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Ranta K, Skurnik M, Kiljunen S. fENko-Kae01 is a flagellum-specific jumbo phage infecting Klebsiella aerogenes. BMC Microbiol 2024; 24:234. [PMID: 38951769 PMCID: PMC11218385 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-024-03387-1] [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: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Klebsiella aerogenes is an opportunistic pathogen that causes a wide variety of infections. Due to the rising problem of antibiotic resistance, novel antibiotics and strategies to combat bacterial infections are needed. Host-specific bacteriophages are natural enemies of bacteria and can be used in phage therapy as an alternative form of treatment against bacterial infections. Jumbo phages are defined as phages with genomes larger than 200 kb. Relatively few studies have been done on jumbo phages compared to smaller phages. RESULTS A novel phage, fENko-Kae01, was isolated from a commercial phage cocktail. Genomic analysis revealed that fENko-Kae01 is a lytic jumbo phage with a 360 kb genome encoding 578 predicted genes. No highly similar phage genomes were identified and fENko-Kae01 may be a completely new genus representative. No known genes associated with lysogenic life cycle, bacterial virulence, or antibiotic resistance were identified. The phage had myovirus morphology and a narrow host range. Phage resistant bacterial mutants emerged under phage selection. Whole genome sequencing revealed that the biogenesis of the flagellum was affected in four mutants and the lack of functional flagellum was confirmed in motility assays. Furthermore, phage fENKo-Kae01 failed to adsorb on the non-motile mutants indicating that the bacterial flagellum is the phage-binding receptor. CONCLUSIONS fENko-Kae01 is a novel jumbo bacteriophage that is considered safe for phage therapy. fENko-Kae01 uses the flagellum as the phage-binding receptor and may represent a completely novel genus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kira Ranta
- HUS Diagnostic Center, Clinical Microbiology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- Human Microbiome Research Program, Research Program Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mikael Skurnik
- Human Microbiome Research Program, Research Program Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Saija Kiljunen
- Human Microbiome Research Program, Research Program Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
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2
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Peters TL, Schow J, Spencer E, Van Leuven JT, Wichman H, Miller C. Directed evolution of bacteriophages: impacts of prolific prophage. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.28.601269. [PMID: 38979301 PMCID: PMC11230397 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.28.601269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Various directed evolution methods exist that seek to procure bacteriophages with expanded host ranges, typically targeting phage-resistant or non-permissive bacterial hosts. The general premise of these methods is to propagate phage on multiple bacterial hosts, pool the lysate, and repeat the propagation process until phage(s) can form plaques on the target host(s). In theory, this propagation process produces a phage lysate that contains input phages and their evolved phage progeny. However, in practice, this phage lysate can also include prophages originating from bacterial hosts. Here we describe our experience implementing one directed evolution method, the Appelmans protocol, to study phage evolution in the Pseudomonas aeruginosa phage-host system, in which we observed rapid host-range expansion of the phage cocktail. Further experimentation and sequencing analysis revealed that this observed host-range expansion was due to a Casadabanvirus prophage that originated from one of the Appelmans hosts. Host-range analysis of the prophage showed that it could infect five of eight bacterial hosts initially used, allowing it to proliferate and persist through the end of the experiment. This prophage was represented in half of the sequenced phage samples isolated from the Appelmans experiment. This work highlights the impact of prophages in directed evolution experiments and the importance of incorporating sequencing data in analyses to verify output phages, particularly for those attempting to procure phages intended for phage therapy applications. This study also notes the usefulness of intraspecies antagonism assays between bacterial host strains to establish a baseline for inhibitory activity and determine presence of prophage. IMPORTANCE Directed evolution is a common strategy for evolving phages to expand host range, often targeting pathogenic strains of bacteria. In this study we investigated phage host-range expansion using directed evolution in the Pseudomonas aeruginosa system. We show that prophage are active players in directed evolution and can contribute to observation of host-range expansion. Since prophage are prevalent in bacterial hosts, particularly pathogenic strains of bacteria, and all directed evolution approaches involve iteratively propagating phage on one or more bacterial hosts, the presence of prophage in phage preparations is a factor that needs to be considered in experimental design and interpretation of results. These results highlight the importance of screening for prophages either genetically or through intraspecies antagonism assays during selection of bacterial strains and will contribute to improving experimental design of future directed evolution studies.
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Bozidis P, Markou E, Gouni A, Gartzonika K. Does Phage Therapy Need a Pan-Phage? Pathogens 2024; 13:522. [PMID: 38921819 PMCID: PMC11206709 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13060522] [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: 05/16/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria is undoubtedly one of the most serious global health threats. One response to this threat that has been gaining momentum over the past decade is 'phage therapy'. According to this, lytic bacteriophages are used for the treatment of bacterial infections, either alone or in combination with antimicrobial agents. However, to ensure the efficacy and broad applicability of phage therapy, several challenges must be overcome. These challenges encompass the development of methods and strategies for the host range manipulation and bypass of the resistance mechanisms developed by pathogenic bacteria, as has been the case since the advent of antibiotics. As our knowledge and understanding of the interactions between phages and their hosts evolves, the key issue is to define the host range for each application. In this article, we discuss the factors that affect host range and how this determines the classification of phages into different categories of action. For each host range group, recent representative examples are provided, together with suggestions on how the different groups can be used to combat certain types of bacterial infections. The available methodologies for host range expansion, either through sequential adaptation to a new pathogen or through genetic engineering techniques, are also reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petros Bozidis
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece;
- Department of Microbiology, University Hospital of Ioannina, 45500 Ioannina, Greece; (E.M.); (A.G.)
| | - Eleftheria Markou
- Department of Microbiology, University Hospital of Ioannina, 45500 Ioannina, Greece; (E.M.); (A.G.)
| | - Athanasia Gouni
- Department of Microbiology, University Hospital of Ioannina, 45500 Ioannina, Greece; (E.M.); (A.G.)
| | - Konstantina Gartzonika
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece;
- Department of Microbiology, University Hospital of Ioannina, 45500 Ioannina, Greece; (E.M.); (A.G.)
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Jhandai P, Mittal D, Gupta R, Kumar M, Khurana R. Therapeutics and prophylactic efficacy of novel lytic Escherichia phage vB_EcoS_PJ16 against multidrug-resistant avian pathogenic E. coli using in vivo study. Int Microbiol 2024; 27:673-687. [PMID: 37632591 DOI: 10.1007/s10123-023-00420-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/28/2023]
Abstract
Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) is the causative agent of avian colibacillosis, which causes significant economic losses to the poultry industry. The growing resistance of bacteria to antibiotics is a major global public health concern. However, there is limited data on the efficacy of phage therapy in effectively controlling and treating APEC infections. In this study, a novel lytic Escherichia phage, vB_EcoS_PJ16, was isolated from poultry farm wastewater and characterized in both in vitro and in vivo conditions. Transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed the presence of an icosahedral head and a long non-contractile tail, classifying the phage under the Caudoviricetes class. Host range determination showed that Escherichia phage vB_EcoS_PJ16 exhibited lytic activity against multiple strains of pathogenic E. coli, while no significant signs of lysis for Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella Typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus. Biophysical characterization revealed that the isolated phage was sturdy, as it remained viable for up to 300 days at temperatures of 30 °C, 37 °C, and 42 °C and for up to 24 h at pH 5 to 11, with only minor changes in titer. Kinetic analysis at multiplicity of infection (MOI) 0.1 showed a latency period of about 20 min and a burst size of 26.5 phage particles per infected cell for phage vB_EcoS_PJ16. Whole genome sequencing unveiled that the phage vB_EcoS_PJ16 genome consists of a double-stranded linear DNA molecule with 57,756 bp and a GC content of 43.58%. The Escherichia phage vB_EcoS_PJ16 genome consisted of 98 predicted putative ORFs, with no transfer RNA identified in the genome. Among these 98 genes, 34 genes were predicted to have known functions. A significant reduction in APEC viability was observed at MOI 100 during in vitro bacterial challenge tests conducted at different MOIs (0.01, 1, and 100). In vivo oral evaluation of the isolated phage to limit E. coli infections in day-old chicks indicated a decrease in mortality within both the therapeutic (20%) and prophylactic (30%) groups, when compared to the control group. The findings of this study contribute to our current knowledge of Escherichia phages and suggest a potentially effective role of phages in the therapeutic and prophylactic control of antibiotic-resistant APEC strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Punit Jhandai
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar, 125004, India
| | - Dinesh Mittal
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar, 125004, India.
| | - Renu Gupta
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar, 125004, India
| | - Manesh Kumar
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar, 125004, India
| | - Rajesh Khurana
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar, 125004, India
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Khosravi A, Chen Q, Echterhof A, Koff JL, Bollyky PL. Phage Therapy for Respiratory Infections: Opportunities and Challenges. Lung 2024; 202:223-232. [PMID: 38772946 DOI: 10.1007/s00408-024-00700-7] [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: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
We are entering the post-antibiotic era. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a critical problem in chronic lung infections resulting in progressive respiratory failure and increased mortality. In the absence of emerging novel antibiotics to counter AMR infections, bacteriophages (phages), viruses that infect bacteria, have become a promising option for chronic respiratory infections. However, while personalized phage therapy is associated with improved outcomes in individual cases, clinical trials demonstrating treatment efficacy are lacking, limiting the therapeutic potential of this approach for respiratory infections. In this review, we address the current state of phage therapy for managing chronic respiratory diseases. We then discuss how phage therapy may address major microbiologic obstacles which hinder disease resolution of chronic lung infections with current antibiotic-based treatment practices. Finally, we highlight the challenges that must be addressed for successful phage therapy clinical trials. Through this discussion, we hope to expand on the potential of phages as an adjuvant therapy in chronic lung infections, as well as the microbiologic challenges that need to be addressed for phage therapy to expand beyond personalized salvage therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arya Khosravi
- Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, 279 Campus Drive, Beckman Center, Room B237, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
| | - Qingquan Chen
- Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Arne Echterhof
- Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jonathan L Koff
- Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Paul L Bollyky
- Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
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Alipour-Khezri E, Moqadami A, Barzegar A, Mahdavi M, Skurnik M, Zarrini G. Bacteriophages and Green Synthesized Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles in Combination Are Efficient against Biofilm Formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Viruses 2024; 16:897. [PMID: 38932188 PMCID: PMC11209622 DOI: 10.3390/v16060897] [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: 04/22/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that infect the bacteria within which their reproduction cycle takes place, a process that ends in the lysis and death of the bacterial cell. Some phages are also able to destroy bacterial biofilms. Due to increased antibiotics resistance, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, another biofilm-forming pathogen, is a problem in many parts of the world. Zinc oxide (ZnO) and other metal nanoparticles (NPs) are biologically active and also possess anti-biofilm properties. ZnO-NPs were prepared by the green synthesis method using orange peels. The vibrational peaks of the ZnO-NPs were analyzed using FTIR analysis, and their size and morphological properties were determined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The ability of the ZnO-NPs to reduce or eliminate P. aeruginosa biofilm alone or in combination with phages PB10 and PA19 was investigated. The P. aeruginosa cells were effectively killed in the preformed 48 h biofilms during a 24 h incubation with the ZnO-NP-phage combination, in comparison with the control or ZnO-NPs alone. The treatments on growing biofilms were most efficient in the final stages of biofilm development. All five treatment groups showed a significant biofilm reduction compared to the control group (p < 0.0001) at 48 h of incubation. The influence of the ZnO-NPs and phages on the quorum sensing system of P. aeruginosa was monitored by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) of the autoinducer biosynthesis gene lasI. While the ZnO-NPs repressed the lasI gene transcription, the phages slightly activated it at 24 and 48 h of incubation. Also, the effect of the ZnO-NPs and phage PA19 on the viability of HFF2 cells was investigated and the results showed that the combination of NPs with PA19 reduced the toxic effect of ZnO-NPs and also stimulated the growth in normal cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaheh Alipour-Khezri
- Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz 5166616471, Iran; (E.A.-K.); (A.M.); (A.B.)
| | - Amin Moqadami
- Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz 5166616471, Iran; (E.A.-K.); (A.M.); (A.B.)
| | - Abolfazl Barzegar
- Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz 5166616471, Iran; (E.A.-K.); (A.M.); (A.B.)
| | - Majid Mahdavi
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran 1417614335, Iran;
| | - Mikael Skurnik
- Human Microbiome Research Program, and Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Gholamreza Zarrini
- Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz 5166616471, Iran; (E.A.-K.); (A.M.); (A.B.)
- Microbial Biotechnology Research Group, University of Tabriz, Tabriz 5166616471, Iran
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Kang Y, Wang J, Wang Y, Li Z. Profiles of phage in global hospital wastewater: Association with microbial hosts, antibiotic resistance genes, metal resistance genes, and mobile genetic elements. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 926:171766. [PMID: 38513871 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Hospital wastewater (HWW) is known to host taxonomically diverse microbial communities, yet limited information is available on the phages infecting these microorganisms. To fill this knowledge gap, we conducted an in-depth analysis using 377 publicly available HWW metagenomic datasets from 16 countries across 4 continents in the NCBI SRA database to elucidate phage-host dynamics and phage contributions to resistance gene transmission. We first assembled a metagenomic HWW phage catalog comprising 13,812 phage operational taxonomic units (pOTUs). The majority of these pOTUs belonged to the Caudoviricetes order, representing 75.29 % of this catalog. Based on the lifestyle of phages, we found that potentially virulent phages predominated in HWW. Specifically, 583 pOTUs have been predicted to have the capability to lyse 81 potentially pathogenic bacteria, suggesting the promising role of HWW phages as a viable alternative to antibiotics. Among all pOTUs, 1.56 % of pOTUs carry 108 subtypes of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), 0.96 % of pOTUs carry 76 subtypes of metal resistance genes (MRGs), and 0.96 % of pOTUs carry 22 subtypes of non-phage mobile genetic elements (MGEs). Predictions indicate that certain phages carrying ARGs, MRGs, and non-phage MGEs could infect bacteria hosts, even potential pathogens. This suggests that phages in HWW may contribute to the dissemination of resistance-associated genes in the environment. This meta-analysis provides the first global catalog of HWW phages, revealing their correlations with microbial hosts and pahge-associated ARGs, MRG, and non-phage MGEs. The insights gained from this research hold promise for advancing the applications of phages in medical and industrial contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yutong Kang
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102200, China
| | - Jie Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Farmland Soil Pollution Prevention and Remediation, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Yuan Wang
- North China University of Science and Technology, Basic Medical College, Tangshan, Hebei 063210, P.R. China
| | - Zhenjun Li
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102200, China.
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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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Tadeu AD, Duarte J, Trindade D, Costa P, Venâncio C, Lopes I, Oliveira V, Gomes NCM, Almeida A, Pereira C. Bacteriophages to control Vibrio alginolyticus in live feeds prior to their administration in larviculture. J Appl Microbiol 2024; 135:lxae115. [PMID: 38710582 DOI: 10.1093/jambio/lxae115] [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: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
AIMS This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of two phages [VB_VaC_TDDLMA (phage TDD) and VB_VaC_SRILMA (phage SRI)] alone and in a cocktail to control Vibrio alginolyticus in brine shrimp before their administration in larviculture. METHODS AND RESULTS Phages were isolated from seawater samples and characterized by host spectrum, growth parameters, adsorption rate, genomic analysis, and inactivation efficiency. Both phages belong to the Caudoviricetes class and lack known virulence or antibiotic-resistance genes. They exhibit specificity, infecting only their host, V. alginolyticus CECT 521. Preliminary experiments in a culture medium showed that phage TDD (reduction of 5.8 log CFU ml-1 after 10 h) outperformed phage SRI (reduction of 4.6 log CFU ml-1 after 6 h) and the cocktail TDD/SRI (reduction of 5.2 log CFU ml-1 after 8 h). In artificial marine water experiments with Artemia franciscana, both single phage suspensions and the phage cocktail, effectively inactivated V. alginolyticus in culture water (reduction of 4.3, 2.1, and 1.9 log CFU ml-1 for phages TDD, SRI, and the phage cocktail, respectively, after 12 h) and in A. franciscana (reduction of 51.6%, 87.3%, and 85.3% for phages TDD, SRI, and the phage cocktail, respectively, after 24 h). The two phages and the phage cocktail did not affect A. franciscana natural microbiota or other Vibrio species in the brine shrimp. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that phages can safely and effectively control V. alginolyticus in A. franciscana prior to its administration in larviculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Dias Tadeu
- Department of Biology and CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - João Duarte
- Department of Biology and CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - David Trindade
- Department of Biology and CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Pedro Costa
- Department of Biology and CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Cátia Venâncio
- Department of Biology and CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Isabel Lopes
- Department of Biology and CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Vanessa Oliveira
- Department of Biology and CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Newton C M Gomes
- Department of Biology and CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Adelaide Almeida
- Department of Biology and CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Carla Pereira
- Department of Biology and CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
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10
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Bull JJ, Wichman HA, Krone SM, Molineux IJ. Controlling Recombination to Evolve Bacteriophages. Cells 2024; 13:585. [PMID: 38607024 PMCID: PMC11011186 DOI: 10.3390/cells13070585] [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: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Recombination among different phages sometimes facilitates their ability to grow on new hosts. Protocols to direct the evolution of phage host range, as might be used in the application of phage therapy, would then benefit from including steps to enable recombination. Applying mathematical and computational models, in addition to experiments using phages T3 and T7, we consider ways that a protocol may influence recombination levels. We first address coinfection, which is the first step to enabling recombination. The multiplicity of infection (MOI, the ratio of phage to cell concentration) is insufficient for predicting (co)infection levels. The force of infection (the rate at which cells are infected) is also critical but is more challenging to measure. Using both a high force of infection and high MOI (>1) for the different phages ensures high levels of coinfection. We also apply a four-genetic-locus model to study protocol effects on recombinant levels. Recombinants accumulate over multiple generations of phage growth, less so if one phage outgrows the other. Supplementing the phage pool with the low-fitness phage recovers some of this 'lost' recombination. Overall, fine tuning of phage recombination rates will not be practical with wild phages, but qualitative enhancement can be attained with some basic procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- James J. Bull
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA;
- Institute for Modeling Collaboration and Innovation, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA;
| | - Holly A. Wichman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA;
- Institute for Modeling Collaboration and Innovation, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA;
| | - Stephen M. Krone
- Institute for Modeling Collaboration and Innovation, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA;
- Department of Mathematics and Statistical Science, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA
| | - Ian J. Molineux
- Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Department of Molecular Biosciences, LaMontagne Center for Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA;
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11
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Biosca EG, Delgado Santander R, Morán F, Figàs-Segura À, Vázquez R, Català-Senent JF, Álvarez B. First European Erwinia amylovora Lytic Bacteriophage Cocktails Effective in the Host: Characterization and Prospects for Fire Blight Biocontrol. BIOLOGY 2024; 13:176. [PMID: 38534446 DOI: 10.3390/biology13030176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2024] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Fire blight, caused by the plant-pathogenic bacterium Erwinia amylovora, is a highly contagious and difficult-to-control disease due to its efficient dissemination and survival and the scarcity of effective control methods. Copper and antibiotics are the most used treatments but pose environmental and human health risks. Bacteriophages (phages) constitute an ecological, safe, and sustainable fire blight control alternative. The goal of this study was to search for specific E. amylovora phages from plant material, soil, and water samples in Mediterranean environments. A collection of phages able to specifically infect and lyse E. amylovora strains was generated from former fire blight-affected orchards in Eastern Spain. Following in vitro characterization, assays in immature fruit revealed that preventively applying some of the phages or their combinations delayed the onset of fire blight symptoms and reduced the disease's severity, suggesting their biocontrol potential in Spain and other countries. The morphological and molecular characterization of the selected E. amylovora phages classified them as members of the class Caudoviricetes (former Myoviridae family) and genus Kolesnikvirus. This study reveals Mediterranean settings as plausible sources of E. amylovora-specific bacteriophages and provides the first effective European phage cocktails in plant material for the development of sustainable fire blight management measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena G Biosca
- Departamento de Microbiología y Ecología, Universitat de València (UV), 46100 Valencia, Spain
| | - Ricardo Delgado Santander
- Departamento de Microbiología y Ecología, Universitat de València (UV), 46100 Valencia, Spain
- Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center, Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Prosser, WA 99350, USA
| | - Félix Morán
- Departamento de Microbiología y Ecología, Universitat de València (UV), 46100 Valencia, Spain
| | - Àngela Figàs-Segura
- Departamento de Microbiología y Ecología, Universitat de València (UV), 46100 Valencia, Spain
| | - Rosa Vázquez
- Departamento de Microbiología y Ecología, Universitat de València (UV), 46100 Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Belén Álvarez
- Departamento de Microbiología y Ecología, Universitat de València (UV), 46100 Valencia, Spain
- Departamento de Investigación Aplicada y Extensión Agraria, Instituto Madrileño de Investigación y Desarrollo Rural, Agrario y Alimentario (IMIDRA), 28805 Madrid, Spain
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12
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Duarte J, Máximo C, Costa P, Oliveira V, Gomes NCM, Romalde JL, Pereira C, Almeida A. Potential of an Isolated Bacteriophage to Inactivate Klebsiella pneumoniae: Preliminary Studies to Control Urinary Tract Infections. Antibiotics (Basel) 2024; 13:195. [PMID: 38391581 PMCID: PMC10885952 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics13020195] [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: 12/31/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae can lead to severe clinical complications and even death. An alternative treatment option for infected patients is using bacteriophages. In the present study, we isolated phage VB_KPM_KP1LMA (KP1LMA) from sewage water using a K. pneumoniae strain as a host. Whole-genome analysis indicated that the genome was a double-stranded linear 176,096-bp long DNA molecule with 41.8% GC content and did not contain virulence or antibiotic resistance genes. The inactivation potential of phage KP1LMA was assessed in broth at an MOI of 1 and 10, and a maximum inactivation of 4.9 and 5.4 log CFU/mL, respectively, was observed after 9 h. The efficacy at an MOI of 10 was also assessed in urine to evaluate the phage's performance in an acidic environment. A maximum inactivation of 3.8 log CFU/mL was observed after 9 h. The results suggest that phage KP1LMA could potentially control a UTI caused by this strain of K. pneumoniae, indicating that the same procedure can be used to control UTIs caused by other strains if new specific phages are isolated. Although phage KP1LMA has a narrow host range, in the future, efforts can be made to expand its spectrum of activity and also to combine this phage with others, potentially enabling its use against other K. pneumoniae strains involved in UTIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Duarte
- CESAM, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Carolina Máximo
- CESAM, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Pedro Costa
- CESAM, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Vanessa Oliveira
- CESAM, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Newton C M Gomes
- CESAM, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Jesús L Romalde
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, CRETUS & CIBUS, Faculty of Biology, University of Santiago de Compostela, CP 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Carla Pereira
- CESAM, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Adelaide Almeida
- CESAM, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
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13
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Vu TN, Clark JR, Jang E, D'Souza R, Nguyen LP, Pinto NA, Yoo S, Abadie R, Maresso AW, Yong D. Appelmans protocol - A directed in vitro evolution enables induction and recombination of prophages with expanded host range. Virus Res 2024; 339:199272. [PMID: 37981215 PMCID: PMC10730860 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2023.199272] [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: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
Infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) present significant healthcare challenges due to limited treatment options. Bacteriophage (phage) therapy offers potential as an alternative treatment. However, the high host specificity of phages poses challenges for their therapeutic application. To broaden the phage spectrum, laboratory-based phage training using the Appelmans protocol was employed in this study. As a result, the protocol successfully expanded the host range of a phage cocktail targeting CRAB. Further analysis revealed that the expanded host range phages isolated from the output cocktail were identified as recombinant derivatives originating from prophages induced from encountered bacterial strains. These findings provide valuable genetic insights into the protocol's mechanism when applied to phages infecting A. baumannii strains that have never been investigated before. However, it is noteworthy that the expanded host range phages obtained from this protocol exhibited limited stability, raising concerns about their suitability for therapeutic purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thao Nguyen Vu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Research Institute of Bacterial Resistance, Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Justin Ryan Clark
- Tailored Antibacterials and Innovative Laboratories for Phage Research, Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, US
| | - Eris Jang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Research Institute of Bacterial Resistance, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea; University of Georgia Terry College of Business, Athens, GA, US
| | - Roshan D'Souza
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Research Institute of Bacterial Resistance, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Le Phuong Nguyen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Research Institute of Bacterial Resistance, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea; Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, US
| | - Naina Adren Pinto
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Research Institute of Bacterial Resistance, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Seongjun Yoo
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Research Institute of Bacterial Resistance, Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Ricardo Abadie
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Research Institute of Bacterial Resistance, Graduate School of Medical Science, Brain Korea 21 Project, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Anthony William Maresso
- Tailored Antibacterials and Innovative Laboratories for Phage Research, Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, US
| | - Dongeun Yong
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Research Institute of Bacterial Resistance, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
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14
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Ely B, Lenski J, Mohammadi T. Structural and Genomic Diversity of Bacteriophages. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2738:3-16. [PMID: 37966589 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3549-0_1] [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
Bacteriophage diversity is a relatively unknown frontier that is rapidly being explored, leading to a wealth of new information. New bacteriophages are being discovered at an astounding rate via both phage isolation studies and metagenomic analyses. In addition, a nucleotide sequence-based viral taxonomic system has been developed to better handle this wealth of new information. As a result of these developments, phage scientists are transitioning from knowing that there must be huge numbers of diverse kinds of phage particles in natural environments to identifying the actual abundance and phage diversity that is present in specific environments. This review documents the beginning of this transition, offering a glimpse into the magnitude of change unfolding in the field. It stands as a testament to the expanding frontiers of phage research, illuminating the remarkable progress made in unraveling the intricate world of bacteriophage diversity and advancing our understanding of these enigmatic viral entities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bert Ely
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA.
| | - Jacob Lenski
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Tannaz Mohammadi
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
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15
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Sarat N, Salim A, Pal S, Subhash S, Prasad M, Nair BG, Madhavan A. Mitigation of biogenic methanethiol using bacteriophages in synthetic wastewater augmented with Pseudomonas putida. Sci Rep 2023; 13:19480. [PMID: 37945592 PMCID: PMC10636157 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-46938-8] [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: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Wastewater malodour is the proverbial 'elephant in the room' notwithstanding its severe implications on sanitation, health, and hygiene. The predominant malodorous compounds associated with wastewater treatment plants and toilets are volatile organic compounds, such as hydrogen sulphide, ammonia, methanethiol, and organic acids. Among them, methanethiol warrants more attention owing to its relatively low olfactory threshold and associated cytotoxicity. This requires an efficient odour-abatement method since conventional techniques are either cost-prohibitive or leave recalcitrant byproducts. Bacteriophage-based methodology holds promise, and the described work explores the potential. In this study, a non-lysogenous Pseudomonas putida strain is used as a model organism that produces methanethiol in the presence of methionine. Two double-stranded DNA phages of genome sizes > 10 Kb were isolated from sewage. ɸPh_PP01 and ɸPh_PP02 were stable at suboptimal pH, temperature, and at 10% chloroform. Moreover, they showed adsorption efficiencies of 53% and 89% in 12 min and burst sizes of 507 ± 187 and 105 ± 7 virions per cell, respectively. In augmented synthetic wastewater, ɸPh_PP01 and ɸPh_PP02 reduced methanethiol production by 52% and 47%, respectively, with the concomitant reduction in P. putida by 3 logs in 6 h. On extension of the study in P. putida spiked-sewage sample, maximum reduction in methanethiol production was achieved in 3 h, with 49% and 48% for ɸPh_PP01 and ɸPh_PP02, respectively. But at 6 h, efficiency reduced to 36% with both the phages. The study clearly demonstrates the potential of phages as biocontrol agents in the reduction of malodour in wastewater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niti Sarat
- School of Biotechnology, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Clappana, Kerala, 690525, India
| | - Amrita Salim
- School of Biotechnology, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Clappana, Kerala, 690525, India
| | - Sanjay Pal
- School of Biotechnology, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Clappana, Kerala, 690525, India.
| | - Suja Subhash
- School of Biotechnology, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Clappana, Kerala, 690525, India
| | - Megha Prasad
- School of Biotechnology, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Clappana, Kerala, 690525, India
| | - Bipin G Nair
- School of Biotechnology, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Clappana, Kerala, 690525, India
| | - Ajith Madhavan
- School of Biotechnology, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Clappana, Kerala, 690525, India.
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16
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Hetta HF, Rashed ZI, Ramadan YN, Al-Kadmy IMS, Kassem SM, Ata HS, Nageeb WM. Phage Therapy, a Salvage Treatment for Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria Causing Infective Endocarditis. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2860. [PMID: 37893232 PMCID: PMC10604041 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11102860] [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: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Infective endocarditis (IE) is defined as an infection of the endocardium, or inner surface of the heart, most frequently affecting the heart valves or implanted cardiac devices. Despite its rarity, it has a high rate of morbidity and mortality. IE generally occurs when bacteria, fungi, or other germs from another part of the body, such as the mouth, spread through the bloodstream and attach to damaged areas in the heart. The epidemiology of IE has changed as a consequence of aging and the usage of implantable cardiac devices and heart valves. The right therapeutic routes must be assessed to lower complication and fatality rates, so this requires early clinical suspicion and a fast diagnosis. It is urgently necessary to create new and efficient medicines to combat multidrug-resistant bacterial (MDR) infections because of the increasing threat of antibiotic resistance on a worldwide scale. MDR bacteria that cause IE can be treated using phages rather than antibiotics to combat MDR bacterial strains. This review will illustrate how phage therapy began and how it is considered a powerful potential candidate for the treatment of MDR bacteria that cause IE. Furthermore, it gives a brief about all reported clinical trials that demonstrated the promising effect of phage therapy in combating resistant bacterial strains that cause IE and how it will become a hope in future medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helal F. Hetta
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut 71515, Egypt;
| | - Zainab I. Rashed
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Assiut University, Assiut 71515, Egypt; (Z.I.R.); (Y.N.R.)
| | - Yasmin N. Ramadan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Assiut University, Assiut 71515, Egypt; (Z.I.R.); (Y.N.R.)
| | - Israa M. S. Al-Kadmy
- Branch of Biotechnology, Department of Biology, College of Science, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad P.O. Box 10244, Iraq
| | - Soheir M. Kassem
- Department of Internal Medicine and Critical Care, Faculty of Medicine, Assuit University, Assiut 71515, Egypt;
| | - Hesham S. Ata
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Qassim, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Wedad M. Nageeb
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt;
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17
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Chung KM, Liau XL, Tang SS. Bacteriophages and Their Host Range in Multidrug-Resistant Bacterial Disease Treatment. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:1467. [PMID: 37895938 PMCID: PMC10610060 DOI: 10.3390/ph16101467] [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: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The rapid emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria in recent times has prompted the search for new and more potent antibiotics. Bacteriophages (commonly known as phages) are viruses that target and infect their bacterial hosts. As such, they are also a potential alternative to antibiotics. These phages can be broadly categorized into monovalent (with a narrow host range spectrum and specific to a single bacterial genus) and polyvalent (with a broad host range and specific to more than two genera). However, there is still much ambiguity in the use of these terms, with researchers often describing their phages differently. There is considerable research on the use of both narrow- and broad-host range phages in the treatment of infections and diseases caused by MDR bacteria, including tuberculosis, cystic fibrosis, and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) infectious diseases. From this, it is clear that the host range of these phages plays a vital role in determining the effectiveness of any phage therapy, and this factor is usually analyzed based on the advantages and limitations of different host ranges. There have also been efforts to expand phage host ranges via phage cocktail development, phage engineering and combination therapies, in line with current technological advancements. This literature review aims to provide a more in-depth understanding of the role of phage host ranges in the effectiveness of treating MDR-bacterial diseases, by exploring the following: phage biology, the importance of phages in MDR bacteria diseases treatment, the importance of phage host range and its advantages and limitations, current findings and recent developments, and finally, possible future directions for wide host range phages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ka Mun Chung
- Division of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
| | - Xiew Leng Liau
- Division of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
| | - Swee Seong Tang
- Division of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
- Centre for Research in Biotechnology for Agriculture, University Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
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18
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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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19
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Kumar A, Yadav A. Synthetic phage and its application in phage therapy. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2023; 200:61-89. [PMID: 37739560 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2023.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/24/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic phage analysis has been implemented in progressive various areas of biology, such as genetics, molecular biology, and synthetic biology. Many phage-derived technologies have been altered for developing gene circuits to program biological systems. Due to their extremely potent potency, phages also provide greater medical availability against bacterial agents and bacterial diagnostic agents. Its host specificity and our growing ability to manipulate, them further expand its possibility. New Phages also genetically redesign programmable biomaterials with highly tunable properties. Moreover, new phages are central to powerful directed evolution platforms. It is used to enhance existing biological, functions to create new phages. In other sites, the mining of antibiotics, and the emergence and dissemination of more than one type of drug-resistant microbe, a human health concerns. The major point in controlling and treating microbial infections. At present, genetic modifications and biochemical treatments are used to modify phages. Among these, genetic engineering involves the identification of defective proteins, modification of host bodies, recognized receptors, and disruption of bacterial phage resistance signaling gateways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajay Kumar
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Rama University, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India.
| | - Anuj Yadav
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Rama University, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
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20
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More's the Same-Multiple Hosts Do Not Select for Broader Host Range Phages. Viruses 2023; 15:v15020518. [PMID: 36851732 PMCID: PMC9960766 DOI: 10.3390/v15020518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophage host range is a result of the interactions between phages and their hosts. For phage therapy, phages with a broader host range are desired so that a phage can infect and kill the broadest range of pathogen strains or related species possible. A common, but not well-tested, belief is that using multiple hosts during the phage isolation will make the isolation of broader host range phage more likely. Using a Bacillus cereus group system, we compared the host ranges of phages isolated on one or four hosts and found that there was no difference in the breadth of host ranges of the isolated phages. Both narrow and broader host range phage were also equally likely to be isolated from either isolation procedure. While there are methods that reliably isolate broader host range phages, such as sequential host isolation, and there are other reasons to use multiple hosts during isolation, multiple hosts are not a consistent way to obtain broader host range phages.
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21
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Development and Evaluation of Bacteriophage Cocktail to Eradicate Biofilms Formed by an Extensively Drug-Resistant (XDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Viruses 2023; 15:v15020427. [PMID: 36851640 PMCID: PMC9965693 DOI: 10.3390/v15020427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 01/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Extensive and multiple drug resistance in P. aeruginosa combined with the formation of biofilms is responsible for its high persistence in nosocomial infections. A sequential method to devise a suitable phage cocktail with a broad host range and high lytic efficiency against a biofilm forming XDR P. aeruginosa strain is presented here. Out of a total thirteen phages isolated against P. aeruginosa, five were selected on the basis of their high lytic spectra assessed using spot assay and productivity by efficiency of plating assay. Phages, after selection, were tested individually and in combinations of two-, three-, four-, and five-phage cocktails using liquid infection model. Out of total 22 combinations tested, the cocktail comprising four phages viz. φPA170, φPA172, φPA177, and φPA180 significantly inhibited the bacterial growth in liquid infection model (p < 0.0001). The minimal inhibitory dose of each phage in a cocktail was effectively reduced to >10 times than the individual dose in the inhibition of XDR P. aeruginosa host. Field emission-scanning electron microscopy was used to visualize phage cocktail mediated eradication of 4-day-old multi-layers of XDR P. aeruginosa biofilms from urinary catheters and glass cover slips, and was confirmed by absence of any viable cells. Differential bacterial inhibition was observed with different phage combinations where multiple phages were found to enhance the cocktail's lytic range, but the addition of too many phages reduced the overall inhibition. This study elaborates an effective and sequential method for the preparation of a phage cocktail and evaluates its antimicrobial potential against biofilm forming XDR strains of P. aeruginosa.
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22
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Disarm The Bacteria: What Temperate Phages Can Do. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2023; 45:1149-1167. [PMID: 36826021 PMCID: PMC9955262 DOI: 10.3390/cimb45020076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
In the field of phage applications and clinical treatment, virulent phages have been in the spotlight whereas temperate phages received, relatively speaking, less attention. The fact that temperate phages often carry virulent or drug-resistant genes is a constant concern and drawback in temperate phage applications. However, temperate phages also play a role in bacterial regulation. This review elucidates the biological properties of temperate phages based on their life cycle and introduces the latest work on temperate phage applications, such as on host virulence reduction, biofilm degradation, genetic engineering and phage display. The versatile use of temperate phages coupled with their inherent properties, such as economy, ready accessibility, wide variety and host specificity, make temperate phages a solid candidate in tackling bacterial infections.
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23
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Modeling the Directed Evolution of Broad Host Range Phages. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:antibiotics11121709. [PMID: 36551366 PMCID: PMC9774779 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11121709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The host ranges of individual phages tend to be narrow, yet many applications of phages would benefit from expanded host ranges. Empirical methods have been developed to direct the evolution of phages to attack new strains, but the methods have not been evaluated or compared for their consequences. In particular, how do different methods favor generalist (broad host range) phages over specialist phages? All methods involve exposing phages to two or more novel bacterial strains, but the methods differ in the order in which those hosts are presented through time: Parallel presentation, Sequential presentation, and Mixed presentation. Methods: We use a combination of simple analytical methods and numerical analyses to study the effect of these different protocols on the selection of generalist versus specialist phages. Results: The three presentation protocols have profoundly different consequences for the evolution of generalist versus specialist phages. Sequential presentation favors generalists almost to the exclusion of specialists, whereas Parallel presentation does the least so. However, other protocol attributes (the nature of dilution between transfers of phages to new cultures) also have effects on selection and phage maintenance. It is also noted that protocols can be designed to enhance recombination to augment evolution and to reduce stochastic loss of newly arisen mutants.
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Antibiofilm activity of a lytic Salmonella phage on different Salmonella enterica serovars isolated from broiler farms. Int Microbiol 2022; 26:205-217. [PMID: 36334144 PMCID: PMC10148789 DOI: 10.1007/s10123-022-00294-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
AbstractBacteriophages have been mainly used in treating infections caused by planktonic bacterial cells in the veterinary sector. However, their applications as antibiofilm agents have received little attention. Accordingly, a previously isolated Salmonella infecting Siphoviridae phage was investigated for host range against 15 Salmonella enterica isolates (S. Cape, S. Gallinarum, 4 S. Enteritidis, 3 S. Montevideo, S. Uno, S. Oritamerin, S. Belgdam, S. Agona, S. Daula, and S. Aba) recovered from the litters of commercial broiler farms. All S. enterica isolates were examined for their biofilm activity using a microtiter plate assay and for adrA, csgD, and gcpA genes using conventional PCR. The phage efficacy against established biofilms produced by the selected seven S. enterica isolates (S. Gallinarum, S. Enteritidis, S. Montevideo, S. Uno, S. Oritamerin, S. Belgdam, and S. Agona) was assessed using microtiter plate assay and reverse transcriptase real-time PCR over different incubation times of 5 and 24 h. All S. enterica isolates were strong biofilm formers. Moreover, the phage effectively reduced the biofilm activity of the established S. enterica biofilms in the microtiter plate assay using the independent sample t-test (P < 0.050). Furthermore, the relative expression levels of csgD, gcpA, and adrA genes in the biofilm cells of S. enterica isolate after phage treatment were significantly up-regulated to variable degrees using the independent sample t-test (P < 0.050). In conclusion, the present study revealed the potential use of Salmonella phage in reducing established biofilms produced by S. enterica serovars isolated from broiler farms.
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Daubie V, Chalhoub H, Blasdel B, Dahma H, Merabishvili M, Glonti T, De Vos N, Quintens J, Pirnay JP, Hallin M, Vandenberg O. Determination of phage susceptibility as a clinical diagnostic tool: A routine perspective. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:1000721. [PMID: 36211951 PMCID: PMC9532704 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.1000721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
As the global burden of disease caused by multidrug resistant bacteria is a major source of concern, credible clinical alternatives to antibiotic therapy, such as personalized phage therapy, are actively explored. Although phage therapy has been used for more than a century, the issue of an easy to implement diagnostic tool for determining phage susceptibility that meets current routine clinical needs is still open. In this Review, we summarize the existing methods used for determining phage activity on bacteria, including the three reference methods: the spot test, the double agar overlay plaque assay, and the Appelmans method. The first two methods rely on the principle of challenging the overnight growth of a lawn of bacteria in an agar matrix to a known relative phage to bacteria concentration and represent good screening tools to determine if the tested phage can be used for a “passive” and or “active” treatment. Beside these methods, several techniques, based on “real-time” growth kinetics assays (GKA) have been developed or are under development. They all monitor the growth of clinical isolates in the presence of phages, but use various detection methods, from classical optical density to more sophisticated techniques such as computer-assisted imagery, flow-cytometry, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) or metabolic indicators. Practical considerations as well as information provided about phage activity are reviewed for each technique. Finally, we also discuss the analytical and interpretative requirements for the implementation of a phage susceptibility testing tool in routine clinical microbiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valéry Daubie
- Innovation and Business Development Unit, LHUB-ULB, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Microbiology, LHUB-ULB, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Houssein Chalhoub
- Innovation and Business Development Unit, LHUB-ULB, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
- Centre for Environmental Health and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Bob Blasdel
- R&D department, Vesale Bioscience, Noville-sur-Mehaigne, Belgium
| | - Hafid Dahma
- Department of Microbiology, LHUB-ULB, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Maya Merabishvili
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Technology, Queen Astrid Military Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Tea Glonti
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Technology, Queen Astrid Military Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nathalie De Vos
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, LHUB-ULB, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Johan Quintens
- R&D department, Vesale Bioscience, Noville-sur-Mehaigne, Belgium
| | - Jean-Paul Pirnay
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Technology, Queen Astrid Military Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Marie Hallin
- Centre for Environmental Health and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Olivier Vandenberg
- Innovation and Business Development Unit, LHUB-ULB, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
- Centre for Environmental Health and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Olivier Vandenberg,
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Srikant S, Guegler CK, Laub MT. The evolution of a counter-defense mechanism in a virus constrains its host range. eLife 2022; 11:79549. [PMID: 35924892 PMCID: PMC9391042 DOI: 10.7554/elife.79549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteria use diverse immunity mechanisms to defend themselves against their viral predators, bacteriophages. In turn, phages can acquire counter-defense systems, but it remains unclear how such mechanisms arise and what factors constrain viral evolution. Here, we experimentally evolved T4 phage to overcome a phage-defensive toxin-antitoxin system, toxIN, in E. coli. Through recombination, T4 rapidly acquires segmental amplifications of a previously uncharacterized gene, now named tifA, encoding an inhibitor of the toxin, ToxN. These amplifications subsequently drive large deletions elsewhere in T4's genome to maintain a genome size compatible with capsid packaging. The deleted regions include accessory genes that help T4 overcome defense systems in alternative hosts. Thus, our results reveal a trade-off in viral evolution; the emergence of one counter-defense mechanism can lead to loss of other such mechanisms, thereby constraining host range. We propose that the accessory genomes of viruses reflect the integrated evolutionary history of the hosts they infected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sriram Srikant
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States
| | - Chantal K Guegler
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States
| | - Michael T Laub
- Department of Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States
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Ataee S, Brochet X, Peña-Reyes CA. Bacteriophage Genetic Edition Using LSTM. FRONTIERS IN BIOINFORMATICS 2022; 2:932319. [PMID: 36353213 PMCID: PMC9639385 DOI: 10.3389/fbinf.2022.932319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 09/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophages are gaining increasing interest as antimicrobial tools, largely due to the emergence of multi-antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Although their huge diversity and virulence make them particularly attractive for targeting a wide range of bacterial pathogens, it is difficult to select suitable phages due to their high specificity which limits their host range. In addition, other challenges remain such as structural fragility under certain environmental conditions, immunogenicity of phage therapy, or development of bacterial resistance. The use of genetically engineered phages may reduce characteristics that hinder prophylactic and therapeutic applications of phages. Nowadays, there is no systematic method to modify a given phage genome conferring its sought characteristics. We explore the use of artificial intelligence for this purpose as it has the potential to both guide and accelerate genome modification to generate phage variants with unique properties that overcome the limitations of natural phages. We propose an original architecture composed of two deep learning-driven components: a phage-bacterium interaction predictor and a phage genome-sequence generator. The former is a multi-branch 1-D convolutional neural network (1D-CNN) that analyses phage and bacterial genomes to predict interactions. The latter is a recurrent neural network, more particularly a long short-term memory (LSTM), that performs genomic modifications to a phage to offer substantial host range improvement. For this component, we developed two different architectures composed of one or two stacked LSTM layers with 256 neurons each. These generators are used to modify, more precisely to rewrite, the genome sequence of 42 selected phages, while the predictor is used to estimate the host range of the modified bacteriophages across 46 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The proposed generators, trained with an average accuracy of 96.1%, are able to improve the host range for an average of 18 phages among the 42 under study, increasing both their average host range, by 73.0 and 103.7%, and the maximum host ranges from 21 to 24 and 29, respectively. These promising results showed that the use of deep learning methodologies allows genetic modification of phages to extend, for instance, their host range, confirming the potential of these approaches to guide bacteriophage engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shabnam Ataee
- Institute of Information and Communication Technology (IICT), School of Management and Engineering Vaud (HEIG-VD), Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland
- HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, Delémont, Switzerland
- CI4CB—Computational Intelligence for Computational Biology, SIB—Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Xavier Brochet
- Institute of Information and Communication Technology (IICT), School of Management and Engineering Vaud (HEIG-VD), Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland
- HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, Delémont, Switzerland
- CI4CB—Computational Intelligence for Computational Biology, SIB—Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Carlos Andrés Peña-Reyes
- Institute of Information and Communication Technology (IICT), School of Management and Engineering Vaud (HEIG-VD), Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland
- HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, Delémont, Switzerland
- CI4CB—Computational Intelligence for Computational Biology, SIB—Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
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28
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In Vitro Techniques and Measurements of Phage Characteristics That Are Important for Phage Therapy Success. Viruses 2022; 14:v14071490. [PMID: 35891470 PMCID: PMC9323186 DOI: 10.3390/v14071490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 06/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Validated methods for phage selection, host range expansion, and lytic activity determination are indispensable for maximizing phage therapy outcomes. In this review, we describe some relevant methods, highlighting their advantages and disadvantages, and categorize them as preliminary or confirmatory methods where appropriate. Experimental conditions, such as the composition and consistency of culture media, have an impact on bacterial growth and, consequently, phage propagation and the selection of phage-resistant mutants. The phages require different experimental conditions to be tested to fully reveal their characteristics and phage therapy potential in view of their future use in therapy. Phage lytic activity or virulence should be considered as a result of the phage, its host, and intracellular/environmental factors, including the ability of a phage to recognize receptors on the bacterial cell surface. In vitro quantitative and qualitative measurements of phage characteristics, further validated by in vivo experiments, could be incorporated into one system or mathematical model/formula, which could predict a potential successful outcome of clinical applications.
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29
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Sanchez BC, Heckmann ER, Green SI, Clark JR, Kaplan HB, Ramig RF, Muldrew KL, Hines-Munson C, Skelton F, Trautner BW, Maresso AW. Development of Phage Cocktails to Treat E. coli Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection and Associated Biofilms. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:796132. [PMID: 35620093 PMCID: PMC9127763 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.796132] [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] [Received: 10/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
High rates of antimicrobial resistance and formation of biofilms makes treatment of Escherichia coli catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) particularly challenging. CAUTI affect 1 million patients per year in the United States and are associated with morbidity and mortality, particularly as an etiology for sepsis. Phage have been proposed as a potential therapeutic option. Here, we report the development of phage cocktails that lyse contemporary E. coli strains isolated from the urine of patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) and display strong biofilm-forming properties. We characterized E. coli phage against biofilms in two in vitro CAUTI models. Biofilm viability was measured by an MTT assay that determines cell metabolic activity and by quantification of colony forming units. Nine phage decreased cell viability by >80% when added individually to biofilms of two E. coli strains in human urine. A phage cocktail comprising six phage lyses 82% of the strains in our E. coli library and is highly effective against young and old biofilms and against biofilms on silicon catheter materials. Using antibiotics together with our phage cocktail prevented or decreased emergence of E. coli resistant to phage in human urine. We created an anti-biofilm phage cocktail with broad host range against E. coli strains isolated from urine. These phage cocktails may have therapeutic potential against CAUTI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belkys C. Sanchez
- Tailored Antibacterials and Innovative Laboratories for Phage (Φ) Research, Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Emmaline R. Heckmann
- Tailored Antibacterials and Innovative Laboratories for Phage (Φ) Research, Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Sabrina I. Green
- Tailored Antibacterials and Innovative Laboratories for Phage (Φ) Research, Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Justin R. Clark
- Tailored Antibacterials and Innovative Laboratories for Phage (Φ) Research, Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Heidi B. Kaplan
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, McGovern Medical School, UTHealth Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Robert F. Ramig
- Tailored Antibacterials and Innovative Laboratories for Phage (Φ) Research, Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Kenneth L. Muldrew
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States,Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX, United States,Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Casey Hines-Munson
- Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Felicia Skelton
- Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX, United States,H. Ben Taub Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Barbara W. Trautner
- Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX, United States,Department of Medicine and Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States,Center for Translational Research on Inflammatory Diseases, Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Anthony W. Maresso
- Tailored Antibacterials and Innovative Laboratories for Phage (Φ) Research, Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States,*Correspondence: Anthony W. Maresso,
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30
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«Development of an anti- Acinetobacter baumannii biofilm phage cocktail: Genomic Adaptation to the Host». Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2022; 66:e0192321. [PMID: 35041503 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01923-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The need for alternatives to antibiotic therapy due to the emergence of multidrug resistant bacteria (MDR), such as the nosocomial pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii, has led to the recovery of phage therapy. In addition, phages can be combined in cocktails to increase the host range. In this study, the evolutionary mechanism of adaptation was utilized in order to develop a phage adapted to A. baumannii, named phage Ab105-2phiΔCI404ad, from a mutant lytic phage, Ab105-2phiΔCI, previously developed by our group. The whole genome sequence of phage Ab105-2phiΔCI404ad was determined, showing that four genomic rearrangements events occurred in the tail morphogenesis module affecting the ORFs encoding the host receptor binding sites. As a consequence of the genomic rearrangements, 10 ORFs were lost and four new ORFs were obtained, all encoding tail proteins; two inverted regions were also derived from these events. The adaptation process increased the host range of the adapted phage by almost three folds. In addition, a depolymerase-expressing phenotype, indicated by formation of a halo, which was not observed in the ancestral phage, was obtained in 81% of the infected strains. A phage cocktail was formed by combining this phage with the A. baumannii phage vB_AbaP_B3, known to express a depolymerase. Both the individual phages and the phage cocktail showed strong antimicrobial activity against 5 clinical strains and 1 reference strain of A. baumannii tested. However, in all cases resistance to the bacterial strains was also observed. The antibiofilm activity of the individual phages and the cocktail was assayed. The phage cocktail displayed strong antibiofilm activity.
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31
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Innard N, Chong JPJ. The challenges of monitoring and manipulating anaerobic microbial communities. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2022; 344:126326. [PMID: 34780902 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2021.126326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Mixed anaerobic microbial communities are a key component in valorization of waste biomass via anaerobic digestion. Similar microbial communities are important as soil and animal microbiomes and have played a critical role in shaping the planet as it is today. Understanding how individual species within communities interact with others and their environment is important for improving performance and potential applications of an inherently green technology. Here, the challenges associated with making measurements critical to assessing the status of anaerobic microbial communities are considered. How these measurements could be incorporated into control philosophies and augment the potential of anaerobic microbial communities to produce different and higher value products from waste materials are discussed. The benefits and pitfalls of current genetic and molecular approaches to measuring and manipulating anaerobic microbial communities and the challenges which should be addressed to realise the potential of this exciting technology are explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Innard
- Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - James P J Chong
- Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK.
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32
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Kamat I, Lamba H, Hines-Munson C, Hudson S, Liao K, Muldrew KL, Green S, Terwilliger A, Kaplan HB, Ramig RF, Maresso A, Trautner BW. Identifying Causative Microorganisms in Left Ventricular Assist Device Infections as a Guide for Developing Bacteriophage Therapy. J Surg Res 2021; 271:73-81. [PMID: 34847492 DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2021.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND As more left ventricular-assist devices (LVADs) are implanted, multidrug-resistant LVAD infections are becoming increasingly common, partly due to bacterial biofilm production. To aid in developing bacteriophage therapy for LVAD infections, we have identified the most common bacterial pathogens that cause LVAD driveline infections (DLIs) in our heart transplant referral center. MATERIALS AND METHODS We studied a retrospective cohort of patients who received LVADs from November 2003 to August 2017 to identify the common causative organisms of LVAD infection. We also studied a prospective cohort of patients diagnosed with DLIs from October 2018 to May 2019 to collect bacterial strains from DLIs for developing bacteriophages to lyse causative pathogens. LVAD infections were classified as DLI, bacteremia, and pump/device infections in the retrospective cohort. RESULTS In the retrospective cohort of 582 patients, 186 (32.0%) developed an LVAD infection, with 372 microbial isolates identified. In the prospective cohort, 96 bacterial strains were isolated from 54 DLIs. The microorganisms causing DLIs were similar in the two cohorts; the most common isolate was Staphylococcus aureus. We identified 6 prospective S. aureus strains capable of biofilm formation. We developed 3 bacteriophages that were able to lyse 5 of 6 of the biofilm-forming S. aureus strains. CONCLUSIONS Similar pathogens caused LVAD DLIs in our retrospective and prospective cohorts, indicating our bacterial strain bank will be representative of future DLIs. Our banked bacterial strains will be useful in developing phage cocktails that can lyse ≥80% of the bacteria causing LVAD infections at our institution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ishan Kamat
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas
| | - Harveen Lamba
- Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Casey Hines-Munson
- Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness, and Safety (IQuESt), Michael E. DeBakey, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Samuel Hudson
- Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Kenneth Liao
- Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas; Texas Heart Institute, Houston, Texas
| | - Kenneth L Muldrew
- Section of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza Houston, Texas; Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas
| | - Sabrina Green
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas
| | - Austen Terwilliger
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas
| | - Heidi B Kaplan
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Robert F Ramig
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas
| | - Anthony Maresso
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas
| | - Barbara W Trautner
- Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness, and Safety (IQuESt), Michael E. DeBakey, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas; Section of Health Services Research, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas.
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Loose M, Sáez Moreno D, Mutti M, Hitzenhammer E, Visram Z, Dippel D, Schertler S, Tišáková LP, Wittmann J, Corsini L, Wagenlehner F. Natural Bred ε 2-Phages Have an Improved Host Range and Virulence against Uropathogenic Escherichia coli over Their Ancestor Phages. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021; 10:1337. [PMID: 34827275 PMCID: PMC8614997 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10111337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Alternative treatments for Escherichia coli infections are urgently needed, and phage therapy is a promising option where antibiotics fail, especially for urinary tract infections (UTI). We used wastewater-isolated phages to test their lytic activity against a panel of 47 E. coli strains reflecting the diversity of strains found in UTI, including sequence type 131, 73 and 69. The plaquing host range (PHR) was between 13 and 63%. In contrast, the kinetic host range (KHR), describing the percentage of strains for which growth in suspension was suppressed for 24 h, was between 0% and 19%, substantially lower than the PHR. To improve the phage host range and their efficacy, we bred the phages by mixing and propagating cocktails on a subset of E. coli strains. The bred phages, which we termed evolution-squared ε2-phages, of a mixture of Myoviridae have KHRs up to 23% broader compared to their ancestors. Furthermore, using constant phage concentrations, Myoviridae ε2-phages suppressed the growth of higher bacterial inocula than their ancestors did. Thus, the ε2-phages were more virulent compared to their ancestors. Analysis of the genetic sequences of the ε2-phages with the broadest host range reveals that they are mosaic intercrossings of 2-3 ancestor phages. The recombination sites are distributed over the whole length of the genome. All ε2-phages are devoid of genes conferring lysogeny, antibiotic resistance, or virulence. Overall, this study shows that ε2-phages are remarkably more suitable than the wild-type phages for phage therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Loose
- Clinic for Urology, Pediatric Urology and Andrology, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany; (M.L.); (D.D.)
| | - David Sáez Moreno
- PhagoMed Biopharma GmbH, A-1110 Vienna, Austria; (D.S.M.); (M.M.); (E.H.); (Z.V.); (L.P.T.)
| | - Michele Mutti
- PhagoMed Biopharma GmbH, A-1110 Vienna, Austria; (D.S.M.); (M.M.); (E.H.); (Z.V.); (L.P.T.)
| | - Eva Hitzenhammer
- PhagoMed Biopharma GmbH, A-1110 Vienna, Austria; (D.S.M.); (M.M.); (E.H.); (Z.V.); (L.P.T.)
| | - Zehra Visram
- PhagoMed Biopharma GmbH, A-1110 Vienna, Austria; (D.S.M.); (M.M.); (E.H.); (Z.V.); (L.P.T.)
| | - David Dippel
- Clinic for Urology, Pediatric Urology and Andrology, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany; (M.L.); (D.D.)
| | - Susanne Schertler
- DSMZ—German Collection of Microorganism and Cell Cultures GmbH, Leibniz Institute, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany; (S.S.); (J.W.)
| | - Lenka Podpera Tišáková
- PhagoMed Biopharma GmbH, A-1110 Vienna, Austria; (D.S.M.); (M.M.); (E.H.); (Z.V.); (L.P.T.)
- DSMZ—German Collection of Microorganism and Cell Cultures GmbH, Leibniz Institute, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany; (S.S.); (J.W.)
| | - Johannes Wittmann
- DSMZ—German Collection of Microorganism and Cell Cultures GmbH, Leibniz Institute, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany; (S.S.); (J.W.)
| | - Lorenzo Corsini
- PhagoMed Biopharma GmbH, A-1110 Vienna, Austria; (D.S.M.); (M.M.); (E.H.); (Z.V.); (L.P.T.)
| | - Florian Wagenlehner
- Clinic for Urology, Pediatric Urology and Andrology, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany; (M.L.); (D.D.)
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34
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Martinez-Soto CE, Cucić S, Lin JT, Kirst S, Mahmoud ES, Khursigara CM, Anany H. PHIDA: A High Throughput Turbidimetric Data Analytic Tool to Compare Host Range Profiles of Bacteriophages Isolated Using Different Enrichment Methods. Viruses 2021; 13:2120. [PMID: 34834927 PMCID: PMC8623551 DOI: 10.3390/v13112120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria and are present in niches where bacteria thrive. In recent years, the suggested application areas of lytic bacteriophage have been expanded to include therapy, biocontrol, detection, sanitation, and remediation. However, phage application is constrained by the phage's host range-the range of bacterial hosts sensitive to the phage and the degree of infection. Even though phage isolation and enrichment techniques are straightforward protocols, the correlation between the enrichment technique and host range profile has not been evaluated. Agar-based methods such as spotting assay and efficiency of plaquing (EOP) are the most used methods to determine the phage host range. These methods, aside from being labor intensive, can lead to subjective and incomplete results as they rely on qualitative observations of the lysis/plaques, do not reflect the lytic activity in liquid culture, and can overestimate the host range. In this study, phages against three bacterial genera were isolated using three different enrichment methods. Host range profiles of the isolated phages were quantitatively determined using a high throughput turbidimetric protocol and the data were analyzed with an accessible analytic tool "PHIDA". Using this tool, the host ranges of 9 Listeria, 14 Salmonella, and 20 Pseudomonas phages isolated with different enrichment methods were quantitatively compared. A high variability in the host range index (HRi) ranging from 0.86-0.63, 0.07-0.24, and 0.00-0.67 for Listeria, Salmonella, and Pseudomonas phages, respectively, was observed. Overall, no direct correlation was found between the phage host range breadth and the enrichment method in any of the three target bacterial genera. The high throughput method and analytics tool developed in this study can be easily adapted to any phage study and can provide a consensus for phage host range determination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos E. Martinez-Soto
- Guelph Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Guelph, ON N1G 5C9, Canada; (C.E.M.-S.); (S.C.); (J.T.L.); (S.K.); (C.M.K.)
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Biological Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Stevan Cucić
- Guelph Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Guelph, ON N1G 5C9, Canada; (C.E.M.-S.); (S.C.); (J.T.L.); (S.K.); (C.M.K.)
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Biological Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Janet T. Lin
- Guelph Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Guelph, ON N1G 5C9, Canada; (C.E.M.-S.); (S.C.); (J.T.L.); (S.K.); (C.M.K.)
| | - Sarah Kirst
- Guelph Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Guelph, ON N1G 5C9, Canada; (C.E.M.-S.); (S.C.); (J.T.L.); (S.K.); (C.M.K.)
| | - El Sayed Mahmoud
- Faculty of Applied Science and Technology, The Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, Oakville, ON L6H 2L1, Canada;
| | - Cezar M. Khursigara
- Guelph Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Guelph, ON N1G 5C9, Canada; (C.E.M.-S.); (S.C.); (J.T.L.); (S.K.); (C.M.K.)
| | - Hany Anany
- Guelph Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Guelph, ON N1G 5C9, Canada; (C.E.M.-S.); (S.C.); (J.T.L.); (S.K.); (C.M.K.)
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Biological Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
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Ngiam L, Schembri MA, Weynberg K, Guo J. Bacteriophage isolated from non-target bacteria demonstrates broad host range infectivity against multidrug-resistant bacteria. Environ Microbiol 2021; 23:5569-5586. [PMID: 34390602 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance represents a global health challenge. The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria such as uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) has attracted significant attention due to increased MDR properties, even against the last line of antibiotics. Bacteriophage, or simply phage, represents an alternative treatment to antibiotics. However, phage applications still face some challenges, such as host range specificity and development of phage resistant mutants. In this study, using both UPEC and non-UPEC hosts, five different phages were isolated from wastewater. We found that the inclusion of commensal Escherichia coli as target hosts during screening improved the capacity to select phage with desirable characteristics for phage therapy. Whole-genome sequencing revealed that four out of five phages adopt strictly lytic lifestyles and are taxonomically related to different phage families belonging to the Myoviridae and Podoviridae. In comparison to single phage treatment, the application of phage cocktails targeting different cell surface receptors significantly enhanced the suppression of UPEC hosts. The emergence of phage-resistant mutants after single phage treatment was attributed to mutational changes in outer membrane protein components, suggesting the potential receptors recognized by these phages. The findings highlight the use of commensal E. coli as target hosts to isolate broad host range phage with infectivity against MDR bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lyman Ngiam
- Advanced Water Management Centre, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - Mark A Schembri
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.,Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - Karen Weynberg
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - Jianhua Guo
- Advanced Water Management Centre, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
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Abstract
Control of pathogenic bacteria by deliberate application of predatory phages has potential as a powerful therapy against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The key advantages of phage biocontrol over antibacterial chemotherapy are: (1) an ability to self-propagate inside host bacteria, (2) targeted predation of specific species or strains of bacteria, (3) adaptive molecular machinery to overcome resistance in target bacteria. However, realizing the potential of phage biocontrol is dependent on harnessing or adapting these responses, as many phage species switch between lytic infection cycles (resulting in lysis) and lysogenic infection cycles (resulting in genomic integration) that increase the likelihood of survival of the phage in response to external stress or host depletion. Similarly, host range will need to be optimized to make phage therapy medically viable whilst avoiding the potential for deleteriously disturbing the commensal microbiota. Phage training is a new approach to produce efficient phages by capitalizing on the evolved response of wild-type phages to bacterial resistance. Here we will review recent studies reporting successful trials of training different strains of phages to switch into lytic replication mode, overcome bacterial resistance, and increase their host range. This review will also highlight the current knowledge of phage training and future implications in phage applications and phage therapy and summarize the recent pipeline of the magistral preparation to produce a customized phage for clinical trials and medical applications.
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Fong K, Wong CW, Wang S, Delaquis P. How Broad Is Enough: The Host Range of Bacteriophages and Its Impact on the Agri-Food Sector. PHAGE 2021; 2:83-91. [PMID: 36148040 PMCID: PMC9041489 DOI: 10.1089/phage.2020.0036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Novel bacteriophages (phages) possessing a broad host range are consistently and routinely reported, yet there is presently no consensus on the definition of “broad host range.” As phages are increasingly being used in the development of methods for the detection and biocontrol of human pathogens, it is important to address the limitations associated with the host range. For instance, unanticipated host range breadth may result in the detection of nonpathogenic targets, thereby increasing the false-positive rate. Moreover, a broad host range is generally favored in biocontrol applications despite the risk of undesirable ancillary effects against nontarget species. Here, we discuss the research progress, applications, and implications of broad host range phages with a focus on tailed broad host range phages infecting human pathogens of concern in the Agri-Food sector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Fong
- Summerland Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Summerland, Canada
- Address correspondence to: Karen Fong, PhD, Summerland Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Postal Box 5000, Summerland BC V0H1Z0, Canada
| | - Catherine W.Y. Wong
- Food, Nutrition and Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Siyun Wang
- Food, Nutrition and Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Pascal Delaquis
- Summerland Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Summerland, Canada
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Sáez Moreno D, Visram Z, Mutti M, Restrepo-Córdoba M, Hartmann S, Kremers AI, Tišáková L, Schertler S, Wittmann J, Kalali B, Monecke S, Ehricht R, Resch G, Corsini L. ε 2-Phages Are Naturally Bred and Have a Vastly Improved Host Range in Staphylococcus aureus over Wild Type Phages. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:325. [PMID: 33918287 PMCID: PMC8065394 DOI: 10.3390/ph14040325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to the rapid spread of antibiotic resistance, and the difficulties of treating biofilm-associated infections, alternative treatments for S. aureus infections are urgently needed. We tested the lytic activity of several wild type phages against a panel of 110 S. aureus strains (MRSA/MSSA) composed to reflect the prevalence of S. aureus clonal complexes in human infections. The plaquing host ranges (PHR) of the wild type phages were in the range of 51% to 60%. We also measured what we called the kinetic host range (KHR), i.e., the percentage of strains for which growth in suspension was suppressed for 24 h. The KHR of the wild type phages ranged from 2% to 49%, substantially lower than the PHRs. To improve the KHR and other key pharmaceutical properties, we bred the phages by mixing and propagating cocktails on a subset of S. aureus strains. These bred phages, which we termed evolution-squared (ε2) phages, have broader KHRs up to 64% and increased virulence compared to the ancestors. The ε2-phages with the broadest KHR have genomes intercrossed from up to three different ancestors. We composed a cocktail of three ε2-phages with an overall KHR of 92% and PHR of 96% on 110 S. aureus strains and called it PM-399. PM-399 has a lower propensity to resistance formation than the standard of care antibiotics vancomycin, rifampicin, or their combination, and no resistance was observed in laboratory settings (detection limit: 1 cell in 1011). In summary, ε2-phages and, in particular PM-399, are promising candidates for an alternative treatment of S. aureus infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Sáez Moreno
- PhagoMed Biopharma GmbH, Leberstrasse 20, A-1110 Vienna, Austria; (D.S.M.); (Z.V.); (M.M.); (M.R.-C.); (S.H.); (A.I.K.); (L.T.)
| | - Zehra Visram
- PhagoMed Biopharma GmbH, Leberstrasse 20, A-1110 Vienna, Austria; (D.S.M.); (Z.V.); (M.M.); (M.R.-C.); (S.H.); (A.I.K.); (L.T.)
| | - Michele Mutti
- PhagoMed Biopharma GmbH, Leberstrasse 20, A-1110 Vienna, Austria; (D.S.M.); (Z.V.); (M.M.); (M.R.-C.); (S.H.); (A.I.K.); (L.T.)
| | - Marcela Restrepo-Córdoba
- PhagoMed Biopharma GmbH, Leberstrasse 20, A-1110 Vienna, Austria; (D.S.M.); (Z.V.); (M.M.); (M.R.-C.); (S.H.); (A.I.K.); (L.T.)
| | - Susana Hartmann
- PhagoMed Biopharma GmbH, Leberstrasse 20, A-1110 Vienna, Austria; (D.S.M.); (Z.V.); (M.M.); (M.R.-C.); (S.H.); (A.I.K.); (L.T.)
| | - Ana Isabel Kremers
- PhagoMed Biopharma GmbH, Leberstrasse 20, A-1110 Vienna, Austria; (D.S.M.); (Z.V.); (M.M.); (M.R.-C.); (S.H.); (A.I.K.); (L.T.)
| | - Lenka Tišáková
- PhagoMed Biopharma GmbH, Leberstrasse 20, A-1110 Vienna, Austria; (D.S.M.); (Z.V.); (M.M.); (M.R.-C.); (S.H.); (A.I.K.); (L.T.)
- Leibniz Institute DSMZ—German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Inhoffenstraße 7B, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany; (S.S.); (J.W.)
| | - Susanne Schertler
- Leibniz Institute DSMZ—German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Inhoffenstraße 7B, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany; (S.S.); (J.W.)
| | - Johannes Wittmann
- Leibniz Institute DSMZ—German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Inhoffenstraße 7B, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany; (S.S.); (J.W.)
| | - Benham Kalali
- Bactrace Biotec AG, Neherstr. 1, 81675 Munich, Germany;
| | - Stefan Monecke
- Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology (IPHT), 07745 Jena, Germany; (S.M.); (R.E.)
- Institute of Medical Microbiologye and Hygiene, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technical University Dresden, Fiedlerstr. 42, D-01307 Dresden, Germany
- InfectoGnostics Research Campus Jena, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Ralf Ehricht
- Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology (IPHT), 07745 Jena, Germany; (S.M.); (R.E.)
- InfectoGnostics Research Campus Jena, 07743 Jena, Germany
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Friedrich-Schiller University, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Grégory Resch
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland;
| | - Lorenzo Corsini
- PhagoMed Biopharma GmbH, Leberstrasse 20, A-1110 Vienna, Austria; (D.S.M.); (Z.V.); (M.M.); (M.R.-C.); (S.H.); (A.I.K.); (L.T.)
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Tan CW, Rukayadi Y, Hasan H, Abdul-Mutalib NA, Jambari NN, Hara H, Thung TY, Lee E, Radu S. Isolation and Characterization of Six Vibrio parahaemolyticus Lytic Bacteriophages From Seafood Samples. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:616548. [PMID: 33776954 PMCID: PMC7987779 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.616548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a foodborne pathogen that is frequently isolated from a variety of seafood. To control this pathogenic Vibrio spp., the implementation of bacteriophages in aquaculture and food industries have shown a promising alternative to antibiotics. In this study, six bacteriophages isolated from the seafood samples demonstrated a narrow host range specificity that infecting only the V. parahaemolyticus strains. Morphological analysis revealed that bacteriophages Vp33, Vp22, Vp21, and Vp02 belong to the Podoviridae family, while bacteriophages Vp08 and Vp11 were categorized into the Siphoviridae family. All bacteriophages were composed of DNA genome and showed distinctive restriction fragment length polymorphism. The optimal MOI for bacteriophage propagation was determined to be 0.001 to 1. One-step growth curve revealed that the latent period ranged from 10 to 20 min, and the burst size of bacteriophage was approximately 17 to 51 PFU/cell. The influence of temperature and pH levels on the stability of bacteriophages showed that all bacteriophages were optimally stable over a wide range of temperatures and pH levels. In vitro lytic activity of all bacteriophages demonstrated to have a significant effect against V. parahaemolyticus. Besides, the application of a bacteriophage cocktail instead of a single bacteriophage suspension was observed to have a better efficiency to control the growth of V. parahaemolyticus. Results from this study provided a basic understanding of the physiological and biological properties of the isolated bacteriophages before it can be readily used as a biocontrol agent against the growth of V. parahaemolyticus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia Wanq Tan
- Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Yaya Rukayadi
- Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Hanan Hasan
- Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Noor-Azira Abdul-Mutalib
- Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.,Food Safety and Food Integrity, Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security (ITAFoS), Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Nuzul Noorahya Jambari
- Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.,Food Safety and Food Integrity, Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security (ITAFoS), Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Hirofumi Hara
- Department of Environmental Engineering and Green Technology, Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Tze Young Thung
- Infection and Immunity Program, Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Epeng Lee
- Food Safety and Food Integrity, Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security (ITAFoS), Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Son Radu
- Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.,Food Safety and Food Integrity, Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security (ITAFoS), Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
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Alsaadi A, Beamud B, Easwaran M, Abdelrahman F, El-Shibiny A, Alghoribi MF, Domingo-Calap P. Learning From Mistakes: The Role of Phages in Pandemics. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:653107. [PMID: 33815346 PMCID: PMC8010138 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.653107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The misuse of antibiotics is leading to the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, and in the absence of available treatments, this has become a major global threat. In the middle of the recent severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, which has challenged the whole world, the emergence of MDR bacteria is increasing due to prophylactic administration of antibiotics to intensive care unit patients to prevent secondary bacterial infections. This is just an example underscoring the need to seek alternative treatments against MDR bacteria. To this end, phage therapy has been proposed as a promising tool. However, further research in the field is mandatory to assure safety protocols and to develop appropriate regulations for its use in clinics. This requires investing more in such non-conventional or alternative therapeutic approaches, to develop new treatment regimens capable of reducing the emergence of MDR and preventing future global public health concerns that could lead to incalculable human and economic losses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahlam Alsaadi
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Beatriz Beamud
- Institute for Integrative Systems Biology, I2SysBio, Universitat de València-CSIC, Paterna, Spain
- FISABIO-Salud Pública, Generalitat Valenciana, Valencia, Spain
| | - Maheswaran Easwaran
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Sethu Institute of Technology, Rajapalayam, India
| | - Fatma Abdelrahman
- Center for Microbiology and Phage Therapy, Biomedical Sciences, Zewail City of Science and Technology, Giza, Egypt
| | - Ayman El-Shibiny
- Center for Microbiology and Phage Therapy, Biomedical Sciences, Zewail City of Science and Technology, Giza, Egypt
| | - Majed F. Alghoribi
- Infectious Diseases Research Department, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Pilar Domingo-Calap
- Institute for Integrative Systems Biology, I2SysBio, Universitat de València-CSIC, Paterna, Spain
- Department of Genetics, Universitat de València, Paterna, Spain
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Guo D, Chen J, Zhao X, Luo Y, Jin M, Fan F, Park C, Yang X, Sun C, Yan J, Chen W, Liu Z. Genetic and Chemical Engineering of Phages for Controlling Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021; 10:antibiotics10020202. [PMID: 33669513 PMCID: PMC7922366 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10020202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Along with the excessive use of antibiotics, the emergence and spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria has become a public health problem and a great challenge vis-à-vis the control and treatment of bacterial infections. As the natural predators of bacteria, phages have reattracted researchers' attentions. Phage therapy is regarded as one of the most promising alternative strategies to fight pathogens in the post-antibiotic era. Recently, genetic and chemical engineering methods have been applied in phage modification. Among them, genetic engineering includes the expression of toxin proteins, modification of host recognition receptors, and interference of bacterial phage-resistant pathways. Chemical engineering, meanwhile, involves crosslinking phage coats with antibiotics, antimicrobial peptides, heavy metal ions, and photothermic matters. Those advances greatly expand the host range of phages and increase their bactericidal efficiency, which sheds light on the application of phage therapy in the control of multidrug-resistant pathogens. This review reports on engineered phages through genetic and chemical approaches. Further, we present the obstacles that this novel antimicrobial has incurred.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dingming Guo
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China; (D.G.); (J.C.); (Y.L.); (C.P.); (X.Y.); (C.S.); (J.Y.)
| | - Jingchao Chen
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China; (D.G.); (J.C.); (Y.L.); (C.P.); (X.Y.); (C.S.); (J.Y.)
| | - Xueyang Zhao
- College of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, Henan, China; (X.Z.); (M.J.)
| | - Yanan Luo
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China; (D.G.); (J.C.); (Y.L.); (C.P.); (X.Y.); (C.S.); (J.Y.)
| | - Menglu Jin
- College of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, Henan, China; (X.Z.); (M.J.)
| | - Fenxia Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China;
| | - Chaiwoo Park
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China; (D.G.); (J.C.); (Y.L.); (C.P.); (X.Y.); (C.S.); (J.Y.)
| | - Xiaoman Yang
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China; (D.G.); (J.C.); (Y.L.); (C.P.); (X.Y.); (C.S.); (J.Y.)
| | - Chuqing Sun
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China; (D.G.); (J.C.); (Y.L.); (C.P.); (X.Y.); (C.S.); (J.Y.)
| | - Jin Yan
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China; (D.G.); (J.C.); (Y.L.); (C.P.); (X.Y.); (C.S.); (J.Y.)
| | - Weihua Chen
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China; (D.G.); (J.C.); (Y.L.); (C.P.); (X.Y.); (C.S.); (J.Y.)
- Correspondence: (W.C.); (Z.L.); Tel.: +86-27-87001156 (Z.L.)
| | - Zhi Liu
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China; (D.G.); (J.C.); (Y.L.); (C.P.); (X.Y.); (C.S.); (J.Y.)
- Correspondence: (W.C.); (Z.L.); Tel.: +86-27-87001156 (Z.L.)
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Comparison of single and multi-host enrichment approach for harnessing lytic phages against antimicrobial-resistant E. coli: Repurposing the enrichment step. Biologia (Bratisl) 2021. [DOI: 10.2478/s11756-020-00652-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Rashid JIA, Kannan V, Ahmad MH, Mon AA, Taufik S, Miskon A, Ong KK, Yusof NA. An electrochemical sensor based on gold nanoparticles-functionalized reduced graphene oxide screen printed electrode for the detection of pyocyanin biomarker in Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. MATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING. C, MATERIALS FOR BIOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS 2020; 120:111625. [PMID: 33545813 DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2020.111625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2020] [Revised: 09/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Multidrug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is known to be a problematic bacterium for being a major cause of opportunistic and nosocomial infections. In this study, reduced graphene oxide decorated with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs/rGO) was utilized as a new sensing material for a fast and direct electrochemical detection of pyocyanin as a biomarker of P. aeruginosa infections. Under optimal condition, the developed electrochemical pyocyanin sensor exhibited a good linear range for the determination of pyocyanin in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), human saliva and urine at a clinically relevant concentration range of 1-100 μM, achieving a detection limit of 0.27 μM, 1.34 μM, and 2.3 μM, respectively. Our developed sensor demonstrated good selectivity towards pyocyanin in the presence of interfering molecule such as ascorbic acid, uric acid, NADH, glucose, and acetylsalicylic acid, which are commonly found in human fluids. Furthermore, the developed sensor was able to discriminate the signal with and without the presence of pyocyanin directly in P. aeruginosa culture. This proposed technique demonstrates its potential application in monitoring the presence of P. aeruginosa infection in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jahwarhar Izuan Abdul Rashid
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, Centre for Defence Foundation Studies, National Defence University of Malaysia, Sungai Besi Camp, 57000 Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| | - Vayithiswary Kannan
- Faculty of Defence Science and Technology, National Defence University of Malaysia, Sungai Besi Camp, 57000 Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Centre for Research Management and Innovation, National Defence University of Malaysia, Sungai Besi Camp, 57000 Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Muhammad Hafiz Ahmad
- Faculty of Defence Science and Technology, National Defence University of Malaysia, Sungai Besi Camp, 57000 Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Aye Aye Mon
- Faculty of Medicine and Defence Health, National Defence University of Malaysia, Sungai Besi Camp, 57000 Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Safura Taufik
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, Centre for Defence Foundation Studies, National Defence University of Malaysia, Sungai Besi Camp, 57000 Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Azizi Miskon
- Centre for Research Management and Innovation, National Defence University of Malaysia, Sungai Besi Camp, 57000 Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, National Defence University of Malaysia, Sungai Besi Camp, 57000 Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Keat Khim Ong
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, Centre for Defence Foundation Studies, National Defence University of Malaysia, Sungai Besi Camp, 57000 Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Nor Azah Yusof
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor 43400, Malaysia
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Chegini Z, Khoshbayan A, Taati Moghadam M, Farahani I, Jazireian P, Shariati A. Bacteriophage therapy against Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms: a review. Ann Clin Microbiol Antimicrob 2020; 19:45. [PMID: 32998720 PMCID: PMC7528332 DOI: 10.1186/s12941-020-00389-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most important bacterial pathogens that causes infection with a high mortality rate due to resistance to different antibiotics. This bacterium prompts extensive tissue damage with varying factors of virulence, and its biofilm production causes chronic and antibiotic-resistant infections. Therefore, due to the non-applicability of antibiotics for the destruction of P. aeruginosa biofilm, alternative approaches have been considered by researchers, and phage therapy is one of these new therapeutic solutions. Bacteriophages can be used to eradicate P. aeruginosa biofilm by destroying the extracellular matrix, increasing the permeability of antibiotics into the inner layer of biofilm, and inhibiting its formation by stopping the quorum-sensing activity. Furthermore, the combined use of bacteriophages and other compounds with anti-biofilm properties such as nanoparticles, enzymes, and natural products can be of more interest because they invade the biofilm by various mechanisms and can be more effective than the one used alone. On the other hand, the use of bacteriophages for biofilm destruction has some limitations such as limited host range, high-density biofilm, sub-populate phage resistance in biofilm, and inhibition of phage infection via quorum sensing in biofilm. Therefore, in this review, we specifically discuss the use of phage therapy for inhibition of P. aeruginosa biofilm in clinical and in vitro studies to identify different aspects of this treatment for broader use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Chegini
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amin Khoshbayan
- Student Research Committee, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Majid Taati Moghadam
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Iman Farahani
- Molecular and Medicine Research Center, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran
| | - Parham Jazireian
- Department of Genetics, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Aref Shariati
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Taati Moghadam M, Khoshbayan A, Chegini Z, Farahani I, Shariati A. Bacteriophages, a New Therapeutic Solution for Inhibiting Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria Causing Wound Infection: Lesson from Animal Models and Clinical Trials. DRUG DESIGN DEVELOPMENT AND THERAPY 2020; 14:1867-1883. [PMID: 32523333 PMCID: PMC7237115 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s251171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Wound infection kills a large number of patients worldwide each year. Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are the most important colonizing pathogens of wounds that, with various virulence factors and impaired immune system, causes extensive tissue damage and nonhealing wounds. Furthermore, the septicemia caused by these pathogens increases the mortality rate due to wound infections. Because of the prevalence of antibiotic resistance in recent years, the use of antibiotics to inhibit these pathogens has been restricted, and the topical application of antibiotics in wound infections increases antibiotic resistance. Therefore, finding a new therapeutic strategy against wound infections is so essential since these infections have a destructive effect on the patient’s mental health and high medical costs. In this review, we discussed the use of phages for the prevention of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, causing wound infection and their role in wound healing in animal models and clinical trials. The results showed that phages have a high ability to inhibit different wound infections caused by MDR bacteria, heal the wound faster, have lower side effects and toxicity, destroy bacterial biofilm, and they are useful in controlling immune responses. Many studies have used animal models to evaluate the function of phages, and this study appears to have a positive impact on the use of phages in clinical practice and the development of a new therapeutic approach to control wound infections, although there are still many limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Majid Taati Moghadam
- Jiroft University of Medical Sciences, Jiroft, Iran.,Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amin Khoshbayan
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Chegini
- Student Research Committee, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Iman Farahani
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran
| | - Aref Shariati
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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46
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Bacteriophage Therapy: Developments and Directions. Antibiotics (Basel) 2020; 9:antibiotics9030135. [PMID: 32213955 PMCID: PMC7148498 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics9030135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Revised: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In an era of proliferating multidrug resistant bacterial infections that are exhausting the capacity of existing chemical antibiotics and in which the development of new antibiotics is significantly rarer, Western medicine must seek additional therapeutic options that can be employed to treat these infections. Among the potential antibacterial solutions are bacteriophage therapeutics, which possess very different properties from broad spectrum antibiotics that are currently the standard of care, and which can be used in combination with them and often provide synergies. In this review we summarize the state of the development of bacteriophage therapeutics and discuss potential paths to the implementation of phage therapies in contemporary medicine, focused on fixed phage cocktail therapeutics since these are likely to be the first bacteriophage products licensed for broad use in Western countries.
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47
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Taati Moghadam M, Amirmozafari N, Shariati A, Hallajzadeh M, Mirkalantari S, Khoshbayan A, Masjedian Jazi F. How Phages Overcome the Challenges of Drug Resistant Bacteria in Clinical Infections. Infect Drug Resist 2020; 13:45-61. [PMID: 32021319 PMCID: PMC6954843 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s234353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Nowadays the most important problem in the treatment of bacterial infections is the appearance of MDR (multidrug-resistant), XDR (extensively drug-resistant) and PDR (pan drug-resistant) bacteria and the scarce prospects of producing new antibiotics. There is renewed interest in revisiting the use of bacteriophage to treat bacterial infections. The practice of phage therapy, the application of phages to treat bacterial infections, has been around for approximately a century. Phage therapy relies on using lytic bacteriophages and purified phage lytic proteins for treatment and lysis of bacteria at the site of infection. Current research indicates that phage therapy has the potential to be used as an alternative to antibiotic treatments. It is noteworthy that, whether phages are used on their own or combined with antibiotics, phages are still a promising agent to replace antibiotics. So, this review focuses on an understanding of challenges of MDR, XDR, and PDR bacteria and phages mechanism for treating bacterial infections and the most recent studies on potential phages, cocktails of phages, and enzymes of lytic phages in fighting these resistant bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Majid Taati Moghadam
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Nour Amirmozafari
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Aref Shariati
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Student Research Committee, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Masoumeh Hallajzadeh
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shiva Mirkalantari
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amin Khoshbayan
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Student Research Committee, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Faramarz Masjedian Jazi
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Microbial Biotechnology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
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48
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Gibson SB, Green SI, Liu CG, Salazar KC, Clark JR, Terwilliger AL, Kaplan HB, Maresso AW, Trautner BW, Ramig RF. Constructing and Characterizing Bacteriophage Libraries for Phage Therapy of Human Infections. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:2537. [PMID: 31781060 PMCID: PMC6861333 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Phage therapy requires libraries of well-characterized phages. Here we describe the generation of phage libraries for three target species: Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter cloacae. The basic phage characteristics on the isolation host, sequence analysis, growth properties, and host range and virulence on a number of contemporary clinical isolates are presented. This information is required before phages can be added to a phage library for potential human use or sharing between laboratories for use in compassionate use protocols in humans under eIND (emergency investigational new drug). Clinical scenarios in which these phages can potentially be used are discussed. The phages presented here are currently being characterized in animal models and are available for eINDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelley B. Gibson
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Sabrina I. Green
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Carmen Gu Liu
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Keiko C. Salazar
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Justin R. Clark
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Austen L. Terwilliger
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Heidi B. Kaplan
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Anthony W. Maresso
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Barbara W. Trautner
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Robert F. Ramig
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
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García R, Latz S, Romero J, Higuera G, García K, Bastías R. Bacteriophage Production Models: An Overview. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:1187. [PMID: 31214139 PMCID: PMC6558064 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2019] [Accepted: 05/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of bacteriophages has been proposed as an alternative method to control pathogenic bacteria. During recent years several reports have been published about the successful use of bacteriophages in different fields such as food safety, agriculture, aquaculture, and even human health. Several companies are now commercializing bacteriophages or bacteriophage-based products for therapeutic purposes. However, this technology is still in development and there are challenges to overcome before bacteriophages can be widely used to control pathogenic bacteria. One big hurdle is the development of efficient methods for bacteriophage production. To date, several models for bacteriophage production have been reported, some of them evaluated experimentally. This mini-review offers an overview of different models and methods for bacteriophage production, contrasting their principal differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo García
- Laboratorio de Microbiología, Instituto de Biología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Simone Latz
- Laboratorio de Microbiología, Instituto de Biología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Jaime Romero
- Laboratorio de Biotecnología, Instituto de Nutrición y Tecnología de los Alimentos, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Gastón Higuera
- Laboratorio de Biotecnología, Instituto de Nutrición y Tecnología de los Alimentos, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Katherine García
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Roberto Bastías
- Laboratorio de Microbiología, Instituto de Biología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
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50
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Burrowes BH, Molineux IJ, Fralick JA. Directed in Vitro Evolution of Therapeutic Bacteriophages: The Appelmans Protocol. Viruses 2019; 11:v11030241. [PMID: 30862096 PMCID: PMC6466182 DOI: 10.3390/v11030241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Revised: 02/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The ‘Appelmans protocol’ is used by Eastern European researchers to generate therapeutic phages with novel lytic host ranges. Phage cocktails are iteratively grown on a suite of mostly refractory bacterial isolates until the evolved cocktail can lyse the phage-resistant strains. To study this process, we developed a modified protocol using a cocktail of three Pseudomonas phages and a suite of eight phage-resistant (including a common laboratory strain) and two phage-sensitive Pseudomona aeruginosa strains. After 30 rounds of selection, phages were isolated from the evolved cocktail with greatly increased host range. Control experiments with individual phages showed little host-range expansion, and genomic analysis of one of the broad-host-range output phages showed its recombinatorial origin, suggesting that the protocol works predominantly via recombination between phages. The Appelmans protocol may be useful for evolving therapeutic phage cocktails as required from well-defined precursor phages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben H Burrowes
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th Street, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA.
- Roche Molecular Systems, 983 University Avenue B200, Los Gatos, CA 95032, USA.
| | - Ian J Molineux
- Center for Infectious Disease, Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, 1 University Station A5000, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
| | - Joe A Fralick
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th Street, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA.
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