5 were also identified as type IV pili, because the mutation of pilZ, which is involved in pili synthesis, resists phage infection, while the complementation of pilZ restored its phage sensitivity. This research reveals that L5 is a potential phage therapy candidate for the treatment of P. aeruginosa infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan Yang
- Shanghai Institute of Phage, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Tingting Zhang
- Shanghai Institute of Phage, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Infectious Immune and Antibody Engineering of Guizhou Province, School of Biology and Engineering, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Linlin Li
- Shanghai Institute of Phage, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chao Zheng
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Jiangbei District People’s Hospital, Chongqing, China
| | - Demeng Tan
- Shanghai Institute of Phage, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Nannan Wu
- Shanghai Institute of Phage, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- CreatiPhage Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Shanghai, China
| | - Mingyang Wang
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Jiangbei District People’s Hospital, Chongqing, China
- *Correspondence: Mingyang Wang,
| | - Tongyu Zhu
- Shanghai Institute of Phage, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Tongyu Zhu,
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40
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Involvement of a Phage-Encoded Wzy Protein in the Polymerization of K127 Units To Form the Capsular Polysaccharide of Acinetobacter baumannii Isolate 36-1454. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0150321. [PMID: 35475638 PMCID: PMC9241936 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01503-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A comprehensive understanding of capsular polysaccharide (CPS) diversity is critical to implementation of phage therapy to treat panresistant Acinetobacter baumannii infections. Predictions from genome sequences can assist identification of the CPS type but can be complicated if genes outside the K locus (CPS biosynthesis gene cluster) are involved. Here, the CPS produced by A. baumannii clinical isolate 36-1454 carrying a novel K locus, KL127, was determined and compared to other CPSs. KL127 differs from KL128 in only two of the glycosyltransferase (gtr) genes. The K127 unit in 36-1454 CPS was the pentasaccharide β-d-Glcp-(1→6)-d-β-GalpNAc-(1→6)-α-d-Galp-(1→6)-β-d-Glсp-(1→3)-β-d-GalpNAc in which d-Glcp at position 4 replaces d-Galp in K128, and the glycosyltransferases encoded by the different gtr genes form the surrounding linkages. However, although the KL127 and KL128 gene clusters encode nearly identical Wzy polymerases, the linkages between K units that form the CPS chains are different, i.e., β-d-GalpNAc-(1→3)-d-Galp in 36-1454 (K127) and β-d-GalpNAc-(1→4)-d-Galp in KZ-1093 (K128). The linkage between K127 units in 36-1454 is the same as the K-unit linkage in five known CPS structures, and a gene encoding a Wzy protein related to the Wzy of the corresponding K loci was found encoded in a prophage genome in the 36-1454 chromosome. Closely related Wzy proteins were encoded in unrelated phage in available KL127-carrying genomes. However, a clinical isolate, KZ-1257, carrying KL127 but not the prophage was found, and K127 units in the KZ-1257 CPS were β-d-GalpNAc-(1→4)-d-Galp linked, confirming that WzyKL127 forms this linkage and thus that the phage-encoded WzyPh1 forms the β-d-GalpNAc-(1→3)-d-Galp linkage in 36-1454. IMPORTANCE Bacteriophage therapy is an attractive innovative treatment for infections caused by extensively drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, for which there are few effective antibiotic treatments remaining. Capsular polysaccharide (CPS) is a primary receptor for many lytic bacteriophages, and thus knowledge of the chemical structures of CPS produced by the species will underpin the identification of suitable phages for therapeutic cocktails. However, recent research has shown that some isolates carry additional genes outside of the CPS biosynthesis K locus, which can modify the CPS structure. These changes can subsequently alter phage receptor sites and may be a method utilized for natural phage resistance. Hence, it is critical to understand the genetics that drive CPS synthesis and the extent to which genes outside of the K locus can affect the CPS structure.
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Liu J, Zhu Y, Li Y, Lu Y, Xiong K, Zhong Q, Wang J. Bacteriophage-Resistant Mutant of Enterococcus faecalis Is Impaired in Biofilm Formation. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:913023. [PMID: 35756031 PMCID: PMC9218719 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.913023] [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: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Enterococcus faecalis is a common gram-positive non-spore-forming bacterium in nature and is found in the upper respiratory tract, intestine, and mouth of healthy people. E. faecalis is also one of the common pathogens causing nosocomial infections and is resistant to several antibiotics commonly used in practice. Thus, treating drug-resistant E. faecalis with antibiotics is challenging, and new approaches are needed. In this study, we isolated a bacteriophage named EFap02 that targets E. faecalis strain EFa02 from sewage at Southwest Hospital. Phage EFap02 belongs to the Siphoviridae family with a long tail of approximately 210 nm, and EFap02 can tolerate a strong acid and alkali environment and high temperature. Its receptor was identified as the capsular polysaccharide. Phage-resistant mutants had loss-of-function mutations in glycosyltransferase (gtr2), which is responsible for capsular polysaccharide biosynthesis, and this caused the loss of capsular polysaccharide and interruption of phage adsorption. Although phage-resistant mutants against EFap02 can be selected, such mutants are impaired in biofilm formation due to the loss of capsular polysaccharide, which compromises its virulence. Therefore, this study provided a detailed description of the E. faecalis EFap02 phage with the potential for treating E. faecalis infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiazhen Liu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yanpeng Zhu
- Department of Microbiology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yang Li
- Medical Center of Trauma and War Injury, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yuwen Lu
- Medical Center of Trauma and War Injury, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Kun Xiong
- Department of Frigidzone Medicine, College of High Altitude Military Medicine, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Qiu Zhong
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Microbiology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
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Wu S, Wu B, Liu Y, Deng S, Lei L, Zhang H. Mini Review Therapeutic Strategies Targeting for Biofilm and Bone Infections. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:936285. [PMID: 35774451 PMCID: PMC9238355 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.936285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Bone infection results in a complex inflammatory response and bone destruction. A broad spectrum of bacterial species has been involved for jaw osteomyelitis, hematogenous osteomyelitis, vertebral osteomyelitis or diabetes mellitus, such as Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species, and aerobic gram-negative bacilli. S. aureus is the major pathogenic bacterium for osteomyelitis, which results in a complex inflammatory response and bone destruction. Although various antibiotics have been applied for bone infection, the emergence of drug resistance and biofilm formation significantly decrease the effectiveness of those agents. In combination with gram-positive aerobes, gram-negative aerobes and anaerobes functionally equivalent pathogroups interact synergistically, developing as pathogenic biofilms and causing recurrent infections. The adhesion of biofilms to bone promotes bone destruction and protects bacteria from antimicrobial agent stress and host immune system infiltration. Moreover, bone is characterized by low permeability and reduced blood flow, further hindering the therapeutic effect for bone infections. To minimize systemic toxicity and enhance antibacterial effectiveness, therapeutic strategies targeting on biofilm and bone infection can serve as a promising modality. Herein, we focus on biofilm and bone infection eradication with targeting therapeutic strategies. We summarize recent targeting moieties on biofilm and bone infection with peptide-, nucleic acid-, bacteriophage-, CaP- and turnover homeostasis-based strategies. The antibacterial and antibiofilm mechanisms of those therapeutic strategies include increasing antibacterial agents’ accumulation by bone specific affinity, specific recognition of phage-bacteria, inhibition biofilm formation in transcription level. As chronic inflammation induced by infection can trigger osteoclast activation and inhibit osteoblast functioning, we additionally expand the potential applications of turnover homeostasis-based therapeutic strategies on biofilm or infection related immunity homeostasis for host-bacteria. Based on this review, we expect to provide useful insights of targeting therapeutic efficacy for biofilm and bone infection eradication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shizhou Wu
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Binjie Wu
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yunjie Liu
- West China School of Public Health, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shu Deng
- Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Lei Lei
- West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Lei Lei,
| | - Hui Zhang
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Hui Zhang,
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Carter L, Mankad A, Hobman EV, Weynberg KD, Kaksonen AH, Cooper C. Three synthetic biology applications and their paths to impact in Australia: Cane toads, bacteriophages and biomining microbes. Biotechnol J 2022; 17:e2200009. [DOI: 10.1002/biot.202200009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lucy Carter
- CSIRO Land and Water Brisbane QLD Australia
- CSIRO Synthetic Biology Future Science Platform Australia
| | - Aditi Mankad
- CSIRO Land and Water Brisbane QLD Australia
- CSIRO Synthetic Biology Future Science Platform Australia
| | - Elizabeth V. Hobman
- CSIRO Land and Water Brisbane QLD Australia
- CSIRO Synthetic Biology Future Science Platform Australia
| | - Karen D. Weynberg
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences The University of Queensland St. Lucia QLD Australia
- CSIRO Synthetic Biology Future Science Platform Australia
| | - Anna H. Kaksonen
- CSIRO Land and Water Brisbane QLD Australia
- Land and Water CSIRO Floreat WA Australia
- CSIRO Synthetic Biology Future Science Platform Australia
| | - Caitlin Cooper
- The University of California Davis California United States
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Gordillo Altamirano FL, Kostoulias X, Subedi D, Korneev D, Peleg AY, Barr JJ. Phage-antibiotic combination is a superior treatment against Acinetobacter baumannii in a preclinical study. EBioMedicine 2022; 80:104045. [PMID: 35537278 PMCID: PMC9097682 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2022.104045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clinical phage therapy is often delivered alongside antibiotics. However, the phenomenon of phage-antibiotic synergy has been mostly studied in vitro. Here, we assessed the in vivo bactericidal effect of a phage-antibiotic combination on Acinetobacter baumannii AB900 using phage øFG02, which binds to capsular polysaccharides and leads to antimicrobial resensitisation in vitro. METHODS We performed a two-stage preclinical study using a murine model of severe A. baumannii AB900 bacteraemia. In the first stage, with an endpoint of 11 h, mice (n = 4 per group) were treated with either PBS, ceftazidime, phage øFG02, or the combination of phage and ceftazidime. The second stage involved only the latter two groups (n = 5 per group), with a prolonged endpoint of 16 h. The primary outcome was the average bacterial burden from four body sites (blood, liver, kidney, and spleen). Bacterial colonies from phage-treated mice were retrieved and screened for phage-resistance. FINDINGS In the first stage, the bacterial burden (CFU/g of tissue) of the combination group (median: 4.55 × 105; interquartile range [IQR]: 2.79 × 105-2.81 × 106) was significantly lower than the PBS (median: 2.42 × 109; IQR: 1.97 × 109-3.48 × 109) and ceftazidime groups (median: 3.86 × 108; IQR: 2.15 × 108-6.35 × 108), but not the phage-only group (median: 1.28 × 107; IQR: 4.71 × 106-7.13 × 107). In the second stage, the combination treatment (median: 1.72 × 106; IQR: 5.11 × 105-4.00 × 106) outperformed the phage-only treatment (median: 7.46 × 107; IQR: 1.43 × 107-1.57 × 108). Phage-resistance emerged in 96% of animals receiving phages, and all the tested isolates (n = 11) had loss-of-function mutations in genes involved in capsule biosynthesis and increased sensitivity to ceftazidime. INTERPRETATION øFG02 reliably drives the in vivo evolution of A. baumannii AB900 towards a capsule-deficient, phage-resistant phenotype that is resensitised to ceftazidime. This mechanism highlights the clinical potential of using phage therapy to target A. baumannii and restore antibiotic activity. FUNDING National Health and Medical Research Council (Australia).
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando L Gordillo Altamirano
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Centre to Impact AMR, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Department of Infectious Diseases, The Alfred Hospital and Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Xenia Kostoulias
- Centre to Impact AMR, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Infection Program, Department of Microbiology Monash University, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Dinesh Subedi
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Centre to Impact AMR, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Denis Korneev
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Faculty of Science, School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Anton Y Peleg
- Centre to Impact AMR, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Infection Program, Department of Microbiology Monash University, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Department of Infectious Diseases, The Alfred Hospital and Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Jeremy J Barr
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Centre to Impact AMR, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
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Díaz-Galián MV, Vega-Rodríguez MA, Molina F. PhageCocktail: An R package to design phage cocktails from experimental phage-bacteria infection networks. COMPUTER METHODS AND PROGRAMS IN BIOMEDICINE 2022; 221:106865. [PMID: 35576688 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmpb.2022.106865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Phage therapy is a resurgent strategy used in medicine and the food industry to lyse bacteria that cause damage to health or spoil a food product. Frequently, phage-bacteria infection networks have a large size, making it impossible to manually study all possible phage cocktails. Thus, this article presents an R package called PhageCocktail to automatically design efficient phage cocktails from phage-bacteria infection networks. METHODS This R package includes four different methods for designing phage cocktails: ExhaustiveSearch, ExhaustivePhi, ClusteringSearch, and ClusteringPhi. These four methods are explained in detail and are evaluated using 13 empirical phage-bacteria infection networks. More specifically, runtime and expected success (fraction of lysed bacteria) are analyzed. RESULTS The four methods have variations in terms of runtime and quality of the results. ExhaustiveSearch always provides the best possible phage cocktail, but its runtime could be long. ExhaustivePhi only focuses on one cocktail size, the one estimated as the best; thus, its runtime is less than ExhaustiveSearch, but it can produce cocktails with more phages than necessary. ClusteringSearch and ClusteringPhi are very fast (generally, less than one millisecond), providing always immediate results due to clustering techniques, but their accuracies can be lower, yielding cocktails with lower expected successes. CONCLUSIONS The larger the phage-bacteria infection network is, the more complex its analysis is. Thus, this tool eases this task for scientists and other users while designing phage cocktails of good quality. This R package includes four different methods; therefore, users may choose among them, considering their preferences in speed and accuracy of results.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Victoria Díaz-Galián
- Escuela Politécnica, Universidad de Extremadura (https://ror.org/0174shg90), Avda. de la Universidad s/n, Cáceres, 10003, Spain.
| | - Miguel A Vega-Rodríguez
- Escuela Politécnica, Universidad de Extremadura (https://ror.org/0174shg90), Avda. de la Universidad s/n, Cáceres, 10003, Spain.
| | - Felipe Molina
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura (https://ror.org/0174shg90), Avda. de Elvas s/n, Badajoz, 06006, Spain.
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Abd-Allah IM, El-Housseiny GS, Alshahrani MY, El-Masry SS, Aboshanab KM, Hassouna NA. An Anti-MRSA Phage From Raw Fish Rinse: Stability Evaluation and Production Optimization. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:904531. [PMID: 35656033 PMCID: PMC9152141 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.904531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence has denoted the danger of resistance in tenacious organisms like methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). MRSA, a supple bacterium that adopts a variety of antibiotic resistance mechanisms, is the cause of multiple life-threatening conditions. Approaching a post-antibiotic era, bacteria-specific natural predators, bacteriophages, are now given the chance to prove eligible for joining the antibacterial weaponry. Considering the foregoing, this study aimed at isolating bacteriophages with promising anti-MRSA lytic activity, followed by characterization and optimization of the production of the bacteriophage with the broadest host range. Five phages were isolated from different environmental sources including the rinse of raw chicken egg, raw milk, and, remarkably, the raw meat rinses of chicken and fish. Examined for lytic activity against a set of 23 MRSA isolates collected from various clinical specimens, all five phages showed relatively broad host ranges with the bacteriophage originally isolated from raw fish rinse showing lytic activity against all the isolates tested. This phage is suggested to be a member of Siphoviridae family, order Caudovirales, as revealed by electron microscopy. It also exhibited good thermal stability and viability at different pH grades. Moreover, it showed reasonable stability against UV light and all viricidal organic solvents tested. Optimization using D-optimal design by response surface methodology was carried out to enhance the phage yield. The optimum conditions suggested by the generated model were a pH value of 7, a carbon source of 0.5% w/v sucrose, and a nitrogen source of 0.1% w/v peptone, at a temperature of 28°C and a bacterial inoculum size of 107 CFU/ml, resulting in a 2 log-fold increase in the produced bacteriophage titer. Overall, the above findings indicate the lytic ability inflicted by this virus on MRSA. Apparently, its stability under some of the extreme conditions tested implies its potential to be a candidate for pharmaceutical formulation as an anti-MRSA therapeutic tool. We hope that bacteriophages could tip the balance in favor of the human front in their battle against multidrug-resistant pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Israa M. Abd-Allah
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ghadir S. El-Housseiny
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Mohammad Y. Alshahrani
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Samar S. El-Masry
- Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Khaled M. Aboshanab
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Nadia A. Hassouna
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
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A Phage Foundry Framework to Systematically Develop Viral Countermeasures to Combat Antibiotic-Resistant Bacterial Pathogens. iScience 2022; 25:104121. [PMID: 35402883 PMCID: PMC8983348 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
At its current rate, the rise of antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) infections is predicted to paralyze our industries and healthcare facilities while becoming the leading global cause of loss of human life. With limited new antibiotics on the horizon, we need to invest in alternative solutions. Bacteriophages (phages)—viruses targeting bacteria—offer a powerful alternative approach to tackle bacterial infections. Despite recent advances in using phages to treat recalcitrant AMR infections, the field lacks systematic development of phage therapies scalable to different applications. We propose a Phage Foundry framework to establish metrics for phage characterization and to fill the knowledge and technological gaps in phage therapeutics. Coordinated investment in AMR surveillance, sampling, characterization, and data sharing procedures will enable rational exploitation of phages for treatments. A fully realized Phage Foundry will enhance the sharing of knowledge, technology, and viral reagents in an equitable manner and will accelerate the biobased economy.
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Barr HL, Bihouee T, Zwitserloot AM. A year in review: Real world evidence, functional monitoring and emerging therapeutics in 2021. J Cyst Fibros 2022; 21:191-196. [PMID: 35272931 PMCID: PMC8900606 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcf.2022.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- H L Barr
- Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, United Kingdom; Nottingham Respiratory Biomedical Research Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom.
| | - T Bihouee
- Chronic Childhood Diseases unit, Pediatric Department, Nantes University Hospital, Nantes, France
| | - A M Zwitserloot
- University of Groningen, Department of Pediatric Pulmonology and Pediatric Allergy, University Medical Center Groningen, Beatrix Children's Hospital, Groningen, The Netherlands; University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD (GRIAC), Groningen, The Netherlands
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Mitigation of evolved bacterial resistance to phage therapy. Curr Opin Virol 2022; 53:101201. [PMID: 35180532 DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2022.101201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The ease with which bacteria can evolve resistance to phages is a key consideration for development of phage therapy. Here, we review recent work on the different evolutionary and ecological approaches to mitigate the problem. The approaches are broadly categorised into two areas: Minimising evolved phage resistance; and Directing phage-resistance evolution towards therapeutically beneficial outcomes.
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Molina F, Menor-Flores M, Fernández L, Vega-Rodríguez MA, García P. Systematic analysis of putative phage-phage interactions on minimum-sized phage cocktails. Sci Rep 2022; 12:2458. [PMID: 35165352 PMCID: PMC8844382 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-06422-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The application of bacteriophages as antibacterial agents has many benefits in the “post-antibiotic age”. To increase the number of successfully targeted bacterial strains, phage cocktails, instead of a single phage, are commonly formulated. Nevertheless, there is currently no consensus pipeline for phage cocktail development. Thus, although large cocktails increase the spectrum of activity, they could produce side effects such as the mobilization of virulence or antibiotic resistance genes. On the other hand, coinfection (simultaneous infection of one host cell by several phages) might reduce the potential for bacteria to evolve phage resistance, but some antagonistic interactions amongst phages might be detrimental for the outcome of phage cocktail application. With this in mind, we introduce here a new method, which considers the host range and each individual phage-host interaction, to design the phage mixtures that best suppress the target bacteria while minimizing the number of phages to restrict manufacturing costs. Additionally, putative phage-phage interactions in cocktails and phage-bacteria networks are compared as the understanding of the complex interactions amongst bacteriophages could be critical in the development of realistic phage therapy models in the future.
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